Travel 2.0 Consulting Group Why Your Social Campaign Needs a Sign » Travel 2.0 Consulting Group

Why Your Social Campaign Needs a Sign

Written by on Apr 27, 2012 | 4 Comments
Why Your Social Campaign Needs a Sign

How should we use Pinterest?  What about Instagram?  Is Flickr still necessary?

Social photography, one of the more popular questions I receive from peers, conference attendees and Twitter friends.  All searching for the secrets to get their photos pinned, tagged or tweeted.

For most, the strategy starts online in an attempt to influence the masses with a branded profile and beautiful photography.  But should it?  If consumers are already sharing photos of the Golden Gate Bridge, how would a few more from San Francisco Travel add to the visual conversation?

Instead of starting online, how about starting offline.  With a really big sign.

On a recent road trip, a quick stop at the Utah Welcome Center highlighted the tourist’s insatiable need to take photos of oneself, preferably with a sign designating the location in the background.

But rather than stop roadside along I70, the clever folks just outside the visitor center door.

The result?  A line of 4 families waiting to take their photo next to the over-sized letters of Utah.

And surely this photo confirming family location will appear in a Facebook feed or Instagram stream.

If you want tourists to share photos of your destination, then give them something worthy to share.

And what better way to track the ROI of a photograph than making the subject a giant version of your logo?  Just like our friends  ().  Or from Disneyland.  And the .

People love taking and sharing photos, even without encouragement from your brand.  What they could really use is a great backdrop for that photo.

Build them a sign and let the social sharing begin.

Just make sure to .

  • http://twitter.com/cartepostaleco Carte postale

    Big. Original. Simple. Such an easy way to create something that will not cost millions and that will have a real quick impact. Again tho, original is the key, don’t copy or you will be mocked.

    Making sure people can play/interact with the sign will also increase the number of pictures taken and create a conversation.

    • / Troy Thompson

      Thanks for the comment Marc.

      You are exactly right…the sign needs to be part playground, part art and all photogenic.   And yet original to the area.  Unique, a symbol of the community.

      Not a copy that reads ‘i am san francisco.’

      - Troy

  • http://twitter.com/Caverns Allison Dugan

    Check out Virginia LOVE.  Coming to Shenandoah Caverns  June 28th, just appeared on Skyline Drive of the Shenandoah National Park. 

  • / Troy Thompson

    Hey Allison,

    Thanks for the comment, and the tip.

    That is a perfect example of creating a social photo opportunity.  Plus, the fact that Virginia is pushing a hashtag…very well done.

    Interested to see how the campaign performs.

    - Troy