How to Get Free Stuff for Your Neighborhood Pool Posted on May 30, 2018February 20, 2019 by Justin at PoolDues [spb_text_block animation=”none” animation_delay=”0″ simplified_controls=”yes” custom_css_percentage=”no” padding_vertical=”0″ padding_horizontal=”0″ margin_vertical=”0″ custom_css=”margin-top: 0px;margin-bottom: 0px;” border_size=”0″ border_styling_global=”default” width=”1/1″ el_position=”first last”] Have something of value to return in exchange… [/spb_text_block] [spb_blank_spacer height=”30px” width=”1/1″ el_position=”first last”] [spb_text_block animation=”none” animation_delay=”0″ simplified_controls=”yes” custom_css_percentage=”no” padding_vertical=”0″ padding_horizontal=”0″ margin_vertical=”0″ custom_css=”margin-top: 0px;margin-bottom: 0px;” border_size=”0″ border_styling_global=”default” width=”1/1″ el_position=”first last”] Most neighborhood pools get some income from Swim Team sponsorships, which is either a monetary donation or product donation (which the pool sells, like pizza at a swim meet). But once those Swim Team t-shirts are printed and poolside banners hung, it’s usually game over for fund-raising. But that doesn’t need to be the case. Your pool probably averages 100-150 families, so including spouses, that’s around 250-300 people in the community. Local companies are looking for exactly those people to advertise to, and many of those same companies offer services your pool could tap into for events. So why not work out a trade? You first need to figure out a Social Media package for potential advertisers. Think about what you already have… 1. The Pool Mailing List. You have quality email subscribers that aren’t going to run to the unsubscribe button if you help a local business advertise. You could offer a one-time mailing specifically about a particular company or include their logo in the footer of every email for a certain amount of time (probably 1 year). [/spb_text_block] [spb_text_block animation=”none” animation_delay=”0″ simplified_controls=”yes” custom_css_percentage=”no” padding_vertical=”0″ padding_horizontal=”0″ margin_vertical=”0″ custom_css=”margin-top: 0px;margin-bottom: 0px;” border_size=”0″ border_styling_global=”default” width=”2/3″ el_position=”first”] 2. Facebook. Your pool should already have a thriving Facebook Group, (not a Page, a Group) where your pool posts frequently and so do members. You can offer to advertise for companies there, in a kind of “shout out” format. For example, see the image to the right. We trade bug spraying services with a local company and in return give them what we would for a Swim Team Sponsor. Creating a group Event on Facebook is also another great promotional tool. So if a local company has an event coming up, for example, a car dealership might have some special weekend promotion, you could create an event in your group for them. Events are especially useful promos because members will usually get some kind of notification on their phone that the event is coming up (usually the day before). You can suggest to members that they like a local business’s Facebook Page or join a Group that the business runs. [/spb_text_block] [spb_image image=”794″ image_size=”full” frame=”noframe” caption_pos=”hover” remove_rounded=”yes” fullwidth=”no” overflow_mode=”none” link_target=”_self” lightbox=”no” intro_animation=”none” animation_delay=”200″ width=”1/3″ el_position=”last”][/spb_image] [spb_text_block animation=”none” animation_delay=”0″ simplified_controls=”yes” custom_css_percentage=”no” padding_vertical=”0″ padding_horizontal=”0″ margin_vertical=”0″ custom_css=”margin-top: 0px;margin-bottom: 0px;” border_size=”0″ border_styling_global=”default” width=”1/1″ el_position=”first last”] 3. In-App Advertising. If you are a Pool Dues-powered pool, you can put local businesses into your Member Check In app. So, the more you encourage members to check in via the app, the more opportunities those members have to visit your local sponsors. Plus just showing potential sponsors that you have an app looks pretty darn slick. We successfully reached out to an inflatable company for a free bounce house recently, with this email (and attached the image below)… [/spb_text_block] [spb_text_block animation=”none” animation_delay=”0″ simplified_controls=”yes” custom_css_percentage=”no” padding_vertical=”0″ padding_horizontal=”52″ margin_vertical=”59″ custom_css=”margin-top: 59px;margin-bottom: 59px;padding-left: 52px;padding-right: 52px;background-color:#e6dfdf;” border_size=”0″ border_styling_global=”default” back_color_global=”#e6dfdf” width=”1/1″ el_position=”first last”] Subject: Advertising at Pool in Exchange for Wet Slide Rental this Friday Body: Hi! I’m Social Director at [fill in your pool / website]. We’re looking for a large wet slide this Friday night, and we’d love to do an in-kind trade here. We could add a large banner poolside for your company and add you to our Social Media Advertising package, which includes a top advertising spot in our Member Check In app. We require members to check in from their phones now, and when they do so, they end up on a page of Pool Sponsors (example image attached). This has been a big hit with local advertisers, so we think there’s quite a lot of value in it. And obviously a [fill in city name] pool full of parents is exactly who you want to advertise to. As we’re looking to do this Friday night, we would need to know soon if you are interested. We’re coming to you first because we’ve seen you support community groups like ours. We would consider your company a Gold Sponsor (normally a $550 value) in exchange for the free wet slide. Here’s more info about what you’ll receive… [link to details on your site / Pool Dues Portal] Thanks, [your name] Attach this Image: [/spb_text_block] [spb_text_block animation=”none” animation_delay=”0″ simplified_controls=”yes” custom_css_percentage=”no” padding_vertical=”0″ padding_horizontal=”0″ margin_vertical=”0″ custom_css=”margin-top: 0px;margin-bottom: 0px;” border_size=”0″ border_styling_global=”default” width=”1/1″ el_position=”first last”] That’s an easy email to fire off, and if the company is interested it’s win-win for everyone. Or worst case, they just ignore it, and you move onto the next business. [/spb_text_block]
Pro Tips for Social Directors at a Neighborhood Pool Posted on May 29, 2018February 22, 2019 by Justin at PoolDues [spb_text_block animation=”none” animation_delay=”0″ simplified_controls=”yes” custom_css_percentage=”no” padding_vertical=”0″ padding_horizontal=”0″ margin_vertical=”0″ custom_css=”margin-top: 0px;margin-bottom: 0px;” border_size=”0″ border_styling_global=”default” width=”1/1″ el_position=”first last”] Pro Tips for Social Directors at a Neighborhood Pool [/spb_text_block] [spb_blank_spacer height=”30px” width=”1/1″ el_position=”first last”] [spb_text_block animation=”none” animation_delay=”0″ simplified_controls=”yes” custom_css_percentage=”no” padding_vertical=”0″ padding_horizontal=”0″ margin_vertical=”0″ custom_css=”margin-top: 0px;margin-bottom: 0px;” border_size=”0″ border_styling_global=”default” width=”1/1″ el_position=”first last”] Social Director is one of the most important roles at a neighborhood pool. And I say that straight-faced as the social director at mine. I’m also the lead programmer here at Pool Dues, and although my original intention for creating this product was to help out our Treasurer (and better collect membership dues), I soon realized I was making something to help me too. The tips below will help you regardless of whether you’re a Pool Dues-powered pool or not. [/spb_text_block] [spb_divider type=”standard” text=”Go to top” top_margin=”0px” bottom_margin=”30px” fullwidth=”no” width=”1/1″ el_position=”first last”] [spb_text_block animation=”none” animation_delay=”0″ simplified_controls=”yes” custom_css_percentage=”no” padding_vertical=”0″ padding_horizontal=”0″ margin_vertical=”0″ custom_css=”margin-top: 0px;margin-bottom: 0px;” border_size=”0″ border_styling_global=”default” width=”1/1″ el_position=”first last”] Find the right person (or people) [/spb_text_block] [spb_blank_spacer height=”30px” width=”1/1″ el_position=”first last”] [spb_text_block animation=”none” animation_delay=”0″ simplified_controls=”yes” custom_css_percentage=”no” padding_vertical=”0″ padding_horizontal=”0″ margin_vertical=”0″ custom_css=”margin-top: 0px;margin-bottom: 0px;” border_size=”0″ border_styling_global=”default” width=”1/1″ el_position=”first last”] Tip 1: Decide if you really are the best person for the job. Ouch, I know. Sorry, but I’m not going to pull punches here. If you think this is a job where you do 1 or 2 big parties a year, go ahead and pass the torch to someone else. Or find a co-Social Director. Imagine yourself as the Social Director on a cruise ship, where every week you have a new group of people coming in and leaving. When members consider renewing their membership the next summer, you want them to remember that one weekend that was a blast. Making every week special is not that hard. A little goes a long way. Like buying someone a beer. Sometimes the smallest gestures are the most meaningful. [/spb_text_block] [spb_divider type=”standard” text=”Go to top” top_margin=”0px” bottom_margin=”30px” fullwidth=”no” width=”1/1″ el_position=”first last”] [spb_text_block animation=”none” animation_delay=”0″ simplified_controls=”yes” custom_css_percentage=”no” padding_vertical=”0″ padding_horizontal=”0″ margin_vertical=”0″ custom_css=”margin-top: 0px;margin-bottom: 0px;” border_size=”0″ border_styling_global=”default” width=”1/1″ el_position=”first last”] Social Director + Social Media [/spb_text_block] [spb_blank_spacer height=”30px” width=”1/1″ el_position=”first last”] [spb_text_block animation=”none” animation_delay=”0″ simplified_controls=”yes” custom_css_percentage=”no” padding_vertical=”0″ padding_horizontal=”0″ margin_vertical=”0″ custom_css=”margin-top: 0px;margin-bottom: 0px;” border_size=”0″ border_styling_global=”default” width=”1/1″ el_position=”first last”] Tip 2: Start a Facebook Group for your pool if it doesn’t have one already. If your Board is uptight about an official Facebook Group, well, just make one for yourself. Call it Steve’s Pool Social Group or whatever. Whether you make it a Closed Group or Public is up to you. If it’s Closed, non-group members can’t see what’s posted. Some folks might feel more comfortable with that. Start getting everyone from the pool in there, and you can even get prospective members in there too. It’s a great way for people to see that you’ve got a happening pool. [/spb_text_block] [spb_text_block animation=”none” animation_delay=”0″ simplified_controls=”yes” custom_css_percentage=”no” padding_vertical=”0″ padding_horizontal=”0″ margin_vertical=”0″ custom_css=”margin-top: 0px;margin-bottom: 0px;” border_size=”0″ border_styling_global=”default” width=”1/1″ el_position=”first last”] Tip 3: Post like Johnny Carson told jokes. Here was Johnny’s formula: Tell the audience what you’re going to do. Do it. Then tell them what you just did. Take the same approach to social media. Let your members know what’s ahead. Post a little video while it’s happening. Then follow up with some wrap-up photos. You don’t have to be an “artist” about this either. Here are some examples of photos I posted just in the last week (none will hang in a gallery)… [/spb_text_block] [spb_column col_sm=”4″ padding_horizontal=”0″ width=”1/3″ el_position=”first”] [spb_image_banner image=”741″ image_size=”full” content_pos=”center” content_textalign=”left” animation=”none” animation_delay=”200″ link_target=”_self” width=”1/1″ el_position=”first last”][/spb_image_banner] [spb_blank_spacer height=”30px” width=”1/1″ el_position=”first last”] [spb_text_block animation=”none” animation_delay=”0″ simplified_controls=”yes” custom_css_percentage=”no” padding_vertical=”0″ padding_horizontal=”0″ margin_vertical=”0″ custom_css=”margin-top: 0px;margin-bottom: 0px;” border_size=”0″ border_styling_global=”default” width=”1/1″ el_position=”first last”] We added a cheap Amazon Dot to the guard shack. It’s connected to my Prime account so the pool now has nearly unlimited songs to play (btw, I told Alexa to disable songs with explicit lyrics). So I posted this to let members know they can play D.J. now. [/spb_text_block] [/spb_column] [spb_column col_sm=”4″ padding_horizontal=”0″ width=”1/3″] [spb_image_banner image=”740″ image_size=”full” content_pos=”center” content_textalign=”left” animation=”none” animation_delay=”200″ link_target=”_self” width=”1/1″ el_position=”first last”][/spb_image_banner] [spb_blank_spacer height=”30px” width=”1/1″ el_position=”first last”] [spb_text_block animation=”none” animation_delay=”0″ simplified_controls=”yes” custom_css_percentage=”no” padding_vertical=”0″ padding_horizontal=”0″ margin_vertical=”0″ custom_css=”margin-top: 0px;margin-bottom: 0px;” border_size=”0″ border_styling_global=”default” width=”1/1″ el_position=”first last”] One of many similar photos I’ve posted over the years. The back of my family truckster full of pool goodies. And no, that’s NOT glass. This photo I posted on my way down to Opening Day this year. Obviously, it lets members know the fun is about to begin. [/spb_text_block] [/spb_column] [spb_column col_sm=”4″ padding_horizontal=”0″ width=”1/3″ el_position=”last”] [spb_image_banner image=”739″ image_size=”full” content_pos=”center” content_textalign=”left” animation=”none” animation_delay=”200″ link_target=”_self” width=”1/1″ el_position=”first last”][/spb_image_banner] [spb_blank_spacer height=”30px” width=”1/1″ el_position=”first last”] [spb_text_block animation=”none” animation_delay=”0″ simplified_controls=”yes” custom_css_percentage=”no” padding_vertical=”0″ padding_horizontal=”0″ margin_vertical=”0″ custom_css=”margin-top: 0px;margin-bottom: 0px;” border_size=”0″ border_styling_global=”default” width=”1/1″ el_position=”first last”] This photo speaks for itself. The kegerator is open, with Magic Hat on tap. This is our first summer with a kegerator, and it was completely crowd-funded using the Pool Dues payment portal. We asked for donations with 1 newsletter mailing and 1 post to our Facebook group. The total cost was $468 (with a 4-year parts replacement plan), and we raised over $600. So the first keg was well paid for! [/spb_text_block] [/spb_column] [spb_divider type=”standard” text=”Go to top” top_margin=”0px” bottom_margin=”30px” fullwidth=”no” width=”1/1″ el_position=”first last”] [spb_text_block animation=”none” animation_delay=”0″ simplified_controls=”yes” custom_css_percentage=”no” padding_vertical=”0″ padding_horizontal=”0″ margin_vertical=”0″ custom_css=”margin-top: 0px;margin-bottom: 0px;” border_size=”0″ border_styling_global=”default” width=”1/1″ el_position=”first last”] It’s a Marathon, Not a Sprint [/spb_text_block] [spb_blank_spacer height=”30px” width=”1/1″ el_position=”first last”] [spb_text_block animation=”none” animation_delay=”0″ simplified_controls=”yes” custom_css_percentage=”no” padding_vertical=”0″ padding_horizontal=”0″ margin_vertical=”0″ custom_css=”margin-top: 0px;margin-bottom: 0px;” border_size=”0″ border_styling_global=”default” width=”1/1″ el_position=”first last”] Tip 4: Place less emphasis on 1 or 2 big parties, and spread out the fun all summer. You still need a couple of Adult Nights and 1 Tween/Teen Night, but if you blow all your summer budget on a handful of nights, inevitably 50-60% of your membership misses the party because they are either out of town or couldn’t find a sitter. [/spb_text_block] [spb_text_block animation=”none” animation_delay=”0″ simplified_controls=”yes” custom_css_percentage=”no” padding_vertical=”0″ padding_horizontal=”0″ margin_vertical=”0″ custom_css=”margin-top: 0px;margin-bottom: 0px;” border_size=”0″ border_styling_global=”default” width=”1/1″ el_position=”first last”] Tip 5: Make Friday Nights THE NIGHT. Saturday nights people make plans, but Friday nights are usually wide open for most families. Plus, a lot of members day-drink at the pool on Saturdays and by dinner time they are wiped out. So start a Friday thing. Make it start at Happy Hour, and keep the pool open until 10. That’s a solid 4-5 hour block where people can let loose after work. If every Friday night is known to be THE night, people will pack it in. And encourage members to bring friends too. We occasionally waive guest fees to bring in a crowd. [/spb_text_block] [spb_divider type=”standard” text=”Go to top” top_margin=”0px” bottom_margin=”30px” fullwidth=”no” width=”1/1″ el_position=”first last”] [spb_text_block animation=”none” animation_delay=”0″ simplified_controls=”yes” custom_css_percentage=”no” padding_vertical=”0″ padding_horizontal=”0″ margin_vertical=”0″ custom_css=”margin-top: 0px;margin-bottom: 0px;” border_size=”0″ border_styling_global=”default” width=”1/1″ el_position=”first last”] A Social Director’s Tool Chest [/spb_text_block] [spb_blank_spacer height=”30px” width=”1/1″ el_position=”first last”] [spb_text_block animation=”none” animation_delay=”0″ simplified_controls=”yes” custom_css_percentage=”no” padding_vertical=”0″ padding_horizontal=”0″ margin_vertical=”0″ custom_css=”margin-top: 0px;margin-bottom: 0px;” border_size=”0″ border_styling_global=”default” width=”1/1″ el_position=”first last”] Tip 6: Beer, chips, popsicles, margaritas. Memorize that. That’s your party checklist right there. I’ll go into detail on each below. [/spb_text_block] [spb_text_block animation=”none” animation_delay=”0″ simplified_controls=”yes” custom_css_percentage=”no” padding_vertical=”0″ padding_horizontal=”0″ margin_vertical=”0″ custom_css=”margin-top: 0px;margin-bottom: 0px;” border_size=”0″ border_styling_global=”default” width=”2/3″ el_position=”first”] Tip 7: Get kegs. A pony keg of good beer is $70-90. For day-drinking beer (read crappier lighter beer) it’s even less. A Bud Light half-barrel is usually $114. PBR is like $79. So you can either go big with low-alcohol beer or go small with a quality beer for around the same price. And you don’t need a kegerator either. Just a bucket of ice and a tap. The great thing is that these kegs usually pay for themselves too. Ask members for a Day-Of Donation of about $5 to drink. And instead of filling your pockets with cash, just tell members to go to your Pool Dues portal or the Shop section of the Member Check In app to make a “Day of” Donation. The big sizes are tough to lift, so lady-directors, you might need to nominate a male member to be the keg-getter. [/spb_text_block] [spb_image_banner image=”744″ image_size=”full” content_pos=”left” content_textalign=”left” animation=”none” animation_delay=”200″ image_link=”https://democlub.pooldues.com/day-of-donations/” link_target=”_self” width=”1/3″ el_position=”last”][/spb_image_banner] [spb_text_block animation=”none” animation_delay=”0″ simplified_controls=”yes” custom_css_percentage=”no” padding_vertical=”0″ padding_horizontal=”0″ margin_vertical=”0″ custom_css=”margin-top: 0px;margin-bottom: 0px;” border_size=”0″ border_styling_global=”default” width=”2/3″ el_position=”first”] Tip 8: Chips!!! Those variety packs of chips are like $7. Get 4 or 5 of them, toss them in a big bucket, and the kids will think you’re a king (even the adults too). Remember, you’re Social Director for the kids too, so throw some goodies at them as well. Literally. You can toss a bag of chips into the pool. Make it a game for those coveted Chili Fritos. If your pool sells chips at a concession stand, so what?! This will make some occasional free chips even more special. [/spb_text_block] [spb_image_banner image=”752″ image_size=”full” content_pos=”left” content_textalign=”left” animation=”none” animation_delay=”200″ image_link=”https://democlub.pooldues.com/day-of-donations/” link_target=”_self” width=”1/3″ el_position=”last”][/spb_image_banner] [spb_text_block animation=”none” animation_delay=”0″ simplified_controls=”yes” custom_css_percentage=”no” padding_vertical=”0″ padding_horizontal=”0″ margin_vertical=”0″ custom_css=”margin-top: 0px;margin-bottom: 0px;” border_size=”0″ border_styling_global=”default” width=”1/1″ el_position=”first last”] Tip 9: Popsicles!!! Get those cheap $3 bags of tube pops (the ones that require either scissors or your teeth to open) and again, you’ll be a hero with the kids. And here’s a Pro-Tip. If a light storm is forecast, bring out the popsicles then. No parent puts their kid in the car with an open popsicle. They’ll wait out a short storm for their kid to finish off a messy popsicle instead of running back home at the first sight of rain. [/spb_text_block] [spb_text_block animation=”none” animation_delay=”0″ simplified_controls=”yes” custom_css_percentage=”no” padding_vertical=”0″ padding_horizontal=”0″ margin_vertical=”0″ custom_css=”margin-top: 0px;margin-bottom: 0px;” border_size=”0″ border_styling_global=”default” width=”2/3″ el_position=”first”] Tip 10: Margaritas (or a box of white wine). Try to bring something for the non-beer drinkers. The ladies aren’t going to be too impressed with Bud Light. So mix up a little specialty drink for them. In the summer, every supermarket sells those containers with a pour spout at the bottom. Those are perfect. Just buy ready-to-drink margarita, or mix in that glass bottle of tequila at home. You don’t want to make a $5,000 mistake by dropping that bottle poolside. [/spb_text_block] [spb_image_banner image=”753″ image_size=”full” content_pos=”left” content_textalign=”left” animation=”none” animation_delay=”200″ link_target=”_self” width=”1/3″ el_position=”last”][/spb_image_banner] [spb_divider type=”standard” text=”Go to top” top_margin=”0px” bottom_margin=”30px” fullwidth=”no” width=”1/1″ el_position=”first last”] [spb_text_block animation=”none” animation_delay=”0″ simplified_controls=”yes” custom_css_percentage=”no” padding_vertical=”0″ padding_horizontal=”0″ margin_vertical=”0″ custom_css=”margin-top: 0px;margin-bottom: 0px;” border_size=”0″ border_styling_global=”default” width=”1/1″ el_position=”first last”] To Be Continued… [/spb_text_block] [spb_text_block animation=”none” animation_delay=”0″ simplified_controls=”yes” custom_css_percentage=”no” padding_vertical=”0″ padding_horizontal=”0″ margin_vertical=”0″ custom_css=”margin-top: 0px;margin-bottom: 0px;” border_size=”0″ border_styling_global=”default” width=”1/1″ el_position=”first last”] I’ve got plenty more tips for social directors, but let’s cap this at 10 for now. I’ll follow up with another article where we’ll go over some yard games that are great for everyone at any age. I’d also like to get serious and discuss how a Social Director should get to know every member and, most importantly, introduce members to each other. You can help create long-lasting friendships in the neighborhood and that too helps retain memberships. [/spb_text_block] [spb_divider type=”standard” text=”Go to top” top_margin=”0px” bottom_margin=”30px” fullwidth=”no” width=”1/1″ el_position=”first last”] [spb_text_block animation=”none” animation_delay=”0″ simplified_controls=”yes” custom_css_percentage=”no” padding_vertical=”39″ padding_horizontal=”52″ margin_vertical=”0″ custom_css=”margin-top: 0px;margin-bottom: 0px;padding-top: 39px;padding-left: 52px;padding-right: 52px;padding-bottom: 39px;background-color:#ced3f0;” border_size=”0″ border_styling_global=”default” back_color_global=”#ced3f0″ width=”1/1″ el_position=”first last”] Some of you law-talkin’ types might have raised an eyebrow at the club providing alcohol for members. So let’s briefly discuss that. 1) Members are always going to bring their own anyway. 2) Your pool is not selling alcohol. You can ask for “Day-of” donations for food and drink. Just don’t make it required if you are providing alcohol. I heard of a club once that had a lawyer for their Board President. She didn’t allow the club to provide alcohol at parties (even the Adult Night party) because she was worried about liability. She didn’t last long as President. Every pool has insurance anyway (or should). Our pool once called up to inquire if we should add any extra insurance for an Adult Night where we were going to have a lot of non-members. They said we were already covered with our current policy. But, we could have just as easily gotten someone on the phone whose eyes lit up with dollar signs and said, “uhh, yeah, you need MORE!”. So, find someone at your club that actually knows insurance, and talk to them. Accept the fact that members belong to YOUR pool so they can drink. If they wanted a drink-free environment, they could join a Lifetime Fitness, church pool, or JCC. You don’t need to encourage people to do keg-stands or over-drink in any way, but providing a keg is commonplace among pools and a great way to give back to members for joining. [/spb_text_block]
What Types of Memberships Should Your Pool & Tennis Club Offer? Posted on May 28, 2018February 22, 2019 by Justin at PoolDues [spb_text_block animation=”none” animation_delay=”0″ simplified_controls=”yes” custom_css_percentage=”no” padding_vertical=”0″ padding_horizontal=”0″ margin_vertical=”0″ custom_css=”margin-top: 0px;margin-bottom: 0px;” border_size=”0″ border_styling_global=”default” width=”1/1″ el_position=”first last”] Family membership, couples, singles, seniors? Which should your pool offer? [/spb_text_block] [spb_blank_spacer height=”30px” width=”1/1″ el_position=”first last”] [spb_text_block animation=”none” animation_delay=”0″ simplified_controls=”yes” custom_css_percentage=”no” padding_vertical=”0″ padding_horizontal=”0″ margin_vertical=”0″ custom_css=”margin-top: 0px;margin-bottom: 0px;” border_size=”0″ border_styling_global=”default” width=”1/1″ el_position=”first last”] There’s really no standard for what membership types community pools offer. And like most things with neighborhood pools and tennis clubs, what came before is what goes forward. But your club can always reexamine its current offerings, and the board can vote in whatever changes it deems better for the club. And obviously, that should really be the biggest factor: what is best for the club going forward (as opposed to only considering how things were done before). So let’s look at some various membership types. [/spb_text_block] [spb_text_block animation=”none” animation_delay=”0″ simplified_controls=”yes” custom_css_percentage=”no” padding_vertical=”0″ padding_horizontal=”0″ margin_vertical=”0″ custom_css=”margin-top: 0px;margin-bottom: 0px;” border_size=”0″ border_styling_global=”default” width=”1/1″ el_position=”first last”] Family Membership I’ve yet to run into a club that doesn’t offer family membership, so we probably don’t need to discuss this one much. But if you haven’t read our article on why you should define what a family membership is exactly, you should. Link here. [/spb_text_block] [spb_text_block animation=”none” animation_delay=”0″ simplified_controls=”yes” custom_css_percentage=”no” padding_vertical=”0″ padding_horizontal=”0″ margin_vertical=”0″ custom_css=”margin-top: 0px;margin-bottom: 0px;” border_size=”0″ border_styling_global=”default” width=”1/1″ el_position=”first last”] Couples Membership A Couples membership makes perfect sense to me. I suggest pricing it around $50-$100 less than the Family membership price. Remember who you are selling this membership to – married couples in their 20’s or early 30’s. They grew up with Groupon, Overstock, discount apps, unlimited Movie Passes, etc. So your deal-savvy millennials can feel like they got a deal and, in the long run, you gain anyway. Here’s why… Many families don’t start a membership within the first two years of having a baby. So your window for getting them to join is before or after baby #1. Obviously, you want them BEFORE that first baby. Couples memberships turn into Family memberships eventually. If they’ve already paid their initiation fee, most likely they won’t break that to skip a summer because of a new baby. If they see “Family Membership” as the only option, they might think the pool is only for parents and kids. As most of us know, the pool is cool at any age. But we know that from experience. They might not. Young couples ARE your future bread and butter for the pool. Do whatever you can to get them started. [/spb_text_block] [spb_text_block animation=”none” animation_delay=”0″ simplified_controls=”yes” custom_css_percentage=”no” padding_vertical=”0″ padding_horizontal=”0″ margin_vertical=”0″ custom_css=”margin-top: 0px;margin-bottom: 0px;” border_size=”0″ border_styling_global=”default” width=”1/1″ el_position=”first last”] Singles Memberships Most clubs offer one, but if your club doesn’t, maybe it’s time. Yes, I know in a typical pool community neighborhood you don’t have a lot of singles living in homes made for families, but even if you have just 15 single members join at $350 a person, that’s $5,250. And think about the potential members you are turning away… Divorcees in the neighborhood Friends of club members that come often enough that they should be joining (as most clubs have a rule about bringing the same guest too often) People that are more interested in tennis and just looking for guaranteed court time Cool, good-looking, young people! What club doesn’t want that?! [/spb_text_block] [spb_text_block animation=”none” animation_delay=”0″ simplified_controls=”yes” custom_css_percentage=”no” padding_vertical=”0″ padding_horizontal=”0″ margin_vertical=”0″ custom_css=”margin-top: 0px;margin-bottom: 0px;” border_size=”0″ border_styling_global=”default” width=”1/1″ el_position=”first last”] Senior Memberships I love the senior membership option. There are two ways of handling senior memberships if you use Pool Dues. We can set up a Senior pricing option right off the bat, either for senior-aged Couples or Singles. Both options are available. Or, you can use the same Couples or Single membership payment options that are available for all members, and then create discount coupons to reduce the price. Your Treasurer or other approved shop admin can create an unlimited number of coupons for a specific amount off or a percentage off. Why do this? If your club doesn’t currently offer senior discounts but you want to make this option available to a select few members (i.e., those that ask for it), then you may want to go the discount code route. Something else to think about. I’ve seen clubs that reward 25-year members with a free lifetime membership after that. How brilliant is that! You might have members that are 20 years in, thinking, “Well, our kids don’t swim anymore, we only go 5 or 6 times a year, maybe we should cancel”…. But if they know that after 25 years it’s free, then maybe they hang in there for a while longer. [/spb_text_block]
How to Avoid PayPal Fees for 501c Nonprofit Organizations Like Pools Posted on May 24, 2018February 22, 2019 by Justin at PoolDues [spb_text_block animation=”none” animation_delay=”0″ simplified_controls=”yes” custom_css_percentage=”no” padding_vertical=”0″ padding_horizontal=”0″ margin_vertical=”0″ custom_css=”margin-top: 0px;margin-bottom: 0px;” border_size=”0″ border_styling_global=”default” width=”1/1″ el_position=”first last”] How to Avoid PayPal fees for 501c Nonprofit Organizations Like Pools [/spb_text_block] [spb_text_block animation=”none” animation_delay=”0″ simplified_controls=”yes” custom_css_percentage=”no” padding_vertical=”0″ padding_horizontal=”0″ margin_vertical=”0″ custom_css=”margin-top: 0px;margin-bottom: 0px;” border_size=”0″ border_styling_global=”default” width=”1/1″ el_position=”first last”] The short answer is: you can’t. You can’t make every transaction a friend-to-friend exchange. If you try, you’ll quickly run into the limits of what amounts can be received that way. Just receiving the exact same amounts over and over again raises a flag with PayPal. They aren’t dumb. “Oh? Twenty of your friends just happen to PayPal you $9.99? It looks like you’re selling goods here.” And no, you can’t use Venmo either. PayPal owns Venmo by the way. They didn’t buy Venmo to make their core revenue stream obsolete. What works for splitting the cost of a 12-pack doesn’t work for an organization pulling in $75k or more a year. Running a business nowadays requires accepting a couple of things. 1) People want to pay by credit card. It’s convenient, and sometimes buyers simply don’t have the funds available to pay by check. 2) There’s going to be a cost to accepting credit card payments. No matter where you go, how you receive it, if it’s coming from a credit card, the fees are going to be about the same. There’s really just 4 card issuers out there – Visa, MasterCard, Discover, and AmEx, and they are the ones charging the bulk of the fees (between 1 and 3 percent). So, while sites like PayPal are taking a little cut off the top for themselves, those charges are still originating from the card issuers. So no matter how much you beg and plead, “We’re a 501c organization, we’re in this for the good of the community,” they could care less. Geez, is there any good news? Yes. PayPal’s base rate is a 2.9% charge on funds received through them, but the more business you do with PayPal, the less that rate is. So in a month where you received $10,000 or more, that rate drops down to 2.2%. Even better news. If you use Pool Dues, we can just pass that amount on to your members as a line item at Checkout labeled whatever you want. For example “Tax or Fees”. And by the way, Pool Dues takes ZERO per transaction. Member payments go directly into your PayPal account. If you decide to pass on the fees to your members, obviously that adds on a % to their final cost. On a $550 Membership, this is about $15 more they will see added. Most buyers ignore this charge IF it looks like tax. If it looks like a service fee (which it is), most people understand they are paying for the convenience of buying their membership online. And unlike the credit card companies, your members DO understand you are a non-profit organization and naturally give you a little more leeway than say, L.A. Fitness trying to pass off those fees to customers. And remember too, you can always tell people they can still pay by check. You can put the address to send a check to right below all your online payment options, and, believe me, it won’t discourage most people from paying online. Here’s what we would recommend (and obviously your Pool Dues payment portal can set it up this way)…. Include the PayPal fees on One-Time Yearly payments, but make them exempt from Yearly Recurring Payments. So this way you push members toward the automatic payment cycle. And yes, you’ll be out the $15, but you’re guaranteed to get paid the next year, the year after that and so on (assuming the member doesn’t cancel). You could even email members and tell them, “If you set up a recurring payment before March 1, it will be exempt from fees”. This way you’re getting member dues in February instead of the week before Memorial Day. And your Treasurer or other shop admin can easily toggle on or off adding those fees (on a per product basis). [/spb_text_block]
What’s Your Pool’s Member Enrollment Policy? Posted on May 23, 2018February 22, 2019 by Justin at PoolDues [spb_text_block animation=”none” animation_delay=”0″ simplified_controls=”yes” custom_css_percentage=”no” padding_vertical=”0″ padding_horizontal=”0″ margin_vertical=”0″ custom_css=”margin-top: 0px;margin-bottom: 0px;” border_size=”0″ border_styling_global=”default” width=”1/1″ el_position=”first last”] Seems like there’s one person every year that wants special pricing for some reason or another. Unfortunately, engaging in flea-market-style pricing is a slippery slope, and ultimately it’s unfair to other members. These requests might even sound reasonable at first, for example, here’s one made to our club… “I am debating on whether or not I will renew since the girls rarely went to the pool the last few years. Do you have a rate option for teenager only vs. a family rate?” Let’s go ahead and assume your club does not have a teenager option. It might seem reasonable at first to offer them some discount or maybe even a Singles membership. But this is where enforcing a clearly defined membership policy comes into play. One way or another word will get out that your pool is willing to cut deals, and then year after year you’ll hear more of this… “Well, my husband doesn’t usually come, so can I just sign up as a couple with my daughter?” “My wife is pregnant, so she won’t be there, can I just drop down to a Singles membership?” So what’s the solution? Politely send them to your website’s Membership Policy Page where you define what’s a Family, what’s a Couple, what’s a Single, and simply remind them that this is the pool’s policy to be fair to every member. Does a gym charge less monthly if you don’t go? Does Six Flags charge more for your season pass if you go every day? No, and the same rules should apply to your club. At the bottom of this page, we will post an example pool’s Membership Policy that you can copy and paste to your own website. This policy can also encourage members to make the most of their membership. Members need to choose to use the pool. If they go 4 times a summer, well, that’s a pretty steep per-visit cost, but that’s on them. To go back to our example with the family with a teenager, they are almost empty nesters. They should have weekly dinners at the pool since this is possibly the last summer with their teen living at the house. And maybe paying full price is what inspires that. Your Membership Policy could clearly state that if your children are college age, you can then join as a Couple, and you’re welcome to bring your children as guests if they aren’t living at home full time. [/spb_text_block] [spb_divider type=”standard” text=”Go to top” top_margin=”0px” bottom_margin=”30px” fullwidth=”no” width=”1/1″ el_position=”first last”] [spb_text_block animation=”none” animation_delay=”0″ simplified_controls=”yes” custom_css_percentage=”no” padding_vertical=”0″ padding_horizontal=”46″ margin_vertical=”0″ custom_css=”margin-top: 0px;margin-bottom: 0px;padding-left: 46px;padding-right: 46px;background-color:#f0eded;” border_size=”0″ border_styling_global=”default” back_color_global=”#f0eded” width=”1/1″ el_position=”first last”] Example Member Enrollment Policy Family Membership – Regardless of marital status, if you have children at or under the age of 18, living full or part-time in your home, you should join as a family. Couples Membership – If your spouse or significant other will not be bringing children at or under the age of 18 to the pool, you can join as a Couple. Single Membership – If you are purchasing a membership only for yourself, this is the membership for you. Please understand that we do not ask for more money based on above average usage of our facilities, nor do we discount if you use it less than other members. We encourage members to make the most of their membership, and if there is anything we can do to encourage that more, please let us know. To be fair to all members, please do not ask for special pricing exceptions. Any exceptions would need to go before a board vote and can not be decided upon solely by our Treasurer or Membership team. [/spb_text_block]
Get More Members at Your Pool or Club Posted on May 23, 2018February 22, 2019 by Justin at PoolDues [spb_text_block animation=”none” animation_delay=”0″ simplified_controls=”yes” custom_css_percentage=”no” padding_vertical=”0″ padding_horizontal=”0″ margin_vertical=”0″ custom_css=”margin-top: 0px;margin-bottom: 0px;” border_size=”0″ border_styling_global=”default” width=”1/1″ el_position=”first last”] I’ve never talked to a single board member that’s told me they aren’t accepting new members. Maybe a high brow pool or country club exists out there that could care less about membership, but I haven’t found it. Even if things are good now, you’re always one pump accident away from a $10,000 mistake. I just sat down with a pool where the President and VP had just found out one of their new guards turned on a pump without opening a water valve and it was toast. Point is, one year you can have a surplus and the next you can be in the hole. So it should be a given that your pool always needs new members. Especially since every new member is potentially a customer for decades. But I’m amazed at how many pool websites don’t even list their prices! Some just link to a PDF application that prospective members have to print out and mail in. So, let’s discuss that first… The Application Mistake Just having an application is a huge wall to membership. First off, it’s a holdover from 2 or 3 generations ago, when a club could actually get away with denying membership based on, well, whatever they wanted to deny them for. Race, religion, etc. Imagine nowadays if a family tried to join and your club denied them sight unseen. You might end up on the news or sued. And think back now… has your club actually denied an application recently? Probably not. It’s just a time-consuming detour between getting a member to actually join and pay. And the longer it takes to review an application, the more likely you are to lose that membership because…. The member lost interest They joined a nearby club that was easier to get into Little Susie needed braces, and that expense came out of the pool fund jar Consider why that application ever got posted to begin with. The board from 20 years ago didn’t set up an online membership payment system because a good one simply didn’t exist. So someone just said, “Well let’s just post the application online”. And there it’s sat for 20 years. [/spb_text_block] [spb_divider type=”standard” text=”Go to top” top_margin=”0px” bottom_margin=”30px” fullwidth=”no” width=”1/1″ el_position=”first last”] [spb_text_block animation=”none” animation_delay=”0″ simplified_controls=”yes” custom_css_percentage=”no” padding_vertical=”0″ padding_horizontal=”0″ margin_vertical=”0″ custom_css=”margin-top: 0px;margin-bottom: 0px;” border_size=”0″ border_styling_global=”default” width=”1/1″ el_position=”first last”] Upfront Pricing [/spb_text_block] [spb_column col_sm=”6″ padding_horizontal=”0″ width=”1/2″ el_position=”first”] [spb_image_banner image=”666″ image_size=”full” content_pos=”left” content_textalign=”left” animation=”none” animation_delay=”200″ image_link=”https://democlub.pooldues.com/member-dues/” link_target=”_blank” width=”1/1″ el_position=”first last”][/spb_image_banner] [spb_text_block animation=”none” animation_delay=”0″ simplified_controls=”yes” custom_css_percentage=”no” padding_vertical=”0″ padding_horizontal=”0″ margin_vertical=”0″ custom_css=”margin-top: 0px;margin-bottom: 0px;” border_size=”0″ border_styling_global=”default” width=”1/1″ el_position=”first last”] Click above to see how we think upfront pricing should look [/spb_text_block] [/spb_column] [spb_text_block animation=”none” animation_delay=”0″ simplified_controls=”yes” custom_css_percentage=”no” padding_vertical=”0″ padding_horizontal=”0″ margin_vertical=”0″ custom_css=”margin-top: 0px;margin-bottom: 0px;” border_size=”0″ border_styling_global=”default” width=”1/2″ el_position=”last”] There’s no need to be cagey about what it costs to join. I’ve seen pool sites where the pricing is gated behind a member login. What!?! You mean I have to be a member first to find out what it costs to be a member?! You need to post your prices with a button that says “Purchase.” And yes, that’s obviously where Pool Dues can help out. Once you make it easy for new members to join, THEY WILL JOIN. Remember who the young, late 20’s, early 30’s families are now. They grew up with technology. They’ve never had to write checks. They might not even have checks. Compared to paying online, we all hate writing checks. It means getting up. Going to that drawer with checks. Figuring out who to write it to, then writing an address on another paper, stamping it and walking it outside. After all those steps, there’s no guarantee it even makes it where it’s supposed to go!! If you don’t already run your own business, imagine for a moment that you do… Would you only accept checks as payment? [/spb_text_block] [spb_text_block animation=”none” animation_delay=”0″ simplified_controls=”yes” custom_css_percentage=”no” padding_vertical=”0″ padding_horizontal=”0″ margin_vertical=”0″ custom_css=”margin-top: 0px;margin-bottom: 0px;” border_size=”0″ border_styling_global=”default” width=”1/1″ el_position=”first last”] Here’s your ideal family deciding to join the pool…. [/spb_text_block] [spb_text_block animation=”none” animation_delay=”0″ simplified_controls=”yes” custom_css_percentage=”no” padding_vertical=”0″ padding_horizontal=”46″ margin_vertical=”0″ custom_css=”margin-top: 0px;margin-bottom: 0px;padding-left: 46px;padding-right: 46px;background-color:#f0ebeb;” border_size=”0″ border_styling_global=”default” back_color_global=”#f0ebeb” width=”1/1″ el_position=”first last”] Wife: I was thinking we should join the pool this summer Husband: Sure I guess, I’ll get on it tomorrow. Wife: I just paid. We are in. [/spb_text_block] [spb_text_block animation=”none” animation_delay=”0″ simplified_controls=”yes” custom_css_percentage=”no” padding_vertical=”0″ padding_horizontal=”0″ margin_vertical=”0″ custom_css=”margin-top: 0px;margin-bottom: 0px;” border_size=”0″ border_styling_global=”default” width=”1/1″ el_position=”first last”] See how fast that was. By slowing down that process at all, your club is losing members. People buy on impulse. They have a couple of glasses of wine at dinner with friends that are members, and without over-thinking it, they join. It can be that simple. [/spb_text_block]
