RICM wrote in another thread on media campaigns.
I think it's an open question as to the value of a big PR campaign for your class.
The way I look at it the No. 1 target for a classes event PR are the people at the event, then the freinds and family of the people at the event, then the people in the class who wish they where at the event. If you can get these people talking about the event and class their enthusiasm will draw other people in.
The best peice of PR you can do is get the results up really fast. Preferably at the end of each race.
What gets me is how neglected the run up to the event tends to be. It's way more important than the write up of racing at the end. Who is sailing with who, what gear they are using. Who the favorates are. What the conditions at the venue are like. There's a load of stuff to prattle on about that's of dirrect interest to the people who will be most interested. Bumping up the anticipation adds to the enjoyment for every one and gets people talking. Keep the class and the event in the forfront of peoples mind with short but frequent comunication using the apropriate channel. Different frequencies for different channels. We try and send out an email on something every 2 weeks from Feb through to the end of October, and post something on Facebook every week.
Ask for opinion and feedback on key decissions. Offer options. 99% of the time no one will reply and you have to drive it your self but people know that they are being informed and consulted and it gives them ownership.
After the event the most important thing is photos. Then the three standard write ups: summary of the racing (mention as many people as possable, particularly having a stand out performance), summary of the social (keep it clean!) and what the champion did (opinion on stratergy, disclosure of settings and gear).
RICM
Well said.
