We look forward to seeing you at the 2013 Bowl Expo! Join us to hear solutions about how Party Center Software can boost your revenue with Online Booking and Event Management. We’re also excited to share news about exciting new features coming soon to Party Center Software! To learn more, stop by booth #366 at the show. See ya there!
What is the best day for party bookings online?…. According to our Google Analytics that day is usually Monday!
How many people use tablets (iPads) to book events online?… We are seeing about 11-15% of the site visitors coming in on tablet devices of which Apple’s iPad is the dominant player. We have seen this stat increase rapidly over the last 6-9 months.
The value of your website and online booking site is dependent upon how people engage with your content on the site and each page specifically. By using Google Analytics, you’ll be able to better evaluate which pages on your site are the most important, and then where to place your focus.
Party Center Software customers are realizing the benefits of online booking each day – specifically, in the mobile device world! We live in a culture that needs information quickly – and in the palm of your hand instantly. How people are booking parties and events for their children, for their organizations is no different! Understanding your customer’s bounce rates (their average time on the site, and individual pages), and the time of day they’re booking parties will increase your awareness of exactly how each customer is engaging with your online booking site.
Google’s own Avinash Kaushik, one of their top analytics experts, has blogged about measuring the effectiveness of your web pages and writes: “My own personal observation is that it is really hard to get a bounce rate under 20%, anything over 35% is cause for concern, 50% (above) is worrying. I stress that this is my personal analysis based on my experience, but hopefully it gives you a feel for what you are shooting for.”
228. Yes, 228 enthusiastic people showed up for the September 18th webinar on increasing birthday day party sales!! We were proud to sponsor this fantastic event, facilitated by Beth Standlee with TrainerTainment.
Beth shed light on the tangible tasks that take your birthday party sales to the next level and answered critical questions such as:
How to best price birthday packages in this economy?
What can we offer to make our birthday parties stand out from everyone elses?
How do I keep my staff motivated?
We already have a discount price for booking during the week, is there something else we can offer our customers to further increase sales during the week?
Thanks to everyone who attended the September Webinar! We encourage you to join us for the October webinar which promises to be another informative session on Party Pro Training! Click Now To Register!
Most people have no clue and most business owners are even more clueless. For years it was somewhat commonplace to go into a major retail shop to be asked questions upon checkout. Usually you were asked for your zipcode. Problem is that many states in the US and many other countries have outlawed this practice. Why? The main concensus is that you are collecting, storing and using that personal identifying information to track and “spy” on your customers. We all know about club cards and memberships at most major grocery food chains. The reason they get away with it is that it is voluntary and not forced at the checkout line.
I just today received an email from Bed Bath and Beyond about a class action lawsuit specifically regarding the collection, storage and tracking of your zipcode. Here is the official email that was sent out.
So the moral of this story is that you need to make sure you follow your laws. If you want to collect and analyze personal information, you need to do so in a completely voluntary manner that will NOT get you sued!
PartyCenterSoftware.com is sponsoring (and attending) the LaserTag 360 event happening right now, August 7th and 8th in Indianapolis. Another a
mazing event put on by Creative Works (The Wow Effect) to help new and existing lasertag operators. Right now Jeff Schilling is walking through over 40 people on how to analyze a lasertag or family entertainment facility and its feasibility.
If you ever wanted to know all the details about operations and development of a lasertag anchored or attraction based facility this is the event you need to attend.
For a list of the upcoming LaserTag 360 event click go to their website at www.LaserTag360.com.
Thanks Jeff and CW gang for putting on another ROCKIN event!
Have you visited YOUR website lately? How about the analytics for your website? With the world-wide annual Social Media Day right around the corner, coming June 30th 2012, maybe it’s time to dust off those old web links and outdated images and consider that over 2 billion people around the world are now surfin’ the web every day – 273 million of those folks are in the US alone! Consider that at the 2012 International Bowl Expo, over 10 keynote speakers will be presenting on the impact social media and websites have on the bowling industry and their customers. According to Stacy Karten with BCM magazine, “many Bowling Centers are great with getting their website up and running” but then falter with keeping the content fresh and new. Research shows that online users are less likely to return to a website if the content, social media links, and images are outdated.
Research also suggests that users return to websites more frequently when a service is offered or the site provides a method to connect with the company – and what better way to accomplish this than through online event reservations?! Now operating internationally, Party Center Software can help you boost and retain the web traffic you’re looking for by giving you and your customer’s simple, painless online event reservation capability. The beauty of this process is that the online booking feature is linked directly to your website, bringing even more people – and potential customers to your website! Party Center Software even offers the ability to track the analytics and metrics for your online booking site – included in the software! Jay Trietley with Alley Cats Bowl in Arlington had this to say about Party Center Software, “We have been using Party Center Software for the past year and our online bookings have grown substantially! In this day and age of do it now thinking – and now could be 2:00 in the morning…it’s great that they (our customers) have the ability to open our website and get the job done!” The upsells we have booked, along with the convenience, is a win-win for us and the customer!”
With customers like Rick Iceberg’s CJ Barrymore’s in Detroit realizing a 40% increase to their event profit margin, you cannot afford to miss out on the potential savings and online presence that Party Center Software can bring to your bowling business! Don’t delay the decision to get your website, social media, and online booking parameters defined. Your customers are waiting!
Frank Price is the president of F.L. Price and Associates, a training, operations and concept development firm, based in Raleigh, North Carolina, that specializes in family fun, recreation and children’s entertainment. Frank has become the leading expert on the business of birthday parties, developing programs and installing experiential concepts, customizing manuals and training employee teams to achieve cutting edge success. Frank founded Birthday University in 2000 to answer the need for understanding the presentation of high quality commercial birthday parties. Birthday University continues to tour in it’s 10th successful year, teaching businesses like Disney, Hershey Parks and Palace Entertainment Parks, Stone Fire Pizza, Andretti Thrill Park, San Diego Ice Rink, Roseville Skate Town, The Ontario Science Center, The Florida Aquarium, Hero’s, Giggley Kids, Jump Club and thousands of other family entertainment enterprises, the business of remarkable and profitable birthday parties. Frank has custom trained at many high profile industry companies, including Adventure Zone, Skate time 209, Magic Mountain, Castle Park, Rink Management, Freedom Station, New Roc City Sports Plus, John’s Incredible Pizza, McDermitt Field House and Fun Depot .
Bill Carlson has over 30 years of experience owning and operating successful businesses in amusement and entertainment, retailing, international development and consulting.
Along the way he has learned the importance of creating a value-based business culture. Recognizing the significant role nurtured happy employees play in creating memorable experiences for customers.
The principles and primary strategies of his AIM™ Alternative Innovative Management program are essential for owners and key personnel to create a culture based on great core values and nurture and the most important people, their employees.
Hundreds of businesses have benefited from Bill’s prophetic vision.
Bill is known as “the Profit Mentor” and has gained wide acclaim for the results his clients have achieved. This is because people with mentors:
Submit Photos of Your Facility to IAAPA and Your Attraction Could be Featured on the IAAPA WebSite!
Dear IAAPA Members,
Please consider submitting photos of your facility to us to post on our website. Your pictures may be featured as one of the rotating images on the homepage, at the top
of one of our web sections, or in various IAAPA marketing materials.
If your facility’s picture is chosen, the name and location of the facility will be listed with the picture. This will be our way of saying “thank you” as we publicize your facility to thousands of people who view our web pages each week.
Your pictures must be 750 pixels wide by 200 pixels high, 75dpi resolution in JPG format (panoramic view) in order to be considered for placement. If you’re interested in participating, please complete the online form and upload pictures of your facility.
Thanks for your consideration and we look forward to seeing your photos! If you have questions, please contact webmaster@IAAPA.org for more information.
Sincerely,
Your IAAPA Website Team.
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The International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions 1448 Duke St. Alexandria, VA 22314 | Tel: +1 703/836-4800 |
Many thanks to Beth Standlee and her staff at TrainerTainment for highlighting Party Center Software in their most recent newsletter!
http://myemail.constantcontact.com/When-Selling-CLICKS.html?soid=1101205010203&aid=FPS6GsX3bsE
TrainerTainment is a training company that services the Family Entertainment and other hospitality–driven markets who want to improve their sales teams, products, and guest service ability. Our company focuses on sales training in order to enhance promotions, events, birthday party programs, team building, and all other corporate and group outings. Developing people and teaching businesses how to create a thriving sales culture through great customer service are our primary goals.
- Justin Falls, Communications Director/Client Relations
  ’Tis the season for people to spend money. Lots of it. With planning, some of those free-flowing holiday dollars can come your way. Here are seven ways family entertainment centers (FECs) have found success during the holidays.
 Set up shop at the mall Odyssey Fun World establishes a kiosk at a nearby mall from Black Friday through Christmas. It costs roughly $3,000 but is well worth the price, says Clint Paraday, general manager for the FEC with locations in Tinley Park and Naperville, Illinois. Employees staff the bustling booth selling gift cards, explaining their birthday party packages, and getting valuable face time with local folks doing their holiday shopping. “You may be in their backyard, but they still never heard of you,” he says. “The holidays aren’t huge for birthday parties, so we wanted to create awareness and get our name out there,” Paraday details. However, he admits he misfired with a previous Black Friday discount. In 2009 the first 200 guests who arrived before noon got a free ride wristband. Unfortunately, only a few dozen showed up. Paraday learned people were too consumed with shopping to stop by, and he consequently changed to the birthday booking. For the week between Christmas and New Year’s, when most kids have off from school, Planet 301 features 50 percent discounts on all arcade games and a $100 discount on any party package. Tsapatsaris’ idea helped with her attendance numbers and everyone left with a buzz. “People want to go where people are,” she says. “The more foot traffic the better.” Contact Contributing Editor Mike Bederka at mbederka@IAAPA.org.
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