The Elks
Marketing Guide
Lodges that will succeed in retaining current Members, gaining new ones, and thriving in today’s social landscape will do so not by chance but by change.
Click Marketing
Brick Marketing
Join the Elks
Click Marketing
These resources are designed to assist your Online Marketing efforts.
Brick Marketing
These resources are designed to assist your Traditional Marketing efforts.
Videos
These are videos produced about our people and our programs. Please share these on your websites and social media.
Featured Video
Why Do Members Join?
All new Members join for a reason. Finding out what motivates them is a big part of a successful membership program.
The Jolly Corks
On the occasion of the Elks 150th Anniversary, Members of the “Jolly Corks” relate highlights from the organization’s long history.
Elks: Why We Join
Since 1868, millions and millions of Americans have joined the Elks. Find out why!
BPO Elks of USA
Find more videos produced by us. Follow and subscribe to the YouTube channel
Joining: Following These Footsteps
ENF promotion video showing ENF recipients and their continued involvement with the Elks.
ENF Promo Videos
Use these promo videos to share short videos about our national charity programs.
Elks National Foundation
Find more videos by ENF. Follow and subscribe to the ENF YouTube channel.
Navigating Membership
Rick Gathen speaks with two PERs from Ballard Elks Lodge to hear about some of their strategies to help grow membership.
Public Relations Matters
Rick sits down with local Member of the Ballard Elks Lodge to discuss some of their PR and media outreach efforts.
Texas Elks PR
Find more videos by Texas Elks PR. Follow and subscribe to their YouTube channel.
Instructions / How To
These are helpful resources to help guide production of videos.
8 steps to creating a promotional video
No matter the company, budget, or reason for the video, there’s a pretty basic format every video follows, from first idea to final cut.
7 ways to promote your events with video
If a picture is worth a thousand words, then what does that mean for videos? Could a video mean a thousand event attendees?
Resources
Tools and resources available to assist you in creation of your videos.
Filmora Video Editor
Filmora is a very affordable and intuitive video editing software. You can use this to produce simple and effective social media and marketing videos.
Fiverr.com
Hire affordable talent to assist you in making your video. Your story is unique. Tell it differently with custom video & animation services.
Grand Lodge Manuals
“There is a manual for that!”
Grand Lodge Manuals
| Title (click to visit web page) | Download | Posted |
|---|---|---|
| Activities Committee | ||
| Planning a Special Event | Download | 04/19/2006 |
| Soccer Shoot Manual | Download | 02/27/2017 |
| Youth Activities Programs Manual | Download | 03/13/2019 NEW! |
| Youth Supervision Guide | Download | 07/31/2006 |
| Drug Awareness | ||
| Elks Drug Awareness Manual | Download | 08/01/2017 |
| Elks and Scouting | ||
| Elks and Scouting Managing Guidelines | Download | 04/02/2014 |
| Elks National Veterans Service Commission | ||
| Veterans Leather Program Instructional Guide | Download | 04/19/2006 |
| Fraternal Committee | ||
| About Our Flag | Download | 03/14/2018 |
| Americanism Manual | Download | 03/31/2013 |
| Developing New Elks Lodges | Download | 08/31/2010 |
| Lodge Activities Manual | Download | 03/31/2013 |
| Membership Program and Planning Manual | Download | 05/31/2006 |
| Discrimination and Harassment Guidelines for Local Lodges | Download | 12/09/2014 |
| Emblem Usage Guidelines | Download | 10/19/2007 |
| G.L. Program 2018/19 | Download | 07/10/2018 |
| How to Stage a Successful Hoopshoot | Download | 04/20/2006 |
| Local Lodge | ||
| ERs, Officers & Committee Members Manual | Download | 10/26/2015 |
| House Committee Handbook | Download | 02/21/2018 |
| Investigation Interview Committee Manual | Download | 11/04/2014 |
| Public Relations and Marketing Committee | ||
| Public Relations and Media Handbook | Download | 09/01/2010 |
E-Greetings
These examples, how-to articles, and resources can assist you in producing E-Greeting materials for your Lodges.
Instructions / How To
Canva explains the e-greetings basics
Whip up a fun, unique e-Card for any occasion – with a bountiful amount of quality graphics and images, you’ll have as much fun making your own e-Cards as your recipients will have receiving them.
The best websites for creating and sending free e-Cards
We’ve assembled a list of websites that allow you to create electronic cards (e-Cards) you can send (using email, Facebook, or other electronic delivery methods) to friends and family for the holidays, or for any other occasion.
Resources
Constant Contact
Powerful email marketing made easy. See all the great things it can do for your business.
Hallmark e-Cards
Websites
Using these websites, you should be able to find information about the Elks and our programs to share. We also present other resources to help you produce your own Marketing materials.
Social Media Shareables
Help spread the word about our great works and deeds. This site provides graphic shareables that have been developed with the express purpose of raising awareness about our organization.
Join.elks.org
Invite others to sign up for membership. Their application will be routed to the appropriate lodge for processing.
Virtual Tour of the Elks Memorial
The Elks Memorial is the crown jewel of our organization. This virtual tour provides everyone with the opportunity to view it.
Send a Membership Application to a friend
Invite someone to join using our electronic membership request.
Elks.org
Elks.org is your main resource for all things BPOE. Please make sure your account is up-to-date.
Elks History Site
Explore the resources listed below to learn more about how you can participate in and experience the history of the Elks.
Elks National Foundation
ENF is the Elks charitable granting organization. Since inception, the ENF has contributed $481.7 million toward Elks charitable projects nationwide.
Social Media Guidelines
By RICK GATHEN, Membership and Public Relations Manager
Please consider using the following social media disclaimer for your Lodge:
We reserve the right to remove comments and or materials from the Elks Lodge social media when those comments:
Are hateful or mean-spirited.
Are potentially libelous, obscene, or sexually explicit.
Are personal attacks, or involve profanity or insults.
Are private or public information published without Lodge consent.
Violate any law or promote the violation of any law.
Contribute to or encourage discrimination or harassment.
Display photos of Members drinking or smoking, or considered harmful to the Elks’ image and reputation.
Contain the names of minors.
Divulge Lodge business that may violate your Obligation.
Are not positive and informative.
We reserve the right to terminate someone’s ability to post when any of the aforementioned has been posted.
Don’t dive in head first. Social media beginners should focus on a few things and do them well.
Don’t accept non-Members as friends.
Don’t post photos of Members drinking or smoking.
Don’t post photos that may be “harmful” to the Elks image and reputation.
Don’t post names of children.
Don’t post Lodge business that would be in violation of your Obligation.
Printables
These examples, how-to articles, and resources can assist you in producing Printable materials for your Lodges.
Examples
Printable items you can use for inspiration.
Presentations
2018 Convention Presentation
Table Tents
Elks Table Tent: Social Shareables #2
Elks Table Tent: Social Shareables #1
Elks Do Table Tents: Halfwidth
Elks Do Table Tents: Fullwidth
Elks Do Placemat
Flyers
Recruitment Ideas
You can print these and hand them out at your Lodge meetings.
Resources
Resources to assist you in the creation of your printable items.
Make Graphics
Canva.com
Canva is a free graphics website. Canva has all the tools you need to design graphics for projects big and small. No design skills necessary: simply drag and drop.
Affinity: Photo & Designer
Affinity Photo & Designer are a great alternatives to Photoshop / Illustrator. They are affordable and full featured.
Fiverr.com
Hire affordable talent to assist you in making your video. Your story is unique. Tell it differently with custom video & animation services.
Make Documents
PDF Studio
PDF Studio is a full featured PDF creator and editor. It will help you with your document creation. It is very affordable compared to other PDF software.
Affinity: Publisher
Use Affinity Publisher to produce your newsletters and other print documents. This is an alternative to the Microsoft Publisher.
Branding
These examples, how-to articles, and resources can assist you in producing Branding materials for your Lodges.
Elks Emblem Usage Guide
These are examples of branding items you can use for inspiration.
Emblem Usage Guidelines
The Elks Emblem Usage Guide provides information on how the Elks Emblem and Logo should be used. Click the link to download the guide.
Instructions / How To
These are helpful resources on how to produce branding items.
Canva Branding Blog
Canva publishes a great blog about branding topics. These articles will help you focus your branding efforts and create products that reach your intended audience.
Resources
These are resources to assist you in creating your branding items.
Filmora Video Editor
Filmora is a very affordable and intuitive video editing software. You can use this to produce simple and effective social media and marketing videos.
Fiverr.com
Hire affordable talent to assist you in making your branding efforts. Your story is unique.
Press Releases
These resources can assist you in producing Press Release materials for your Lodges.
Examples
Press releases you can use for inspiration.
Working Together to Make A Difference In December
November Is Elks Veterans Remembrance Month
Donations Accepted for California Camp Fire Disaster
Instructions / How To’s
Helpful resources on the production of press releases.
How to Write the Best Press Releases With 21 Examples and 7 Templates
Every marketer should know how to write an effective press release. They’re essential for ensuring the media and public know your latest news.
How to Write a Press Release in 10 Steps [+ Free Template]
To write a good press release, include a compelling headline, a powerful lead paragraph, and an informative body. If written well, a press release can dramatically increase your brand awareness.
Resources
Resources to assist you in the creation of your press releases.
Press Release Templates
In this article, you’ll find the most useful free, downloadable press release templates in Microsoft Word and Google Docs formats and gain tips on how to write and publish a press release to maximize your success.
Tips for Writing A Press Release
Five Rules When Writing A Press Release:
- The five second rule…can anyone pick up your release and in five seconds determine exactly what the news value is? That is all the time a reporter is going to spend on your release before they decide to keep it or dump it.
•Put yourself in the reporter’s place and ask yourself, “could I write a story based on this information?”
•No attachments. They won’t open them mostly due to virus threats. Paste the test of your news directly into an e-mail.
•Since most press releases go over the internet, it is important your e-mail subject line be compelling. Reporters will read or delete e-mails based solely on the subject line. Avoid subject lines like: “News from the Elks Lodge”. Opt instead for “Elks Lodge Announces Scholarship Opportunities”. Or “Elks Lodge Helps Local Students with Scholarships.”.
•5. Write your release as you’d want to see it in the paper. Some newspapers will run a press release exactly as written.
Public Service Announcements
These examples, how-to’s, and resources can assist you in producing Public Service Announcements materials for your Lodges.
Examples
Investing in the Future–30-Second PSA
A 30-second Public Service Announcement featuring scholars at the 2017 Leadership Weekend talking about what they are going to do with their Elks scholarships.
Investing in the Future–60-Second PSA
A 60-second Public Service Announcement featuring scholars at the 2017 Leadership Weekend talking about what they are going to do with their Elks scholarships.
Public Service Announcement Reports
Forms
- Request for Transfer Dimit or Certificate of Release Moving to a new lodge? You can request a Transfer or Certificate of Release by submitting this form to your current local lodge Secretary.
Public Service Announcements (PSAs)
- Elks Public Service Announcements Check out these public service announcements created by the Elks National Foundation to help you promote the Elks. Feel free to download and use them in your communities!
Reports
Understand your membership! Review the following reports from the Grand Lodge Reporting System to gain a deeper understanding of membership trends in your lodge, district,or state.
Additional Resources
Turbo-charge your recruitment efforts with these easy-to-use online tools:
Our “Who are the Elks” page allows website visitors to submit a membership inquiry that will be forwarded automatically to the closest Elks lodge to their location. More 1,000 new members have joined the Order over the last two years using this online feature!
(Include the website url www.elks.org/who in any literature or press releases you distribute to your community.)
No membership application? No problem! Use our Online Membership Application System to send a membership invitation via email. Your friend can apply online via the website!Download a flyer to promote this feature at your lodge.
Visit the My Journey Website for New Members!
Use this flyer to promote the online membership application system at your lodge.
Membership News
Skilled members are needed to aid Elkdom
The Membership Chairperson needs committee members with various skills.
Leaders step up for plus in membership
Grand Lodge is calling on all of our good Exalted Rulers and Lodge Secretaries to seize the initiative to end 2018-19 with our first membership gain in 39 years.
Orientation inspires new Members to get active
Grand Lodge Membership and Marketing continues to strengthen the new Member experience. We launched the Orientation video and companion recruitment video “Why We Join,” all accessible on DVD, Membership
Instructions / How To’s
Resources to assist in the production of a PSA.
How to create a powerful public service announcement
If you’re brainstorming a public service campaign, or you simply want some tips on how to better connect with audiences then consider the following best practices.
Tips for creating your own video PSA
If you want to highlight your Lodge in a visual way with the potential to reach a large audience, consider creating a video public service announcement (PSA). The following are some general guidelines and tips for how to create a PSA.
Resources
Useful tools for the creation of a PSA.
Filmora Video Editor
Filmora is a very affordable and intuitive video editing software. You can use this to produce simple and effective social media and marketing videos.
Fiverr.com
Hire affordable talent to assist you in making your video. Your story is unique. Tell it differently with custom video & animation services.
Social Media
Social Media frameworks. How do you share Elkdom online?