Hi
While the thread started about major shows - which are a whole world of difficulty - it's now moved onto club promotion, which isn't..
Promoting YOUR club is relativly easy, cheap and 100% essential.
To start with some facts.
There are MORE people racing now than there used to be 'back in the good old days'.
If they aren't racing at your club either the vehicles you're racing are out of the current fashion (which unfortunatly does happen) or more likley your club promotion isn't high enough profile.
An average club needs to recruit about 15-20% of it's average attendance, per year, just to stand still numbers wise.
Do no PR and you're dead within 5-6 years unless you're very lucky.
So to start with, i've selected a bit from one of the above:-
Quote:
Originally Posted by Si Coe
If my club holds a race at a local fair say, we might get an extra racer or 2 tops so its not worth it.
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I'd most definatly argue that point..
A few ideas below, there's loads more - pick one and JUST DO IT..
A local fete / hobby show / sports event etc - should be dead cheap to do and any extra racers are always a good result as you're looking to boost your profile too, so while you may only get a couple of instant new racers who else will see you / read about you and come and find you a few weeks later?
Take any and every opportunity to get your club name in the local press - send them a well writen, short, article with high resulotion digital images (carefully noted as 'copywrite free') and 9 times out of 10 it'll get printed.
Make sure the club is listed in every local what's on guide.
Is your profile compleated on the BRCA website - while i'll admit it's not pretty it is
very functional and gets a huge number of hits per day - guess what's the most popular click?
- 'find your local club'
Amazing how many clubs don't bother compleating that bit..
Printing is cheap - Get some A3 or A2 posters done for your club, about 4 for every member, as finding somewhere to put up 4 posters isn't a big ask is it..
Go onto one of the many business card printing websites - print off a business card for your club; what, where, when, website and a phone number.
Distribute a dozen to each club member, for them to carry around so when asked they have the details.
The BEST club PR is for us to drag a newbie along.
If you've got a website it MUST be up to date - I go on several per week that are out of date, have no contact details etc etc.
But remember people go looking for websites AFTER they have the idea of trying to find you.
If you attend any event:-
Contact the BRCA pro, he can supply 'Go Model Car Racing' booklets on demand - all you need to do is add an A5 flyer for your club.
He can also advise you on what you need to do to make an event work.
And there's loads more..
Lastly
Never EVER be worried about chatting to your friends and mates at work about what you do in your spare time.
I've had this come up several times - believe it or not - and it always surprises me that people are self conscious about the hobby that they love - dont be, anybody who takes the micky is a prat and will be corrected by somebody who knows better.
Your enthusiasm is the best selling tool there is.