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Everyone is painfully aware that the US
economy has taken a downturn. Many businesses
and industries are facing difficult and scary times. Now that people are more
concerned about their future earning power, they are more careful about where
they spend their time and money. Here are ten tips to help you stay proactive
during a tough economy.
- Go for quality
over quantity – when
thinking about how to spend your limited
advertising dollars, don’t be afraid
to pick only those opportunities that
give you the most bang for your buck.
- Get creative – they say necessity
breeds ingenuity. Think outside of the
box by looking into local partnerships
and exchanges.
- Put words into
the word of mouth approach – it’s
true that we are our own best advertising.
Send a letter or note to parents and
alumni and ask them to tell a friend
and offer them a reward or incentive.
- Have a heart – don’t be
afraid to contact families that haven’t
registered for camp and ask (gently), “why?” You
may find that finances are the primary
reason, and if so, let parents know about
any financial assistance your camp offers.
If there are other reasons, it’s
important to know what those are as well.
You may find a common thread.
- Keep it clean – One of the top
complaints among dissatisfied camp parents
is cleanliness. Make sure that all staff
are properly trained and abide by cleaning
procedures.
- Say it with a
smile – You’ve
heard that “the customer is always
right.” And while we know that
this doesn’t always apply to parents,
it is important to remember customer
service basics.
- Ask for a better
deal – if it’s
time to renew existing contracts, don’t
be afraid to renegotiate.
- Give a shout out – recognize
staff members that you rely on. If someone
is doing a great job, let them know.
Staff are motivated by positive feedback,
so make sure that, when appropriate,
you dish it out.
- Together Everyone
Achieves More – use
the team approach to build positive relationships
within your staff. By taking a team approach
to problem solving, everyone will feel
invested in the outcome.
- Don’t be a pencil pusher – when
your best staff members are promoted,
make sure that they still get regular
interaction with parents and campers.
Make sure that all staff, even office
staff, participate in camp activities.
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