Don Luepnitz of Norwalk, CA, writes:
“I am with the Norwalk, CA, Moose Lodge, and we can sure use some help getting the word out and trying to get new people to come down and or join.
“We offer dinners, breakfast, bingo, darts, full bar, kids room, and have fundraisers for ourselves and other charites. We also sponsor kids’ sports teams, and we have a Facebook Fan Page.”
“How can we use traditional and social media to attract more members and visitors?”
I don’t have time for an in-depth response, but a few quick fixes would be to switch your Facebook fan page from the static information page to the wall or one of (FBML) design that could draw readers in. My first thought when I clicked on the link was “I’m bored.” Information was far too dense.
A more, fun interactive page, touting family activities and interacting with local Norfolk moms on Facebook would help with build awareness and drive some more community participation.
Of course, Facebook just one small piece of the puzzle. I’m sure other readers can touch on additional strategies.
I have a couple of suggestions. First, I’d consider reworking your website if at all possible. I read down the whole home page in order to see if I had some suggestions, but most people won’t take the time. Also, the homepage is very distracting with so much going on in the side columns etc. This would be a case where less is more.
I’d move a lot of the info somewhere else and put in a few photos of people at events, at the lodge etc. instead You mention that it’s not the kind of group first time visitors might have in mind, so give them something they can relate to-photos of people like them having fun or serving the community.
I’d do the same on your Facebook page. Listing events etc. is useful, but again, you want to communicate a feeling of a place people want to belong. That atmosphere should be communicated consistently across all forms of media you use.
And I agree with the earlier comment, offering something people can participate in on a regular basis at either page, could help increase chances that visitors will stay engaged and hopefully engage in person at some point too.
I think going back to the basics of talk shows, articles, interviews in community newspapers, giving speeches to local groups etc would do a lot for you. You are a community organization as well and it wouldn’t appear as commercial as another entity.
My first idea was to cross-promote. As a sponsor of sports teams you probably treat the players t opizza or ice cream after games on occassion, why not ask the retsaurant owner to distribute flyers for your events inexchange for the business you send his way (pick a busy restaurant)
I also thought your FB fans & your club members should be your promoters too, have a member ship drive & give an award to the one who can bring in the most new members, Tell your FB fans to ‘share’ events with there friends & try to drive traffic to your information.
As a non-profit group when working with local businesses try to come up with an angle that teh local media will find appealing & pitch it to them. Look to work with businesses taht already advertise as they will have more sway with the media than a non-advertiser.
Have you hosted an ‘open house’?
Hi there,
Let’s start with your signage, as shown in the photo. It’s uninformative and uninviting.
It doesn’t indicate what you offer and doesn’t convey the facts that non-members are welcome and that kids are allowed.
Talk to your local sign shop for ideas on how to add those messages inexpensively, for example through colorful banners.
Good luck,
Marcia Yudkin
Their website could definitely use a redesign. A cleaner, uncluttered layout with just a few links in the landing page would work wonders. Right now the homepage is far too busy with way too many links. It screams for a more streamlined design so visitors can see all the areas of interest at a glance.
I agree with the commenter above me regarding the signage – that has got to change. It looks like a relic from the 1970’s.
I have to agree with the others. It is unclear from the website and the sign what’s open to the public and what’s members only. Can’t find any clue what it costs to be a member. The member benefits link lists nothing available in Norwalk and looks like one of those highway rest stop discount books. The Facebook page is about Moose, not about the Norwalk lodge.
I would start with the quote from the request: “We offer dinners, breakfast, bingo, darts, full bar, kids room, and have fundraisers for ourselves and other charites. We also sponsor kids’ sports teams.” That is so much cleaner and clearer than the website, the Facebook page, or the sign.
Have a web page about darts, so anyone searching for darts in Norwalk or surrounding towns sees the page and can tell when the public is welcome there for darts, what it costs to be able to play there all the time, and whether there are any tournaments or lessons for darts players. Do something similar for bingo, the kids room, the bar, the dinners, the breakfasts — and be sure it’s clear on each one when the public is welcome, what it costs to be a member, and where to join. Add a page for charities and kids’ sports teams that want the lodge’s help, too.
Put Norwalk info on the Facebook page and link to these pages. Put the entire events schedule on Facebook and invite all those who like the page to each event, again telling them what it costs to join and where to sign up if it’s members-only. Post each event on Twitter at least three times, with links to the Facebook calendar and/or the website.
Create lists on Twitter for Norwalk and for Moose. Find everyone else on Twitter with a connection to them and add them to the right list. Check the tweet streams for your lists and link your events to theirs, e.g., “Have a great breakfast at the Moose Family Center before today’s @XYZJrHigh soccer game in #Norwalk” Or “Coming to #Moose convention in #Anaheim this week? Stop in for a family dinner at #Norwalk Moose on Thursday. http://bit.ly/xYxYxY“
I recently tried something a little different than
my usual local business marketing methods.
I bought a cartoon video and used it to promote
my business. the cartoon was hilarious and my
customers were all talking about it.
Im using another one to promote our summer
specials. Its not for every business but worth
a look. The company that creates them are very creative
and helpful.
here is there link
http://socialifire.wordpress.com/
Hello Moose Lodge,
I am a resident of Norwalk and a public affairs consultant. Would love to be of help to a neighbor institution.
Best,
Enrique