Author Archives: Anne Hornyak

About Anne Hornyak

Tourism industry twitterer. Amateur photographer. Washed-up flute rockstar. Owner to 2 birddogs. #tourismchat cofounder. Short-sentence writer. Hashtag abuser.

Feb22

CVBs on Pinterest

Posted on February 22, 2012 by Anne Hornyak

CVBs on Pinterest

Pinterest has quickly become one of the fastest growing social networks to date. With over 10 million users, this network should be considered as part of an organization’s social strategy. Want more stats? Check out this Pinterest infographic from Mashable or these demographics.

If you’re not familiar with Pinterest, it’s a virtual pinboard for organizing and collecting photos and videos. I’m not going to go in-depth about how to use Pinterest as Mashable put together a nice Beginner’s Guide and there’s also this massive post with instructions, tips and more demographics.

The facts behind CVBs and destinations on Pinterest

Through my research, I found 34 US destinations and 3 International destinations (Croatia, Cuba [does not appear to be the official DMO] and Jordan) with Pinterest accounts. The following comments and stats will only reflect US destinations and are current as of February 21.

There are a total of 5,013 pins and 390 boards from these 34 US destinations. These accounts have “liked” 764 pins and have a combined following of 14,970 followers.

Pins

Savannah has the highest number of pins (751), followed by Columbus (426), Arkansas (354), Monterey (334) and Lake County, IL (306). There are 16 DMOs that have over 100 pins on their account and 18 DMOs with less than 100 pins. My personal opinion is that an account should have at least 300 pins to be taken as a serious Pinterest user.

Boards

For number of boards, Arkansas takes the lead with 33 boards. Behind them are Monterey and Kissimmee, each with 19 boards, and Phoenix and Fargo-Moorhead, each with 18 boards. There are 14 DMOs with 10-17 boards each and 15 DMOs with less than 10 boards each.

As I was researching, I saw many half-filled boards but did not explore the average number of pins each DMO had on their boards. I think each board should have at least 30 pins in order to be useful to Pinterest users.

Likes

Not all DMOs are “liking” pins on Pinterest. This action is not as strong as a repin but is still an easy way to engage with other Pinterest users. There are three DMOs with over 100 likes: Ohio (198), Monterey (178) and Savannah (140). Mesa is the next closest with 86 likes but the majority of the remaining DMOs have less than 10 likes each. In fact, 13 DMOs have 0 likes.

Followers

Visit Savannah has an astounding 12,114 followers alone, leaving a combined total of 2,856 followers among the other 33 destinations. Don’t think that this means there’s an average of 86 followers per destination. There are 5 DMOs with more than 200 followers: Savannah, Wyoming, Corvallis, Indiana and Columbus.

There are 17 DMOs with less than 50 followers each. Most of these accounts are newer to Pinterest. 5 of these 17 DMOs have more than 100 pins each so even though they’re new, they’re very active.

The mother of all Pinterest boards (for the tourism industry)

If you’re as addicted to Pinterest as I am, take a moment and follow some of these DMOs. I’ve created this CVBs on Pinterest board to help. Each pin links to the CVB’s Pinterest account so following your favorite destinations is easy.

Pinterest’ing Resources

Interested in how Amy Brock built the amazing Pinterest presence for Visit Savannah? This DMO Social Media Manager Finds Success as an Early Adopter of Pinterest post features some of her interview with DMAI.

Curious about Joe Vargo‘s Pinterest strategy for Experience Columbus? Travel 2.0′s Troy Thompson interviewed Joe for 5 Questions: Joe Vargo on Pinterest.

Learn what other CVBs are doing with Pinterest by reading the January 19 Pinterest #tourismchat transcript.

Looking for more inspiration? There are some great examples in Sheila Scarborough’s Pinterest and tourism: visual inspiration for your visitors post.

Want to make your site or blog more pinnable? Check out these Pinterest and Blogging tips.

How you can help

If your DMO is just starting on Pinterest or was not included in my CVBs on Pinterest board, please notify me by commenting on this post or email anne@annehornyak.com.

Feb20

QR Codes: the Good, the Bad and the Ugly

Posted on February 20, 2012 by Anne Hornyak

QR Codes: the Good, the Bad and the Ugly

QR Codes aren’t new but they’re becoming more mainstream now. Many brands and destinations are using them effectively but users’ expectations are starting to change.

What are they?

A QR Code (Quick Response Code) can be scanned by a smart phone and will take the user to a website, a vCard or compose an email. Most of the uses I’ve seen take users to a website. For some basic QR Code tips, check out this #tourismchat highlights post on QR Codes.

How to use a QR Code

Don’t just slap a code on something. Even though QR Codes are becoming more and more mainstream, it’s essential to provide some type of educational steps for those users who have never seen a QR Code before. Even if it’s a one-liner that says “Scan this with your smart phone.” If you have more room, tell users to download a QR Code reader on their smart phone.

How are brands using them? (the Good)

One of my all-time favorite stores, The Home Depot, uses QR Codes on their flowers and plants. Scanning the code takes you to a site that lists more information about the plant, such as the light, water and spacing needed. Check it out yourself! Click on the photo for a larger image. Read the rest of this entry →

Feb20

Best Practices for Facebook from #tourismchat

Posted on February 20, 2012 by Anne Hornyak

Best Practices for Facebook from #tourismchat

#tourismchat is a twitter chat focused on social media in the tourism industry. Our Nov 3 (2011) chat featured Facebook as the topic.

Even though Facebook is constantly changing (and I’m way behind in my blog), I wanted to share these #tourismchat highlights here. I think a lot of the tweets in this chat can help you build a solid strategy or inspire you to try new things on Facebook.

Q1: Is your page geared towards leisure tourism only? Do you have separate niche pages?

jennrush03 We just have the one page for our CVA that’s mainly leisure travel. Our other 2 facebook pages are for events we run.
scullyano We have one FB page for all leisure, meetings, groups, weddings, etc.
thefrontrowe Our page is predominantly leisure tourism, but also aimed at growing local advocacy.
maddenmedia A1: Facebook works best with B2C markets. Might be best to create a custom B2B app/tab dedicated to a specific niche on 1 page.

Q2: How often do you update your Facebook page? What time? Evenings/weekends too?

emilyforsha Plan is to move toward twice daily, morning and evening.
maddenmedia No more than three times a day, but we strive for one to two posts per day on pages we administer.
bobf_vstpgh We generally update no more than 2-3 times per day and try to keep several hours between posts.

Q3: What tabs do you have on your page? Welcome tab, booking engine, etc. Are you tracking links to these tabs? Read the rest of this entry →

Feb19

Work Smarter, Not Harder

Posted on February 19, 2012 by Anne Hornyak

Work Smarter, Not Harder

Stress. It’s not fun. Whether it’s from your personal life, work or holidays — it can be very overwhelming.

I found this 7 Things Highly Productive People Do post via twitter and think it can help.

So the first item on the list (#1 work backwards from goals to milestones to tasks) is definitely doable with a little practice. Start by setting a timeline for the main goal and then break everything down into steps. I can manage that.

The next one (#2 stop multi-tasking) seems like it would have an adverse effect but is worth trying.

I completely agree with #3 (eliminate distractions) and #6 (work on your own agenda) but I’m not sure about #4 (scheduling emails), at least not in my line of work. I see value in #5 (use the phone) but I much prefer email over phone. I hate bothering people unexpectedly and not having an electronic trail.

I will be trying #7 (work in 60 to 90 minute intervals) as I think the could be the answer to many of my problems. I know people in a regular office take “water cooler” breaks and I don’t have that here. I also have to track my time for each task so I hate wasting time off the clock but maybe working for 9-10 hours each day wouldn’t seem as depressing if I’m able to accomplish other things, like walking my dogs, during my breaks. The life/work balance has always been hard for me.

What time-saving tips work for you? Do you have other tips to share?

Jan16

Dealing with Mono

Posted on January 16, 2012 by Anne Hornyak

Dealing with Mono

It’s 4:30am and I’ve been up for nearly two hours trying to fall back asleep. Welcome to my new life.

I’m 34 and I have mono. Again. And the symptoms are much worse than when I had it in college.

Sure, many people make fun of mononucleosis by calling it the “kissing disease” but it’s nothing to laugh at.

I’ve had a low-grade fever every day for the past three weeks. Every. Day.
Slight nausea started before the fever and was extremely intense while on antibiotics.
I’ve been on Amoxicillin, Azithromycin and even Rocephin via IV infusion. None of the antibiotics helped.
My tonsils were so inflamed that I had problems swallowing and breathing.
I just finished a course of Prednisone, which should have reduced my swollen tonsils but it’s still painful to swallow.
I had migraines from a severe sensitivity to light.
I still get horrible headaches if I’m awake for more than 4 hours at a time.
I’m taking 3-5 naps throughout the day. The fatigue is unbearable.
It takes me nearly an hour to fall asleep each time.
I’m much weaker. My arms constantly ache, especially when trying to sleep.
Gatorade is the base of most meals. A loss of appetite has resulted in forcing meals in between naps.

Now the good news:

The swelling in my lymph nodes is finally starting to reduce a little.
My eyelids are no longer swollen.
The white patches on my tonsils have drastically decreased from the Prednisone.
My thermostat is set 2-3 degrees cooler than normal, which hopefully will be reflected in my NISPCO bill.
I’ve had a few days without nausea.

Yes, the list is short but not dealing with nausea on a daily basis is a HUGE plus for me.

Many sites say that the major symptoms last for 2-4 weeks, longer for older adults. It’s been 4 weeks since the fever started but I’ve only dealt with extreme fatigue and strep-like throat for 2 weeks. The fatigue seems to be getting worse so I’m hoping that things will turn around soon.

The physical symptoms are bad but the worst part for me is all the frustration that comes with the disease. I’m not big on watching tv and I get bored with movies. I’ll sometimes play on Pinterest while “watching” tv but that’s the extent of my online life now. For someone who built her professional credibility on twitter and in Facebook groups, it’s sad to see this decline but I just don’t have the energy to maintain it now. And for future reference, jokingly referring to mono as the “kissing disease” to those infected only makes things worse. I’m exhausted, irritable and frustrated. Please tread lightly.

Jan5

Savannah – a #winning CVB

Posted on January 5, 2012 by Anne Hornyak

Savannah – a #winning CVB

How do you know when a CVB is doing a FANTASTIC job on twitter?

When they get a review like this from a travel professional:

Amy Brock is the epitome of a Tourism Geek. If you’re in the tourism industry, put her on your watch list!

Dec5

#tourismchat Highlights: Social Media Contests

Posted on December 5, 2011 by Anne Hornyak

#tourismchat Highlights: Social Media Contests

Our latest #tourismchat (December 1, 2011) focused on social media contests. A lot of the chat participants have managed contests in Facebook but not too many had experience with Twitter or Flickr contests. Below are my highlights from the chat. Check out the entire chat transcript for all the details.

Have you managed any social media contests for your DMO? What were the results?

@pagetx Yes. We’ve done Flickr photo contests for 2 yrs. Increased social fans, engagement, & # of photos in group. Success!
@MontanaTia We did our first giveaway this summer via facebook and increased the # of fans on our page.
@SarahElam Yes, we’ve done 2 very successful ones on FB. One geared towards outdoor fun, one on shopping. Increased fans & exposure!
@stefanieksays Yes, had amazing results w/ Facebook contest especially if supported with ads. See fans sticking around even after it ends.
@emilyforsha Flickr photo contests and some ticket giveaways on Twitter. Great engagement on both. Flickr gets us great content.
@ParadiseMeeting Our social media contests have been free nights at hotels. The response was phenomenal! Everyone wants to visit Florida.
@catherineheeg Facebook contest to gain fans and photos. Now working on a web-based contest to gain exposure to Trvl. agents

What were the goals for your social media contests?

@stefanieksays email address acquisition/phone number acquisition is always a big goal for clients I have worked with.
@catherineheeg goal was to gain more photos to be used in future marketing campaigns. Fans increased as well.
@CygnetUpdates consider results/goals that go beyond raw numbers. Are people continuing to engage AFTER the contest ends?
@SarahElam Increased fan base and general vb exposure…and fan interaction!
@pagetx Our goals were increased awareness of region & getting more photos in our Flickr group. Wanted active shots, not scenery.
@jeremy_harvey Definitely increase fans (& keep them), but also get some good interactions and conversations going!
@ShuttersSecrets We’ve seen the best results from contests where people have to do more than “like” us. Continued engagement is key.
@seanmdixon Recent (and awesome) side effect of last FB campaign: 150+ written FB Recommendations.

Which platforms or networks are best for contests? With which goals? Read the rest of this entry →

Nov30

#tourismchat Highlights: QR Codes

Posted on November 30, 2011 by Anne Hornyak

#tourismchat Highlights: QR Codes

The October 13 #tourismchat discussed QR Codes and their use in the tourism industry. Take a few minutes to read the entire chat transcript. For a condensed version, here are my highlights:

What’s the most creative use you’ve experienced with QR codes in tourism?

@maddenmedia I’ve seen them used on visitor signs to download maps of the area, especially for hikers.
@JoeGiessler We’ve incorporated our ‘hi’ logo into some QR code designs & used it on banners at trade shws to link to FB/mobi site
@TomMartin on personalized DM: scan>>personalized microsite w/personalized video inviting MP to host meeting in city
@WhosYourAnnie I love the @VisitSanAntonio River Walk QR Code tours: http://t.co/cFcTvlTj
@thompsonpaul using a QR code to visitor content/apps on the door of a Visitor Info Centre for when they’re closed
@WhosYourAnnie here are a few other QR Code/tourism examples via @travel2dot0: http://t.co/SFg5Waiy
@JoeGiessler An Ohio wine fstvl used them at lines so ppl could get info on the winery they were ab to try while waiting

What’s the most creative use of QR codes in non-tourism campaigns?

@xSiteable Love the World Park campaign example. http://t.co/K4Xx3aLt
@TomMartin Best three non-tourism uses I’ve seen http://t.co/Q5bzVgM7
@theresaoverby Great QR on the planting instruction card of perennials at Lowe’s this season. Fun info.
@xSiteable I’m a big fan of how the Lion Nathan Wine Group wines used QR codes: http://t.co/UI7vNJAN Real VALUE for the consumer!
@pagetx I liked REI’s QR use: http://t.co/90oBGm9J Sent you to a live hashtag stream of how people spent their dividend check.

Have you used QR Codes before? Where? Read the rest of this entry →