Table of Contents Know Your Team Marketing to the FIRST Audience Why is Your Image Important Marketing to the FIRST Audience Marketing Outside of FIRST Outreach and Community Engaging in the Conversation FIRST Branding Brand Your Identity (handouts) Updating or Re-Branding Finding your Niche

Have Fun, Doing Cool Things that Help People. Know Your Team Start with a Mission Statement Discuss what you want to do Include values, inspiration, strengths Be real and specific. Be Short, sweet and to the point…. Our Mission Statement Have Fun, Doing Cool Things that Help People.

Why is Your Image Important? So you can communicate your team’s identity. Marketing Within the FIRST Community Marketing Outside the FIRST Community

Marketing is… … anything you create or share to tell your story … about turning strangers into friends … messages/actions that cause messages/actions.

Marketing to the FIRST Audience Marketing to Judges Binders Team Information sheet Judge Whispering Pit Design Presentation boards, pictures, and print materials Marketing to Teams Pit Design Giveaways Overall Image The FIRST Community at large Outreach

Branding your Identity Resources available to your team Software Talents Maintain control of your image Know the Elements Pantone Colors, RGB and vector Fonts Print and Merchandise Taglines

Logos

Lessons Learned About Shirts Hats

Branding Your Team Have your KIDS create a logo Be consistent Be memorable Be unique Bright Colors Lego Accessories Fewer Colors are Cheaper Dress Code

Find your Niche Look at your community Schools Sponsors Organizations Students Parents Governments Other connections

Find your Niche Considering all those possible groups… Local identity What opportunities do you have with them? What programs they already supporting? Can you engage them to help you with your goals?

Find your Niche More possible considerations What are the programs you have already started? Is their potential for existing programs to grow? What is the make up of your team members? Cater to your team’s existing identity What are the interests of your team members?

Tips for Binders/Boards/Posters Bring recommended materials Keep them neat & clean Only include the most important information Make sure it is readable to the audience Theme it to be more memorable Include Pictures

Pit Identity

Judge Whispering Make sure everyone is prepared, so they feel confident Practice Q & A for robot, core values, project Games: Jeopardy, trivia, kahoot Practice all presentations Practice, Practice, Practice

Marketing to Other Teams Giveaways (clappers, pens, balls, bandanas, aliens) Peer Awards Use your strengths to help other teams Developing relationships with other teams Workshops and Seminars (like this) Mentoring other year around Pins/Buttons

Pins and Buttons Sean Here are some examples

We’ve Got Spirit, Yes We Do! 19

Can they hear you coming? 20

Embracing your Image!

The FIRST Community FIRST Outreach – professional conferences and events

Marketing Outside FIRST Community Outreach Girl Scouts/Boy Scouts Libraries Science Centers Schools Farmer’s Markets Professional Conferences Business Organizations Local Media Press Releases Social Media Sponsors Newsletters Thank You’s

Benefits Fundraising Member Recruitment Sponsor Demos School Demos Professional Conferences Local Businesses Associations, Clubs and Chamber of Commerce Member Recruitment School Demos Science Programs Summer Camps Community Outreach

Outreach and Community 25

Benefits of Outreach Outreach is more than getting out the word about your team, FIRST and STEM though. An invaluable tool to become better communicators. Learn how to talk to new people, potential sponsors, new members and inspire future FIRST members. An opportunity to gain confidence. A chance for students to realize what they have been a part of and it changes them moving forward.

Engage in the Conversation

Social Media Strategy Opportunity to learn a new skill Target Your Audiences Select your channels List your Goals and Objectives for each Identify key persons responsible for managing sites and creating content

Engage your audience Content: create, engage and be relevant Produce the content for your audience Communicate with your audience, not to your audience Use good video and pictures Spelling and grammar MATTER Keep a casual tone when writing for social media Post about build season, outreach, sponsors, FIRST and STEM news Schedule release of posts to maximize message impact Consistent Image and Branding of your team

In addition… Educate your team Private and Public Facebook Channels Share - Retweet Message Private and Public Facebook Channels Invite people to come to events Employ numerous admins to share the responsibility Watch for up and coming channels Experiment to see what works best for you

Getting the Word Out

Sponsors Unique Market Your Team Sponsors on Shirts Grants (Rookies and Veterans) Voluntary Matching Personal Connections

Thank your sponsors often Sing Your Praises! Thank your sponsors often

Keep Your Sponsors Informed Upcoming Events Newsletters/Emails Use pictures

Benefits of Good Imagery More Memorable Leave a Good Impression Press/Media Fundraising Member Recruitment

Gracious Professionalism

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