Zesty Marketing Podcast

As the National Aquarium’s director of Marketing Programs, Emma Wesoloski is no "fish out of water" when it comes to leading marketing efforts that drive attendance and enhance her organizations brand within the community.Located in Baltimore, Maryland, the National Aquarium has been consistently ranked as one of the top three aquariums in the nation, hosting more than 51 million guests since it opened in 1981. At the head of the Aquarium’s paid marketing strategy, Emma recently worked to find a new agency partner to help the Aquarium develop an integrated campaign that would align their owned and paid channels, as well as drive attendance and revenue.Let’s dive in to hear more about Emma’s experiences in marketing tourism and non-profits.The Zesty Marketing Podcast takes a summer hiatus until September, when we return with an all-new format. Stay tuned for details!Resources: National Aquarium websiteCAMPAIGN VIDEOS: "The Water is Calling" Want more?Find companion articles and other helpful tidbits on video production and promotion from Digital Bard.Suggest a guest on Facebook.Rate or review this podcast on iTunes.

Storied messaging and getting into the minds of the individuals in your brand’s audience are just a couple of ways that our podcast guests continue to be incubators for big ideas.Jennifer Barbee, CEO, and Kristen Cruz, President, of Destination Innovate have been working in digital marketing for nearly 20 years and are redefining the ad agency model.They’ve worked with over 400 brands, helping businesses modernize their marketing with new approaches in brand influencers and paid endorsers, looking at the bigger picture in data and statistics, and jumping on board the future of marketing – now. Resource: Destination Innovate websiteWant more?Find companion articles and other helpful tidbits on video production and promotion from Digital Bard.Suggest a guest on Facebook.Rate or review this podcast on iTunes.

Bartender turned distiller and CEO, Jaime Windon tells us how Lyon Distilling succeeds with a very "anti-forced marketing" perspective. She feels that giving people something of value is the best marketing there is and shares several examples of how Lyon gets it right (and where they got it wrong). Jaime also discusses the strong collaboration with other tourism partners in St. Michaels, Maryland and other distillers throughout the state. As the president of the Maryland Distillers Guild, Jaime works constantly to promote and grow the craft spirits industry.Resource: Lyon Distilling websiteWant more?Find companion articles and other helpful tidbits on video production and promotion from Digital Bard.Suggest a guest on Facebook.Rate or review this podcast on iTunes.

Chris Riehl, of Baltimore Rent-A-Tour, provides custom tours to a variety of locals and visitors alike, giving them a great taste of the Maryland and DC metro area. He joins Whitney Hahn on the Zesty Marketing Podcast to discuss how he makes the most out of networking events, community relationships, and social media to boost business and tourism.Want more?Find companion articles and other helpful tidbits on video production and promotion from Digital Bard.Suggest a guest on Facebook.Rate or review this podcast on iTunes.

Whether you're launching a new business or product, working to boost brand awareness, eager to promote an event, or hoping to go viral, there are countless opportunities to do so through the use of traditional media like print news, magazines, radio and television. The key is knowing whom to contact and what to say when you do.The Frederick County Chamber of Commerce and American Advertising Federation of Greater Frederick recently gathered a group of media insiders together for a panel discussion on getting noticed by the media and I had the pleasure of moderating the discussion. While not my typical podcast format or studio-crisp audio quality, the tips and strategies felt so valuable that I asked for and got permission to record it and share it with you. I hope you’ll forgive a few inconsistencies in our sound mix.Representatives from five local media outlets gave us an amazing cross-section of views. Panelists included Guy Fletcher, editor in chief of Frederick Magazine, Andy Wyatt, vice-president and general manager of Nexstar Media, WDVM, Geordie Wilson, publisher at the Frederick News Post, Kim Dow, owner and creative director of Sass Magazine, and Dianah Gibson, news director of WFMD and WFRE radio.Download our 5 Step Podcast Startup Checklist for free if you're considering starting your own podcast!Want more?Find the companion articles and other helpful tidbits on video production and promotion from Digital Bard.Suggest a guest on Facebook.Rate or review this podcast on iTunes.

The Mid-Atlantic Tourism Public Relations Alliance (MATPRA) is a cohesive tourism unit comprised of Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, Pennsylvania, and Washington, DC! They serve travel journalists from across the country and their DMO partners by providing resources for destination marketers to network with each other and pitch to the media, ignoring geographic boundaries and empowering tourism in the region.Melissa Muntz of Visit Frederick, MD, and Kaitie Burger of Discover Lehigh Valley, PA, are on the Board of Directors for MATPRA. One of their biggest annual events is the Media Marketplace, a conference that brings journalists and DMOs together at a host destination. Melissa and Kaitie will talk about how they decide who is allowed to attend the Marketplace and how it benefits the tourism industry for the better. They'll also share some tips for networking and building relationships.Download our 5 Step Podcast Startup Checklist for free if you're considering starting your own podcast!Want more?Find the companion articles and other helpful tidbits on video production and promotion from Digital Bard.Suggest a guest on Facebook.Rate or review this podcast on iTunes.

People are catching onto the “buzz” about honey wine at Orchid Cellar Meadery & Winery in Middletown, MD. Mead is a unique and lesser known alcoholic drink than beer, wine, and spirits. It’s made with fermented honey, which of course comes from some of our most important insects - bees!Dan Kennedy is our podcast guest from Orchid Cellar, and he'll talk to us about how he uses community partners, events, and appeals to history buffs and pop culture enthusiasts to get people onboard the mead train. He'll also share with us some startling bee facts (and puns), including how many thousands of pounds of honey Orchid Cellar needs to produce their mead every year (it will probably astound you)!Want more?Find the companion articles and other helpful tidbits on video production and promotion from Digital Bard.Suggest a guest on Facebook.Rate or review this podcast on iTunes.

A bayside campground unlike any other, Buttonwood Beach is incredibly unique in that guests sign a 99-year renewable lease on the properties. In some cases, up to five generations of campers have enjoyed going to Buttonwood, finding seashells by the Chesapeake Bay and getting away from the hustle and bustle of city life.Deb Carter operates and markets Buttonwood Beach. She will share with us some of her marketing success, including how she and her team planned and celebrated Buttonwood’s 45th birthday last summer, which turned out to be a smash hit that campers of all ages loved! She’ll talk about the importance of forming real, authentic relationships with your customers and the power of word-of-mouth marketing, so listen up! Want more?Find the companion articles and other helpful tidbits on video production and promotion from Digital Bard.Suggest a guest on Facebook.Rate or review this podcast on iTunes.

The Good People, Good Marketing Podcast is hosted by Adam Walker, co-founder of Sideways8 Interactive, a web design and digital marketing firm based in Atlanta, Georgia. Our very own host of the Zesty Marketing Podcast (and managing partner of Digital Bard), Whitney Hahn, was featured on the podcast. In her episode titled, "People don't give to need, they give to success," Whitney gets up on her soapbox and talks all about her favorite thing: what's new and wonderful in video marketing. Hear what she has to say and how it could change your life and the way you market.

This week's guest, Natalie Lauzon, is the Business Development Manager for 50 Degrees North, a travel operator specializing in the Scandinavian and Nordic countries. Natalie will dive into how she and her company craft unique custom-made tours targeting niche groups of travelers, including women-only trips. By forming valuable partnerships with both industry and non-industry partners, 50 Degrees North creates one of a kind tours that give travelers the incredible experiences they've been looking for.Want more?Find the companion articles and other helpful tidbits on video production and promotion from Digital Bard.Suggest a guest on Facebook.Rate or review this podcast on iTunes.

Whether you're a beachside resort town, a big bustling city, or a quaint rural county, Tom Merrick has the same advice for you: find your "One Thing." Just one thing that will guide your marketing and bring more people to your destination. Tom is the Chief Creative Officer for Paradise Advertising, a firm based in St. Petersburg, Florida. Tom specializes in helping brands and destinations find their "One Thing" that will become the pillar of their marketing efforts and messages. On this episode, Tom shares some of these incredible insights.Want more?Find the companion articles and other helpful tidbits on video production and promotion from Digital Bard.Suggest a guest on Facebook.Rate or review this podcast on iTunes.

Tenth Ward Distilling in Frederick, Md, is known for creating Maryland's first absinthe. Owner and "boss lady," Monica Pearce talks about how she grows and engages her brand ambassadors through limited edition spirit releases and a Bottle Club that mimics a wine club. She’ll also reveal how she makes visiting Tenth Ward’s tasting room an experience, by reinforcing the Tenth Ward brand in her new space in downtown Frederick and training her employees to be good storytellers and brand experts.Want more?Find the companion articles and other helpful tidbits on video production and promotion from Digital Bard.Suggest a guest on Facebook.Rate or review this podcast on iTunes.

Want to learn the secret to which images attract more guests to your destination? Then listen to this week's episode with Andrew Woods of Digital Edge Marketing! Digital Edge is an agency in Jacksonville, FL, that specializes in digital marketing for DMOs (destination marketing organizations). In this episode, Andrew sheds some light on the scientific research behind destination marketing imagery: what kinds of images people are most drawn to and why, and he shares some creative ideas for how to spice up stock photos to make them your own.Want more?Find the companion articles and other helpful tidbits on video production and promotion from Digital Bard.Suggest a guest on Facebook.Rate or review this podcast on iTunes.

When you imagine the “home of the Internet,” do you picture aisles of blinking web servers living right underneath a vibrant farming community? Well, this is the reality of Loudoun County, VA. Located roughly 25 miles outside of the nation’s capital, Loudoun County is known as “DC’s Wine Country,” and is home to vineyards, breweries, horse farms, and of course, a massive technology hotspot.Brian Tinsman is the Digital Properties Manager for Loudoun County Economic Development, and it’s his job to strategize and create the marketing messages to grow and support Loudoun businesses and draw new business owners to the area. On this episode, Brian will talk about what he finds most effective in content-driven marketing and share some of his tips for success.Want more?Find the companion articles and other helpful tidbits on video production and promotion from Digital Bard.Suggest a guest on Facebook.Rate or review this podcast on iTunes.

Eight Oaks Craft Distillers is a farm distillery with a tasting room that attracts 8,000 guests a year for tours, tastings, cocktails, and more. Chad Butters, a former military pilot, is the CEO and co-founder. Chad and his crew grow all of their grains and craft them into their exceptional spirits onsite, and home craftsmanship is a big part of how they market Eight Oaks. In this week’s episode, Chad shares with us 3 important tips for how to market a craft distillery (or brewery, winery, cidery -- take your pick!), so tune in!Resources: Eight Oaks websiteWant more?Find the companion articles and other helpful tidbits on video production and promotion from Digital Bard.Suggest a guest on Facebook.Rate or review this podcast on iTunes.

Are you inspired by nature and sustainability? Well, Norway's tourism industry thrives on both of those things, and it shows in the way they market themselves as a destination. Beate Gran is the Digital Marketing Manager for Visit Norway, and on this week's episode, Beate reveals her "data geek" side as she tells us all about retargeting audiences, lookalike audiences, and using analytics and metrics to measure the success of Visit Norway's campaigns. She also tells us about the power of engaging and inspirational storytelling. Resources: Visit Norway's website Want more? Find the companion articles and other helpful tidbits on video production and promotion from Digital Bard. Suggest a guest on Facebook. Rate or review this podcast on iTunes.

As a fairly new form of entertainment, escape rooms can be tricky to market to an unaware public audience. Well, Chris Sparks has it all figured out. Chris is the owner of Surelocked In Escape Games in Frederick, Maryland. His family-owned business dabbles in what he calls “special unorthodox marketing” -- and it’s working! On this week's episode, Chris reveals how Surelocked In has been tremendously successful thanks to he and his family’s energetic and unique marketing tactics, like guerrilla marketing.Resources: Surelocked In Escape Games's websiteWant more?Find the companion articles and other helpful tidbits on video production and promotion from Digital Bard.Suggest a guest on Facebook.Rate or review this podcast on iTunes.

Austin Widdowson is no stranger to marketing, branding, and designing, as he is the Brand Marketing Director at Evolution Craft Brewing Co. in Salisbury, Maryland. But Austin takes this knowledge beyond his work at the brewery; he believes self-marketing, taking risks, and becoming a self-learner are vital for all those who are aspiring marketers. On this week’s episode, Austin tell us how to brand and sell the best version of yourself to employers, build and strengthen your creative portfolio, and become a jack-of-all-trades marketer. Resources: Evolution Brewing Co.'s website Austin Widdowson's website Want more? Find the companion articles and other helpful tidbits on video production and promotion from Digital Bard. Suggest a guest on Facebook. Rate or review this podcast on iTunes.

We know as well as you do that marketing an entire city, region, or county is not a easy job — and Frank DiVenti knows it, too! Frank is the COO of Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County, a non-profit DMO for the Maryland county. Frank will tell us how he and his team manage to successfully market the diverse, expansive, and distinct regions in his county by dividing their audience base and websites to serve each of their distinct niche markets. Resources: Visit Annapolis & Anne Arundel County website Want more? Find the companion articles and other helpful tidbits on video production and promotion from Digital Bard. Suggest a guest on Facebook. Rate or review this podcast on iTunes.

While our guest for today isn't Yogi Bear, we've got the next best thing: Jim Westover, Vice President of Product Development and Sales for Yogi Bear's Jellystone Park Camp-Resorts. This summer, Jellystone ran a wildly successful "Camping Hack Sweepstakes," and Jim gives us an inside look at the inspiration for the campaign, how they targeted the right audience, and how it was implemented here in the U.S. as well as in Canada. And you'll want to listen up...the sweepstakes received 9,000 submissions from eager Jellystone fans, so it was a smash hit! See some examples of the Camping Hacks in our companion article! Resources: Jellystone Park website Want more? Find the companion articles and other helpful tidbits on video production and promotion from Digital Bard. Suggest a guest on Facebook. Rate or review this podcast on iTunes.

Imagine you're responsible for marketing an international tourism hotspot of America: Washington, D.C., Maryland, AND Virginia. For Stacey Sheetz, she doesn't have to imagine -- she does it! Stacey is the Digital Marketing Manager for Capital Region USA (CRUSA), a non-profit tourism coalition that seeks to attract visitors from select international markets and bring them to the area. In this podcast episode, Stacey discusses some of the challenges she faces in targeting foreign audiences (and how she's learned from her mistakes...read our companion article to see a gorgeous photo advertisement that received some backlash from U.K. visitors!), but also the benefits of making an effort to market your destination abroad. Resources: Capital Region USA website Want more? Find the companion articles and other helpful tidbits on video production and promotion from Digital Bard. Suggest a guest on Facebook. Rate or review this podcast on iTunes.

Crack open a cold one and hear Whitney and guests Ben Savage and Erin Weston of Flying Dog Brewery open up about their marketing methods and how they've turned around a legal battle for their First Amendment rights to benefit their brand identity and market themselves in the edgy and daring ways they love. They will also talk about a smart partnership they've formed to bring awareness to the craft beer industry and beer-centric agriculture.Resources: Flying Dog websiteWant more?Find the companion articles and other helpful tidbits on video production and promotion from Digital Bard.Suggest a guest on Facebook.Rate or review this podcast on iTunes.

Natasha Baihly, this week's podcast guest, is the President of River & Trail Outfitters, an outdoor adventure sports company in Knoxville, Maryland. As a marketer of an action-packed recreation business, Natasha knows the importance photos and videos play into her marketing strategy and on her website. With her newly-revamped website launching just this summer, Natasha reveals how she uses videos to create guest understanding and emotional appeals to her audience, and how these videos and photos can be used effectively on multiple digital platforms like Facebook and programmatic ad buys. Resources: River & Trail Outfitters website Want more? Find the companion articles and other helpful tidbits on video production and promotion from Digital Bard. Suggest a guest on Facebook. Rate or review this podcast on iTunes.

This bonus episode with Katie Denis, lead researcher of Project: Time Off, delves into the importance of taking time off from work as both a benefit to yourself and your company, and how planning your vacation days ahead of time will ensure you’re using them efficiently. And of course we’ll talk about some of the ways you can use P:TO's campaign to market your destination or attraction. Project: Time Off is a non-profit initiative of the U.S. Travel Association. They strive to get Americans to use more of their vacation days, and they encourage everyone to take part in National Plan For Vacation Day, which will be on Tuesday, January 29th, 2019 -- so mark your calendar and plan ahead! Resources: Project: Time Off website National Plan for Vacation Day! Want more? Find the companion articles and other helpful tidbits on video production and promotion from Digital Bard. Suggest a guest on Facebook. Rate or review this podcast on iTunes.

McClintock Distilling Company is the first and only organic craft distillery in Maryland. While it may still be considered a startup, McClintock has quickly grown its customer base, remodeled its building, and developed community partnerships to cement its place as a high-quality distillery and entertainment venue in Frederick. Braeden Bumpers, co-owner and head distiller at McClintock Distilling, reveals how hosting events and offering fun, educational distilling classes to guests has benefitted his 18-month-old business and increased customer loyalty. We'll also talk about how he's used Instagram contests as a cost-effective marketing tactic to engage McClintock's nearly 19,000 Instagram followers. Resources: McClintock Distilling website Want more? Find the companion articles and other helpful tidbits on video production and promotion from Digital Bard. Suggest a guest on Facebook. Rate or review this podcast on iTunes.

At the various properties within the Hershend Family Entertainment group, they are focused on creating "memories worth repeating." Well-known attractions like Silver Dollar City and Dollywood are the headliners, with two aquariums, several dinner theaters and The Harlem Globetrotters rounding out the ticket. David West is the Executive Director of Destination Marketing for Hershend Family Entertainment, and in this episode, we talk about the "a-ha" moments that guest research brings to light, and how attractions and DMOs can (and SHOULD) work together better. You don't have to be a big theme park to benefit from his tips. Resources: Hershend Family Entertainment website Dollywood on YouTube Want more? Find the companion articles and other helpful tidbits on video production and promotion from Digital Bard. Suggest a guest on Facebook. Rate or review this podcast on iTunes.

Adam Fizyta of Catoctin Breeze Vineyard, just north of Thurmont, Maryland, opens up about effective, low-cost ways to engage guests and consumers. We’ll spend some time learning about his favorite approaches to using social media...plus, how a video combined with a contest went a long way in promoting brand-awareness for the vineyard. And we’ll also talk about the power of polls. Resources: Catoctin Breeze Vineyard website Want more? Find the companion articles and other helpful tidbits on video production and promotion from Digital Bard. Suggest a guest on Facebook. Rate or review this podcast on iTunes.

In her first two years with Discover Lehigh Valley, Alicia Quinn rolled out a new brand for the destination as well as an overhaul of the organization's’ marketing strategy and digital footprint, including the use of high impact photography, a new website, key and targeted messaging and segmentation. The region is home to brands like Crayola, Dorney Park, Martin Guitars and everything related to Bethlehem, Pa. Find out how she built the footprint and connected the guest experiences. And learn how they created the award-winning video series "Lift Your Spirits." Resources: Discover Lehigh Valley website "Lift Your Spirits" videos on YouTube Alicia Quinn on LinkedIn Want more? Find the companion articles and other helpful tidbits on video production and promotion from Digital Bard. Suggest a guest on Facebook. Rate or review this podcast on iTunes.

Tom Wagner is the Executive Vice President of Winterplace Ski Resort in Ghent, WV. He has over 40 years of experience promoting, marketing and operating outdoor adventure facilities. In this episode, we discuss how to build relationships with local media so they help spread your marketing message, why simple YouTube videos have been great for the resort, and explore great ways to "warm" guests to your attraction as early as the 5th grade. Resources: Winterplace on YouTube Winterplace Ski Resort website Want more? Find the companion articles and other helpful tidbits on video production and promotion from Digital Bard. Suggest a guest on Facebook. Rate or review this podcast on iTunes.

Mastering Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is a powerful way to improve the quality and quantity of visitors to your website, and ultimately to your attraction or destination. Jim Robinson and his company, Clickseed, help the world's leading businesses achieve their most ambitious growth goals through digital marketing. Learn some of the SEO techniques that Jim uses to promote top brands, discover super useful information about Google Search Console, how to nurture your content and lots more, using our fictitious "Whitney's Playland" as an example. ARTICLE: The Five Key Elements of SEO and Content Marketing About the Guest:  ClickSeed is an online marketing firm specializing in search, and is based in the DC area. ClickSeed is owned by Jim Robinson, an experienced digital marketing executive with a successful track record spanning nearly 20 years. Some of ClickSeed’s notable clients include Rolling Stone, Nasdaq, and Kiplinger. Want more? Find the companion articles and other helpful tidbits on video production and promotion from Digital Bard. Suggest a guest on Facebook. Rate or review this podcast on iTunes.

Julie Dion is a successful marketing specialist with nearly 20 years of experience in media buying, marketing, public relations, advertising strategies and execution. Her company, Dion Marketing, specializes in creating successful marketing plans by combining new media options with traditional advertising, partnerships and promotions. Clients include nonprofits, products and services, family entertainment centers, amusement parks and attractions. Julie and the Dion Marketing team recently secured four 1st place marketing awards from World Waterpark Association. Resources: Dion Marketing See the Hawaiian Falls Waterparks "Summer of Awesome" Campaign Want more? Find the companion articles and other helpful tidbits on video production and promotion from Digital Bard. Suggest a guest on Facebook. Rate or review this podcast on iTunes.

Today's guest is Rosie Salas, a 15 year marketing pro in the entertainment industry for family entertainment centers, casinos and minor league baseball franchises. She now serves as the director of marketing for TrainerTainment, where they coach and train people on marketing particularly for family entertainment and bowling centers. On this episode Whitney and Rosie talk about how social media marketing is changing, the relevance of email marketing, growing your list through clubs and memberships, and the importance of the personal touch in any marketing plan. Rosie and TrainerTainment have graciously provided an offer for our listeners for 50% off their reach calendar. Go to Reach Calendar and use the promo code: ZESTY in all caps at checkout. Additionally, if you would like to download their FREE 90-60-30 day planning worksheet, use this link. Worksheet Want more? Find the companion articles and other helpful tidbits on video production and promotion from Digital Bard. Suggest a guest on Facebook. Rate or review this podcast on iTunes.

My guest today is Sarah Myers, Director of Digital Content and Engagement at Visit Park City in Utah. Sarah has a Masters Degree in Integrated Marketing Communications from Emerson College, Boston; has been with Visit Park City for over three years; and has been promoting skiing, travel, and recreation for more than a decade. Today, Sarah and Whitney talk about Park City’s award winning “First Timers" online video series, including how they planned it, promoted it and results seen. We also discuss disruptive marketing and how she wants their website to be used by their audience. Resources: Watch the First Timers Videos Want more? Find the companion articles and other helpful tidbits on video production and promotion from Digital Bard. Suggest a guest on Facebook. Rate or review this podcast on iTunes.

Our guest for this episode is Daniel Spedden, President of the Hagerstown/Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau. As president of the organization, Dan is always networking and looking for good opportunities and ideas, and takes pride in the folks who work in tourism who have positive and friendly attitudes. His favorite content is stories written about Washington County by bloggers and travel writers because he believes a story is always better than an advertisement. Resource:Visit Hagerstown Website Want more? Find the companion articles and other helpful tidbits on video production and promotion from Digital Bard. Suggest a guest on Facebook. Rate or review this podcast on iTunes.

Our guest today is Anneliese DeDiemar. Anneliese has extensive experience in arts marketing in Chicago and Washington D.C. and presents nationally on non-profit integrated marketing and communications best practices, including seminars for the American Marketing Association, Americans for the Arts and Theatre Washington. Resources: Written summary of this podcast and a handy infographic of tips. Want more? Find the companion articles and other helpful tidbits on video production and promotion from Digital Bard. Suggest a guest on Facebook. Rate or review this podcast on iTunes.

Scott Williams of the Newseum reflects on social media and the power of metrics.

Scott Williams is the Chief Operating Officer at the Newseum in Washington D.C, (“Traveler’s Choice, Top 25 Museums in the World” by TripAdvisor.com). He manages the teams responsible for sales, marketing and public relations for the Newseum and Newseum Institute, serves on the boards of The DC Chapter of the American Advertising Federation and is a published author. In today’s discussion, Scott and I talk about how to activate museum guests, things he learned from an Elvis tribute artist contest, and a social media campaign the museum promotes annually that gets people to think about a day #withoutnews. RESOURCES: Newseum Website A Day Without News Campaign Want more? Find the companion articles and other helpful tidbits on video production and promotion from Digital Bard. Suggest a guest on Facebook. Rate or review this podcast on iTunes.

Michael Borum has many specialties, including online marketing strategies, public relations, advertising, and copywriting; all of which serve him well as Director of Marketing at Linganore Winecellars in Mount Airy, Maryland. In this Zesty Marketing Podcast, Host Whitney Hahn talks with Michael about how wine drinking preferences relate to social media preferences; making friends with your target demographics; and where to focus your efforts - social media or website. Resource: Linganore Winecellars Website Want more? Find the companion articles and other helpful tidbits on video production and promotion from Digital Bard. Suggest a guest on Facebook. Rate or review this podcast on iTunes.

My guest today is Brittany Diehl, once part of the Downtown Frederick Partnership team in Maryland, now the Marketing and Communication Specialist at Downtown Denver Partnership. In addition to nearly 20,000 residents and 123,000 workers, the Colorado capital downtown area welcomes over 2 million visitors each year. Britt’s job is to communicate with those folks about everything from events to legislative bills and community initiatives. In our discussion, Britt tells shares a few tips for using Facebook Events and Instagram stories more effectively, reveals 5 key elements involved in making a summer-long pop up park such a success, and ties it all together with the core philosophy of the Partnership. Resources: More on the "Square on 21st VIDEO: Silent Discos Want more? Find the companion articles and other helpful tidbits on video production and promotion from Digital Bard. Suggest a guest on Facebook. Rate or review this podcast on iTunes.

Tiffany Ahalt operates "Star-Spangled Tours," a receptive tour operator in the Washington, DC area. She's been a tourism and destination marketing professional for over 20 years and is passionate about sharing history and local flavors with guests. Tiffany talks about underutilized marketing techniques for DMOs, creative ways to mash-up itineraries for public/private tour packages that "wow," and why a good prop may be all it takes to trigger selfies and social media buzz. Resources: Star Spangled Tours Website Want more? Find the companion articles and other helpful tidbits on video production and promotion from Digital Bard. Suggest a guest on Facebook. Rate or review this podcast on iTunes.

Amy Benton, Director of Communications at Big Cork Vineyards and Owner at Amy Benton PR has been a successful marketer and entrepreneur for many years. In this episode of the Zesty Marketing Podcast, Host Whitney Hahn from Digital Bard talks with Amy about user generated content, the power of social networks to build brand loyalty, and, among other things, getting customers to feel like part of the experience.

Reynaldi Lindner Lolong, Associate Directer of Membership and Marketing with The Public Theater in New York shares his unique insights about engaging new and seasoned guests, as well as his thoughts on marketing strategies like encouraging tweeting in theaters and museums. Resource: https://www.publictheater.org/

Don't be overwhelmed! Branding a community for economic development or tourism follows many of the marketing methods you may already know, just with some important tweaks. Sandy Sponaugle of Platinum PR is a veteran marketer serving the mid-Atlantic region. We discuss influencers and how to cultivate them, why collaboration is king and a few fun ways to kick-start your content calendar. http://platinumpr.com/

Whitney Hahn has been honing her marketing skills since she was a teenager working at her family's zoo. In this concentrated episode, Whitney shares some observations and best practices for using video to promote your leisure or entertainment business, including an overview of different types of videos and where they perform best in the sales funnel, ways to think about video for SEO vs. video for social media, and questions to ask before planning a video marketing campaign. Resources: Downloadable Guide to Types of Videos Want more? Find the companion articles and other helpful tidbits on video production and promotion from Digital Bard. Suggest a guest on Facebook. Rate or review this podcast on iTunes.

A veteran of the travel industry for over 10 years, Becky Bickerton is the Director of Sales and Marketing for the Tourism Council of Frederick County (MD). We discuss ways to create clever campaigns, her favorite data tracking points in Google, Facebook and others, and how to create content that engages visitors AND your local audience. Resources: Visit Frederick website VIDEO: Discover Ireland Want more? Find the companion articles and other helpful tidbits on video production and promotion from Digital Bard. Suggest a guest on Facebook. Rate or review this podcast on iTunes.

Austin Meyermann is a recruitment marketing specialist. We talk about how to stop the revolving door of seasonal employees for attractions with a year-round approach to recruitment, incorporating social media the right way, and powering referrals and retention with creative incentives. Our buddies at www.TalentCMO.com were happy to share info to some of the tools (many are free) they recommend as part of your recruitment marketing kit. "For email recruitment marketing, we use MailChimp. It's free for up to 2,000 contacts. To manage recruiting oriented posts across social media profiles, we use Hootsuite. It's free up to 3 social media platforms. Hotjar is a great tool to use to see what candidates are clicking on once they are on your website. This is very helpful since you don't want to have a page on your website where no one clicks. No clicks, no leads, no clients. To create simple graphics for social media posts, or even some for your website, analytics reports, etc., we use Canva. It's a free tool that has many graphic design templates. Lastly, we love using JazzHR. It's our partner of choice when it comes to applicant tracking system (ATS). They make it very easy to navigate a hiring process from posting a job, to setting screening questions, communicating with candidates, moving through the hiring process, etc."

We could have called this episode "Alas, poor metric. I knew you well." Ashley Birdsell Lewis is the Manager of Marketing at the historic Weinberg Center for the Arts. This 1200 seat theater hosts acts of dance, comedy, music and concerts as well as nationally recognized speakers. We talk about why she loves crunching data, the best ways to engage audiences in real time and her philosophy on the relationship between consistent brand visibility and ROI. Resources: Weinberg Center website VIDEOS: Social Media, Documentaries and Behind the Scenes Want more? Find the companion articles and other helpful tidbits on video production and promotion from Digital Bard. Suggest a guest on Facebook. Rate or review this podcast on iTunes.

In 2014, Billboard Magazine listed her as one of the top 50 most influential women in music. Amy Stevens set the bar for concert and live event marketing. In her notable roles at CBS Radio, Madison Square Garden, and KROQ-FM in Los Angeles, Amy's passion for providing an exceptional guest experience never wavered. In this episode, we go behind the scenes with Amy as she talks defines "activation," gives examples of knowing your audience, dealing with haters, and pushing creative boundaries forward. Resources: Getting interactive with Shazam Want more? Find the companion articles and other helpful tidbits on video production and promotion from Digital Bard. Suggest a guest on Facebook. Rate or review this podcast on iTunes.

Concert and event promotions expert Amy Stevens gives an example of an exceptional way to use behind-the-scenes video, based on an experience she had with a star-studded benefit concert in NYC. Want more? Find the companion articles and other helpful tidbits on video production and promotion from Digital Bard. Suggest a guest on Facebook. Rate or review this podcast on iTunes.

Even big Broadway stars don't always get their way once a marketing team steps in, as we learn in this story about Lin-Manuel Miranda from "Hamilton." Want more? Find the companion articles and other helpful tidbits on video production and promotion from Digital Bard. Suggest a guest on Facebook. Rate or review this podcast on iTunes.