This article can be used to promote your upcoming BAM! workshops:

New BAM! Workshop Delivers

Creative Ideas, Solutions and Strategies

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No it’s Captain BAM!tastic and he’s headed to [your state].

Jodi Rudick, the creator of the Benefits are Endless…â promotional campaign, announces BAM! a brand new manual and training program certain to simplify and enhance all your communications. Jodi explains, “Benefits Activated Marketing (BAM!) is an interactive journey to a place called ‘Benefitopia,’ where all park and recreation agencies are valued as essential community resources.”

“I wanted BAM! to be fun” Jodi continues. “BAM! is very practical and uses real-world examples, cartoons, photos and captions to illustrate strategies and ideas. “Captain BAM!tastic represents YOU, and other passionate park and recreation ‘superheroes,’ who champion children, improve lives and conquer evil. But, like all superheroes, Captain BAM!tastic encounters some villains along the way (Watch out for BAM!frantic and BAM!inator!). BAM! offers ideas and suggestions to overcome challenges that often accompany change.”

On [date] in [city] the [association/sponsor name] is proud to offer a full day BAM! Workshop and Creative Clinic, presented by its author, Jodi Rudick. The cost of the workshop is [insert workshop cost here: for example $99 for XYZ members and $129 for non-members] and includes the complete BAM! Manual (a $95) value. Jodi explains that The Creative Clinic is a place to evaluate, re-write and brainstorm current or new program descriptions, brochures, flyers, press releases, ads and press releases.

Michelle Park, Ohio Park and Recreation Association Executive Director, recently offered this training to OPRA members who proclaimed BAM! to be an ‘invaluable resource,’ an ‘exceptional workshop’ and ‘should become part of every agency, recreation center and library.’ One workshop graduate said, “BAM! is not just for marketing people. It’s for everyone! Supervisors, front-line staff, park planners, programmers and administrators.”

Space is limited for BAM! Workshops. To reserve a spot for you and other members of your staff please call [contact name/number/email] today.

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This feature-style article is a great BAM! overview and will spark interest in your upcoming training. Use it on your web site and in your member publications one to two months before your Workshop dates.

WHAT IS BAM!?

Benefits activated marketing

By Jodi L. Rudick

For the first time in (your state), on (date) (your association name) is proud to present a full-day Benefits Activated Marketing Workshop with BAM!’s author, Jodi Rudick. To reserve your space at this super-charged seminar, please call (contact name and number). But, hurry! Space for this interactive workshop is limited! The article below highlights the BAM! transformation process…

Over the past five years park and recreation professionals around the country have embraced the Benefits movement in a variety of ways. Benefits Activated Marketing (BAM!) is a brand new step-by-step manual and training program. Whether you have tested the Benefits waters or have submerged yourself in Benefits, you can easily apply BAM! ideas as you search for ways to:

Together these five BAM! components will guide you through the process of creating greater public perception, participation and support.

What is BAM!?	BAM! (Benefits Activated Marketing) refers to the many ways in which a park and recreation agency can spread the word about the Benefits of parks and recreation. Benefits concepts, language, themes and images are key to enhancing public awareness and motivate action. BAM! ideas can be either incorporated into an agency’s existing marketing plan or can become the foundation for creating a brand new promotional blueprint. More importantly, BAM! insures greater success of future public relations, advertising, promotion and even customer service strategies.
Five BAM! Components	There are literally hundreds of tools in the BAM! Manual ranging from customer service suggestions to brochures, banners and news releases. A successful park and recreation agency, like a successful business or non-profit organization, enlists many methods to reach its goals. There are five major BAM! components: ATTITUDE, ATMOSPHERE, LANGUAGE; THE MEDIA MIX (Advertising, Promotion and Publicity) and ACTION.
BAM! Attitude	The Benefits Attitude involves two major components: VISIONARY THINKING and MARKETING MINDSET. Benefits oriented organizations are customer-centered and outwardly focused. BAM! thinkers search for solutions, analyze needs and arrange their product mix to best meet those needs. The Benefits Attitude is proactive and forward-thinking. In addition those with the Benefits Attitude adopt and commit to a simple, yet creative marketing plan, that helps them control their agency’s growth and future.
BAM! Atmosphere	The BAM! Atmosphere is both PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL. When customers phone, log-on or set foot in a BAM! facility, they see, hear, feel, smell and even taste the Benefits. Customer encounters and staff training are sprinkled with Benefits language and activities. BAM! agencies know that communication is multi-sensory and that Benefits can only be delivered in a positive emotional atmosphere. Interior and exterior signs, banners and markers remind viewers that they will benefit from their visit and participation.
BAM! Language	Certain words and phrases trigger positive reactions. Benefits language brings ordinary conversations and copy to life. Benefits Language is simple, yet active and motivating. It speaks directly to the reader or listener and can transform tired brochures, program descriptions, speeches and all written and verbal communication into exciting marketing tools. In addition, Benefits Language, slogans and themes are used consistently throughout an organization leading to greater understanding and comprehension.
BAM! Media Mix -Advertising, Promotion and Publicity	Benefits driven agencies know how to spread the word about their value, worth and achievements with publicity, advertising, promotion and face-to-face communication. Agencies committed to BAM! seek to constantly increase and retain their customer base by selling the Benefits of their programs, facilities and services – as well as the features. Even those with little or no dedicated marketing budget find creative ways, such as cross-marketing, networking and publicity, to educate and inform target customers about the Benefits of parks and recreation.
BAM! Action	Keep in mind that awareness is the beginning, rather than the end result of great marketing. BAM! agencies ask, “What do I want and need my target audience to do?” They seek to influence behavior and motivate positive change in their customers, prospects, decision-makers and the community. BAM! offers solutions to help motivate people in your community to: · Sign up for a class, program or league · Sign someone else up for a program, class or league · Visit your facility · Attend an event · Volunteer · Book facility space · Complete a survey, assessment, questionnaire · Visit a trade show booth · Visit your web site · Vote in your favor · Write letters, loBAM!y or advocate on your behalf · Send back a reply card · Request more information · Schedule an appointment · Welcome your call · Give a lead or referral · Make a donation/grant · Sponsor a program

About the author: Jodi Rudick, owner of the ADvisors Marketing Group, created the Benefits are Endless… marketing campaign for the National Recreation and Park Association and continues to drive the Benefits Movement throughout the United States. She is the author of the brand new BAM! Benefits Activated Marketing manual.

This sidebar story can accompany the BAM! feature story “What is BAM?”

The five Benefits Activated Marketing (BAM!) components are cyclical. In other words, the more BAM! Action, the better overall agency attitude. The more your atmosphere exposes Benefits, the greater awareness. Here are some examples:

Juvenile Crime Solution - Police statistics show that juvenile crime in your community was on the rise. As someone with “BAM! Attitude,” you wanted to solve the problem. You surveyed teens and parents at schools and PTA meetings to better understand their needs. Community input suggested increased recreation programming for teens. Although you offered some pre-teen and teen programs, many people interviewed were unaware of the programs. You created a publicity campaign using “BAM! Language” that focused on benefits and outcomes of youth and recreation programs.

The increased “Media Awareness” lead to inquiries from a non-profit foundation with grants fund to organizations that decrease juvenile crime. The foundation took ACTION when it sent a check to help fund your teen center activities. The foundation’s gift helped improve staff Attitude and enthusiasm. In addition, the teen center itself, offered a safe, secure Atmosphere for its young clients and their parents. Of course, kids and parents are excited about the new teen center programs and tell others creating greater Awareness through word of mouth.

The agency also distributed flyers to junior high and high school guidance counselors and teachers. A billboard company even donated a billboard across the street from the high school to help attract kids to the facility after school. Free pizza was donated by the local pizza parlor every Friday to lure kids to the safe haven rather than the streets. The pizza created a great Atmoshphere for the nose and taste buds, too!

Adult Day Care Demands Increase - You noticed an article in the newspaper about the growing need for Adult Day Care. Your BAM! Attitude prompted you to meet the community need and eventually develop a self-sustaining pilot program in your community center. Staff were trained and informed about the new Adult Day Care program and its benefits to insure an Atmosphere of knowledge and enthusiasm. In addition signs about the pilot program were posted in all recreation facilities explaining program benefits and community need.

Many Media tools were used to build awareness for the new program, each written and designed with BAM! Language and Lingo. These media tools ranged from presentations to church groups, meetings with human resource professionals and a simple publicity campaign. An Open House was held to answer questions and show off the facility. People took BAM! Action when they eagerly registered for the pilot program. BAM! Attitude reminded staff to evaluate and adjust program hours, quality and activities to continual meet the needs of customers.

Awareness continued in the form of publicity from the paper that published the original article. Atmoshphere in the Adult Day Care Center wall was enhanced with inspirational photos, quotations and Benefits are Endless…Ô posters. The cycle goes on and on!

YOUR STORY HERE - Share your BAM! success. Let us know how you have incorporated BAM! strategies into your agency’s marketing and communication activities. In exchange for your ideas and examples, the ADvisors Marketing Group will send you a full color BAM! CD Case and may even publish your success stories in future resources.

To find out more more about NRPA’s upcoming BAM!4 training and resources or to share your success story, please contact Jodi Rudick at BAM!@advisorsmarketing.com or call (760) 721-3737.

Phone:	(760) 730-0333
Fax:	(760) 730-0311

This article can be used to promote your upcoming BAM! workshops:

New BAM! Workshop Delivers

Creative Ideas, Solutions and Strategies

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No it’s Captain BAM!tastic and he’s headed to [your state].

WHAT IS BAM!?

Benefits activated marketing

§ Increase general awareness

§ Improve public perception

§ Increase participation

§ Find new customers

§ Generate more referrals or leads

§ Increase usage from current customers

· Book facility space

· Complete a survey, assessment, questionnaire

· Visit a trade show booth

· Visit your web site

· Vote in your favor

· Write letters, loBAM!y or advocate on your behalf

· Send back a reply card

· Request more information

· Schedule an appointment

· Welcome your call

· Give a lead or referral

· Make a donation/grant