Being talked about online can bring more visitors and tourists to your town.
Just one example: A 2011 UK study found that 52 per cent of Facebook users were influenced by their friend’s holiday photos to book a trip to the same place.
If you want to help make more of that happen, you want to connect with your online champions, the people who already know and love your town and are willing to talk you up online.
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| Sarah Hansen uses my iPad to live-tweet at RevitalizeWA. |
When I spoke about finding your online champions at the Revitalize WA conference, the audience was made up of people from towns of all sizes. A quick survey of the room showed that they understood the power of online conversation to drive visits. While they were thinking of ways to get more online mentions from strangers, many of them had overlooked the power of their existing champions.
It turns out, all of them knew of people who either live in town now, used to live there, or had family connections in town, and were also active online. And a quick search of town names in directories like Twellowhood and Local Tweeps turned up powerful online publishers that the locals had not connected with. I should say they had not at that time, because I think they headed straight to do that right after the session.
Where else do you find your existing online champions?
- your site comments
- your Facebook comments
- people who connect on Twitter
- your Flickr friends
If you listen, your champions are out there talking. It’s your opportunity to listen and connect.
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To me the great thing about the internet is that it is SO easy to find like minded people to “hang out” with online. Whether it is on forums, a facebook or linkedin group or even on twitter.
I have been able to “meet” and work with some AMAZING people because of the random people I have found living right in my own town that are good for me to get to know.
Great post, love this blog!