Is Your Rotary Club's Website Engaging? Is it Relevant? Does it Offer Marketing Value?

Written by Robyn T. Braley

Does your Rotary Club's website effectively tell your club's story? Does the site accurately reflect your brand? 

In this post I answer the question, “What makes an effective website?”

Before we go further, I need to ask a fundamental question. Is the purpose of your club's website to position the club as an active member of your community? Is it focused outward on target groups? Is it a useful marketing tool? Does it attract and engage visitors?

Or, is it simply an inward looking online newsletter that features information that is of interest to club members only? Does anyone outside of your club care. Does your club care?

8 'Ps' Your Service Club Needs to Know for Social Media Success!

Social Media can take your Rotary Club to the world.

"Forget Social Media. It’s just a passing fad!"

The next time someone at your club says that, ask them to take an Aspirin, Tylenol or Advil (fairness to all). Then suggest that they lay down and rest until the feeling passes!

Social Media has brought about the greatest revolution in the gathering and sharing of human knowledge, opinions and observations since the invention of Gutenberg Press.

In my last post, I answered the basic question Is it Time to Launch a Social Media Program. The answer was a resounding YES! 

However, and you knew there would be one, Rotary Clubs must approach social media in the same way a business or public institution does. Develop a plan! While there is a huge upside, there are also risks. Think about this. 

If you don’t want to see it, read it or hear it in mainstream or social media, don’t say it, show it, refer to it, or upload a picture of it to Facebook or a video to YouTube." RT Braley, Media Coach

Whenever I give a keynote or a half day seminar about communicating through the media, an athlete, politician, or business leader will have said or done something that provides a fresh example of why the rule above is so important. That is why media performance coaching is key.   

Need Public Speaking Tips? This seminar is for you! Raising Your Game - Public Speaking Tips for Success

Learn public speaking skills and meeting production tips. Engage your audience! 

If you feel uncomfortable and even overwhelmed by public speaking, this seminar is for you if you live in Calgary or Southern Alberta.

Raising Your Game - Public Speaking Tips for Success

Those who attend this seminar will take away public speaking and meeting production tips that will help engage your audience. If you are an MC, service club president, board chair, not-for-profit leader, businessperson or anyone else who depends on strong communication skills, this seminar is for you. 

The Calgary West Rotary Club is presenting keynote speaker Robyn Braley who will help you raise your public speaking game by taking you through the 5  “Cs” for meeting success. You will leave feeling more confident and prepared to speak to large or small audiences.

Five Public Speaking Tips

1.    Confidence – How to prepare

2.    Credibility -  command attention, own the stage.

3.    Communication

a.    Body Language

b.    Voice – pitch, pace, rhythm, inflection

c.    Performance techniques

4.    Content – understanding your audience, putting it all together

5.    Control – production tips, microphones, music, powerpoint, video

Is it Time for Your Rotary Club to Launch a Social Media Program?

Social media unlocks new opportunities for Rotary

Written by Robyn T. Braley

Are you ready? It's not "if" but "when.." This post answers "why!" 

I am often asked the question, “What should our club do about social media? How can we get started? Is it worth the effort?” 

The answer is a resounding YES! 

Social Media has brought about the greatest revolution in gathering and distributing human knowledge since the Gutenberg Press. In the coming months I will post how-to articles explaining the basics you need to know before launching your program. This post answers the question, “Why?”

Let's ask a basic question. If you launch a successful program is your club ready for success? Are your members ready to host random visitors who may drop by to experience Rotary first hand?

Tips For Creating A Rotary Elevator Speech That Works

An elevator speech  provides a conversation starter.  

Written by Robyn T. Braley

How do you explain Rotary? There are so many chapters to the Rotary story that telling it in 4 to 5 sentences is next to impossible. 

But, there is the rub. People today, especially millennials, are accustomed to receiving information in short, concise bytes.  

A short, concise elevator speech provides a place from which to launch into meaningful conversations about Rotary. Crafting an elevator speech will help engage others into your club’s brand experience.       

You can also use it for social media profiles, booking speakers, pitching stories to the media, in brochures, approaching funding partners and many other day-to-day Rotary activities.

What is it?

So, “What is an elevator speech?” It’s not what you think. 

How Do I Explain My Rotary Clubs' Brand?

A brand is more than just a logo.
It reflects your soul!

Written by Robyn T Braley

Rotary is all about doing. And, it’s the doing that gives us meaning.

Branding is living out an inner meaning in a way that breathes life into an organization. It provides outward evidence of an internal belief system. 

So, how do you define your clubs' brand in a way that's easy to understand? In short, a brand is what others think it is. This is how I explain it in my seminars.

“A brand reflects the soul of an organization. It communicates vision, values and principles. Brands work from the inside out to connect with customers at an emotional level.”

Creating LinkedIn Profiles for Rotarians; Connecting With New Members

Written by Robyn T. Braley

Connect with your network and millenials. Introduce both to Rotary

LinkedIn has become a powerful social media tool for growing your professional network, enhancing your personal brand, and building meaningful relationships. The platform provides excellent opportunities for attracting new Rotarians. 

A new member recently joined the Calgary West Rotary Club. I didn't have a chance to introduce myself and welcome her, but within days I received an invitation to connect on LinkedIn.