INVITE
NEW
FAMILIES
to
join
Marketing isn’t just something we do—it’s
everything we do. Persuasive marketing methods
positively affect every aspect of Scouting including
recruitment and retention. Good widespread
publicity is necessary. The following marketing
information will assist you in identifying promotion
concepts and methods to obtain widespread
publicity for your pack!
There are two types of joining events: the council-led School Night for Scouting (SNFS) and the pack-led recruitment events.
INVITATION
INVITATION
METHODS
METHODS
Do you have your Fall leadership in place and registered in the correct positions? Being registered correctly ensures proper access to specific my.Scouting tools, including
Scoutbook! To find your unit roster, log in to my.Scouting.org and select Member Manager and then Roster Details.
Once leadership is confirmed, make sure your unit’s
BeAScout pin is updated. Having a correct contact (and
accurate email/phone) will help families who get to your pin! Also, make sure to include information about when and where your unit meets. If your unit doesn’t accept online applications, include information on how to get registered with you! Video on setting up your pin https://vimeo.com/423690368.
Create or finalize your unit calendar. When your recruitment
events are held in early Fall, one of the best pieces of information you can provide to a new family will be your unit calendar (at least through December). Families want to see that there will be fun and engaging activities for their
children and seeing it already on a calendar means your unit is PREPARED! Plus, knowing what your unit plans to do this year can help with the unit budgeting process!
BE PREPARED ...
Y
our
A
dventure
S
tArtS
H
ere
.
org
The School Night for Scouting follows the council recruitment plan.
The district executive will meet with school administrators to set the SNFS dates.
The district executive will then work with the pack to provide resources.
The council package for a School Night for Scouting joining event includes:
• Fliers (3 sets) for distribution through schools (Meet the Teacher, youth presentation, 1 week before meeting) • Yard signs to be placed near the school promoting the
joining event
• Stickers for use during the youth presentation • Posters for placement around the school • SNFS meeting support materials
• Targeted digital marketing campaign • Targeted media campaign
SCHOOL NIGHT FOR SCOUTING
Packs may wish to hold additional recruitment events. These could be a gathering at a park, connected to regular pack meetings, an ice cream social, a bicycle rodeo, etc. Be creative, but be sure you are following the Guide to Safe
Scouting for age-appropriate activities.
The council has collateral available to support your pack recruitment events including:
• Door hangers • Sticky notes • Videos
• Peer-to-peer business cards • Social media images
• Yard sign for families to place in their yard
** Order these items on CircleTen.org, search for “Membership Awareness”
Work with your district executive to see if there are additional yard signs, stickers, or fliers available (quantities are limited and first priority is the council-led School Night for Scouting events).
The council also has outdoor exhibit materials (in limited quantities) available, such as pop-up canopies, banners and the “Wiggly Scout” ... work through your district executive.
PACK RECRUITMENT EVENTS
Y
our
A
dventure
S
tArtS
H
ere
.
org
Encourage your families to share their experience on their personal social media channels. This is a great way for other families to see the FUN!
Ask famlies to share on community pages they are also a part of like NextDoor or HOA pages.
Include the fun your child has as well as the benefits you have seen. Share your own personal message.
The council has graphics and sample messaging created to assist you.
** Graphics are found on CircleTen.org, search for “Membership Awareness”
Geofencing
Geofencing is a way to advertise on Facebook to a very specific area, such as those who drive through the school parking lot.
How?
Create an event, include all details and an eye-catching graphic. Once the event is created, you should not change any details.
After your event is posted - BOOST your event. The BOOST can cost you as little as $1 per day!
SOCIAL MEDIA
Word of mouth can be the best marketing tool. It is a free and effective method to spread positive mesages. So how do you do it?
Enthusiastic volunteers attract and sustain positive attention. Create positive energy, and people inside and outside of the unit will feel it.
Share your excitement with people. They will want to know what you are so excited about and will want to learn more. Encourage everyone to be ready to tell people about the fun and benefits associated with Scouting. A good unit
meeting question to ask is: “Who have you told about Scouting this week?”
Ask everyone you know to pass along the good word. Conduct an I-C-5 Challenge ... each family invites 5 families to a joining event through a letter, email or personal phone call.
Include thoughts like the benefits of Scouting and why your family is involved. Include meeting and joining information as well as who to contact for more information.
WORD OF MOUTH
The basic release can be used in: • Community magazines
• Local business newsletters
• Community and computer bulletin boards • Community newspapers
• Chartered organization newsletters • Local community magazines
• Local school newspapers
• Local daily and/or weekly newspapers
Complete the fill-in-the-blank news release, possibily utilizing your local Scouting representative, membership chairperson, local celebrated Scouter, etc., to “spice up” the community interest level of your release.
_____________________________________________
Go on an Adventure! Join Cub Scouting!
Cub Scouting wants you! Now is the time to join the fun and excitement of America’s foremost youth program for youth — Cub Scouting. A sign-up night will be held on _______ at _____. Fliers with additional details will be distributed at school.
Designed for both boys and girls in kindergarten through 5th grade, Cub Scouting combines outdoor activities, sports, academics and more in a fun and exciting program that helps families teach ideals such as honesty, good citzenship and respect.
For more information, visit YourAdventureStartsHere.org or contact ________.
PUBLIC RELATIONS
PUBLIC RELATIONS
Here is a list of ideas that have been used over the years. • Use door hangers with popcorn, Scouting for Food, other
unit fundraisers.
• Cub Scout summer experience: fishing derby, shooting derby, rocket launching
• Local advertisement stuffers • Recruitment videos
• Restaurant delivery fliers (restaurants may be willing to throw in an advertisement)
• Local flier distribution through family-friendly locations (pizza, ice cream, snow cone, yogurt, etc.)
• Sporting areas - soccer, baseball, basketball, community center, etc.
• Social media is powerful, share the adventure of Scouting with your friends/followers, as well as on community pages • Community calendar of events
• Spirit day at local Chick-Fil-A or other businesses
• NextDoor app - share invitation to join your pack within your neighborhood feed. Reach into as many neighborhoods as you can
• Wear the uniform ... be visible within the community
• Hold a “party” for the pack, distribute invitations through the classes - follow school rules
IDEAS ...
Y
our
A
dventure
S
tArtS
H
ere
.
org
• PTA presentations - color guard, information about the pack with an invitation to join
• Lunch tray liners • School marquis
• School service project - include signage, wear uniforms • School display case
• After school activity ... be visible, include food, make it fun • School drop off/pick up - wear your uniform and assist the
teachers, crosswalk duty, tent display, etc. • Assist at school, as needed, in uniform
• School events - carnivals, Trunk or Treat - assist as needed, set-up, clean-up, booths, activities, etc.
• Church bulletins
• Church service project - include signage, wear uniforms • Sunday School presentations
• Table in lobby of church promoting the pack • Participate in community events, parades
• Assist community events - set-up, clean-up, parking
• Share information at your community library - fliers, create bookmarks, create a display, etc.
• Submit information about your pack to your community paper, include an invitation to joining event
• Sign spinning - in a very visible location • Send an e-vite to school families and friends
• Host a block party/be visible at National Night Out
IDEAS ...
... welcome the new families into your pack.
New famlies need to know who they can call when they have questions, and that person needs to be proactive in sending clear, concise information out. Designate an experienced pack parent with an outgoing and friendly personality as the official “New Member Coordinator.” This volunteer doesn’t take the place of the den leader or Cubmaster, but instead checks-in with new famlies every few weeks, to answer questions and explain things.
Be sure to communicate regularly with your families. This could be through a newsletter, group text, website, Facebook group, etc. Be sure to share information about upcoming events in enough time for families to plan.
