Forest Of Bowland - Aggregate Blog

Background •! Lancashire Green Tourism project www.lancashiregreentourism.com •! Tourism businesses working towards Green Tourism Business Scheme accreditation •! Accreditation awarded to businesses operating in a sustainable way including monitoring/reducing energy consumption, waste, water but also promotion of sustainable activities to visitors - walking, cycling, bird watching and foremost: marketing of green messages

Background •! Through the project businesses develop their websites and marketing of their green credentials •! Wildlife –wonderful area for wildlife and visitor opportunities – common theme for businesses •! So emerged the Bowland Wildlife Blog… –! An aggregate blog bringing together postings from individual business blogs into one website: www.bowlandwildlife.org.uk

Set-up •! Each business sets up their blog, integrated or linked from their individual website •! Free tools - such as Google or Word Press –! www.blogger.com –! http://wordpress.org •! Launched in March 2009 •! 14 businesses currently contributing

Example 1

Example 2

Bowland Wildlife Blog

User statistics •! Unique visits: –! March 2009 493 –! April 2009 843 –! May 2009 1,441 –! June 2009 1,521 –! July 2009 1,334 –! August 2009 1,288 –! September 2009 1,468

Benefits to businesses •! More opportunities for listings in search engines •! Opening up to new and niche markets – e.g. hare watching holidays •! Marketing potential for new types of visitors and younger age group •! Talking point with visitors •! Joint promotion between businesses = greater impact •! A group can more effectively promote a visitor destination or activity •! Generates positive competitiveness – the last person to post is listed at the top! •! Provides a useful resource to wildlife enthusiasts – a description of wildlife sightings across a large geographical area. But – also offering uniqueness at different businesses

Business Feedback •! Business quote: ‘Last week I had somebody from the RSPB staying with me who was doing a fish and aquatic plant survey. He said he was really impressed with my Blog so perhaps I have more followers than I think.’ Grisdale Farm B&B, Leighton Moss

Key to success •! Regular postings and updates •! Keeping posts concise and interesting •! Including images •! Adding a link to your website in each posting •! Quirky/niche topics generate most interest •! Useful to have key driver(s) – enthusiastic individuals encouraging others to contribute and providing ideas and guidance on good practice

Next steps •! Encourage further businesses to engage •! Develop www.lancashirewildlife.org.uk Watch this space……… Contact: hetty.byrne@lanashire.gov.uk Or barrie@ribblesdale.net

Forest Of Bowland - Aggregate Blog

by Marketing Lancashire

Accessibility

Categories

Upload Details

Usage Rights

1 Embed 2

Statistics

Forest Of Bowland - Aggregate Blog Presentation Transcript