The Hubris of Claiming First

It's a fairly common trait of humans to want to be biggest, best, fastest...first. It's that whole Hierarchy of Needs thing, I guess.

But, when your claim is so out in left field that you're in a completely other ballpark?

In a recent news release, the Maastricht Convention Bureau announced they are now utilizing Twitter and Facebook. They also claim that, "worldwide this is the first site of a convention bureau effectively making use of web 2.0 and social media marketing techniques."

Errr...not quite.

In my friend Martin Stoll's latest ranking of DMOs utilizing Twitter, he's tracking over 350 DMOs maintaining accounts. DMAI recently announced that roughly 150 of their DMO members have Facebook accounts. I'm fairly certain at least a few maintain both...and have for months.

Or maybe I'm reading the quote wrong. Maybe the MCB is claiming that they are the first DMO in the world to do it right.

Don't know if they're playing on attending the DMAI Annual Convention...but, if they do, I'm thinking there''ll be a throwdown.

Thanks to my friend Sharon Linton of the Meydenbauer Center for the catch.

Comments

[Nicolaas]

I am overenjoyed to being the first worldwide to comment on above blog entry ;).

Well yes, I agree claiming to be the first is always dangerous. There is always somebody who will jump up and tell you he was two seconds earlier with exactly the same idea. And of course in the end it is always in the wording. First: this refers only to convention bureaus working in MICE, not tourist offices (which is what twisitorcenter.com mostly consists of). What is referred to is not conventiuon bureaus centres who ALSO maintain a Twitter and/or LinkedIn or whatever account but who have actually integrated it in the website. Moreover, I have not seen any convention bureau until now who actually uses a form of 'business-user-generated-content'.

Anyway great to find this site and will from now on start to follow this and twisitorcenter.

[Bill Geist]

You know I'm just poking fun...and I'm impressed that you found this post so quickly. You're clearing understanding the power of social media...and effectively tracking it (one of the keys to converting customers and clients).

Thanks for the follow and I look forward to future conversations.

[Paul W. Swansen]

So the CVB's will be facing off with tacky snow globes at 50 paces?

[Bill Geist]

THAT would be a duel worth seeing!