Marketing Team

Brandi, Chad, Wendy, Lisa and Heidi reviewed survey results, target markets, outreach opportunities, new Facebook page and volunteer opportunities.

The survey, summarized here, indicates target markets as evenly spread across age and years in field. Some non-service professionals, including managers, receptionists, and students also replied, and other sources of professional info give insight into promoting trainings and memberships.  Lisa will input comments to a draft overall marketing plan.

Brandi drafted a Facebook page, for which we set objectives as:  to meet consumer demand (100% of survey respondents would connect on Facebook), raise awareness of Network, and provide interactive forum for feedback and info sharing.  In six months, we can evaluate success, integrate additional tools and to website, and find out how it has been helpful. Team and board (and hopefully others) will post content on:  issues in field, success stories, event announcemnts, share practices/books/training content.  The concept is to promote a social community, e.g. 'The Network is like your best friend--come back and visit.'

A student intern could serve as Page Administrator to further develop features.  Another could be a broader Marketing intern to conduct targeted marketing for trainings.  Yet another could focus on promoting the Network's $10 student membership.  Brandi will pursue this option with her school.  The group decided on parameters to include--piloting outreach to Metro State's social work certification and related degree programs, finding contacts and writing copy to reach the student market, developing a list of outreach contacts at related degree programs in the state.

To expand audiences, trainers will have to be able to provide generic info in materials and be aware of targeted audiences in attendance, and we will need to collect feedback and testimonies from attendees.
Target audiences for 2010 training outreach brainstormed:
Mental Health:  caregivers, support groups, state entity and/or government division, NAMI, NASW, health providers in database, MHAC, psych nurses, prison system, chaplains' association, specific disorder associations
Leadership/Secondary Trauma (rename as Take Care, First Aid for Leaders, Growing Happiness, Leading your Team....):  managers, supervisors in database, corporate?, RM Employers Council, telemarketers association, DUSSW leadership track, SBA, Housing Colorado, foreclosure, Realtors, AHMA
Motivational Interviewing (also look at names--client-centered goal setting, Motrivation, Take the You out of We, Achieving Consumer Goals, Motivate to Success...):  adult mentors, Big Brothers, Youth Mentoring Collaborative, newlyweds, strentghs-based orgs, religious agencies, employment & HR departments, probation officers, addictions/abuse/specialized services, group homes, drop-out prevention programs, HS & career counselors

Next meeting January 12th, 10AM at 4045 Pecos to cover:
- goal of increasing membership by 10% of contacts (1134 total);
- intern description/timeline/goal to market student membership;
- revise events marketing timeline--what's working well, add tactics & outreach;
- review draft marketing plan.

The Marketing Team will next meet at Catholic Charities on December 8, 10AM.

To summarize, the Network's survey respondents are computer-savvy, degreed professionals interested in improvement and making a difference.  They are split between supervisors(25%) and frontline staff (75%), and are currently mostly in the metro area.  65% rank the Network's training highly.

Wendy is drafting the marketing plan, including SWOT, audiences, purchasing decisions, and strategy.  The board will review audiences, key words and purpose of marketing plan.

Some items for our tactics:
Develop supervisor contact list to promote trainings.
Brainstorm strategies to market specific events to targeted audiences.
Create a style guide for the Network's print/web materials.
Review & post events task list, especially for marketing purposes.
Statewide outreach for listserve.

December:
Review event timeline.
Review plan draft.
Finalize tag lines/keywords.
Brainstorm tactics.

Human Services Network Marketing Committee Meeting Summary

September 22, 2009,Present: Lisa Woods, Heidi Baker and Wendy Oldenbrook

Discussed Function – Charge of the Committee:

            Create a Marketing Plan

            Oversee Methods of Communication

                        Digital/online: website – blog – social marketing

                        Print: flyers, brochures

                        Develop Graphic standard template/logo

            Coordinate flow of information between the training committee, membership and

                        marketing with regards to marketing needs

Recruitment Needs for Marketing Committee: Web volunteer, Graphic person, Social media

First Steps:

1.      Current Market Analysis: Complete a SWOT at Governance Comm. Meeting

2.      Describe Target Market with Board at next board meeting

3.      Fully describe/delineate products and benefits (use information from membership survey?)

4.      Gather/explore means of communication

5.      Set objectives

First Objective:            Marketing trainings

Next Meeting:  November 4, Catholic Charities, 4045 Pecos

The Marketing Team will hold its second meeting on November 4.  See our calendar for more details or to RSVP.

Those with an interest or skill in the following are invited to be a part of the development:

• website/IT
• organization--timeline, coordination of info
• social media
• graphics
• communications standards & editing
  
• outreach to agencies
• systems for public speaking and table presentations
• newsletter production or writing
• marketing plans