S2KI-Local Vendor/Sponsor Program

OK, here is the grand idea and program I have been bouncing around for the past few years.

We have a network of vendors and service providers who want to provide for our S2000 community. We have a want/need to have approachable and confident solutions for service and products at a local level. What I propose is a marketing venture that will offer advertising to these companies and provide us with a community service in return.

I have been getting permission and developing a plan for a very long time now and I am now at a point where I can launch my idea and see what it does.

The following will outline the major points of formulating a policy for marketing local businesses on S2ki.com (Florida forum). The purpose of this project is to establish working relationships with local businesses to advertise their products and services on the S2ki.com website while also providing the community a service.

S2ki will provide banner space (in the Florida forum only) as well as forum thread space to conduct business and market specials and deals. This will include “sticky” threads located at the top of the respective local forum. In exchange, the client company will provide car themed events to the community and/or provide sponsorship of planned events put on by the website’s Community Organizer in the respective area.


CO (most likely me in all art aspects and banners) Provides:
-- 1 banner per quarter year. Client develops banner with S2ki using client’s source imagery. S2ki will design banner to client’s direction. Banner will be viewable (at an aggressive view rate) on all of the Florida forum pages including the Main FL section.

-- 1 “sticky” thread in the local Florida forum closest to where the Client’s base of operation is in. This thread can be un-sticky and replaced with a new thread at the client’s discretion. But not to be done more than once every 2 weeks

-- Technical support concerning banner usage and thread maintenance.


Client Provides:-- 2 themed events per year or sponsorship for two themed events. Events should be done with considerable time between the two. Events can be generic “hang out” meets or tech days designed around a product or service. Theme of meet is at the discretion of the client producing the event.

-- Specials, group buys, discounts at the clients discretion. Client should utilize the banner ads and “sticky” threads to market said deals (and the company) to the S2ki community.

-- Outstanding customer service and quality. The work and ethic should be of the highest quality at all times. If the client enters into bad business relationships, their involvement in the program will be at risk. This program is “open door” in all respects. Both parties have the right to end the agreement for any reason, at any time.


CO responsibilities:
-- Work with client on all design and implementation of art work and threads on forum website.

-- Help develop and plan events with client.

-- Provide support and logistical help whenever needed during meets and planning thereof

-- Provide technical support on the forum (including merging, grooming, deleting, and moving threads as needed)

-- Design and implement all marketing materials to be used on the site (banners). Design banner to client’s specifications.

-- Track thread and banner durations, notify client on opportunity to change marketing throughout the year.


Client’s Responsibilities:
-- Provide direction and artwork needed to produce each banner to be displayed on the website

-- Maintain the threads they create (this includes replying in a timely fashion, communication with the CO as to when and how long sticky threads should live and when to switch them out.

-- Maintain extremely well groomed relationships with the community. Quality and service and communication will be paramount.

-- Do not flame or argue with customers online. Take all complaints on personally over the phone or through PM and work closely with the CO to eradicate argumentative posts and exchanges on the forum.

General:

-- All marketing and banners should pertain specifically to the S2000 platform.



I am launching this locally in the Tampa area first. If the other CO’s see value in this project, they are welcome to adopt this and use this template to initiate the same program in their local markets.

Banners will appear in all Florida Forum communities as well as the main section of our forum. I have no control on this aspect. When a banner is introduced into the rotation it covers all of Florida. I do not foresee this as a problem as people frequently seek “the best” provider over a large area to meet their needs.

I welcome your comments and suggestions. This policy is a living document and this whole project is designed to be friendly and a relationship builder. We have autonomy to run this how we see fit. I welcome input and participation.

I have one vendor in the que right now and I am sure others will want to participate. I will answer all inquiries as fast as possible.

I appreciate you all reading this and my hopes is that it will usher in a new era of networking, community building and most importantly.....activity in various regions.

Questions and answers in here or through PM.

If I have missed some fundamental aspect, there is any kind of disconnect, or deal breakers in here, let me know ASAP.

Thanks and I hope you share my excitement!!!!


Rob

 

How much does this cost?

 

sorry i did not see this post earler....


The cost is rather subjective. The "cost" to the vendor for participating in the program is 2 sponsored events within a 1 year period from the start of their involvement.


this can be a tech day at their place of business or a "meet" at a location of their choice etc. the vendor would supply the the actual food and drink or arrange to have it provided (ie. sponsoring a cook out put on by the CO in that area). These events could be used to market directly to the attendees through either a tech-day, demo or presentation.

So it is really up to the Vendor as to how expensive the program actually is. burgers, chips and dogs at a beachside park is one kind of cost....shrimp, lobster and bottles of Dom at the Spa in safety Harbor is another kind of cost.....LOL Just kidding but You get what I am saying.

This is a bold idea that a few of us having kicking around for years. it is a way for local vendors to connect with their target audience and a way for us to do something fun with our community.

I am still shaping things up and have a couple of people willing to jump on board. If you know of someone wanting some good local exposure, let me know.

 

So I guess two poker runs a year, Dyno days, open houses, and monitary stuff qualifies?

 

the concept is not retro-active. the events you described are S&R events you hosted regardless of involvement in a custom program like this one. the events i would be looking to be hosted in this agreement would be S2000 specific events like tech-days or direct sponsorship of events like a beach BBQ etc...

this is a brand new venture with different objectives from say, sponsoring events like the SPGP.


Let me know if you are interested in taking part. I think it would be a great opportunity for your business.

 

until the new S2ki system is up and running with banners etc...this project is on hold.