Marketing Your Attraction

Seasonal Entertainment Source Magazine
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Marketing Your Attraction

The "Marketing Your Attraction" Podcast is essential listening for every member of the Attractions Industry, including theme parks, haunted houses, escape rooms, family fun centers and more. Every episode takes listeners on a deep dive into a different marketing topic and how it applies to the Attractions Industry. Hosts Brad and Philip have spent over a decade in the industry and bring a total of over 20 years of combined marketing experience. Subscribe now for your regular dose of marketing insights.

  1. 31/12/2020

    Unlocking TikTok for your Attraction

    Hello marketers, I thought you'd enjoy this deep dive into the process that helped this attraction go viral on TikTok. Josh Sumsion from Dead City Haunted House comes on to discuss the process behind their TikTok videos, some of which are going viral. Here’s what you need to know to get your TikTok up and running.

    10 min

  2. 31/08/2020

    What Do You Say To Them? How to personalize your messaging during the pandemic

    This podcast is a recording from a recent panel on personalizing your messaging to guests in preparation of opening your attraction this season. The discussion is divided into three sections—recommendations about messaging for guests before you open, while guests are on-premises, and after it closes. Key Takeaways: Include safety in your messaging but focus on fun. Be aware of the rules and regulations in your area. Talk to this year’s haunt demographic. Be nimble and dynamic in response to feedback. Have a protocol for crisis management. Consider requiring advance, online purchase of tickets. Add value and raise your ticket prices. Introduce your safety messaging at the right time in the right places. Encourage guests to share their experiences on social media. Have staff visibly cleaning your haunt. Have a protocol for screening staff and responding if someone has symptoms. Let your guests know they’ll be scared safely.

    50 min

  3. 13/09/2019

    Live Coaching Call with Jewish Escape Room 'OneBefore'

    For the first time on Marketing Your Attraction, we bring a listener on the show for live coaching. Gamliel Beyderman is Founder of OneBefore, America's First Jewish Escape Room in Brooklyn New York. Visit OneBefore here: onebeforeescape.com.

    2h 2m

  4. 23/07/2019

    How To Use Story in Your Marketing and Drive Revenue

    Scott Swenson joins us on the podcast to discuss the impact Story has in marketing your attraction. Scott has a new book out: Follow the Story: The Foundation of Every Great Attraction Follow the Story’s synopsis reads, “An attraction is most effective when it follows a path and takes guests on a journey. The story determines an attraction’s physical layout, character development, and technical design. It also points the way for clever marketing, merchandising, and branding. This book gives you the tools to develop a story and to use that story as a blueprint for your attraction's development.” Get your copy here or read more at www.followthestorybook.com How does the story impact the marketing team? Because it’s not only about The Creatives. Departments must play together. Here are some takeaways from the recording: We become myopic when there are multiple departments but that isn’t true for the guest. The guest sees everything in one continuous experience. Moving past individual departments makes your attraction better because it makes the experience design cohesive. Successful marketing campaigns must have a ‘North Star’ to coordinate the departments together. Without this, the event design isn’t cohesive. Departments must be able to make individual decisions that contribute to the design rather than detracting from it. Specific Sections Before: How does marketing tell the backstory? If you don't have a strong IP to draw from, marketing helps the guest understand the story. Exposing your guests to the story longer increases their emotional reaction to the attraction. Use marketing to turn characters into ‘assets’ which continue to provide ROI for the event. To do this, their story must continue and evolve each year. After: How does marketing keep the story going and thereby reinforce asset creation? Scott shared an example of a Vampire Fashion Show campaign. Mrs. Vein actioned off items from her fashion show after the event. Alone experience - https://insidethemagic.net/2010/10/a-spoiler-free-tale-of-surviving-the-alone-personal-horror-experience-at-busch-gardens-howl-o-scream/ Merchandising: Everything you sell reinforces the memory of the event. You’re purchasing a manifestation of the attraction. Connection merchandising to Your Story makes the guest more emotionally connection; this drives up demand but also encourages repeat visits. The story behind Merchandise must be compelling. Where should the marketing dollar go? All seasons are not created equal. Halloween focuses on physical set assets and brand name. Christmas, on the other hand, focuses more on the name of the experience. Connecting Departments. Where do we begin? Begin by getting face time with the creative department. Meet ‘The Creatives.’ Creatives want to be recognized. Then, set up a regular structured meeting that all stakeholders attend; keep communication open and everyone on the same page. Limit this meeting to 1 hour. PR example - Personalizing marketing to reach digital news sites, TV media, and influencers. Mentions in the book of how he turned photos of media personalities into vampires to get their attention. What’s the takeaway for the marketing team? You must understand the story and work with it, not fight it. Understand the Easter Eggs and the flow. When possible, work with the creative team during the creative development phase. Signing August 4th at Midsummer Scream.

    54 min

  5. 30/06/2019

    Adapting your attraction to a new target market’s culture

    Main Topic: Adapting your attraction to a new target market’s culture Step 1: You should have the demographic and psychographic analysis of this new target market done. Additionally, your team must have decided the new market is worth testing. Step 2: What that we’re doing now needs to change? You’ll go through each of the below considerations before deciding on tactics. Tactics/Considerations: Direct or Mass? Mass marketing is for high throughput attractions targeting a large target market. Mass marketing includes TV, Radio, Hulu, etc. Sometimes you find microcosms where you can go mass in a small way. For example, college radio stations, community TV, regional billboards, or influencers. Otherwise, most new target markets are a direct selling tactic. Language. The language applies to signage, directions, website, tickets, maps, apps, menus and more. Do visitors understand your website and can they purchase tickets? What about references that don’t translate to English? This need not be a large overhaul but could benefit from tweaking. Technology. Many markets don’t have desktops; they’re using tablets and mobile only. They may not have access to new technology (IE buying refurbished devices). Is your market more tech-savvy or less tech-savvy? Do you need a phone line, a WhatsApp ID, a WeChat ID, or a Messenger link? Distribution Channels. How does this market consume media and check your quantity? Popular options include Facebook, WeChat, TripAdvisor, Instagram, Snapchat, WhatsApp, Google, and more. Developing a new distribution channel could be a large investment. Media Assets. Can your new target market see themselves in the narrative of your marketing? How well do your marketing assets translate over? Families, ethnicities, etc. Values. Will the nature of your attraction violate the value system of this new market? What about the marketing messages you’re using? Examples of multigenerational families, etc. Attraction Theming. Large examples include phantom manor versus mystic manor and small examples include adjusting stage shows by adding target market specific jokes. Food. If the target market is large enough, should you incorporate new food?

    1h 2m

  6. 20/05/2019

    Content Marketing Defined

    Content Marketing is one of the most misunderstood tactics, and we explain it all in this episode. “Content marketing is a strategic marketing approach focused on creating and distributing valuable, relevant, and consistent content to attract and retain a clearly defined audience — and, ultimately, to drive profitable customer action. In short, instead of pitching your products or services, you are delivering information that makes your buyer more intelligent. The essence of this content strategy is the belief that if we, as businesses, deliver consistent, ongoing valuable information to buyers, they ultimately reward us with their business and loyalty.” -By Content Marketing Ins Why do it? Customer Information Customer Retention The History of Content Marketing: https://youtu.be/9OHgMMpGLzk John Deere & The Furrow Magazine: https://youtu.be/rbKvoKeu4vc Getting Started Guide: https://contentmarketinginstitute.com/getting-started/ Examples: PC Gamer/Razer “The Complete Guide to PC Gaming”: https://www.pcgamer.com/introducing-the-complete-guide-to-pc-gaming/ Ideas of Order Magazine made by Redbird for California Closets: https://www.ideasoforder.com/ OK Go - The One Moment - made by Morton Salt: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvW61K2s0tA MasterThis made by Liberty Mutual: http://www.jackmorton.com/work/building-content-driven-customer-loyalty-breakthrough-liberty-mutual/ 2018 Oscar winner animation short film | dear basketball: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ziUc0OCDmoU Consult QD by Cleveland Clinic: https://consultqd.clevelandclinic.org/ Restaurant and Attraction Magazines in hotel rooms are usually created by tourism boards AirBNB Magazine and Trip Guides https://www.airbnb.com/things-to-do https://www.airbnb.com/magazine Measuring Content Marketing How do you find our if your target market is learning something from your content? Content and Website Views Brand Searches Search Engine Ranking Email Sign Ups Purchases by remarketing. End of Show Zest Enlight Marketing App - https://zest.is/enlight Seasonal Entertainment Source: https://haunted.typeform.com/to/k9CEOz

    54 min

  7. 19/04/2019

    Marketing Your Attraction Episode 30: Coming up with better ideas

    Where do ideas come from? What makes someone creative? How do I get better ideas? Discover the process and best practices behind brainstorming in this episode.

    1h 5m

  8. 08/04/2019

    Episode 29 - The Advantages & Threats of Experiential Marketing Experiences

    Experiential Marketing Experiences are increasing in number and complexity. Some experimental marketing campaigns are nearly identical to attractions! We discuss the benefits and threats posed by this new form of campaign. A quick overview of the different ones that we have experienced: The Twilight Zone Pop-Up at The Grove Smallfoot IT Experience Ready Player One Guinness Brewery Tour Knott’s Scary Farm example of “#ScarySelfie” with C-K agency Razer Tour - College campus and video game events. Use claw machine to encourage guests to share email and post on social media. Razer uses Future Publishing Events - www.futureplc.com/services/events/ Could be a secondary source of income for an attraction to create experiential marketing experiences for companies. There are entire agencies that create events. Game of Thrones/Westworld Activations - www.giantspoon.com/ Use of Marketing Decide your goal: Sales, in-person awareness, online exposure Costs/Location - Demographic, malls, festivals, community centers such as the beach It must be high quality, represent clearly your experience (think of it as a free trial), and include a CTA How do you prove the value?

    50 min
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About

The "Marketing Your Attraction" Podcast is essential listening for every member of the Attractions Industry, including theme parks, haunted houses, escape rooms, family fun centers and more. Every episode takes listeners on a deep dive into a different marketing topic and how it applies to the Attractions Industry. Hosts Brad and Philip have spent over a decade in the industry and bring a total of over 20 years of combined marketing experience. Subscribe now for your regular dose of marketing insights.

Information

  • Creator
    Seasonal Entertainment Source Magazine
  • Years Active
    2015 - 2020
  • Episodes
    64
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright Philip Hernandez
  • Show Website
    Marketing Your Attraction

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