6 Simple Steps to Using Facebook Promoted Posts

Posted on May 23, 2013 by Datis Mohsenipour

The average Facebook Business Page post will only reach 16% of its audience. If you have 100 likes on your Facebook page, your posts will appear on the home feeds of approximately 16 people who have liked your page. This has a lot to do with the timing of content and Facebook’s Edgerank system. Facebook allows you to reach a higher percentage of your likes and people who have not yet liked your page with the Promoted Posts Feature. This is a low-cost, high-value tool for those of you looking to draw attention to an announcement, promotion, event etc.

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Bit.ly – What It Is and How to Use It

Posted on May 10, 2013 by Datis Mohsenipour

As tech companies grow and new ones pop up, new verbs continue to be introduced to our evolving vocabularies. New verbs that started off as company names and won’t be found in Webster’s Dictionary. “Google” it comes to mind first. Want to know the name of a song you’re listening to? “Shazam” it. Want to video chat with your family back home? “Skype” them. But here’s an example you may not be so familiar with; has anyone ever asked you to Bitly a link?

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Canton Commits to Community Wellness with ’100 Days to Health’ (GUEST POST)

Posted on May 8, 2013 by Henry O'Loughlin

This is a guest post from Jessica Levine, Marketing Coordinator at Canton Leisure Services in Canton, Michigan.
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The figures are staggering: More than one-third of American adults and children are obese, resulting in conditions like heart disease and diabetes. Canton Leisure Services (CLS), ACTIVE Network customer and winner of the National Recreation and Park Association Gold Medal Award, is helping to relieve this epidemic on a local level through its four-month ’100 Days to Health’ program.

Supported by a strong partnership with Southeast Michigan’s Oakwood Healthcare System, 100 Days annually begins in January and wraps up in late April at the popular Summit on the Park community center located in Canton, Michigan. Continue reading →

3 Negative Trends to Reverse in Your Community

Posted on April 24, 2013 by Henry O'Loughlin

In recent years, humans (and particularly kids) have become increasingly sedentary. This trend is affecting mental and physical health as well as healthcare costs. But a few weeks ago, ACTIVE customers from parks and rec agencies, collegiate rec departments, YMCAs and other community organizations are gathered at our user conference to discuss these issues. Continue reading →

24 Activities That Will Get Young Professionals Through Your Doors

Posted on April 17, 2013 by Henry O'Loughlin

Yuppies. Say what you want about them, but they have incomes and a general affinity for the hottest fitness trend, class, and activity. They also take to Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram before, during and after participating in a cool activity. Doesn’t that sound like an ideal customer? Depending on the demographics of your community, you could tap into the young professional market with some new and trendy offerings.

To help you understand what young professionals are looking for, here is a list of activities that are currently trendy in the 20 – 30 year old range: Continue reading →

Why You Need Benefit-Based Marketing (Guest Post)

Posted on April 12, 2013 by Henry O'Loughlin

This is a guest post by Greg Bruggeman. He is a recreation professional and blogs at Professional Recreation. Check out his blog or follow him on Twitter.
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Have you ever had to buy an item foreign to you? Not something huge like a car or house but something inconsequential and of little cost, like a cleaning solution. As you sit in the aisle weighing the pros and cons of two similarly priced items, something catches your eye: Scrubbing Bubbles! You think to yourself “How could I have been so stupid! All these years, I’ve been doing the scrubbing when these bubbles can scrub for me!” I had to get this product! While I was walking out of the store with my Scrubbing Bubbles, I realized I had become the victim of great benefit-based marketing. Continue reading →

Facebook’s New Timeline Design for P&R Agencies (VIDEO)

Posted on March 18, 2013 by Henry O'Loughlin

Facebook is playing around with a significant Timeline redesign. The new format is being rolled out experimentally and could be live for all members soon. And to cover this change for the parks & recreation community, we turn to Josh Panzer. Josh is the founder of ParksandRecreationSocialMedia.com.

Check out his video guest blog post to learn how your agency should adjust to the pending Facebook change: Continue reading →