Social Media Workshop

Times are tough! In today’s economy, businesses need to spend their money wisely in order to promote themselves.  One low-cost way to build relationships and trust in your services is through various social media outlets.

Here at the VCB we are in our second year of our integrated social media strategy and it’s working! Come hear our story along with a panel of other successful Yakima Valley business owners that use blogging, Tweeting and social networking to increase exposure.

The workshop is packed with great information, inspiration and motivation from very talented people! Check out this lineup:

Social Media 101, taught by Craig Sutton.  A partner in Ikon Marketing Group, Craig believes that electronic communication is the key to unlocking a wealth of information. That information, both good and bad, can be harvested to learn how to react and build relationships with your audience and your target market.

Panel Speaker #1: Chef Frank Magaña: Frank is the restaurateur that brought the Yakima Valley two fantastic restaurants – Picazo 7Seventeen and Mojave by Picazo @ Desert Wind Winery, both in Prosser.   Chef Magaña is a leading chef and caterer in the valley as well as instructor for many cooking demos and classes throughout the valley.  Frank works with a firm in the Tri-Cities to structure and build strategic social media marketing.  He will share his story and successes along with his favorite tips and techniques.  You can find Frank on Facebook through Mojave by Picazo, Picazo 717 and Chef Magana as well as on Twitter (@chefmagana, @picazo717, @mojavebypicazo).

Panel Speaker #2: Josh Wade:  Josh is opening Nectar Tasting Room in Spokane later this month. Over the last year Josh has uniquely used social media to build a business model and a brand. Through the use of a blog platform, Twitter, Facebook and YouTube, DrinkNectar.com has built brand awareness and credibility in the wine industry that created demand for a product before it even existed. His blog, NectarWineBlog.com is one of the most visited wine blogs in the Northwest and ranks in the top 25 in the country. You can find Josh on Facebook/DrinkNectar as well as on Twitter, @nectarwine.

Have you heard of a “Tweet Up” but aren’t sure what it’s all about? VCB President & CEO John Cooper (twitter handle: @tourismpro, #SMsells) will host a Tweet Up during the workshop.  Learn how to host your own Tweet Up!

Bring your laptops and/or smart-phones if you have them (not required).

When:  Friday, November 5^th 9:00am – noon

Schedule:

9-9:45am Social Media 101 with Craig Sutton, regional social media expert.

9:45-10am Break

10-noon Panel presentations by Frank Magaña and Josh Wade, where you will learn tips and techniques!

Location: Yakima Convention Center, 10 North 8th Street Downtown Yakima

RSVP:  Barbara Fleming, 575-3010, barbara@visityakima.com

Cost: $15

Click here for a printable PDF flyer.

Mobil Info Centers

Ever get in a taxi or hotel shuttle and wanted some printed info on the community or a simple map for your visit? In an effort to better serve visitors, the Yakima Valley Visitors & Convention Bureau (VCB) has purchased information pouches and installed them in local cab cars and hotel shuttle vans.

On October 6 the VCB  installed information pouches in taxis and hotel shuttles containing Visitors Guide, local wine maps, brochures and other information of interest to visitors. Participating companies at this time include A-1 Taxi Company, Oxford Suites, Oxford Hotel and the Clarion Hotel of Yakima.

Cabs and shuttles are usually the first point of contact for many visitors to the Yakima Valley.  The materials will assist the drivers in learning about the Yakima Valley in addition to enabling them to provide assistance to visitors about where to shop, dine, and enjoy some leisure time during their stay in the Yakima Valley.

Outdoor Plaza Dedication and Open House Slated

Crews are wrapping up the final touches on the new Yakima Convention Center Outdoor Plaza. In celebration, we are hosting a Dedication and Open House Thursday, October 21 at 1:30 p.m. At that time we’ll show appreciation to the people that worked to make this addition possible.

The nearly 7,000 square foot Outdoor Plaza will provide convention planners and residents an outdoor venue downtown to hold their banquets, meetings, receptions and events.

Immediately following the dedication, the whole Convention Center will host an open house until 5:00 p.m. to showcase the many changes that have been made in the past year and to provide a peek at improvements to come.

Come join in the fun. There is no need to RSVP, just be at the Outdoor Plaza located on North 8th Street in Downtown Yakima, 1:30 p.m on the 21st.