Basic Premise:  Bent Tree is a wonderful & vibrant community that has a very strong Amenity Offering, including Golf, Tennis, Swim, Lake, Equestrian, Hiking, Clubs, and Social Organizations.  But unlike it's better known sister community of Big Canoe, Bent Tree has no financially motivated Developer to spearhead marketing.  So while Big Canoe enjoys a strong promotional marketing campaign, attracting over 50,000 Visitors per year, and enjoys a relatively successful Real Estate Sales, Rental & Vacation market - Bent Tree seemingly languishes in the unknown shadows on the other side of the mountain.   However, if people actually knew about Bent Tree, and all the opportunity and variety of life in the community, it would undoubtedly stack up well against Big Canoe, or just about any other mountain community.  It is simply a matter of getting the word out.

Primary Goal:  Launch a small but organized advertising campaign to capitalize on the huge volume of traffic and name recognition enjoyed by Big Canoe.  The industry marketing term is "Intercept Marketing".  We plan to "Intercept" the potential Big Canoe Buyer, Renter or Vacationer, and educate them to the existence of Bent Tree.

Method:  Run Newspaper ads in the Big Canoe Newspaper which highlight the community similarities.  Duplicate the advertising method in a series of local Roadside Billboards. (see photos below)

Secondary Considerations:  There are other well known North Georgia Region Communities running advertising.  Lake Arrowhead, Coosawattee River Resort, Achasta & Monteluce in Dahlonega are just a few names of places that have recognizable names that attract Buyers & Visitors.  Targeted Newsprint & Internet Marketing across the mountain region will promote the existence of the community of Bent Tree.  In Industry Marketing Terms, this is known simply as "Branding" or "Identity / Name Recognition Marketing".  The goal is to burn the NAME of BENT TREE into the minds of Buyers, Renters & Vacationers as a place to put on their short list to consider.

PICTURES OF A FOCUSED MESSAGE:  We think we have come up with a consistent message to present.  Below are actual examples of Classified Text Ads, Visual Newsprint Display Ads, and Roadside Billboards that are already in use.

Above is a Color Ad we began running in the Big Canoe Smoke Signals in November 2010.  We will most likely phase this design out, as we transition to our new standard Visual Marketing Design (shown to right), which was developed with the assistance & approval of Mike King, the Bent Tree General Manager.

Above is the updated design we started running in a Black & White version as of January 2010.  We also have a Color Version, and depending on the season, we may go with color, or even larger 1/2 page advertisements during certain peak real estate seasons.
 

Picture below is our 1st Billboard, located 100 Yds from the Big Canoe Gate.

Before we put up the above sign, it looked like the one below.  Dale Cummings (pictured above) has let us use his billboard space FOR FREE through March.  I told him I'd put in a good word for him with the Community. He said his previous sign wasn't doing him much good in this economy, but if we could get him some work in Bent Tree, he'd let us keep the billboard up indefinitely.  I hope you give Dale take a shot at any Painting or Remodeling work you may have!

The Bent Tree Marketing Group (BTMG) is primarily funded by contributions from TheMountainsVoice.com, which contributes 10% of all it's Bent Tree Advertising proceeds to BTMG.  Mike King / Bent Tree HOA is also a primary driving force & financial contributor to BTMG.  The HOA's contributions all go towards creating and maintaining a network of Roadside Billboards promoting Bent Tree, a major component of the overall Bent Tree Marketing Group focus.

Additional Funding is provided by voluntary donations from the Bent Tree residents.  Anyone is welcome to contribute, and can do so via online, or mailed contribution, as is seen below.  BTMG does not pay a salary to anyone, and 100% of all income goes directly to marketing.  Operations are all run pro bono by David Hopkins of TheMountainsVoice.com

Marketing Exposure on
www.TheMountainsVoice.com/benttree
is a separate issue, but is the primary financial engine
that drives the overall the Bent Tree Marketing Group.

Contact David to discuss advertising.
706-579-2111, or themtnsvoice@aol.com

Make Payments to:
David Hopkins or Bent Tree Marketing Group

Enter your Name or Lot# for reference, and then Click Button to enter Payment Amounts using your Credit or Debit Card.

If you want to mail Check / Cash / Money Order,
then you can use the following information:

David Hopkins / Bent Tree Marketing Group
P.O. Box 247
Marble Hill, GA 30148
(Questions? call 706-579-2111)

Our PayPal Email / Account =
 benttreemarketinggroup@yahoo.com

Our BTMG Official Sponsor
Dale D. Cummings (Owner)
Cummings Painting & Construction
5618 Highway 52
Dawsonville, GA 30534
706-265-8653 (office)
706-273-9957 (cell)
daledcummings@windstream.net
http://www.cummingspc.com