Tomorrow morning I’ll be on a panel discussing how social media is impacting business. I was invited by the University of Tampa Center for Leadership along with Tampa Bay & Company.
I haven’t been down to Tampa in a while, my parents live 50 miles south in Bradenton. Landing in Sarasota was a bit funny (it’s a huge retirement community) – the first drama I witnessed was a guy yelling for his wife, Helen and wandering aimlessly around the baggage claim.
Tampa is a different world. While Miami is for the dancing and night life, Fort Lauderdale is for drunk college students, Orlando is for the kids, and Sarasota for the ol’ folks – Tampa is an incredible city that’s marketed itself well thanks to the strategies deployed by Jeremy Fairley and team. Tampa has elements of all the other cities but I think it’s a bit more beautiful on the gulf coast, accessible with a close airport, and still has all the charm that Floridians have perfected over time.
Tourism and social media isn’t a simple task. Tourists don’t spend money with tourism agencies – they spend it with the restaurants, hotels, events and venues that they support. Tampa Bay & Company has been successful because they continue to spread the word on the region. They recognize that their job is to get businesses and visitors here, but then the industry has to step up. I’m writing this post from the incredible Sheraton Suites Hotel by the airport.
Full disclosure: I’m in a complimentary suite and was greeted with a wonderful cheese plate as I opened the hotel room door. On the cheese plate was a kind, personal, note from the Director of Sales & Marketing here, Colleen Beck.
Geek moment: I can actually use the suite’s television as a second monitor through a little A/V panel on this desk… how cool is that?!
Those small details are what makes Jeremy’s teams’ efforts worth while. Why would Jeremy invite me down here and why would Sheraton comp a room like this? Because they recognize that I’m their targeted market. I’m in business. I’m a traveler. I attend conferences. I am an influencer. I work with a lot of businesses. As Zappo’s Chief Marketer, Aaron Magness, states, “Customer Service is the New Marketing!“.
And I want to come back to Tampa Bay.
I’m sure some of the reason to have me is to help educate their clients and businesses as well. Do I feel used? Yes, wonderfully used, thank-you. This is social media marketing works, though. You set expectations with people with your marketing, you over-deliver with your products and services, and then you allow social media to take over. Social media will amplify your message.
Here’s my message today: Give Colleen a call to find out why you should have your next conference in Tampa and have your visitors stay at the Sheraton Suites.
I hope this post amplifies the efforts of Tampa Bay. After a cold, snowy winter in Indianapolis, I’m pretty happy warming up to a Gulf Sunset hanging around at Sheraton Suites. I’m excited to get on campus at the University of Tampa tomorrow as well. If you’re at the breakfast, please stop by and say hello after the panel!
