Connect to a social networking site on the web.

These instructions are designed for Facebook and Myspace but are similar for many of the hundreds of others out there;

Sign in– create and account

Upload a Profile Pic– this is you first of many online representations (please avoid company logo's it screams promotional only) you can change this every day (suggest monthly) if you wish as each time you update this you appear on a list at the top of a news feed. It becomes a gentle reminder you exist, it also has potential for interaction.

Fill out the Profile Information- if you are representing a summer camp try for a year of foundation, or personalize it for a single director.
Not every section needs to be filled out, if it is not relevant to the camp “Religion” need not be announced and as the original design was for personal use – your “Relationship” status is also skippable.

Upload some Photos– review the section on copyright and publication but get something up there and allow the comments this keeps them alive.

Upload Video– it is worth more than a picture and is completely engaging.

Set up a Blog or Notes- this reveals more about the camp, as it can be targeted directly to an issue, homesickness, mail to camp, what to bring. Again this is not to be approached as direct marketing this will only scare off campers/customers, make it personal and caring.

Now its time to Invite Friends– link to a few camp staff, trust me all the kids will be listed in their social group. Connect as if you want to be friends, this is the second most important step theses connections will increase your social network so that eventually all you will be doing is accepting requests.

You are now online– take your link and publish it on your website and add it as the signature of your outgoing emails, time to get it out there on the search engines (they will index it given time).

Now all you need to do is maintain this and other accounts you create.

Some Sites:

Facebook

Myspace

Flickr

YouTube

Note most sites require you are 13+ to sign on, though without strong verification systems many younger campers do have online profiles under an age alias.

<MORE ABOUT MEDIA>