"Thomas Jefferson said a democracy is dependent on an informed citizenry. I don't care whether it sounds corny or not. It's the truth." -Jim Lehrer
Carefree Truth
Issue #912, April 12, 2021
Issue #912, April 12, 2021
The new Communications Director, Alex Orozco, introduced herself and spoke briefly about her background, after which she presented the Communications and Community Engagement Plan. She explained that community outreach is designed to deliver key messages to a targeted audience, ultimately resulting in the greater education of the community about programs or issues. A comprehensive strategy featuring a diversity of audience-appropriate programs and resources will help achieve maximum outreach and efficient information sharing. The objective is to clarify relationships between audiences, messages, channels, activities, and materials. This will build working relationships with Carefree's residents, businesses and visitors.
Relationships between the Town and the businesses is key to long term success. Nurturing their needs can go a long way towards forging lasting relationships. Ms. Orozco is offering to do a feature story campaign on social media for any interested Carefree businesses to help promote them and to maximize their reach through Carefree's platforms. She would do a short interview and take professional photos of their establishment to highlight their business. Rose Toon, owner of Bags & Rags, saw an uptick in her interactions with residents and customers when she participated in this campaign. An internal communication process will maximize productivity and clarify staff roles in the communication process.
Creating and distributing a newsletter that is consistent and visually appealing is one way to communicate on a regular basis. It will contain a table of contents so users can determine where to find information that is of interest to them.
Social media is about connecting people easily. It is a great tool for expanding Carefree's digital presence. Within the first 30 days of Ms. Orozco's social media push, Carefree received 11,050 impressions and 1,108 interactions. Impressions are people engaging with the content. It indicates that people are Following, Liking photos, commenting, asking questions, saving it, and sending it along, as well as showing profile visits. People are subscribing to stay up to date.
High quality photos are very important. There was an impressive response to her snow pictures posted on Instagram. They got 34 Shares which expanded Carefree's web. The photos reached 5,969 people on FaceBook. 100+ Liked and/or Followed that page.
Instagram marketing promotions are similar to other ads online. It targets desired users, those who are searching for specific topics or products. It can also target local audiences using cell tower GPS, sending information to cell phones. It is a very cost effective tool.
A good website is more important than ever, with FaceBook and Twitter making it easier to find it. Websites provide growth opportunities and are necessary to survive into the future. She is working with Civics Plus to redesign and restructure Carefree's websites and to add a Landing Page. People have been using the government website instead of the one for tourism and visitors. A Landing Page will help users navigate the sites more fluidly. It is still a work in progress. When finished, it will maximize both pages and make them more user friendly.
Seeing the role and importance of communication and dialogue, operation, and promotion and empowerment of an active community in local decision making, the goal is to analyze the forms of communication between the community and local government that will be most effective. The poster for the Earth Day event on May 22nd is posted in the Gardens so it can be seen by people walking there who might not be on social media or be subscribers to COINS. This offers another layer of communication.
Community outreach plays a key role in Carefree's marketing strategy. An effective strategy is needed so Carefree does not unintentionally turn off potential visitors, future homeowners, and current residents. Establishing relationships with local news outlets will enhance community outreach and networking, working together to grow our audiences. Ms. Orozco wants to give the town a good brand and give future visitors positive expectations. She did an interview here with Channel 5 News during the snowstorm to promote Carefree.
Mayor Les Peterson said he was looking forward to seeing the building of impressions and the reach of messages. Gary Neiss noted that visuals are vital too. We are a visual society and the graphics are really kicking it up a notch. The more professional the communications, the more success Carefree will encounter. This is a critical path to the future.
Councilwoman Cheryl Kroyer pointed out that Carefree has never had much of a social media presence, and this is already seeing lots of success. It helped Athens on Easy Street open with a bang because Alex announced its opening. It's a great restaurant with great food and service, and it got off to a good start. Social media costs very little but it's giving Carefree a big presence and is reaching those not reached with the regular communications.
Councilman Stephen Hatcher asked if the newsletter would be digital and asked about SEO. Ms. Orozco confirmed that it would be digital and that those wishing to subscribe could sign up for it on the website to have it automatically sent to their email address. She explained that Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is triggered by key words that put articles, etc. higher up in the the Google search engine.
A motion to approve the Communications and Community Engagement Plan was unanimously approved.
https://vimeo.com/535349166
Lyn Hitchon
Prepared by Carefree Truth
Copyrighted
Visit our website at www.carefreetruth2.com If you know anyone who would like to be added to the Carefree Truth email list, please have them contact me. Feel free to share Carefree Truth with others on your list.
Visit www.carefreeazbusinesses.com to see more info about businesses in Carefree. Please support our merchants.
Relationships between the Town and the businesses is key to long term success. Nurturing their needs can go a long way towards forging lasting relationships. Ms. Orozco is offering to do a feature story campaign on social media for any interested Carefree businesses to help promote them and to maximize their reach through Carefree's platforms. She would do a short interview and take professional photos of their establishment to highlight their business. Rose Toon, owner of Bags & Rags, saw an uptick in her interactions with residents and customers when she participated in this campaign. An internal communication process will maximize productivity and clarify staff roles in the communication process.
Creating and distributing a newsletter that is consistent and visually appealing is one way to communicate on a regular basis. It will contain a table of contents so users can determine where to find information that is of interest to them.
Social media is about connecting people easily. It is a great tool for expanding Carefree's digital presence. Within the first 30 days of Ms. Orozco's social media push, Carefree received 11,050 impressions and 1,108 interactions. Impressions are people engaging with the content. It indicates that people are Following, Liking photos, commenting, asking questions, saving it, and sending it along, as well as showing profile visits. People are subscribing to stay up to date.
High quality photos are very important. There was an impressive response to her snow pictures posted on Instagram. They got 34 Shares which expanded Carefree's web. The photos reached 5,969 people on FaceBook. 100+ Liked and/or Followed that page.
Instagram marketing promotions are similar to other ads online. It targets desired users, those who are searching for specific topics or products. It can also target local audiences using cell tower GPS, sending information to cell phones. It is a very cost effective tool.
A good website is more important than ever, with FaceBook and Twitter making it easier to find it. Websites provide growth opportunities and are necessary to survive into the future. She is working with Civics Plus to redesign and restructure Carefree's websites and to add a Landing Page. People have been using the government website instead of the one for tourism and visitors. A Landing Page will help users navigate the sites more fluidly. It is still a work in progress. When finished, it will maximize both pages and make them more user friendly.
Seeing the role and importance of communication and dialogue, operation, and promotion and empowerment of an active community in local decision making, the goal is to analyze the forms of communication between the community and local government that will be most effective. The poster for the Earth Day event on May 22nd is posted in the Gardens so it can be seen by people walking there who might not be on social media or be subscribers to COINS. This offers another layer of communication.
Community outreach plays a key role in Carefree's marketing strategy. An effective strategy is needed so Carefree does not unintentionally turn off potential visitors, future homeowners, and current residents. Establishing relationships with local news outlets will enhance community outreach and networking, working together to grow our audiences. Ms. Orozco wants to give the town a good brand and give future visitors positive expectations. She did an interview here with Channel 5 News during the snowstorm to promote Carefree.
Mayor Les Peterson said he was looking forward to seeing the building of impressions and the reach of messages. Gary Neiss noted that visuals are vital too. We are a visual society and the graphics are really kicking it up a notch. The more professional the communications, the more success Carefree will encounter. This is a critical path to the future.
Councilwoman Cheryl Kroyer pointed out that Carefree has never had much of a social media presence, and this is already seeing lots of success. It helped Athens on Easy Street open with a bang because Alex announced its opening. It's a great restaurant with great food and service, and it got off to a good start. Social media costs very little but it's giving Carefree a big presence and is reaching those not reached with the regular communications.
Councilman Stephen Hatcher asked if the newsletter would be digital and asked about SEO. Ms. Orozco confirmed that it would be digital and that those wishing to subscribe could sign up for it on the website to have it automatically sent to their email address. She explained that Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is triggered by key words that put articles, etc. higher up in the the Google search engine.
A motion to approve the Communications and Community Engagement Plan was unanimously approved.
https://vimeo.com/535349166
Lyn Hitchon
Prepared by Carefree Truth
Copyrighted
Visit our website at www.carefreetruth2.com If you know anyone who would like to be added to the Carefree Truth email list, please have them contact me. Feel free to share Carefree Truth with others on your list.
Visit www.carefreeazbusinesses.com to see more info about businesses in Carefree. Please support our merchants.