Why even small town tourism partners need to be on social media, how they can succeed with it, & WIIFM (What's In It For Me?) why they must figure it out. A presentation for the City of Kemah, Texas. At Tourism Currents, we do online & in-person training in social media for tourism & hospitality. More at http://www.tourismcurrents.com/

1. Why, How, & WIIFM
Sensible Social Media
Sheila Scarborough
@SheilaS
@TourismCurrents

2. @SheilaS
@TourismCurrents

3. Because your
visitor is
there
@SheilaS
@TourismCurrents

4. Fastest-growing user demographic?
You're looking at it ....

5. Of U.S. online adults surveyed:
71% use Facebook
28% use LinkedIn
23% use Twitter
28% use Pinterest
26% use Instagram
Source: Pew Social Networking Fact Sheet

6. Source: Pew Research

7. Social media users by age:
18 – 29 years: 90% use it
30 – 49 years: 78%
50 – 64 years: 65%
65+: 46%
Source: Pew Research Social Networking Fact Sheet

8. Your visitors are not only
social, they're mobile
@SheilaS
@TourismCurrents

9. Source: Pew Internet Research

10. Facebook has 1.44 billion
monthly active mobile users.
51% of those access the
network ONLY from their
mobile device.
Source: Venture Beat

14. Local Search Impact
Start with your social
profiles, plus this URL:
www.google.com/
business
@SheilaS
@TourismCurrents

15. Strategy....
Get One
@SheilaS
@TourismCurrents

17. Strategy Down to Each Social Post
Overall goals for town, business, or hotel
Marketing communications to support goals
Social media that supports your marketing
Instagram
Instagram photos to reach particular visitor type

18. Strategy to Social Post Example
Increase craft beer festival attendance
Marketing goal to support - reach craft beer fans
Social media to support beer fan outreach
Instagram
Instagram photos using #craftbeer hashtag

19. @SheilaS
@TourismCurrents

20. "If you know how to
work with customers
in person,
you know how to work
with customers online."
Becky McCray, Small Biz Survival

27. You Got This!

28. WIIFM
What's In It
For Me?
@SheilaS
@TourismCurrents

29. More word-of-
mouth marketing
More sales
@SheilaS
@TourismCurrents

37. Free = kittens not beer
@SheilaS
@TourismCurrents

38. "I don't have time to manage one of
those 'telephones.' I'm too busy
running my business."

39. The marketing
team....
City, CVB, or Chamber
Area attractions,
businesses, &
hotels/lodging
You
@SheilaS
@TourismCurrents

40. "The CVB [or City] gets
visitors to the destination,
but
YOU have to get them
through your door."
Leslie McLellan, Just a Small Town Girl and
Visit the San Jacinto Valley, California

43. To Do List
 Make sure the City knows about your
social media profiles
 Help them help you
 Support each other & give shout-outs!
 Tag on Facebook, link to them, use
their @name on Twitter
 Tell your customers where to find you
on social media, & talk to people there!

44. Photo Credits
 Mobile travelers with tablet
(courtesy BJMcCray on Flickr CC)
 Free kittens not free beer (courtesy
pinguino at Flickr CC)
 All other screenshots & photos are
my own

45. These slides are on
www.slideshare.net/SheilaS
Sheila
Scarborough
Tourism Currents
@SheilaS
@TourismCurrents