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A recent Advertising Age article titled How to Get the Social-Media Generation Behind Your Cause describes a generation of 20-somethings who support or denounce a cause by “hitting the ‘like’ button on Facebook or posting a hashtag on Twitter.” According the featured study, there are strategies for getting this target market behind your cause, but the article may leave you wondering “Why?”

Why should you focus your marketing efforts on the so-called Social-Media Generation, which according this article has little time and money to give for the businesses and causes they follow?

The first answer is your 10-year plan. If you plan to be around at least another 10 years, the math is simple. This generation will be entering their 30s, getting married, advancing in their careers and having children. Win their hearts through cause marketing now, and you are far more likely to earn this socially-conscious generation’s business in the future.

The second answer we’ll call “inter-generational marketing,” whereby you reach parents and grandparents through their Social-Media active adult kids. Research shows both Baby Boomers and Generation Xers crave close connections with younger generations, especially children and grandchildren. In other words, don’t underestimate the power of the “like” button. You never know who may take notice.

Have you thought about folding the Social-Media Generation into your marketing efforts? What do you think about the strategies suggested in the Advertising Age article? We’d love to hear your thoughts!

One week after announcing the 2010 season opening day and operating schedule, Sun Splash Family Waterpark has launched new Facebook and Twitter pages and generated immediate fan support with an online contest. Sun Splash will open for the 2010 season on Saturday, March 13.

Sun Splash launched the Facebook and Twitter pages Feb. 2 and announced that the first 100 people to become Facebook fans and the first 100 Twitter followers were to be entered into drawings for a free season pass. In less than 24 hours, 200 people became Facebook fans and in less than 48 hours the number jumped to 500. Because of the immediate support, Sun Splash revised the contest to provide a drawing for five free season passes among the first 1,000 fans. The contest for a free drawing for the first 100 Twitter followers is continuing as well.

The Facebook page is located at: www.facebook.com/pages/Cape-Coral-FL/Sun-Splash-Family-Waterpark/260514151193?ref=ts and the address for the Twitter page is twitter.com/sunsplashcc.

“We were thrilled to receive such a tremendous response to this new, fun way for us to communicate with our supporters,” said Michael Kalvort, Deputy Director of the City of Cape Coral Parks & Recreation Department. “We encourage everyone to not only get online and become a fan on Facebook and follow us on Twitter, but also to encourage friends and family to do the same. Throughout the season, we plan to offer periodic discounts to our Facebook fans and Twitter followers, so it will pay off to support the waterpark.”

Also, Early Bird Season Passes now are on sale and offer park visitors savings of up to 29 percent off the regular season pass prices. Early Bird season passes are $49-$59 for Cape Coral residents and $69-$79 for non-residents through April 11. Details on general admission and season pass prices and benefits are available at http://www.sunsplashwaterpark.com/.

Sun Splash will be open Saturdays and Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. from March 13 through March 28. The waterpark will be open every day the week of April 1-11 for Lee County Public Schools’ spring break, then three days a week (Friday-Sunday) until schools dismiss for summer break in mid-June. Details about this year’s operating schedule are posted at www.SunSplashWaterpark.com.

Sun Splash Family Waterpark is Southwest Florida’s largest waterpark with more than 14 acres of slides, pools, food and fun for all ages. It is located at 400 Santa Barbara Blvd., just 2.5 miles north of Veterans Parkway in Cape Coral, Fla., and is open March through September. Sun Splash is owned and operated by the City of Cape Coral Parks & Recreation Department. For hours, ticket information and directions to the park, visit the Sun Splash Web site at www.SunSplashWaterpark.com or call 239-574-0558.