Demographic Changes

It's a tough choice 'social media' we have a guy working our club Facebook page pretty hard and he's now got it up to over 350 likes which is quite good these days without going out to buy them.

This forum if kept controversial is quite a good 'organ' you'd be surprised how many see stuff on here but don't comment, then links back to whatever it is you're promoting, it's a lot better than it was, but still has its quiet moments.

I'm not so sure about those new Facebook interest groups, I guess having a class Facebook page is not a bad thing provided you get lots of folk posting stuff on it. I tried to get an EPS page going but there aint enough of us and those there are still revert back to that yahoo group which is about as useful as a chocolate fireguard at spreading the love.

Truth is you have to zap at everything if you have a message you want to get out there, but the fundamental way to build a new brand as we are finding with our new kite brand Core, is go out there and demo, easier for kites than boats, but it's what gets your name about, that and local opinion leaders rocking them.

We can no longer rely on a proper structured market because of internet pressures, dinghies never had them in the first place, so it's demo demo demo and demo again and if you're lucky enough to have a few results which you won't have if you let the PYAG near your baby in its infancy, then they help.

Clubs need to advertise in the local rags, put notices in newsagents windows, school noticeboards local colleges and the like and have open days more than just once a year at push the boat out, also if you follow our example try cross over sports, and persuade them to try sailing but you'll be surprised just how many folk despite being able to swim, are simply terrified of being out of their depth and the thought of something that is eventually going to tip them into the water.... There was a survey once it's 7th on the list of people greatest fears.. Watersports you have to accept are not for everybody.

Edited by iGRF - 04 Feb 15 at 2:28pm

maybe getting in touch with the greater sailing community could use something out of NHS waiting rooms, a tv connected up to a computer with advertisers and boat reviews and what ever else you care to have including event dates and reviews.  how many clubs have a tv already?  would this be viable?  you could have local and national advertisers.  of course it would require someone at the clubs to turn the tv on, which maybe the biggest hurdle!

tweetdeck will do all that.... but beware, as Jim alludes to, you need to really tailor each communication with the audience on each network- they do vary quite significantly.

People do boat on about seo, but I have read that Google really more these days on the turnover of content rather than how the side is optimised. How true that is, is another matter. Of course paying them seems to work.

As for tweetdeck, yes it used to be ok but since twitter bought it it hasn't kept pace.

You are of course correct John, but there are apps that do it now so why bother with a site. Just look at feedly, etc. However people still need to know that they exist. Also the websites need to format their output accordingly ( I know they're are plugins for cms sites) but this seems to be too difficult for many classes and clubs. You need to bear in mind that must of the time the website is run by a willing volunteer who isn't up to speed with the very latest technologies. You should have seen the hassle I had when I stepped down from doing our club site and Akashi finding someone to take over the phantom website.