MARK 3339 Project

Yan OrtizKendall Webb

Tammy LaRoxana Guzman

Stephanie Nguyen

Vision & Mission

Vision

Revolutionizes the way reading and writing are taught,

nurturing the growth of the imagination and awakening

students to the adventures of language

Mission

To engage children in the pleasure and power of reading

and writing

WITS Services

WITS Collaborative engages teachers in a period of writing workshops that host

group writings, lesson planning, and classroom co-teaching.

WITS DigitalA groundbreaking program that combines writing and online

gaming to inspire creative writing.

WITS Performance (Focus)emphasizes self-expression among students.

WITS Allianceis a network of 32 literary arts education programs and

individuals who serve K-12 students and provide professional

development for their teachers.

Project Objectives & Visions

Our Objectives

• WITS performance is under-noticed

• New target segment (Teenagers, 13-19 years old)

• Small community for poetry slam within Houston

Our Visions

• Increase brand awareness for both WITS performance and

Meta-Four

• Create online marketing plans for WITS performance &

Meta-Four

• Increase social-media traffic

Industry Trends

• A trend for non-profit organizations within

the past year is an uprising in social media

to increase recognition

• Another trend is increase of demand and

not enough support

• According to WITS, they are searching for

ways to expand their name to receive more

support and recognition.

Problem

Increase of demand and not enough support

Solution

Coordinate and promote events to generate

awareness and attract potential customers

Problem and Solution #1

Problem and Solution #2

Problem

Lack of Social Media Attraction

Solution

No scattered postings. Post everyday and initiate

a social media campaign

Problem

No new customers. Only loyal customers

Solution

Set up booths at poetry slam events to

generate the crowds interest in the

organization and to provide more information

to the public

Problem and Solution #3

Legal Issues

Important Information about Non Profits

• No part of the income of which is distributable to members,

directors, or officers

• Not automatically exempt from federal or state taxes

• A nonprofit corporation must have at least 3 directors, one

president, and one secretary

• Must make records, books, and annual reports of financial

activity available to the general public

Technology Issues

Current Problems

• Paper based (fliers)

• No system to keep account of students/ student information

• No tab of who sees events

• No footprint on website

Solution

• Switch to Computer Based System (CRM)

• Keep a tab on students who continue to go

regularly to events and who participate

• Include parents in on meetings and update them on what

their student has accomplished and upcoming events

WITS Performance Competitor

Alley Theater

• They claim to have award-winning programs for

middle school and high school students.

• Their slam poetry is an 8-10 session residency in and

out of classrooms

• They take part in the Bayou City Poetry Teen Slam and

Slam Poets at the Alley Grand Slam.

Solutions

• Expand size of the organization

• Increase awareness of their name

and reputation towards schools,

parents and students.

• Achieve popularity

Blue Ocean/Disruptors

Blue Ocean

Encourage and guide teachers and students to form

poetry clubs within schools

Increase needs of professional guidance

Helps promote poetry slam within schools

Disruptors

The Slam Poets at Alley Theatre

Slam Poets provide free classes to all students

The Annual Bayou City vs. The Annual Space City Slam

Customer Needs

Customer Needs:

• Schools

• Giving tips to add to lesson plan

• Information about WITS

• Provide pamphlets to include prices and promos

Students (age 13-19)

• Creativity

• individual performance

• confidence building

• information on events and what they would do

Target Segment

Schools (Public/Private)

• WITS provide itinerary

• Create slides/notes for teacher

• Create brochures to increase market ( include prices)

Students (ages 13-19)

• Add students’ social media

• Create a competition

• Text/email updates for each event

• Prizes: as incentives (e.g. shirts, chance to go to

finale)

Trends

Trends:

• Social Media (FaceBook, Twitter, YouTube)

• Add all students in program

• Post every day or once a week

• Include location change for each event

Humanize Brand

• Offline marketing

• Contact radio, newspaper, magazine companies in TX

• Place flyers in information booth at Discovery Green

• Create a connection with crowd

• Build purposeful eye catching sources (e.g. flag, flyers)

SWOT Analysis

Space City Slam Series Houston

• Ownership

• The only local youth Poetry team

Professional Writers

• Teachers, university professor, and professional writers

Strength

Online Campaign

• Campaign, challenges, &

hashtags

Create Internships within WITS

• Marketing & P.R. interns

• College students understand trends

OpportunitiesSlam Poets @ Alley Theatre

• Possibility of creating new

team

Constant change in technology

• Heavily focus on in-person sales

• Change in online promotion

Threats

Weaknesses

Organization/Department Size

• Small to medium size

• Lack of professional specialist

Lack of promotion planning

• Inability to identify potential marketing opportunities

Q & A