a look inside the most digitally savvy u.s. state tourism organization: pure michigan
DESCRIPTION
Pure Michigan ranks #1 or #2 on more social networks than any other state DMO in the nation. Pure Michigan is also the #1 most popular travel brand in the world on Instagram as measured by the number of photos people have uploaded hashtagged #PureMichigan. In this presentation I gave to the Social Media Tourism Symposium in Australia, I share social media tips, tricks and best practices that can be applied to any business in any industry.TRANSCRIPT
A Look Inside The Most Digitally Savvy U.S. State Tourism Organization:
Pure MichiganPresented to:
Social Media Tourism Symposium #SoMeT14AUThe Barossa, South Australia
Prepared by:Chad Wiebesick
Director of social media & interactive marketingTwitter: @Wiebesick
16 July 2014
@Wiebesick
Michigan Is Easy To Recognize
Michigan: Perception Isn’t Reality
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cc2Mf7dw5FY@Wiebesick
People Don’t Trust Brands
People Are Bombarded With Advertising
Key to Success: Make Fans the Hero and Share Their Content
We empower our fans to become brand ambassadors and tell the story themselves to their friends and family.
Follow the 80/20 rule: 80% is relevant content from fans and 20% is from you (self-promotion).
@Wiebesick
Ask Fans To Share Their Travel Stories With You
Reinforce your brand by using the same hashtag and name across all channels.
Align Your Social Strategy To Your Business Objectives
Brand Goal: “Pure Michigan is majestic, mythic and magical – a place with abundant natural beauty and authentic destinations.”
@Wiebesick
Pure Michigan Ranks #1 on InstagramPure Michigan is the #1 most popular travel brand in the world on Instagram as measured by the number of photos people have uploaded hashtagged #PureMichigan, ranking higher than Hawaii, Australia, Museum of Modern Art, Lonely Planet and Carnival Cruise Lines.
Find Influencers@TonyDetroit = 300,000 followers and following 311 people
@Wiebesick #SoMeT12
Engage Influencers
• Select an influencer to serve as an Instagram Guest Photographer at popular events
• Sprint Cup NASCAR race August 21, 2012• 75 million NASCAR fans nationally
@Wiebesick #SoMeT12
Instagram Guest Photographer
• Within 20 minutes of posting on Instagram, @TonyDetroit’s photos appear on the Popular Photo Page
@Wiebesick #SoMeT12
Instagram Guest Photographer • Please do:
– Minimum posts per day: 3– Maximum posts per day: 10– Location to be noted in tag or caption.– Name of photographer to be noted in caption (e.g.
Contributed by guest photographer @username).
• Please do not:– Post photos of explicit content or any activity that
could be deemed illegal– Any item(s) that do not represent the Pure Michigan
brand– Comment to fans or answer questions on behalf of
Pure Michigan
@Wiebesick #SoMeT12
Takeaway: Find and Reward Your Social Media Superfans
Michigan Ranks #1 or #2 on More Social Networks Than Any Other
U.S. State
New York State Has The Largest Number of Facebook Fans
• Yet, only 0.9% of their fans are talking about the page.• The most popular age group are 13-17 year old teenagers.• Most of their fans live in New York City.
@Wiebesick
State of Florida Has Far Fewer Fans, But More Engaged
• Average age of fans are 35-54, a demographic more likely to have budget to travel.
• Most fans live in out-of-state, a more lucrative traveler.
@Wiebesick
Takeaway: It’s Quality Not Quantity of Fans That’s Important
Dec 6, 11:49 am
@Wiebesick
TravelWisconsin.com
@Wiebesick
Dec 6, 2:45 pm
@Wiebesick
Dec 6, 7:17 pm
@Wiebesick
What, If Anything, Do We Do? • 1 tweet• 11 retweets• 1 story in Kalamazoo Gazette
@Wiebesick
Dec 7, 11:45 am WhoIsTheRealMittenState.com
@Wiebesick
@Wiebesick
@Wiebesick
Dec 7, 4:43 pmStatewide News
@Wiebesick
Dec 7, 7:23 pmWisconsin Releases Another Mitten
Travel Wisconsin put up a new version of the mitten in the green and gold of the Green Bay Packers, boasting the football team's unbeaten record and ribbing their rivals, the 7-5 Detroit Lions.@Wiebesick
“Is Michigan or Wisconsin the Mitten State?”Google AdWords
@Wiebesick
Dec 7, 10:20 pmNational News
@Wiebesick
Dec 13
The Mitten Drive Prompted More Conversations
Dec 14, 2:20 International News
@Wiebesick
Results:•Over 300 news stories from state, national and international radio, newspaper and TV •396 million media impressions•$17.7 million in earned media value
Takeaway: Utilize real time content marketing to be timely, relevant and to resonate with audiences
• Within 15 minutes of Super Bowl 2013 grinding to a halt because the lights went out, Oreo sent this tweet.
• Generated 15,000 retweets and 8,000 new Twitter followers.
Thank You• Chad Wiebesick• [email protected]• Twitter: @wiebesick• Facebook.com/cwiebesick• Linkedin.com/in/wiebesick• (517) 335-1083
@Wiebesick