05-03-2006, 06:00 PM
I saw this on the S-Grid. I would really like to see this hobby become a sport but to do so will take proper marketing by more than just the track owners. Read on:
by Jeff Vargas
Welcome to another round of our series dedicated to “marketing” RC racing for the future. We’ve discussed how a track can vanish at the blink of an eye, developing “Marketing Managers & Groups” to implement any changes needed to promote your facility, examining racer/spectator customer service & comfort issues and the sales of items that generate track or club income.
The most basic way to advertise anything and build a local following is by “taking it to the streets” Put up “flyers” everywhere you legally can and pass them out to people in high traffic areas. Make a lot of “Track flyers”, they work for promoting bands & concerts, and they’ll work for your track. “Flyers” should have the Track’s name, address, phone, website and a map with written directions.
Visit local Hobby Shops, Restaurants, Record Stores, Car Dealerships, Auto Parts Stores and Speed Shops. Be proactive; invite the owners & employees to your track. Let them know they’re welcome there. Let them know that your race announcer will promote their business and refer customers to them in exchange for allowing you to distribute your “Track & Events Flyers” at their check out counters or exits. Offer them the opportunity to provide their company’s services or sponsor your track and racing events.
Commercial Printers can also be offered trackside advertising in exchange for special pricing for your track or club. Remember, most commercial shops make banners. Using a “barter” approach would save money or allow the purchase of more “print marketing flyers” and possibly track “tourism” brochures for “hospitality” industry locations near your track.
If your track is in a high visibility area, like on some frontage, you have a lot going for you. Banners, Billboards or a Marquee let people know that “something’s going on” If your track can really push the limit, try some of those spotlights we see at “Grand Openings” at restaurants & clubs. People will see your “block party” atmosphere and want to “check it out”.
Since most tracks are in parks, industrial areas, hidden behind buildings or “out in the sticks”, you’ll have to work a little harder to get people to see your events. Make sure you have track banners to let everyone know “they’ve arrived”. Never sell RC racing short.
If you track isn’t doing it already, try to start some “Saturday Night Racing”. You might need to rent or put up lights, but night races are always fun.
So get those “flyers” ready and distribute them to the general public, they can attract local sponsors to your track too. In our next installment, we’ll check out different ways to attract some local media coverage to your track on “Marketing can shape the future of RC racing”
by Jeff Vargas
Welcome to another round of our series dedicated to “marketing” RC racing for the future. We’ve discussed how a track can vanish at the blink of an eye, developing “Marketing Managers & Groups” to implement any changes needed to promote your facility, examining racer/spectator customer service & comfort issues and the sales of items that generate track or club income.
The most basic way to advertise anything and build a local following is by “taking it to the streets” Put up “flyers” everywhere you legally can and pass them out to people in high traffic areas. Make a lot of “Track flyers”, they work for promoting bands & concerts, and they’ll work for your track. “Flyers” should have the Track’s name, address, phone, website and a map with written directions.
Visit local Hobby Shops, Restaurants, Record Stores, Car Dealerships, Auto Parts Stores and Speed Shops. Be proactive; invite the owners & employees to your track. Let them know they’re welcome there. Let them know that your race announcer will promote their business and refer customers to them in exchange for allowing you to distribute your “Track & Events Flyers” at their check out counters or exits. Offer them the opportunity to provide their company’s services or sponsor your track and racing events.
Commercial Printers can also be offered trackside advertising in exchange for special pricing for your track or club. Remember, most commercial shops make banners. Using a “barter” approach would save money or allow the purchase of more “print marketing flyers” and possibly track “tourism” brochures for “hospitality” industry locations near your track.
If your track is in a high visibility area, like on some frontage, you have a lot going for you. Banners, Billboards or a Marquee let people know that “something’s going on” If your track can really push the limit, try some of those spotlights we see at “Grand Openings” at restaurants & clubs. People will see your “block party” atmosphere and want to “check it out”.
Since most tracks are in parks, industrial areas, hidden behind buildings or “out in the sticks”, you’ll have to work a little harder to get people to see your events. Make sure you have track banners to let everyone know “they’ve arrived”. Never sell RC racing short.
If you track isn’t doing it already, try to start some “Saturday Night Racing”. You might need to rent or put up lights, but night races are always fun.
So get those “flyers” ready and distribute them to the general public, they can attract local sponsors to your track too. In our next installment, we’ll check out different ways to attract some local media coverage to your track on “Marketing can shape the future of RC racing”