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What You Do When You Lose The Big Client

  • 3 min read

I lost my biggest client! For some reason, I had the mindset that this one was going to be with me / the company for a very long time. So when he emailed notifying me of his 30-day notice, it hurt. No, really, it hurt BAD! I was in a funk for a couple of days! We have all been there – a large depositor changes banks, a large conference goes to another city, a large company uses another supplier. It stings! But, as I realized late that second day, we have two choices, wallow in our sorrow, or buck… 

Mary Test Your Website

  • 2 min read

Mary Arlington (MMCC, Inc.) is a colleague in the destination marketing industry. She consults on business management and operations primarily in the Recreational Vehicle industry but skills allow her to transcend industries. We have partnered on a few projects and have sat on boards together. She recently vented, er, uh, posted in her blog about her dismay in websites she was reviewing. Her comments were so simple and insightful I begged her to allow me to share them. I am delighted to share a guest post this week from my dear friend Mary Arlington: My, my, my. I’m in shock!… 

The Future of Google + ?

  • 1 min read

I speak regularly on social media. Admittedly I rarely mention Google+. Inevitably someone will ask about the social media outlet. I frankly pass off Google+. Mainly because most attendees are trying to grasp Facebook and hashtags. Now there is a solid report on the future of Google+ and research behind the article: The Future of Google+, What New Research Reveals Read it and make up your own mind. By the way, I would welcome the opportunity to talk about my speaking on social media and/or email marketing. Feel free to call or email me.

Takeaways from the Oklahoma Conference on Tourism

  • 3 min read

Another VERY informative Conference on Tourism put on by the Oklahoma Travel Industry Association. I heard many co-conference attendees exclaim, “Information Overload!” Great appreciation to Debra Bailey and the Board for putting together such a great day of education. So what were the key takeaways? Mobile, Content and Customer Service. Let’s break them down… Mobile – The data shared by Santiago Jaramillo should not be surprising: There are more smart phones purchased each year than babies born. 60% of all web traffic comes from mobile devices. 2 of 3 consumers are less likely to engage further with a brand if they have a poor experience with… 

Social Media: The Future and Better Engagement

  • 2 min read

Three Oklahoma City social media professionals lent their voices to a panel discussing the state of social media and where it’s going. Allie Carrick is a strategist with Smirk New Media. Gina Yannarell, with Koch Communications, manages business development and traffic. Greg Newby does digital marketing, web and app development. The dialogue, hosted by AMA OKC chapter, yielded a handful of takeaways to gain insight into strategies and tactics to consider moving forward. Facebook – With Facebook reported suppresses promotional sounding posts, the panel was asked if Facebook is truly pay to play now. We were reminded that “we’ve had a free ride” on Facebook and surely most… 

Resolve for a Better Business in 2015

  • 3 min read

How’s that new year’s resolution going? Many of us are on our annual quests to better ourselves through resolutions. Seven days in… cut extra spending? Still exercising? Seven days without a cigarette? Keeping up with your read-through-the-Bible-in-a-year program? What about our business? While we’re spending time reflecting on how to turn over a new leaf personally, perhaps we spend time considering resolutions for our business. In 2015, how can our business: Lose Weight / Save Money… how can we run a more efficient operation? If there’s one way to trim the fat, perhaps that could mean cost savings. As the employees.… 

‘sō shəl (verb) people engaging with each other – Pt. 2

  • 5 min read

“Social media” suggests that we are sociable with those that like us, follow us or connect with us. However, as we get busier and busier, we too often either use a social media management tool like Hootsuite, schedule our posts/tweets and never review them after they are posted. Or we quickly log on to Facebook, post and log off, never reviewing the interactions. Last month I shared a few ways to engage more through Twitter. As Facebook changes their algorithms and our posts appear in less and less news feeds, we focus on Facebook and – as our new definition… 

‘sō shəl (verb) people engaging with each other – Pt. 1

  • 3 min read

Try this: ‘sō shəl (verb) to design activities in which people engage with each other for pleasure – or in your situation – commerce! You won’t find that in Websters but we should. I have noticed a few practices or in some cases, lack of practices, that really doesn’t help social media be social. Bottom line – we’re not engaging! Here’s some thoughts on engaging through Twitter. (Next month, Facebook.) – If someone comes into your welcome center or business, you greet them right? You thank them for visiting and/or becoming a new customer, yes? When someone follows you on… 

The Fifth P of Destination Marketing

  • 3 min read

A colleague at a recent tourism function was sharing how her DMO was getting in a “turf war” between the City and the Chamber – both trying to take over the management of the organization. She concluded by sharing ‘I’m staying out of it. I’m not in politics.’ A few of the glancing looks from others at the table communicated that we were thinking the same thing, “Oh yes you are like it or not!”  (And you’d better engage now or you may find yourself in a place you aren’t going to like!) I thought going from a DMO to an attraction I would find…