February 2010 | Issue 8

Free initial marketing assessment worth £100See page 6

The BoardBIGWAVEM E D I A

May 2010 | Issue 9

Social Media Marketing

New services | E-marketing | Free e-mail collection kits

Contents:Page

number

News 3

New media 4

Business solutions 6

reminders 7

Upcoming events 8

Upcoming deadline reminders 9

New services 10

FREE E-mail collection kit 11

Gym games 12

We’d love your feedback on The Board

and any suggestions for articles

you’d like to see.

Please email your comments to

theboard@bigwavemedia.co.uk

2

PRonline

PRonline

New websiteLast issue we announced our new brand identity. This issue we are pleased to announce the launch of our new look website. www.bigwavemedia.co.uk

The site has been completely overhauled and now features case studies and examples of our graphic design.

Visit www.bigwavemedia.co.uk and let us know what you think!

Dash from the ashDebbi Moore (Business Development Manager) was stuck in Croatia for nearly a week due to the volcanic ash clouds from Iceland. Debbi was attending SPATEC; a 2-day forum for UK and European spa owners and suppliers. Grounded due to a volcano has to be the greatest excuse for not coming to work - Debbi didn’t see it that way!

the Big Wave Media newsletter. Here you’ll find a host of information - from our latest happenings to upcoming events - all designed to keep you informed and ahead of the game!

In a spinFollowing SPATEC we then went a little closer to home and attended Exeter University’s corporate services road show to promote our Mystery Shopper programmes. Visitors to our stand were in a spin over our free giveaways – branded Frisbees!

March deliveries…Congratulations to Chris Pike (New Media Manager) whose wife Rachel gave birth to a bouncing baby boy in March.

New clientsWe are pleased to announce we are now working with:

Mans� eld District Council

3

Welcome to The Board...

NEWS

(New Media Manager) whose wife Rachel gave birth to a bouncing

Following SPATEC we then went

In this issue we thought we’d bring you a few facts and figures about current Social Media trends.

The Twitter and Facebook online social networks are in neck-to-neck competition to be the most used social media marketing tools by marketers, according to a new survey from SocialMediaExaminer.com - http://tinyurl.com/y2qdrag.

Almost 9 in 10 Marketers Use Twitter and FacebookResponses to the “2010 Social Media Marketing Industry Report” indicate that 88% of marketers use Twitter and 87% use Facebook, writes MarketingCharts. The LinkedIn online professional networking platform follows with 78% usage. Seventy percent of marketers use blogs. All other types of social media marketing tools pale in comparison, with YouTube and other video sites having the next-highest usage rate (46%).An earlier version of this survey released in 2009 indicated that Facebook was in fourth place at 77%, and blogs were in second place at 79%. It would appear

that blogs, while still popular, are used less and Facebook is clearly growing in popularity as a marketing tool. Owners of small businesses were more likely to use LinkedIn than employees working for a corporation. Another interesting � nding was that men were signi� cantly more likely to use YouTube or other video marketing than women (51.2% of all men compared to only 42.6% of women).

Newbies Prefer FacebookFor those just getting underway with social media marketing, Facebook is ranked as their number one choice (80%), followed by Twitter (71%) and LinkedIn (67%). Blogs follow in distant fourth place with 43% usage, and no other form of social media marketing reaches even a one-third usage rate.

Recent Vets Use Twitter and FacebookMarketers who have been using social media marketing for a few months prefer Twitter (92%) and Facebook (88%) even more than the general population of marketers. Other preferences are generally similar to the general marketing population

4

Twitter and Facebook are the Leading Social Media Marketing Tools...

NEW MEDIA

Experienced Hands TweetAmong marketers who have been using social media marketing for a few years or more, Twitter usage is nearly universal (96%). Facebook follows with 91%. Social media veterans also use LinkedIn (89%) and blogs (86%) at signi� cantly higher levels than the general marketing population.

Most Marketers Use Social MediaA majority of marketers are using social media in their marketing e� orts, but most have only been using it for a few months or less, according to other survey � ndings from SocialMediaExaminer.com.Nine in 10 marketers (91%) are currently using social media as part of their marketing e� orts. However, a signi� cant combined 65% of marketers have either just started using social media (22%) or only been using it for a few months (43%). Another 31% have been using social media for a few years, up from 23% in 2009. Tellingly, only 3% of marketers have no experience with social media but plan to use it, while 0% of marketers have no experience with social media and no plans to use it.

Sources: MarketingVox.com, SocialMediaExaminer.com

Among marketers who have been using

or more, Twitter usage is nearly universal

Social media veterans also use LinkedIn

higher levels than the general marketing

A majority of marketers are using social

months or less, according to other survey � ndings from SocialMediaExaminer.com.Nine in 10 marketers (91%) are currently

marketing e� orts. However, a signi� cant

months (43%). Another 31% have been

How Can We Help ?Social Media enables you to market directly to the right audience and Big Wave Media can help you plan your strategy for interacting with your customers online. Knowing a tweet from a poke is the initial hurdle but to the initiated, social media opens up vast streams of potential customer interaction and revenue. Our start up packages will get you up and running with branded social media accounts on relevant sites and will guide you as to best use.

For more information visit us online www.bigwavemedia.co.uk , call 0845 643 2385 or follow us online:twitter.com/bigwavemediafacebook.com/bigwavemedia

5

FREE Marketing assessmentworth £100!

1 hour marketing consultation covering your overall objectives, marketing options and practical tips that can be applied immediately to your business.

Or, reserve your

An in-depth review of your marketing including a review of current literature, audit of on-site presentation and discussion regarding current marketing activity and how you track the success.

£185 (normal fee £300)

To book your FREE assessment or half day audit please call Debbi Moore on 0845 643 2385 or email debbimoore@bigwavemedia.co.uk

Marketing is about getting your name out there, leaving an impression and increasing your market share. These days it’s about your brand and how you market your business that determines your future success!

As a UK business in a tough economic climate, how can this be achieved effectively and with ever-tighter budgets?

Even a limited budget can be spent wisely to give a good ROI (return on investment) but getting it right means creating a distinctive brand, targeting your marketing e� ectively, measuring the success and then shouting about it.

With day to day pressures of operations increasing it’s rather like juggling. Managing the responsibility of marketing whilst trying to keep all the balls in the air can be a challenge!

This is where marketing support can help - supporting your existing team and freeing them up to concentrate on your brand and ultimately your pro� t.

6

Is your brand working for you?

BUSINESS SOLUTIONS...

INCREASE YOUR INCOME!FREE INITIAL MARKETING

ASSESSMENT WORTH £100

HALF DAY MARKETING AUDIT

PRonline

PRonline

PRonline

PRonline

O� ers not available to existing ‘Big Solution’ clients.

7

Charity events and annual days:

Get moving this May! (1st May onwards)Did you know that May is one of the most popular months to dust o� those trainers and get moving? Get inspired by the many organised running events taking place across the UK this month and challenge members to enter their own personal race to power walk, jog or run those miles to kick start their workout for the summer!

Be smart with your heart (June)Join the British Heart Foundation and take part in its ‘Help Heart Cycle Challenge’ to raise money and awareness for a great cause.

Anyone for tennis this half term? (1st-5th June)Keep the kids occupied this half term by holding a half term tennis camp. The perfect prelude to Wimbledon!

Big Toddle(1st June onwards)Organise a mass toddle around your grounds in aid of Barnados. At the end of the toddle reward the tired tots with a Teddy Bears Picnic.

Strip off for cancer Awareness (1st – 30th June)Why not encourage some of your braver personal trainers to do the ‘Full Monty’ to raise money and awareness for ‘Everyman Male Cancer Awareness Month’. Donate some cash and enjoy the show!

Father’s day(20th June)Try o� ering free entry to all dads for the entire weekend when they bring their children. Or, run a father’s day weekend with traditional sports day favourites, sports massages & ‘test-yourself’ triathlons!

May / JunePRonline is our unique public relations tool that enables

you to create, manage and control your own PR.

Other releases:

Annual sports fun day

(June)June marks the start of this year’s

summer season so why not host

a sports fun day o� ering lots of

activities designed to get the whole

family moving together! Just keep

your � ngers crossed for good

weather!

Don’t forget to sell in

your summer campaign!

REMINDERS

PRonline

PRonline

PRonline

PRonlineFOR LEISURE CLIENTS

May 6th UK Parlimentary Election

May 25th - May 29th RHS Chelsea Flower Show

May 29th Isle of Mann TT races begin

May 31st BANK HOLIDAY

Jun 11th - Jul 11th FIFA World Cup

Jun 12th Queens Birthday / Trooping the colours

Jun 15th - Jun 19th Royal Ascot

Jun 20th Father’s day

Jun 21st - Jul 4th The Wimbledon Championships

Jun 25th - Jun 27th Glastonbury music festival

Jul 11th British F1 Grand Prix

Jul 15th - 18th Golf Open Championship

Jul 16th Proms begins

Jul 3rd - Jul 25th Tour De France

8

UPCOMING EVENTS

Golf Open

Championship

RHS Chelsea

Flower Show

9

Delivery times may vary, so please speak to an Account Manager for speci� c lead-times.

TopicTo guarantee delivery by:

Submit your brief by:

May half term activities 05 May 2010 06 Apr 2010

Summer Holiday activities 01 Jul 2010 03 Jun 2010

Autumn timetables 01 Sept 2010 02 Aug 2010

September ‘Back to School’ promotions 06 Sept 2010 09 Aug 2010

University fresher’s fairs 06 Sept 2010 09 Aug 2010

Halloween materials 08 Oct 2010 13 Sept 2010

UPCOMING DEADLINE REMINDERS

RHS Chelsea

Flower Show

10

E-marketing package - a sneak peek!Following client feedback we have begun work on an e-marketing solution.

Many clients are looking at the viability of e-mail marketing as a quick and a� ordable means of communication to customers. Following trials with a number of systems we have begun development on a new e-marketing package that will integrate with our existing design and web packages.

The new package will facilitate the sending of fully ‘clickable’ bulk emails through an intuitive email management system that will feature:

• Ability to mass mail html e-� yers (e-� yers where links/images are clickable etc)

• Allow upload and management of unlimited lists/subscribers

• Provide automatic management of subscriber lists (anyone who wishes to opt out clicks a link and is removed)

• Provide full analysis of each campaign (view reports on who has opened the e-� yers, clicked through, forwarded to friends etc)

• A unique login to:

• View past and present campaigns

• Manage subscribers (add, view, amend, segment etc)

• View and download analysis reports

The new suite is expected to be launched in the coming months. Full package information, availability and pricing will be available in the next issue of The Board.

NEW SERVICES...

If you’d like to register to receive advance information please email: theboard@bigwavemedia.co.uk with the subject line: E-marketing info.

We’ll then email you package details so you can keep ahead of the game!

11

Email Collection Kit

We’ve put together an email collection kit with Retention Management to give tips and tools that can help anyone start or add to their existing subscriber lists.

The kit consists of a number of factsheets, a generic sign up sheet and generic awareness poster.

To receive a free kit, simply email: theboard@bigwavemedia.co.uk with the subject line: ‘Free email collection kit’. We’ll then send you a zip � le with all the factsheets and tools.

Email marketing is accepted as a quick and affordable way to communicate with customers, but building up a strong list of valid email contacts is often a hurdle that is felled.

FREE WIN - RETENTION MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

For � tness industry clients there is still time to enter our competition to win one years free service from Retention Management – providers of the industry’s only automated member communication and retention program

To enter simply request the email collection kit (see left) and start collecting email contacts. At the end of May let us know how many of your members email addresses you have collected and the club that has the highest % of their members email addresses will win one years free service.

All the other clubs will be entered into a separate draw for a second prize of a years free service from Retention Management.

We may from time to time use your personal information to update you by post, telephone or e-mail, about any Big Wave Media service that we believe would be of interest to you.

You can unsubscribe from such contact at anytime by emailing info@bigwavemedia.co.uk with the subject ‘Unsubscribe’ or calling 0845 643 2385.

Bring the fitness experience home with you. Sign up now for our new email program. Receive

updates on club events, support on your workouts and the latest health and fitness information.

We will not use your email for any reason other than club business. We will not, under any circumstances,

sell your email address. Your privacy is very important to us and it will not be compromised.

Please print

Name:

Date of Birth

Email Address:

Please print

Name:

Date of Birth

Email Address:

Please print

Name:

Date of Birth

Email Address:

Please print

Name:

Date of Birth

Email Address:

Please print

Name:

Date of Birth

Email Address:

Please print

Name:

Date of Birth

Email Address:

Please print

Name:

Date of Birth

Email Address:

GO

ING

GR

EEN

Stay Connected

Get Fit

Be Environmentally

Responsible!

Sign up for our e-news and stay updated on:

Special events and offers

Well-being and nutrition tips

Class & programme schedules

Holiday hours

In addition to:

Offering support and encouragement

Providing an easy way for you to communicate

Making small environmentally friendly decisions

such as communicating using email rather than

paper can have a huge impact on the environment.

You can ‘opt out’ any time. Your email address will never be used for any

purpose other than to support you in your healthy pursuits. Your privacy

is very important and we will not compromise it.

Sign Up Today:

See our member service desk for

details on this complimentary service

EMAIL COLLECTION

RECOMMENDATIONS

BIGWAVEM E D I A

We are pleased to offer you the best in member retention

services. This program will help your club increase retention,

drive non-dues revenue and improve your net profi t with very

little effort required on your part.

The objective of our service is to build a connection between

you and your members through the use of targeted and

personalized emails. The more email addresses you have the

greater the impact of our service.

This packet walks you through what we have found to be a

very effective and easy method to gather the majority of your

members’ emails within a few months.

The new member address is THE most important address

to collect. When signing up a new member make sure your

Membership Representatives always collects their email address.

Attached is a sample script that your Membership

Representatives may want to incorporate into their sales process.

We recommend you focus your email collection efforts at the

front desk when members check in. It will be helpful to appoint

someone at the front desk to spearhead this effort for you.

Statistics show that a majority of members (61 - 70%) come to

their club at least once a month if not more. Great results can be

achieved by simply asking members for their email address as

they enter the club.

To help you in this task, follow

the simple steps outlined below:

Step 1 DISTRIBUTE “EMAIL TALKING POINTS” TO NOT ONLY

FRONT DESK STAFF BUT TO EVERYONE THAT INTERACTS WITH

YOUR MEMBERS: Attached is a guide to help your staff easily

explain why they are asking for the email address.

Step 2 USE YOUR CLUB MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE TO ACTIVATE

A REMINDER ‘POP UP’ WINDOW AT CHECK IN: Most club

management software programs have this functionality, but it

must be activated. Please contact your club software provider for

instructions.

It works like this: When a member is checked in, if you do not

have an email address on fi le for them, a ‘Reminder’ window will

pop up on the screen alerting you to ask for their email address.

This is very similar to the ‘Birthday Reminder’ that you may

already utilize.

Step 3 POST FLYERS:

To help raise member awareness, display a fl yer at the front desk

and other areas throughout the club. You may use the attached

fl yer or create one yourself.

Have your team “talk it up.” Empower them to ask for

addresses whenever they are engaged with a member.

They should simply ask:

Do we have your email address yet? We’ll only use it to keep you

informed and to help you achieve your goals.

If possible, write it down immediately – do not wait!

New Member Email Collection:

Current Member Email Collection:

Guides courtesy of Retention Management

EMAIL COLLECTION

RECOMMENDATIONS

BIGWAVEM E D I A

www.bigwavemedia.co.uk

Step 4 ASK FOR THEIR EMAIL ADDRESS: If the ‘Email Reminder’

pops up when a member checks in: “Can I get your email address

so we can include you in our program to help improve our

service to you?” To make it easy for your front desk, attached

is a sign-up sheet. Print out a stack of these and write in each

member’s information as you get it. These sheets can also be cut

into separate slips and used for Step 5 below.

Optional Step 5 WEEKLY DRAWINGS: To generate excitement

many clubs have a weekly prize drawing to provide additional

incentive for members to provide their email address.

1. Post a fl yer announcing the prize (PT session, dinner for 2, pro

shop item, guest passes, etc.) and the weekly winner will be

notifi ed by email.

2. Have a fi sh bowl or similar at front desk with pre-printed slips

(name, email address, date of birth – date of birth is asked in

the event you have 2 members with the same name).

3. Change the prize regularly and run the drawings for 1-2

months.

Step 6 ENTER COLLECTED ADDRESSES INTO YOUR CLUB

SOFTWARE SYSTEM: We recommend this be done daily or, at

minimum weekly.

Why do you need to get a new

member’s email address?Samples

We have included samples of the items discussed in this packet

for your use.

1. Sample Membership Representative script – when getting a

new member’s email during the sales process, this script will

help your team position the service by showing how your

club truly cares about helping them to succeed.

2. Staff Talking Points – to help your staff better answer

questions from members, we have included some short

simple talking points on the service.

3. Flyer – print and post the attached fl yer or create one with

your logo. Post throughout the club. Or use this as a guide to

create your own.

4. Sample Sign-Up sheet – print out a stack and keep available

at the Front Desk.

If you follow the recommendations outlined above for 1½ to 2

months you should have at least 50% of your members’ receiving

this value adding service and you will be well on your way to

reaping the long term fi nancial benefi ts that improved retention

provides.

We hope you found this information helpful. We are here to

assist you and look forward to providing your members with

motivation and quality health related information.

Guides courtesy of Retention Management

• Keep you up to date on what’s going on in the club, including:

• Holiday hours

• Class or programming schedule updates

• Special events or offerings

• Provide information on the latest health and nutrition tips.

• Offer support and encouragement on your attendance. We

want to help you stay motivated.

• It will make it easier for you to provide us with feedback. With

any email you receive you can click the REPLY button and

provide us with any comments, questions or concerns. We

value your feedback.

• We want to do everything we can to add value and this will

help to keep you better informed and connected to the club.

Your success is our greatest priority.

EMAIL COLLECTION

TALKING POINTS

Do we have your email address yet? We’ll only use it to

keep you informed and to help you achieve your goals.Ask the member:

BIGWAVEM E D I A

• You can always “opt-out” at any time and no longer receive

these emails. Every email has a link on the bottom for you to

just click and “opt-out”.

• We will not use your email for any reason other than club

business. We will not, under any circumstances, sell your email

address. Your privacy is very important to us and we will not

compromise it.

Why do we want your Email Address?I do not want to be included OR

what if I don’t want to participate?

www.bigwavemedia.co.ukGuides courtesy of Retention Management

Sample Script to use with a prospect:

As you consider joining, we want to let you know about one

feature we offer that most other clubs do not. From the time you

join, we are going to stay in touch with you via email to support

and encourage you regarding your exercise habits. We will also

provide you with benefi cial health information that will help you

achieve your goals and lead a healthier life. You will occasionally

be informed of club events, special hours or new services.

Just as your banker maintains your account, your dentist calls to

remind you that it is time for your annual check up … we, as your

health club, have made a commitment to be more tuned in to

your progress and success.

In most health clubs, you join and then it’s completely up to YOU

to actually get in there and reach your goals. We would like to

help. Our goal is to encourage and support you as an individual.

Don’t worry your address will be carefully guarded and will only

be used to keep you informed about the club and to support you

in your efforts to lead a healthier life.

With so many obligations tugging at you daily, it isn’t easy to

make time to come to the club and workout. We know that and

that is why we want to do our part to help you.

NEW MEMBER

EMAIL COLLECTION

BIGWAVEM E D I A

For most clubs, 60% or more of new members quit within the

fi rst year of joining. The overwhelming reason for cancellation is

that they never made their visits to the club a habit.

With our email communication service, your new members will

receive regular support and follow up. Plus, great tips on how

to make exercise a part of their life. In addition it will keep them

up to date on what’s going on at the club such as special events,

schedule changes, holiday hours or new programs.

Most importantly it will give them an opportunity to provide

any comments, questions or concerns. When they receive their

email the member can click the Reply button to correspond with

the club.

Many individuals will have both a personal and a business email

address, ask them which one they would prefer you use to stay in

touch. Also, if they are signing up as a family it is preferable, but

not mandatory, to have a separate email address for each family

member.

Why do you need to get a new

member’s email address?

This Support Service is also a

sales tool that will differentiate

your club from the competition.

Action Point: Be sure to collect

each new member’s email address

when you sign them up!

www.bigwavemedia.co.ukGuides courtesy of Retention Management

Regular member-instructor communication is vital to reducing attrition rates... so we have developed a brand new series of high-quality, affordable gym games to improve member retention and help your staff interact with members.

The gym games will:

• Enable staff to build relationships with members

• Keep your members engaged for the duration of the challenge - helping to form exercise habits

• Provide members with an opportunity to ask questions and get to know your facility.

• Provide members with realistic and fun goals to aim for

• Give motivating recognition and reward for regular attendance.

Each gym challenge supplies you with 2x A1 wall charts, 10x A4 posters and 50x A5 certificates.

The wallcharts, with spaces for 25 participants on each, are displayed on the gym wall to allow participating members to log their name and progress throughout the challenge – participants can also see how other members are progressing throughout the game.

The posters detail the rules/instructions for the challenge and should be displayed in the gym and around your club/centre to raise interest and awareness. The certi� cates are to reward and recognise each member that successfully completes the challenge.

Each game has a speci� c theme and is designed to encourage sustained attendance over a set period of time.

For more information or to order off the shelf please visit www.gymgames.co.uk

4x gym game sets for just

£249.99+p&p

Games include: Go the distance - Tri it triathalon - Mega fi t - Cardio burn

Stock Clearance Purchase our previous set of four quality gym games for just £174.99.

GYMGAMES Brand NewGym Games

FOR 2010/2011LANDS END TO JOHN O’GROATS CHALLENGE

CALORIE BLAST OFF CHALLENGE

LONDON MARATHON 2011 CHALLENGE

TOUR DE FRANCE CHALLENGE

12

JUST A FEW OF OUR CLIENTS...

Big Wave Media Ltd. 1st Floor, Exeland House, Tudor Street, Exeter, EX4 3BRTel: +44 (0)845 643 2385 | Fax: +44 (0)845 643 2386Email: info@bigwavemedia.co.uk | Web: bigwavemedia.co.uk

sports and cultural trust

DAVIDMONKHOUSEConsulting limited

L I F E S T Y L ES PA | H E A LT H | F I T N E S S

www.southsomerset.gov.uk/leisure