Social Media for Chambers update
Last fall I posted some thoughts about my decision to not renew my local Chamber of Commerce membership (read it here »).
I had no idea the eyes that post would fall upon, but the response was healthy and seemed to get folks thinking about how and why Chambers either should or shouldn’t embrace social media from a business networking perspective.
Randy McCallum of ChamberVoice.com stumbled across the article and left some nice comments. Turns out he also recorded a brief video describing his interpretation.
My website’s look has changed a bit since this recording, so yes, it’s Deep Dish Creative! Thanks for your thoughts Randy, and best of success with ChamberVoice.com.
Foursquare for Tourism
Chances are you’ve heard of location-based smart phone applications like Foursquare, Yelp, GoWalla, and MyTown, etc. Even if you don’t use a smart phone, know that your visitors are.
Haven’t heard of it? Foursquare is a smart phone application that defines itself as:
Foursquare aims to encourage people to explore their neighborhoods and then reward people for doing so. We do this by combining our friend-finder and social city guide elements with game mechanics – our users earn points, win mayorships and unlock badges for trying new places and revisiting old favorites.
Why would a CVB care about a location app? Consider this:
Provided that Foursquare has the city programmed in (most of the U.S. is now covered), tourists can locate information about the area they are visiting – right when they’re ready to go. They can check Nearby Tips for information on various businesses (like a map and proximity) as well as tips left by other Foursquare users. The Tips tab for each venue is open to all Foursquare users, meaning, anyone can look. The more popular the business, the likelihood of more tips. The Tips feature is where a Visitor Center and CVB can come into play. Read more
Why I love working with biz’s that GET social media
Most of my design clientele, like restaurants, hotels, event marketer-types, have been very slow to get on the Social Media bandwagon. Not for lack of interest (mostly) but for lack of time and inclination. After all, its just one more thing they’ve got to manage in their busy schedules.
As far as they are concerned, the same old marketing actions have been used since the dawn of time, and heck, if they aren’t broke, let’s not fix them. Let’s pretend that something more efficient, economical, and modern doesn’t exist, even though everyone else is using it to maintain their brand’s image and messaging online.
Every once in a while a new client, sometimes even a staple, will contact me all excited that the social media light bulb just went off. They now get it. Congratulations! I can’t help but swell with pride as if I was watching a kid graduate from high school. They’re off to a bright future with the world as their oyster. All the coaxing and convincing I peddled over the past year or so has finally paid off, and I’m not so crazy. These tools really do make a difference in today’s customer service and brand loyalty initiatives.
Here’s why I can appreciate a small business that gets on board:
Getting on the Location-based App bandwagon
Chances are you’ve heard of location-based smart phone applications like Foursquare, Yelp, Twitter, etc. Even if you don’t use a smart phone, know that your tourists, day-trippers, and convention attendees are.
Considering the popularity and constant improved technology of mobile devices, it makes sense that a CVB should adopt these tools. After all, you do want to be where your visitors are. Not just for restaurants and attractions, but any business that want to stay in step with their fans, followers, and customers.
Chris Brogan (@ChrisBrogan), President of New Marketing Labs, recently penned a short but informative article for American Express’ OPEN Forum. Chris elaborates on the importance of jumping into the mobile app world and embracing the social tools many of them feature. In short, the article covers;
- GET a smart phone, already
- Creating good content to be more easily found online
- The importance of listening for feedback
- Generating buzz by having contests for your mobile audience
A brief rendevous with employment
Last month I wandered back into the world of cubicles and corporate design – but only temporarily. I was filling in as a “freelance on-site” designer at a small toy manufacturer here in New England. I say small only because they produce a rather exclusive line of products.
Upon being asked to work on-site I accepted that I would have to completely change my much-loved routine of beginning my day by horizontally checking email, Twitter, alerts, calendars, etc (re: while still in bed). I would actually have to do all of that while getting ready, packing a lunch, warming up the car for the 15 mile commute, combing through my Twitter feed and retweeting a couple of juicy links before heading out into the frozen morning. Read more
