Facebook - Does It Have a Place In Clubs?

I like facebook.

I am speaking from a personal perspective now. It's a great way to share stories and feelings and photo's with friends and family that you may not otherwise have the time to catch up with as often as you like. And, you can share all this across the people whom you have 'invited' into your inner sactum. I love it because as a busy person, I can do all this on a large scale...once.....The downfall....is that it can be addictive and chew extraordinary amounts of time. It is probably an employers worst nightmare for say...office staff...communicating through facebook during the course of the day.

On a business front though, facebook can be a very powerful tool to 'share' your Clubs up coming promotions, shows, special events and generate a 'following'. I think at the core of all Clubs in NSW this is the absolute key. People want to feel that they 'belong' and have a place in their local community. This is where a Clubs brand becomes so important and the values that it extends to its target market. Whilst a sense of community is essential in Clubs, it is also critical that Clubs look outside out their core community at ways and means to build sub target markets to build upon and generate new means of income outside of the traditional ones. Online technology utilisation as a key component in your marketing strategy (like websites, emarketing and facebook) is a way of cost effectively marketing your club to a mass audience. It means that a Club can build its profile and brand to a much wider and deeper circle of potential members.

If you are going to use facebook in your Club, the most important key is to keep communication regular and meaningful to the people who are your friends. The content needs to keep building and it needs to stay friendly and relevant and if possible create a fun and interactive online environment that is an extension of the Clubs brand and personality.