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New NCRS Marketing initiative.

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  • Mark E.
    Extremely Frequent Poster
    • April 1, 1993
    • 4542

    #31
    Re: New NCRS Marketing initiative.

    Originally posted by Ed Nieves (51799)
    For whatever it's worth, my daughter has a degree in public relations/marketing and is a PR professional for a living. From her perspective, she thinks this is a good idea. She did indicate that the efforts need to be targeted at retention and bringing in new members into the organization in order to experience growth and sustainability.

    She thinks that the NCRS should provide an atmosphere that is balanced between the relevant generations. According to her thoughts, it all starts with the little things accumulating into the big picture. I know this is not the norm with NCRS events, but as an example, providing a more festive environment on the show floor could help spark some emotional excitement. This is not intended has a negative, but I have been to some regional events that felt like I was in a funeral. She also mentioned that through a course of time, sometimes an organization could use a re-branding campaign to go along with their marketing action plan.

    Also, when new members join, it would not hurt to highlight them in social media and in the restorer. In the general sense, we give them their time of fame. But more importantly, people have to feel welcomed at the events. At the end of the day, it's all about how we made them feel is what they really remember. There are many other initiatives that I'm sure this young lady will bring to the table. I completely support the NCRS. It's a great organization. Does it face challenges from time to time, sure, but what organization or company doesn't (it's normal).

    I understand that people don't like change, but sometimes it's required to improve processes and circumstances. Maybe if we just look at it as improvement instead of change, it will be better embraced. At the end of the day, the marketing initiatives have to tie into our actions as a group.

    Just my two cents.
    I'm just a grumpy engineer not an event planner or marketeer, but Ed and his daughter have some good ideas. What if a professional planner created exciting and informational floor design which drew in guests to national and regional events? Maybe fun presentations on the floor like we see at new auto shows to introduce a car. Special effects lighting...

    Invite guests to experience the sound and action as the cars enter or leave the floor. An announcer could say a few words about each car and owner it entered the arena. Maybe this is part of a parade around the local downtown.

    And a social media campaign to invite local enthusiasts to the show.
    Last edited by Mark E.; May 21, 2018, 11:06 AM.
    Mark Edmondson
    Dallas, Texas
    Texas Chapter

    1970 Coupe, Donnybrooke Green, Light Saddle LS5 M20 A31 C60 G81 N37 N40 UA6 U79
    1993 Coupe, 40th Anniversary, 6-speed, PEG 1, FX3, CD, Bronze Top

    Comment

    • Steve B.
      Extremely Frequent Poster
      • March 1, 2002
      • 1190

      #32
      Re: New NCRS Marketing inititive.

      Originally posted by John Waggoner (107)
      As Steven commented, NCRS is not targeting the current members with the social media expansion, although those that wish to follow it are more than welcome. We are also not selling or renting or leasing member contact information to telemarketers or spammers or hackers. If the NCRS intends to exist for a long time to come we have to start attracting younger members. You and I may have learned about NCRS in Hemmings, or Vette Views or some other publication, the next generation are not going to find us there because they don't read those magazines. They Google Corvette, or C4 Corvette or something like that. We have to be able to be found with those type searches or the younger owners will never find us.

      C1 Corvettes are great cars, but if GM still built them you wouldn't see many being purchased. Times are changing just like they did for our parents and grandparents. Remember how much they hated those new fangled push button phones? NCRS unlike some of us has to change to keep up or it will go to the grave with us.
      I agree John, change is the only constant. Even though a lot of members here do not use social media (myself included) I understand that if we are to survive long term that we need to embrace it in order to reach potential members.

      Comment

      • Michael J.
        Extremely Frequent Poster
        • January 27, 2009
        • 7122

        #33
        Re: New NCRS Marketing inititive.

        I have been on Facebook since my kids (now in their early 30s) joined. They and their friends left Facebook several years ago, as they found too many "old" people were on it........
        Big Tanks In the High Mountains of New Mexico

        Comment

        • Kenneth B.
          Extremely Frequent Poster
          • August 31, 1984
          • 2090

          #34
          Re: New NCRS Marketing inititive.

          Originally posted by Steven Brohard (5759)
          Welcome Lauren! Having been in Marketing since the mid 80's I have seen recognition and responce, including purchases and membership gains, increase through electronic media. For the past few years electronic media has far surpassed print, TV, radio. Especially the young we are trying to bring in and join us are almost solely using electronic media. If not the case we wouldn't have this website or forum. The World has changed.
          I agree Steve. Very few people read newspapers ETC. Most including me & I'm 74 get all of our info from electronic media. With family & friends moving all over the country facebook is a great way to stay in touch. For those that think not using those outlets keep ones info safe have there head in the sand. People can & do have all of our info whether one uses electronic media or not. Glad NCRS is trying to move with the times. I didn't join NCRS for a long time because they didn't allow the newer C-2'S in the day.
          65 350 TI CONV 67 J56 435 CONV,67,390/AIR CONV,70 454/air CONV,
          What A MAN WON'T SPEND TO GIVE HIS ASS A RIDE

          Comment

          • Roy S.
            Past National Judging Chairman
            • July 31, 1979
            • 1025

            #35
            Re: New NCRS Marketing inititive.

            Originally posted by Dave Perry (19643)
            Loren: That's why I worded post #13 the way I did.
            I recall we were being told that membership was "holding steady at about 15,000 members" for most of the past decade. At the 2017 Texas Regional, Mike Ingam, in response to a question regarding current membership, cited the number was "approximately 12,500". I heard through another fairly reliable in-the-know source that the Cincinatti office had been cooking the membership number for some time, and that a recent audit of the membership records resulted in the current number of "12,500". Hence the "2,000" reduction probably didn't occur in a single year, but over a much longer period of time.
            Dave, I realize you are repeating what you heard, but think about this. The number was always around 14,800 family memberships as I remember, Reporting 2,300 more memberships than you actually have if the real number was 12,500 means that annually you must create $103,500.00 for you accountant to cover those 2300 cooked members (for what purpose?). Are we actually thinking that for some unknown reason the Mortimer’s arbitrarily donated $103,500 to NCRS every year? I doubt that very seriously!!! I think any accountant would have realized a short fall of membership income in the $103,500 range. I think the answer is plain and simple. Membership is down 2300 families, not the books were cooked, it's the Mortimer's fault.
            Last edited by Roy S.; June 1, 2018, 11:46 AM.

            Comment

            • Marc G.
              Expired
              • May 20, 2017
              • 12

              #36
              Re: New NCRS Marketing initiative.

              I would like to personally thank Lauren for taking the initiative to expand the NCRS. I am 29 and purchased my 67' at the age of 27. Although I spend most of my time working (to pay for the car) and not enough time enjoying it, I am proud to be an NCRS member.

              I realize many of you are concerned about the cost / benefit analysis of social media and supplemental privacy concerns. I understand why, but please recognize why it is important to support Lauren and her efforts. Social media will bring new members to the group.

              If you are interested in learning more about social media or just want to talk to a new young member, please introduce yourself at Altoona. It will be my first NCRS event and hopefully not my last.

              Thanks Lauren!

              Marc Greenberg
              Black/Saddle 67' - L79 Survivor with 27k miles

              Comment

              • Eric M.
                Expired
                • May 31, 1974
                • 26

                #37
                Re: New NCRS Marketing inititive.

                Thanks Roy. As soon as you leave- history begins to be re-written. It's sad to watch it in real time.
                Dad and I reported the exact membership numbers at every Board meeting and whenever anyone asked. Members paid their dues and received the magazines. Anyone who cares to check can know the exact number of every NCRS magazine ever mailed. Those official USPS mailing records were the number of NCRS members minus a very small number of free memberships. Dad and I gave a large part of our lives to the NCRS, but NO- we did NOT donate $100,000+ yearly to the cause to make membership numbers look better. To what end? Anyone is welcome to see how many members the NCRS had when we were there and how many there are now.

                If there are almost 2,500 less- that's truly sad, but I wouldn't be surprised.
                Eric Mortimer,
                Former NCRS employee since 1980.

                Comment

                • Bruce B.
                  Extremely Frequent Poster
                  • May 31, 1996
                  • 2930

                  #38
                  Re: New NCRS Marketing inititive.

                  Read Eric's post quickly as it will be deleted or moved to a "black hole" as soon as the left coast wakes up...

                  Comment

                  • Dick W.
                    Former NCRS Director Region IV
                    • June 30, 1985
                    • 10483

                    #39
                    Re: New NCRS Marketing initiative.

                    Google ranks this site 1,896,000 and change. Sounds insignificant by the ranking but you have to remember there are 1,675,000,000 plus sites on the web. Google Adwords is a useful marketing ploy but Facebook will get you more traffic. In my business many of my competitors have totally abandoned traditional print media and have gone totally to FB marketing. Advertising of FB is a very steep learning curve that you have to continually update your thinking as they continually update their algorithms.

                    I hire someone to do my FB marketing as it has gotten beyond my feeble brain
                    Dick Whittington

                    Comment

                    • Michael J.
                      Extremely Frequent Poster
                      • January 27, 2009
                      • 7122

                      #40
                      Re: New NCRS Marketing initiative.

                      I guess most people are not like I am on Facebook, whenever I see any ad from anything, I immediately have it blocked as offensive or spam. After a while of doing this, I never get anymore ads.
                      Big Tanks In the High Mountains of New Mexico

                      Comment

                      • Daniel S.
                        Very Frequent User
                        • January 14, 2011
                        • 307

                        #41
                        Re: New NCRS Marketing initiative.

                        Originally posted by Marc Greenberg (63601)
                        I would like to personally thank Lauren for taking the initiative to expand the NCRS. I am 29 and purchased my 67' at the age of 27. Although I spend most of my time working (to pay for the car) and not enough time enjoying it, I am proud to be an NCRS member.

                        I realize many of you are concerned about the cost / benefit analysis of social media and supplemental privacy concerns. I understand why, but please recognize why it is important to support Lauren and her efforts. Social media will bring new members to the group.

                        If you are interested in learning more about social media or just want to talk to a new young member, please introduce yourself at Altoona. It will be my first NCRS event and hopefully not my last.

                        Thanks Lauren!

                        Marc Greenberg
                        Black/Saddle 67' - L79 Survivor with 27k miles
                        Hi Mark, looking forward to connecting and crossing paths with you. My brother David and I are also younger members. I am 31 and he is 28. Together we own a 4-Star Bowtie '67 Corvette L36 (soon to be a 5-Star car), '70 Corvette LT1 Convertible, '62 Corvette original big tank car, and a '69 Camaro Z28. It would be great to develop a youth inspired task force for recruiting younger guys into the scene and I would be curious to hear your thoughts on how to work together.

                        My brother and I chatted about this situation while attending a packed house, age diverse Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals this past November. Neither of us believe the hobby is in trouble - we're seeing that the hobby is more excited for passenger cars and less Corvettes. There are a host of reasons for this - entry level Corvettes are still expensive and not always exciting, parts aren't cheap, insurance ain't either (ask me how I know).

                        I do believe if the younger members support the older members on the power of connecting to youth through social media and more relative channels , and the older members continue to share information, and knowledge on the Corvettes, a continuum could occur where recruitment and participation increases. As a youth I remember hunting for parts, attending shows, and having my father's '66 L72 achieve the Duntov Award, B Gold, MCACN Triple Diamond, and others. We will need the older generation to continue to bring our youth to shows.

                        Happy to take this off line if anyone wants to dive in deeper.

                        Dan

                        Comment

                        • Dick W.
                          Former NCRS Director Region IV
                          • June 30, 1985
                          • 10483

                          #42
                          Re: New NCRS Marketing initiative.

                          Originally posted by Michael Johnson (49879)
                          I guess most people are not like I am on Facebook, whenever I see any ad from anything, I immediately have it blocked as offensive or spam. After a while of doing this, I never get anymore ads.
                          There is an art to crafting an ad that does not come off as intrusive or offensive. All my ads are for events
                          Dick Whittington

                          Comment

                          • Richard G.
                            Extremely Frequent Poster
                            • July 31, 1984
                            • 1715

                            #43
                            Re: New NCRS Marketing initiative.

                            As information only;
                            Facebook said a bug allowed apps to wrongly access the photos of up to 6.8 million people
                            In a blog post Friday, the social media giant revealed that the software mishap allowed as many as 1,500 apps to access photos that "people uploaded to Facebook but chose not to post." The bug occurred during two weeks in September.

                            Comment

                            • Michael J.
                              Extremely Frequent Poster
                              • January 27, 2009
                              • 7122

                              #44
                              Re: New NCRS Marketing initiative.

                              Originally posted by Dick Whittington (8804)
                              There is an art to crafting an ad that does not come off as intrusive or offensive. All my ads are for events
                              Ah, that's why you need a pro doing all that.
                              Big Tanks In the High Mountains of New Mexico

                              Comment

                              • Darryl D.
                                Very Frequent User
                                • February 7, 2017
                                • 386

                                #45
                                Re: New NCRS Marketing initiative.

                                I just read this entire thread and here are my comments.

                                I am 68 years old and was in sales and marketing my entire life. I can tell you that if I were actively employed today it would be a whole other world then before. I can not begin to keep up with it. So, yes someone to do this and hopefully breathe some new life into NCRS is needed. I hope the powers to be give it a chance.

                                Regarding some of the other comments throughout this thread.

                                1. This is NOT the best place to learn how to fix your old Corvette. The Corvette forum is far superior. Having said that this IS the top place to learn what is/was original about your car bar none.


                                2. I belonged to NCRS in the formative years in the mid 70s but became dis-enchanted with it as most of the people were more into trailer queen show cars and reciting part original numbers by heart rather than just driving their cars as much as I did/do. Something to keep in mind when trying to recruit new members--it has to be fun otherwise it just becomes something like an art show where all you do is admire these cars from afar and I don't think many young people are into that.

                                3. I still see a lot of names of people here that I have known or known of for many years and from many of their comments in various thread it is apparent to me they are quite disillusioned with this organization for a verity of reasons. These are well respected members with a lot of knowledge but it is obvious they are not generally happy with many things that go on here. Growing a membership needs to start with some changes that allow for discussions like THIS to continue and not be moved into a black hole regardless of how far off track a moderator thinks it is. MOST member spend their time in this section of the site and never venture any further. I think it is imperative that these thing be heard and acted upon or any new blood will immediately think there is no hope for changes and view the membership as "stuck in their old ways" grandpas that they are not interested in listening to.

                                Comment

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