Getting the Word Out

[CL Resil]

B-b-b-bird bird, bird is the word..



Ok, more seriously. I'd like to create a flyer and/or something like a business card for this forum. Something that is inexpensive but will catch local people's eyes, and that they can easily take one home with them. The flyer will have the forum's address, and my CL email address.

With that in mind, there are two things that I'm working on:

1) How to connect with people who don't use the internet?
I guess I could put my phone number on the card, and collect a mailing list for these people, and maybe someone can do up a newsletter summarizing the activity and info that was shared on this board. Any other ideas, though?

2) What tagline to add to the flyer/card that would let people quickly know what this forum is about, and why they should care.
A tagline/slogan is a key phrase that identifies one's business, briefly capturing the business' mission. CLR's tagline would be a simple phrase or sentence that lets people know who we are, and what we do.

Some key ideas for developing the tagline would be our target audience, and CLR's mission/vision.

target audience:
* residents in and around the Cain Lake Rd area, including side streets, etc.

mission/vision:
* to connect people
* to help us find local resources, both in material as well as skills, knowledge, and experience; perhaps even create a local directory with this info in it
* to create a local community
* to help the people in this area become more resilient, able to adapt easily during economic or other changes...instead of merely deciding whether to stay or move closer to town.

So, how can we get all that info down into a simple sentence or phrase?

Anyways, I'd like to get something out soon. It doesn't have to be a final product. Just something that will help get the ball rolling. Maybe one of the upcoming members will have a mind for being verbally creative and come up with a better one. But for now, we need a start.

Any ideas on these?

[LynRogers]

One of the sites I used for getting an idea on how to create a tagline suggested:

1) Start building a tagline with the purpose of your site. Decide what you have to offer.

2) Then ask yourself "So what?" Why would the visitor care? What benefit would they get by staying on your site?

3) Make your tagline reflect your site's image. Pick an adjective that encompasses your business image, take the summary of your benefits and tack that to your mission.


So....after some brainstorming I came up with the following:

1) site purpose:
* create a local community
* create a local resource directory

2) benefits:
* connect with local people
* find local resources
* area residential resiliency if/when under pressure/change

3) image:
* informal
* adaptable
* like a water that takes on the form of whatever it's container is
* creative, both in the creation sense as well as the imaginative sense

After playing around with the above some, I came up with one that really struck a nerve for me.

"Cain Lake Community -
local residents creating local resources."

I like this because it means that anyone can find a niche they want to fill...and fill it.

We know that there are some local people who already create resources that maybe a few people know of, but more people could use if they knew it was there.

There are also people looking for a service that someone local maybe never thought about offering before.

And there may be local people who would like to fill a niche in a community, but aren't sure what needs they can help fill.

So, as a starter flyer, what do ya'll think? Do you think this would make a decent flyer line? Do you think it might entice people to at least check out the forum?

"Cain Lake Community - local residents creating local resources."


(as usual, I'm open to other ideas and input)

[CL Resil]

I've put up a few slips of paper on the Glenhaven Store bulletin board. Frankly, though, they aren't very appealing. Perhaps an image is needed. What kind of image suggests "Community"?

So far, the suggestions I've gotten are:
people holding hands in a circle
people holding hands in a line
park bench
light pole
gazebo

Any others?
Any preferences?

[chickoa]

a marketplace type thing

[LynRogers]

May 15, 2011 17:41:55 GMT -8 chickoa said:

a marketplace type thing

Oooh, chickoa, I like that idea!

hmm, I wonder if there are any cliparts of marketplaces....
Like maybe some little marketstalls or such.
It'd be cute if could find some little stalls or tents that have big signs that can be changed to represent each section on this forum. Like one that says TEENS or ARCADE or such, for the teen section. And then other stalls/tents for the other sections.

[LynRogers]

Yesterday, with the help of moompix, I got an image that I'd like to try out on a flyer. I still have to figure out the typeface, colors, and arrangement. Have I mentioned that I am not all that creative in things like this? Thankfully I've found a couple of books to help me out.

These will be initial flyers. But better than those slips of papers I had tried at the store. However, they aren't set in stone. Meaning that if anyone has other ideas, feel free to share...please!

What I still don't know is how to reach the non-computer users of our area. Any ideas?

[saraistevens]

Feedback is always good. Our Chuckanut Transition group learned about you from the Alger Community Hall Improvement Club. Two of us are on the board. You had stopped by the Alger Bar and Grill and spoke with the owner and the cook who are also on the board, and they passed on the information.

Business cards are cheap and word of mouth is priceless.

If you gave us some cards we would be able to promote your group through our various events and weekly through the Bow Little Market.

Hope to be of help,
Sarai

[LynRogers]

Hi Sarai

I learned about the Alger Community Hall from jamin's post. I never even knew they had one.

The bar...I hadn't realized any of the people I was talking with were more than patrons of the bar. I wasn't actually prepared to talk with people that day. I seriously need to work on my elevator pitch.

I have some cards already printed up (from house printer). I'll be sure to bring them with me to the presentation later this month, or earlier if I meet up with someone.

I didn't know that Alger had anything like this going on. I certainly have a lot to learn.

Has Chuckanut Transition considered posting flyers at Glenhaven Store's corkboard?
There is also Glenhaven Lakes Club's website business directory: www.glenhavenlakes.com/BusinessDirectory.html (I haven't tried this yet.)
I'll mention these two places on jamin's thread.

[saraistevens]

Hey Lyn,

Me again.

Our community building project is not only in Alger (although I mentioned that two of us are on the Board of the Alger Comm. Improvement Club). We also include Belfast, Bow, Edison, Blanchard, Allen, and Samish Island, and plan on coordinating with the efforts that are already going on. For instance, Blanchard Comm. Hall has some great cooking classes.

Maybe you could put some bus. cards in an envelope tacked to the Alger Community Hall cork board, so we could have some to pass out at the event on the 16th.

I'll check out the Glenhaven's Lake's Club website. We have been looking for ways of infiltrating that neighborhood. Last year, we had a Bow Little Market Poster up on the board at the grocery store, but it is not very big and things tend to get taken down to make room for others. We also advertised on the reader board on Cain Lake Rd. for a few days. We'll make sure the Glenhaven store continues to get notifications.

Sarai

[LynRogers]

Cain Lake reader board?

Oh, that sign on the guy's property for renting it for a message?

That's one of the reasons I shouldn't have put Resiliency in the forum name, makes the message too long for quick enough reading + comprehension.

Edited to add....
Wait, what is happening on the 16th?