It doesn't happen often...but, when it does, a lot of the public criticism of Destination Marketing Organizations is based on a perceived lack of transparency.
We don't know how much the staff makes. We don't know how they select their target markets. We don't know how much they spent on their website. We don't know how much they paid a spokesmodel to tweet.
That's what we hear from the whiners. Thinly veiled suggestions that something nefarious is going on...and innuendo is a powerful tool.
What these individuals would do with this information, however, is unclear. Unless they were accomplished destination marketers, they wouldn't know what markets held the highest ROI. Nor would they know how much an effective online presence costs.
It's like the physician that created his own TV spot in response to the failed Rhode Island video. Nice try...but it looks like a spot that an amateur would do. Because he is. What most people think would inspire a visit simply doesn't. And we have hours of DMOvizion focus group research that proves it.
It's rare to hear people suggest that they want more transparency from the folks running public works (except maybe in Flint) or Parks and Rec. Why does everyone think they know how to do destination marketing?
Because they once took a vacation?
Why? It is perceived as fun. That and everyone has an opinion and they now feel entitled and empowered thanks to social media. Just a guess...
Posted by: Lee T | May 11, 2016 at 09:15
Amen.
Posted by: Tammy Blount | May 12, 2016 at 11:31