Activity Time Ireland is here with a simple 10 Step Guide on creating a social media post that ensures confident booking. Many of you would like to put a ‘poster’ on Facebook or other social media platforms. We’d like to guide you on how to do it RIGHT, first time!
10 Step Checklist…
1: Dates
You need to be clear on the start dates and finish dates of your camp. If you are running more than 1 week then be really clear. Let me give you an example…
July 5th – 9th
July 12th- 16th
Aug 3rd – 6th (4 days)
As most camps in Ireland are a full week, starting each Monday, parents could assume you are offering a 5-day camp. When not clear, questions will appear in your inbox. If you are including a camp after the August Bank Holiday weekend be sure to say it’s for 4 days, it will again save you replying to emails and making refunds.
2: Where
Sometimes you will be in one venue only but maybe you are running different weeks in different venues. Clarity is key. If you have one address then it’s easy, however be sure to include it. If you are running a camp in many venues lay out your design so it’s easy to comprehend. For example…
July 5th – 9th Abbey Hall, Bray
July 12th- 16th Valley School, Arklow
Aug 3rd – 6th (4 days) Grey Centre, Bray3: Age Range
So what is the perfect age range that suits your specific camp? Depending on your camp offering this varies widely. Many camp owners group younger kids and older kids separately to accommodate their skill levels. If you have one grouping it’s easy but here is an example of two…
Junior Club: age 4 – 8
Senior Club: age 9 – 14
4: Times
Essential for parents planning ahead that you add the start times and finish times of the camp. Working parents are possibly shopping for kid’s camps with longer hours, others may be trying to figure out if it’s good value for money or if it’s worth the journey. Sometimes you might have a morning and afternoon camp – a clear design means less confusion. So an example could be…
10am – 1pm
2pm – 5pm
5: Price
Mucho important for any successful checklist! Once you have figured out your overheads and desired profits, pop your price on nice & clear. If there is a sibling discount be sure to say so. For example…
€99 – 1st child (sibling discount offered t&cs)
€89 – 2nd child
€79 – 3rd child
6: Booking & Contact Details
Where can they make a booking? Do you have a QR code or web address where they can book directly? Include it! Also add it in the text that goes with your post so it’s a dynamic and active link. It’s also essential to include your email and/or telephone phone to build trust with parents booking. For example…
BOOK today >> activity-time.com
Book by email >> audrey@activity-time.com
Phone Audrey on 086-8036914
7: Create Urgency
During 2021 summer camp places were properly limited but this may not always be the case. However, it’s ok to use marketing language to encourage parents to make a booking, rather than putting it on the long finger. Remind them that early bookings are a good idea. For example you can add…
‘Limited Spaces’
8: Activity Brief
Adding a brief description of your camp’s activities so the parents can figure out if it will suit their children can be very helpful. Sports camps can be easily understood but art camps, tech camps, mixed dance camps, multi-activity camps or fashion camps etc might have a theme or activities that will attract clients. Here’s an good example from an art camp in Bray, Co. Wicklow called @WhiteDoodleWorkshops that I booked for my own daughter…
Arts & Crafts
Outdoor games
Sensory Messy Fun
Lego Challenges
Printmaking
Tie Dye
Teamwork
And much more!..
9: Social Media Symbols
Why not add the symbols for your active social media channels, especially if you also offer term-time classes, birthday party packages or after school clubs. Gain some followers and if the kid’s camp dates don’t suit the parents may book something else in the future if they know about it. For example…
10: Logo
If you have a logo then here is a good place to add it in. You are in the business of growing brand awareness with every piece of marketing you send out – include your logo here so it becomes more and more familiar to people. For example here is one…
So that’s your kid’s camp post checklist – what do you do next?
How do you turn your checklist to turn it into a good post?
Activity Time Ireland is not being paid to advertise this design site, it’s simply one that I’ve gotten comfortable with. You might have a different app or website that you like but sometimes it can be beneficial see what’s out there.
STEP 1.
Sign up to Canva, it’s free but offers paid options too…
STEP 2.
Fill in all 10 components from our checklist:
Dates
Where
Age Range
Times
Price
Booking & Contact Details
Create Urgency
Activity brief
Social Media Symbols
Logo
*This is a fictious design so I didn’t add my logo.
7 Tips to make it visible on social media
Let your poster work hard for you!
- When posting this design to your business page be sure to write out the website link in the text, so clients can easily click on it to make the booking and ‘pin’ it to the top of your page.
- Share on your local community Facebook pages. In Bray we have one called Bray Open Forum – is there one in your area? Maybe try sharing in nearby other community pages from nearby towns too.
- Share in WhatsApp groups you think are appropriate and ask people to ‘share’.
- Consider a paid ‘boost’ to your Facebook followers, to make sure they see it.
- Follow up and let the public know when a camp is ‘Nearly Full’ to generate further demand and create a limited purchasing window.
- Post and let the public know when a camp is ‘Fully Booked’ to create demand for what is left.
- Post your design a few times on your Facebook business & personal page and other social media platforms, where your customers may spend time.
Do you have any other suggestions that you think could be helpful to this post? At Activity Time Ireland we’d love to hear your thoughts…