Fresh take on social places
Ever wonder how you can possibly keep up with one destination’s social places without cruising all over the web or clicking out via plain old button and menu links? Check out how VisitMilwaukee (@VisitMilwaukee) has parked all of their social media feeds right into their website.
There is a link in the navigation menu on VisitMilwaukee.org, although it took me a few seconds to find it. Perhaps a big juicy call-to-action button is in the works – a great way to garner more “fannage”. Once you’re there, the opportunity to connect with fans (local and visitors) unfolds beautifully.
More than just badges
I love that they’ve gone beyond the usual feed badges commonly seen in the sidebar. Not only does the site visitor never have to leave the website, the social media ‘section’ gathers all the places people might be looking for them into one home base.
They’ve included all the big guns: Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare (with live Google Map), Flickr, YouTube, Yelp (yes, Yelp) and a landing page for all four of their blogs.
There is a restaurant in Burlington, VT that has done the same with there Location page. Talk about locations – much more than a mailing address in today’s social web.
Now that’s making it easy to fan-up, “Like”, subscribe and follow.
This City’s Social Media Day
Last Wednesday, June 30 was (according to Mashable.com) Social Media Day across the U.S., and around the world. In fact, Victoria and Vancouver, B.C. officially recognized June 30 as Social Media Day. From Antwerp to Thailand, Australia, Brazil, India and beyond, the whole world seemed to embrace and celebrate how social media has changed and enriched our lives.
Some cities held giant cocktail parties and meet-ups. Others organized contests, discussions, fundraisers, and in Cleveland, they even paraded an alpaca around town promoting.
Here in Burlington, VT, population approximately 40,000, we organized a series of events that ideally would have something fun to entertain everyone. I set up and branded a Facebook Fan page for the events, and along with Anna Palmer (@winwinapps), and the generosity of local businesses, we cobbled together a “treasure hunt”, 6 tweet ups around town, and set up a system for nominating and then voting for our local favorite social media-savvy King, Queen, Business and Nonprofit Organization.
The Big Event for the day took place at Bluebird Tavern, where the treasure hunt winners collected their (awesome) prizes, and the unveiling of the King, Queen, Biz and Org. More than 400 people voted for their favorite social people and organizations, far more than anticipated. The winners included Seven Days reporter Shay Totten @ShayTotten, Nicole Ravlin @PMGNicole, Small Dog Electronics @hellosmalldog, and Vermont Public Radio @VPRnet.
The day wrapped up in a casual but delicious after-party at 156 Bistro (@156bistro). That final tweet up was ‘crashed’ by Vermont political (and very social) candidates Matt Dunne (governor) (@MattDunneVT) and Phil Baruth (senator) (@Baruth2010) – what a surprise! The newly crowned Queen, Nicole Ravlin made an appearance to collect her prize and, well, we closed the place down.
Stats
Organizing this event took some time, but thanks to the generosity of the participating businesses, very little cash – less than $100 and half of that was for specially made King and Queen prizes. All in all, the day’s events generated:
- publicity for 14 businesses
- over 3,600 visits to the Facebook Fan page
- well over 1,700 unique visitors to the voting form
- 400+ votes
- more than $1,000 worth of giveaways
- a little press
- a very busy tweet steam for Burlington’s own #BTV hashtag and #BTVSMD for the event.
During the nomination period, we asked for a little information about how locals are using which social media tools, when, and why. Here are the results of the poll:
| Which tools? Facebook: 98% Twitter: 88% LinkedIn: 75% Foursquare: 34% MySpace: 9% Gowalla: 8% |
How are we using? Professional Development: 88% Friends & Family: 83% Make a living: 51% Meet people: 55% Kill time/For fun: 40% |
How much time per day? I never seem to turn it off: 35% 30mins – 1hr: 23% 1-2 hours: 18% 2-4 hours: 18% 15-30 mins: 6% |
The Dish on: Bluebird Tavern
Bluebird Tavern knows how to do dinner. Aside from being my personal favorite Burlington restaurant (unbelievably delicious every single visit), they are a local favorite as well. A James Beard award nominee. A champion of local causes, musicians, and local farmers and purveyors.
Affectionately known as “the ‘Bird” to my clutch of culinary groupies, Bluebird Tavern serves up local fare from producers and gardens as close as right around the corner at the Intervale, and from farms around Vermont and New England seafood purveyors. Its as local as a restaurant can likely get.
As owner Sue Bette likes to put it:
“At Bluebird Tavern we emphasize local, sustainable, and delicious food grown by our friends. We are committed to bringing our guests the best offerings from the market and from the farm. Our menu changes daily, in honor of the subtle shifts of the harvest.”
Why I love what Bluebird Tavern does
One of my favorite aspects of Bluebird (other than its transcendent menu) is how it markets itself on social platforms like Twitter and Facebook. They don’t shove messaging out there to their fans and followers, they promote other people and organizations – almost exclusively.
Take a look at their tweet stream (@BluebirdTavern). You might find all of one self-promoting tweet a week, and a well-deserved promo at that, for the consummate Tavern Tuesday deals. Most of their tweets are all about others. Sharing recipes, interesting foodie finds, local agriculture advocacy, the beneficiaries of their Wednesday Benefit nights (10% of sales go to a select cause every Wednesday) and recognizing followers, customers and the local community.
On Facebook, you’ll find an actively maintained calendar packed to the rafters with all sorts of entertainment and events. This is where Bluebird can gauge interest and support in the events they host, attend or service. They also plug the people that make their business a success. They’ve gone the extra mile with a special Facebook landing page (which designer/geek I put together) that offers quick tidbits and links back to their website for more.
Bluebird utilizes Flickr to showcase the property, staff, menu items, and special events. Sue is quite the photographer and posts some really great shots of the fare and revelers.
Are they all sales-pitchy? No. Do they shove Bluebird Bluebird Bluebird down the throats of their fans? Not ever. That’s what I love about their social media marketing. They share – and have something worth sharing. And they get it.
Treat yourself to a great experience
Make this a must-do on your next visit to Burlington, VT. Check out Bluebird Tavern online »
Organize and reap
Small town businesses (and everywhere obviously) have been hit particularly hard by the slow-to-recover recession the US has endured over the past couple of years. Even with more residents staying close to home – ala the “staycation” – we’re all being a little tighter with our purse strings. What is a city or town to do to attract out-of-town dollars when times are tough?
Why not CREATE an attraction? Easier said than done, I realize, but consider the Killington Stage Race.
Mastering Social Media for Tourism
Using social media to attract visitors to your city or destination? Its not a matter of “Should we?” anymore, its “How?” and “How can we do it effectively?”
The folks over at Tourism Currents, Becky McCray (@BeckyMcCray) and Sheila Scarborough (@SheilaS) are about to open up an encore round of online workshops and full-curriculum courses that can show you how it all works and how to MASTER social media for your organization. Learn how to tap into the increasing number of people who use social media for travel, and how to promote your destination, venues, hotels, attractions and events in new ways.
I’ve followed Becky’s and Sheila’s tweets and blogs for nearly two years – since I discovered Twitter. They are both extremely connected and immersed in social networking and tourism. I have learned so much from them via Twitter, blogging and sharing information.
I’m thrilled that a former colleague (and tweep!) @SeattleMaven will be featured in one of the segments. You’ll recall Ann’s and my interview about how she uses Twitter for Seattle CVB’s visitors, members, and local residents.
I’m so confident in the workshops they’ve put together and flattered to be asked to help spread the word. I’m whole-heartedly promoting Tourism Currents with this affiliate link for signing up.
Who should take this opportunity and run with it?
If you are a staff member, volunteer or board member at one of these organizations:
- Convention and Visitor’s Bureaus (CVBs)
- Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs)
- Main Street and Downtown Development Associations
- Historic preservation and heritage trail organizations
- Parks, nature preserves, botanical gardens and other nature/outdoors-related attractions
- Public Relations professionals who do tourism work
- Chambers of Commerce
- Business and shopping districts
- Niches like agritourism, culinary tourism, arts/culture, sports/adventure and educational travel
- Festival and event planners
- Tourism and hospitality professors and students at colleges and universities
- Attractions, museums, etc. that depend upon tourist traffic
- Bed and breakfasts, inns, lodges, hotels and motels
- Historic highways and scenic byways organizations
- State and city governments that do marketing and outreach related to tourism
Get all the details about topics covered, curriculum and benefits on the Tourism Currents website »
Don’t hesitate to sign up now!
You can participate as an individual or as a group, and there’s a money-back guarantee.
SIGN UP HERE »
I’m looking forward to collecting some new tips and information for my own personal development and brand. “See” you there!
