Educator Kevin Honeycutt of Inman, Kansas, (population 1300) is working with other locals to create a “New Billboard”: a combination QR code, Foursquare tour.
If you can’t see the video, click through to Small Biz Survival.
The basic idea is to draw in visitors from the highway, and use tools like QR codes and Foursquare to let them access video content. Not just any videos, but videos designed to welcome you, like a personal docent, to each place or attraction. If done well, the videos can help visitors feel much more engaged with the sites and locations.
I think it’s a good start for a small town, and very do-able if you have some tech-savvy people to put it together. No matter how small your town (or neighborhood) is, you have visitors right now that are using social media and smart phones. They are visiting friends, driving through, or maybe even deliberately seeking out your town. Get them engaged.
One key will be the amount of energy and interest your video docents are able to convey, even when viewed on a tiny smartphone screen.
While you’re at it, make sure you’re clearly marking your wifi sites in town, so those with wifi-only devices and international travelers can connect easily. Read more in The Importance of Wifi in Tourism.
New to SmallBizSurvival.com? Take the Guided Tour. Like what you see? Get our updates.
- Community engagement planning: old way vs. Idea Friendly way - October 3, 2021
- Boost your maker economy with a “Made in” day - September 17, 2021
- How a ghost town made something from nothing with a folk festival - September 3, 2021
- Rural business idea: sell foraged fruits and more - August 3, 2021
- Best practices for rural housing - July 19, 2021
- How to be more open to new ideas #IdeaFriendly - July 3, 2021
- Market your small town as a movie filming location, attract movie and game fan tourists - June 28, 2021
- Survey of Rural Challenges 2021 results, analysis of themes from 2015 through today - June 7, 2021
- What makes a small town a micropolitan or nanopolitan? - May 22, 2021
- Improving Rural Housing: turning blighted dilapidated houses into new homes - May 7, 2021
Beside the fact that it’s Kevin Honeycutt promoting this in a small town in Inman, KS, I think this is something every small town could and should do.
We’re looking now for students who want to make this possible. Thanks so much for posting this!