I have seen a lot of chatter online recently about the need to promote naturism as a valid lifestyle option and many groups asking, "How can we spread the word and encourage new people to try naturism?” I started this blog as a way of demystifying the philosophy and hoping that some people might read it and consider giving social naturism a go.
Jun 26, 2023·edited Jun 26, 2023Liked by BOPBadger
In any promotional campaign, you first have to identify the most probable candidates to take an interest. Then you figure out how to target those people and not waste resources on low-propensity prospects. It isn’t as though we have so many prospective nudists and so much cash we can afford to spend it on mass marketing. We have to narrowcast. These days that means the internet, word-of-mouth, and guerilla marketing.
I consider the WNBR, the Bare to Breakers, Naked Hiking Day, Spencer Tunick shoots and such to be forms of guerilla marketing. There are others that involve less personal exposure.
It also means promoting only in areas with the most high-propensity consumers and avoiding those areas likely to contain a preponderance of hostiles.
We run into some major obstacles.
1. Failure to understand it as a marketing problem. Religions and philosophies that want to grow have to market themselves. Our choice may be to grow or shrink..
2. Lack of resources for even small targeted campaigns. Is there a critical mass for at least getting the ball rolling in nude-tolerant locales? This also relates to the confused and piecemeal response by the national nudist entities.
3. Unwillingness to be public about nudism. Most nudists are not public nudists and want to keep the nude lifestyle private and restricted. They fear exposure to the people who they've been keeping it a secret from. This is not an illegitimate concern. There are locales where such would cause severe social and financial hardships. This makes word of mouth extremely difficult to pursue as a strategy.
4. Fear dilution and pollution. The textile world is full of people who would miss the message entirely and just see it as an excuse for voyeurism and exhibitionism.
5. Unwillingness to see it as human rights oppression and insistence that marketing is incompatible with what they view as a spiritual movement. I am by no means on the left wing of politics but I view nudity as revolutionary, but in a good sense. There are other groups who are natural allies but for political differences trying to form a coalition would split the nudist community in half. Other differences are more important than nudist rights.
Getting past at least some of these obstacles is necessary for progress.
"Part of me doesn’t care. I really don’t mind if no one else gets it. I do, and even if I am alone in my thinking, I am happy with my naturist life."
There is a good reason why many or most naturists should care. Of course, for those who are fully satisfied with being naked at home or who already have convenient options such as a nearby club or nude beach, that "don't care" attitude is understandable. However, there's a real problem for people who are naturists but AREN'T satisfied with home naturism and DON'T have convenient options outside the home. The problem is that in many countries (e. g. the U.S.) convenient options just don't exist in most places.
And the reason they don't exist is an economic issue of supply and demand. If there's not sufficient demand for naturist opportunities then there probably won't be sufficient supply either. And the basic reason for the lack of demand is: there are too few naturists! If people really and truly want more and better naturist opportunities, then they really should engage in BOTH promotion and attraction. It's as simple as that. If for some reason they can't engage, then they'll have to accept the status quo.
Jun 17, 2023·edited Jun 17, 2023Liked by BOPBadger
I think that one of the best things about social nudism is how most people who do this are open, honest and upfront compared to similar groupings in textile settings. There are obviously exceptions in both the clothed and naked camps, but overall it feels more relaxed in an all nude gathering IMO This is one reason why this way of life is worth promoting in my view, if it means that more people can relax like this as an antidote to the antagonistic behavior that seems to be encountered far more frequently in recent times.
As for naturists groups putting across alternative views to the gutter press led attacks on Naked Education, I didn't see much in the UK. I saw discussions on it on naturist forums, but missed it if any of those organisations spoke up on it. IMO certain UK naturists organisations seem so focused on promoting their own activities that wider campaigning seems to be way down their agendas currently. As if they are a business rather than a promotional organisation or a combination of both. Having said that there have been some very worthy campaigns by some of them on things like public nudity laws.
I’m no evangelist, I’m happy with my own way of life and have no interest in getting others interested. The only reason I can see for this drive some have to get more people into naturism is insecurity and uncertainty - if we gain converts it validates what we’re doing do it must be all right after all.
All I would like to see is tolerance, so that nudity is simply one option on the clothing spectrum, not something to be called out or vilified. (I think I’m in for a long wait)
With that in mind the more positive publicity there is around naked events the better, not to gain concerts but to demystify and normalise. I’ve never had problems when meeting people while on my naked hikes, but those have been out in the countryside, not, say, in the park or walking to the shops.
An additional dimension to promotion is promotion for acceptance. With greater acceptance of our lifestyle choice we'll have more opportunity to swim without a swimsuit! But probably not shop for groceries though :)
Anyone who has been in business will know the two key areas of effective advertising, Inform and Persuade, and your "promotion and attraction" duo is right on the mark.
Promotion is used to get the product out there and to inform people about it - what it is, how it works, when to use it, where to get it, who it's for.
Attraction is used in order to persuade people that they really need your product, and that life will be so much better by using it. You tell them why they need the product, what the benefits are, what sets it apart from similar ones. You show them how it solves problems in their everyday lives and make them go, "Wow! I really need that!"
The two paradoxical statements you made: "Part of me doesn't care . . ." and "On the other hand . . ." are, together, quite descriptive of the naturist community as I see it. With very few exceptions, established, landed clubs remain very insular - hidden away from view behind tall hedges and fences and security gates, and comprising a group of mostly aging members who, in the most part, are happy with their club life - meeting up with their friends, playing the odd game of miniten or sitting in the spa pool. Apart from the odd sigh, brought on them noticing the slow decline in numbers, particularly of young people and children, there is little incentive to change the status quo.
To really throw a spanner in the works, for some time I've been having my doubts as the the relevance of "naturism" as a philosophy in today's world, and wondering if that is even part of the problem. In recent years the world has seen a dramatic decline in religion and other philosophies. Much of society, and even some naturists, view naturism as a sub culture or a cult. And the apparent secrecy portrayed by naturist clubs only tends to support suspicion in the minds of society. People today are much less inclined to be an "ist" who follows an "ism".
But it doesn't have to be that way. The definition of naturism, according to the INF-FNI comprises three main aspects: respect for self and others, respect for the environment, and social nudity. The first two are principles that should be observed by all people everywhere. They are far from being unique to naturism.
That leaves social nudity. Skinny dipping with friends has long been part of kiwi culture, and social nudity happens in society on numerous occasions - Back in the day we had the Nambassa festival. Today we have Convergence, Kiwiburn, Luminate, Rhythm & Vines, Splore, and others. There are nude rugby matches, World Naked Bike Rides, community skinny-dips, and other events. Massey university vet students get together naked to produce an annual calendar to raise funds for charities. NZ Young Farmers do the same. The point I'm making here is that naturism doesn't have a monopoly on social nudity either - certainly not in New Zealand anyway.
I have reached the point now that the only way to promote and attract people to try being naked in a social context is to get out there among society in appropriate public spaces with events and activities that attractive with or without clothes. It has to be an activity that people want to do, but that doing it naked is shown to enhance the experience. And the more that these events are held by people keen to promote the concept of "clothes-optional" living amongst the general public, the more popular and acceptable it will become.
Another thought provoking post. First thought in response to the title was yes! Second thought on reading was why is it either or. Why can’t we promote and attract? The answer rolling in my head is we lean heavily towards promoting when what we what we have isn’t attractive. It’s unlikely that only one thing is going to be attractive to everyone. But it is easy to just say we are going to promote this one thing. That one thing right now seems to be ME. Nudists are promoting themselves not really the philosophy or benefits which as you say are many.
So attracting and promoting makes for more work and effort that doesn’t seem like most in the naturist community are inclined to want to do. Thanks again for a thoughtful and thought provoking piece.
In any promotional campaign, you first have to identify the most probable candidates to take an interest. Then you figure out how to target those people and not waste resources on low-propensity prospects. It isn’t as though we have so many prospective nudists and so much cash we can afford to spend it on mass marketing. We have to narrowcast. These days that means the internet, word-of-mouth, and guerilla marketing.
https://www.coursera.org/articles/guerrilla-marketing
I consider the WNBR, the Bare to Breakers, Naked Hiking Day, Spencer Tunick shoots and such to be forms of guerilla marketing. There are others that involve less personal exposure.
It also means promoting only in areas with the most high-propensity consumers and avoiding those areas likely to contain a preponderance of hostiles.
We run into some major obstacles.
1. Failure to understand it as a marketing problem. Religions and philosophies that want to grow have to market themselves. Our choice may be to grow or shrink..
2. Lack of resources for even small targeted campaigns. Is there a critical mass for at least getting the ball rolling in nude-tolerant locales? This also relates to the confused and piecemeal response by the national nudist entities.
3. Unwillingness to be public about nudism. Most nudists are not public nudists and want to keep the nude lifestyle private and restricted. They fear exposure to the people who they've been keeping it a secret from. This is not an illegitimate concern. There are locales where such would cause severe social and financial hardships. This makes word of mouth extremely difficult to pursue as a strategy.
4. Fear dilution and pollution. The textile world is full of people who would miss the message entirely and just see it as an excuse for voyeurism and exhibitionism.
5. Unwillingness to see it as human rights oppression and insistence that marketing is incompatible with what they view as a spiritual movement. I am by no means on the left wing of politics but I view nudity as revolutionary, but in a good sense. There are other groups who are natural allies but for political differences trying to form a coalition would split the nudist community in half. Other differences are more important than nudist rights.
Getting past at least some of these obstacles is necessary for progress.
"Part of me doesn’t care. I really don’t mind if no one else gets it. I do, and even if I am alone in my thinking, I am happy with my naturist life."
There is a good reason why many or most naturists should care. Of course, for those who are fully satisfied with being naked at home or who already have convenient options such as a nearby club or nude beach, that "don't care" attitude is understandable. However, there's a real problem for people who are naturists but AREN'T satisfied with home naturism and DON'T have convenient options outside the home. The problem is that in many countries (e. g. the U.S.) convenient options just don't exist in most places.
And the reason they don't exist is an economic issue of supply and demand. If there's not sufficient demand for naturist opportunities then there probably won't be sufficient supply either. And the basic reason for the lack of demand is: there are too few naturists! If people really and truly want more and better naturist opportunities, then they really should engage in BOTH promotion and attraction. It's as simple as that. If for some reason they can't engage, then they'll have to accept the status quo.
I think that one of the best things about social nudism is how most people who do this are open, honest and upfront compared to similar groupings in textile settings. There are obviously exceptions in both the clothed and naked camps, but overall it feels more relaxed in an all nude gathering IMO This is one reason why this way of life is worth promoting in my view, if it means that more people can relax like this as an antidote to the antagonistic behavior that seems to be encountered far more frequently in recent times.
As for naturists groups putting across alternative views to the gutter press led attacks on Naked Education, I didn't see much in the UK. I saw discussions on it on naturist forums, but missed it if any of those organisations spoke up on it. IMO certain UK naturists organisations seem so focused on promoting their own activities that wider campaigning seems to be way down their agendas currently. As if they are a business rather than a promotional organisation or a combination of both. Having said that there have been some very worthy campaigns by some of them on things like public nudity laws.
One more nice article which compels naturists to initiate the thought process..
I’m no evangelist, I’m happy with my own way of life and have no interest in getting others interested. The only reason I can see for this drive some have to get more people into naturism is insecurity and uncertainty - if we gain converts it validates what we’re doing do it must be all right after all.
All I would like to see is tolerance, so that nudity is simply one option on the clothing spectrum, not something to be called out or vilified. (I think I’m in for a long wait)
With that in mind the more positive publicity there is around naked events the better, not to gain concerts but to demystify and normalise. I’ve never had problems when meeting people while on my naked hikes, but those have been out in the countryside, not, say, in the park or walking to the shops.
An additional dimension to promotion is promotion for acceptance. With greater acceptance of our lifestyle choice we'll have more opportunity to swim without a swimsuit! But probably not shop for groceries though :)
Anyone who has been in business will know the two key areas of effective advertising, Inform and Persuade, and your "promotion and attraction" duo is right on the mark.
Promotion is used to get the product out there and to inform people about it - what it is, how it works, when to use it, where to get it, who it's for.
Attraction is used in order to persuade people that they really need your product, and that life will be so much better by using it. You tell them why they need the product, what the benefits are, what sets it apart from similar ones. You show them how it solves problems in their everyday lives and make them go, "Wow! I really need that!"
The two paradoxical statements you made: "Part of me doesn't care . . ." and "On the other hand . . ." are, together, quite descriptive of the naturist community as I see it. With very few exceptions, established, landed clubs remain very insular - hidden away from view behind tall hedges and fences and security gates, and comprising a group of mostly aging members who, in the most part, are happy with their club life - meeting up with their friends, playing the odd game of miniten or sitting in the spa pool. Apart from the odd sigh, brought on them noticing the slow decline in numbers, particularly of young people and children, there is little incentive to change the status quo.
To really throw a spanner in the works, for some time I've been having my doubts as the the relevance of "naturism" as a philosophy in today's world, and wondering if that is even part of the problem. In recent years the world has seen a dramatic decline in religion and other philosophies. Much of society, and even some naturists, view naturism as a sub culture or a cult. And the apparent secrecy portrayed by naturist clubs only tends to support suspicion in the minds of society. People today are much less inclined to be an "ist" who follows an "ism".
But it doesn't have to be that way. The definition of naturism, according to the INF-FNI comprises three main aspects: respect for self and others, respect for the environment, and social nudity. The first two are principles that should be observed by all people everywhere. They are far from being unique to naturism.
That leaves social nudity. Skinny dipping with friends has long been part of kiwi culture, and social nudity happens in society on numerous occasions - Back in the day we had the Nambassa festival. Today we have Convergence, Kiwiburn, Luminate, Rhythm & Vines, Splore, and others. There are nude rugby matches, World Naked Bike Rides, community skinny-dips, and other events. Massey university vet students get together naked to produce an annual calendar to raise funds for charities. NZ Young Farmers do the same. The point I'm making here is that naturism doesn't have a monopoly on social nudity either - certainly not in New Zealand anyway.
I have reached the point now that the only way to promote and attract people to try being naked in a social context is to get out there among society in appropriate public spaces with events and activities that attractive with or without clothes. It has to be an activity that people want to do, but that doing it naked is shown to enhance the experience. And the more that these events are held by people keen to promote the concept of "clothes-optional" living amongst the general public, the more popular and acceptable it will become.
Another thought provoking post. First thought in response to the title was yes! Second thought on reading was why is it either or. Why can’t we promote and attract? The answer rolling in my head is we lean heavily towards promoting when what we what we have isn’t attractive. It’s unlikely that only one thing is going to be attractive to everyone. But it is easy to just say we are going to promote this one thing. That one thing right now seems to be ME. Nudists are promoting themselves not really the philosophy or benefits which as you say are many.
So attracting and promoting makes for more work and effort that doesn’t seem like most in the naturist community are inclined to want to do. Thanks again for a thoughtful and thought provoking piece.