Showing posts with label social media. Show all posts
Showing posts with label social media. Show all posts

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Creative social media strategies to increase rounds on the golf course

Can the use of social media increase rounds of golf played? How can powerful yet seemingly "fun" apps like Twitter, Facebook and Foursquare help bring more people from talking about golf on their computers and smart phones to playing the game?

Golf is already considered a "social" sport for many, so it should come as no surprise that fans are using the internet to find great deals, to have fun with an interest to, well, be social! Large companies such as TaylorMade Golf and Golf Channel have social media gurus who create strategies for engagement and to build brand awareness. Believe it or not, you don't have to be a big brand in order to reap the benefits of social media but you do have to make the effort.

Even small scale communication with your current and future clients will yield positive results, you just have to create a basic strategy for your golf course growth and then decide how social media can best work for you.

Here are just a few ideas to get the golf ball rolling, so to speak, and to get more golfers onto your golf course! Share yours here!

If you don't have a blog, create one on your website now! Post at least once per week with descriptive pictures. Don't fill your space with too many words, two hundred fifty will do but do be sure to include information about what's happening on your golf course. Make sure that, if you don't have a subscriber list, create one now. If I would have known that there were special events at my local golf courses like wine and dines, women's get-togethers, local championships etc, I most certainly would have attended! Be creative! The Cadillac Championship held a social media "happy hour" ...sounds like a great idea!

Everyone loves a good deal. Offering incentives at your golf course like two-for-one golf on Facebook and Twitter and on sites like Groupon will get people onto the fairways. Also create print-out coupons on your website and feature on your blog so that golf fans will head over to your site to read your blog and download your offers.

Do you use Foursquare? Geocaching? Ever heard of them? If not, you should.
Foursquare, a GPS, social networking app, allows members to note their locations with a mobile phone and can find out where their friends are or have been. To be the "Mayor" of your golf course could yield special benefits like a free round of golf!

Geocaching is also GPS based but is an outdoor treasure-hunting game. Basically, a golf course can post "clues" to find "hidden treasure" somewhere within the course and, when someone finds the ""item, they get the treasure. It could range from a sleeve of Callaway golf balls to a Titleist Vokey Spin Milled Wedge. In the last thirty days, almost eight million new logs were submitted to further confirm that this might be an interesting concept to include in your social media strategy.

All of your great incentives and happenings should also be posted on Twitter and Facebook. Make sure to add "events" on Facebook. Where events can also be promoted on Twitter, it would be more fun to, perhaps, have a "retweeting" contest. Even if you aren't Ian Poulter who uses Twitter to gain followers with giveaways, you will surely get feedback.

In order to have social media work for your golf course, it is important to think "outside the box". These few ideas will get you kickstarted and, using a bit of creativity, your golf course could increase its bottom line, that is, more players on the fairways, in the pro shop and in the pubs!

Voice your opinion on Twitter @Golf4Beginners and friend us on Facebook.

Ask me how I can help you promote your golf course or golf business: email golfforbeginners@aol.com

 photo credit: rockbottomgolf.com

Friday, January 20, 2012

#Golf Tournament puts Social Media to Good Use

The March of Dimes will be the beneficiary of social media good will. The Farmers Insurance Open golf tournament in association with the PGA Tour will be donating $10 for every like they receive on Facebook.

All you have to do is click on the link below, "LIKE"  the golf tournament and Farmers Insurance will help give preemies a chance at life. You don't have to reach into your pocket, just reach into your heart. Another great cause helped through social media.

As of today, 7,124 people have clicked the "Like" button.

Read the note I received below and make sure to donate with a simple click of your mouse!!
www.facebook.com/farmersinsuranceopen

Be a fan. Support babies!

Farmers-insurance-open-golf-tournament1

Stacy,

Exciting golf and a rare social media charity partnership will greatly benefit
premature babies - with the public's help only!  We'd appreciate your support in spreading the word on this....

Make your "like" count for something today. Farmers Insurance and the PGA TOUR are kicking off the upcoming Farmers Insurance Open with a generous pledge that will give babies born prematurely a fighting chance at life.

For every "like" on Facebook of the Farmers Insurance Open until January 29th Farmers will donate $10 - up to $50,000! - to the March of Dimes.

Already hundreds of thousands have been raised.  With a simple click of a button, you can help a wonderful cause at www.facebook.com/farmersinsuranceopen.

The 2012 Farmers Insurance Open is taking place at Torrey Pines in San Diego from January 23-29.


Voice your opinion on Twitter @Golf4Beginners and friend on Facebook



Wednesday, August 17, 2011

Twitter makes media social for New York golf bloggers in Putnam

It is unusual and exciting to meet up with Twitter users whom you follow and chat with regularly but that is exactly what happened when three of the most recognizable golf bloggers in New York converged last week at the lovely Putnam National Golf Club for a fun game.


Social media jumped out of the computer and met face-to-face on the golf course!


Patricia Hannigan, President of Golf Girl Media and writer of the fun and flirty golf blog "Golf Girl's Diary" joined Mike Wolfe, President of WAM Marketing Solutions and myself (with my husband Barry), putting away our smart phones in order to explore Putnam National as a foursome.


Mike had recently played golf at Putnam National and in his review appreciated the "scenic views", "elevation changes" and "undulating greens" of this once private golf course. Patricia enjoyed this Mahopac golf course only once before on an autumn day. "What I remembered most was how the brilliant fall foliage extended up the surrounding hills to provide a colorful vista at almost every hole."


Putnam_national
Putnam National Golf Club


I took pleasure in being enveloped by the natural beauty of my surroundings and the feel of calm joy being out on a beautiful day with a friendly group. A few solid bunker shots and a receptive driver didn't hurt either!


Jason Peck, in an article entitled, "How Social Media is changing golf"  mentioned that, "One of social media’s strengths is being able to compliment real-life events and extend their reach and interactivity."



This idea tends to work both ways in golf: being one of the most social sports, golf is ripe for converting internet conversations into friendships on the course and also for players to be able to find others in cyberspace interested in discussion and meet-up.


"I think the more golf can utilize social media to help make the sport and golfers more accessible and interesting to casual fans, the more the game will grow,"  said Peck.


Our foursome's face-to-face golf experience concluded on the 19th hole at Putnam National's pub with a few beers and a chat about our respective games. We took pictures and vowed to play golf again in the near future. Until we meet again, we can still be social!


Golf4beginners_wamgolfs_golfgirl
Golf4Beginners, WAMGolfs and GolfGirl at Putnam National...in the flesh!


Meet and follow us on Twitter:
Stacy Solomon @Golf4Beginners
Patricia Hannigan @GolfGirl
Mike Wolfe @WAMGolfs