Mad as Hell– Become a Superhero for Carleton Place

 

Once upon a time I was the Poster Queen and flyered my derriere off to promote the Ottawa music scene and local events. Do people even look at flyers anymore, or did they convert to social media sites? So how do you promote something–like our town?

Most flyers don’t work now because they are off target with their thinking, and just blanketing flyers all over the place is going to provide frustrating results.  Once you see that event poster/flyer once it’s done. People get most of their information online now – all you have to do is bump into everyone looking at their phone to prove that point. Sad, but very true.

Of course social media is like playing pool–everybody thinks they can do it. But the more you play, the more you realize the difference between a good player and a poor one. Most times posts that directly promote products or sales come from businesses that are new to Facebook. They try to use it the same way that they use traditional marketing like flyers and print ads and fail, leaving them thinking that Facebook and social media don’t work.

So why am I rambling here?

This morning as most of you know, I was angry Carleton Place got on the short list again.

Today it was:

10 Super Cute Small Towns In Ontario You Need To Road Trip To This Summer

A few months ago it was:

Almonte Featured on Shopify — Of Course I am Jealous

Am I happy for Almonte and Perth? Of course I am because I love spending time in those particular towns. If I was Merrickville though, I might be a tad annoyed for being left off the list too. What about Smiths Falls?

So what works? What can help us become noticed? First of all we need to tidy up a bit and stop being so slow in doing things. We need to invest in our waterfront, and most importantly believe in what we have.

Let’s be blunt- I am off the deep end in what I do–crazy even.  I don’t get paid to do this and I sure have better things to do.  But somehow over a year ago I made a personal commitment to do something after I saw empty storefronts on the Main Street and heard the complaints daily. Maybe I do need a 12 step program – but it’s too late now. You are stuck with me.

No one can do anything alone, and Lisa Strangway from the Carleton Place Social Scene, Becky Whelan from the Carleton Place Restaurant Review, Lanark County News and Events and Sarah Cavanagh from Discover Carleton Place sure help me get the message across by letting me post on their pages.

You see, that’s the ticket- we have to do this together. The Carleton Place Farmers Market has joined hands now with the Downtown Carleton Place BIA and that means we are cross promoting each other and that is huge! Just lately new friends from  all over the world are retweeting my tweets about Carleton Place, and I would like to thank Screamin Mamas from Florida and @Ontario411_ for being such dedicated retweeters for our town. Without hashtaggging them or begging they take the initiative and promote our town.

So what can you do? Somewhere, a quote that’s been rehashed between Terry Pratchett Lewis Carroll and Elsie Gardiner from Carleton Place hit me one day when I was reading something at the Museum.

If you do not know where you come from, then you don’t know where you are, and if you don’t know where you are, then you don’t know where you’re going.

It makes sense to me- even if it doesn’t to you. I know I live in the town of Carleton Place and I know promoting and being proud of my town is where I am going. How do we finally get our town noticed? Begin by sharing one thing about your town a day. That’s all– and let’s put this place on the map!

 

Thanks  Ontario 411– you’ve been swell:)

 

Ontario411

@Ontario411_

Tweeting interesting content relating to Ontario. Happy to RT any event in Ontario, just DM us or use the#Ontario411 hashtag. Giving everyone the Ontario 411.

Nothing Dies on Social Media– Think Before You Post

Sometimes it has been suggested that using social media such as Facebook and Twitter can affect mental health and well-being. Is that what happens when a poster take it too far?

Imagine you have a business that you have invested your whole life savings in. One day a customer comes into your store or restaurant and unbeknownst to you they leave unhappy. Instead of taking their issues back to you and hashing it out, they go behind their computer and leave negative comments on an online site such as Facebook.

Did you know that just one single negative tweet, post, can hurt a business to such an extent it can cause a fatal amount of damage? Mind blowing isn’t it? Of course the nature of the beast is that people will complain anyway, but by creating a chain reaction, Facebook is now basically giving complainers a megaphone.

Should you not complain– am I out to lunch on my personal view?

Of course you should complain, as customers always deserve good product and service– but my suggestion again is to take it to the owner of the business first. You have to remember that inside the world wide web, nothing will ever die. Once a thread or conversation starts, those comments are going to be there forever. Suddenly, the whole world knows about your bad experience, has an opinion about it, and a business could be all but wiped out.

We are all human and we all make mistakes, but there seems to be more armchair commentary on Twitter and Facebook than anywhere else. People are now held to a higher standard, and social media is a great place to vent with no repercussions. In small rural towns like Carleton Place, personal and private lives are mingled, and online rants quickly become the source of topic in town. While some may create fake accounts to get involved in an online discussion, a company absolutely cannot, and are defenseless.

Hiding behind a computer screen allows anyone to become as ugly as they’d like, and that negative attention and attitude can easily spill over. We are fortunate to be able to say what we want, but sometimes the things that go through our minds shouldn’t go out our mouths – or our fingers.

Please think before you post– after all— “we’re here for a good time–not a long time.”

 

Is Kanye West making Paul McCartney Relevant? – Bubblews

Is Kanye West making Paul McCartney Relevant? – Bubblews.

Children Left Unattended will be Traded for Doughnuts – Linda Seccaspina – Open Salon

Children Left Unattended will be Traded for Doughnuts – Linda Seccaspina – Open Salon.

Mansion Party — House Party — Animal House — If You Tweet it They Will Come. – Zoomer

 

Mansion Party — House Party — Animal House — If You Tweet it They Will Come. – Zoomer.

How the Refrigerator Joke Grew to Terrorist Attack Threats – Zoomer

 

How the Refrigerator Joke Grew to Terrorist Attack Threats – Zoomer.

I Can’t Believe She Left Me for Channing Tatum! – Zoomer

 

I Can’t Believe She Left Me for Channing Tatum! – Zoomer.

Ever Find Yourself Locked Inside a Store? – Zoomer

 

Ever Find Yourself Locked Inside a Store? – Zoomer.

Roar — Teddy Bear Lost — Teddy Bear Found – Zoomer

 

Roar — Teddy Bear Lost — Teddy Bear Found – Zoomer.

Rob Ford — Should He Stay or Should He Go? – Zoomer

 

Rob Ford — Should He Stay or Should He Go? – Zoomer.