Even though your particular camp might only be in session for part of a season, there are plenty of ways to stay connected with your community throughout the year. You can send updates to camp families easily with a variety of channels and mediums. We’ll explore some of the most popular ways to connect with – and compel! – your campers and their families.
Text
With CampSite, you can send mass text messages to hundreds, even thousands, of your database contacts with just a few clicks. Text messages are a convenient way to reach parents quickly – no matter where they are. Text messaging is super useful during the camp season to communicate with individual families or a whole group. But it shouldn’t be dismissed as a great way to provide instant updates on session offerings or community news during the off-season.
By now, everyone knows that email is a reliable method for providing relevant and useful content to subscribers. Surprisingly, a well-planned email strategy isn’t as common. Consider the messaging you could send camp families year-round that would be interesting, engaging, and informative.
Determine how frequently you’d like to send it – a monthly or quarterly newsletter, for instance – and plan the rough outline ahead of time. Use our Email Scheduling feature to draft and schedule emails for a future send date right inside the CampSite dashboard. Consistent, quality messaging is key when it comes to an effective email strategy!
Social Media
Make it easy for your campers, families, and staff to find you on social media. Popular channels include Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Pinterest. Sign up for all five and keep a steady stream of content flowing to each (you can post the same content across channels) so people know you’re actively in business. Tools like HootSuite, Sprout Social, and Buffer can help you manage your social media.
Once you’ve committed to your channels, include “Follow Us!” icons for each on your website, email footers, and any other brand messaging. Social media is one of the best ways to inform families of session updates like new offerings – and engage with them, too.
Direct Mail
It may seem like a thing of the past… but snail mail is still effective! Direct mail marketing your camp is a great way to reach new and prospective camp families alike. With the help of a free design platform like Canva, it’s never been easier to come up with your own graphics.
Direct mail is most effective when sent a few times over to the same mailing list. Because of that, it’s a perfect off-season marketing or remarketing campaign that you can set-and-forget. For existing camp families, include information about the upcoming season and shout out highlights from the past (pictures always appreciated!).
Video Content
Create a library of engaging content that your community can access at any time of year. YouTube, or a similar video streaming service, is your best bet for getting started. Create yearbook slideshows commemorating past seasons, post videos of camper-favored activities or songs, feature updates from counselors or directors, and more.
You can easily share video content across social media. Plus, it’s a fun way to get some facetime in with your community no matter where they are or what time of year it is.
Engaging and updating your camp families throughout the year has never been easier. So with a little planning, content creation, and a list of camp contacts, you’ll be on your way to a comprehensive outreach plan. Keep your camp experience top-of-mind no matter the season!
Is your camp running on CampSite? Request a free, personalized demo to explore our comprehensive camp management software today!