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.
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 feed...
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.
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 ...
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. Mas...
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 strateg...
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.
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....
Struggling with your attraction's marketing plan? This episode walks you step by step through a marketing plan. Download the template from our email list!
NEWS/Quick-Takes: The Halloween season is starting much earlier than usual and the Theme Park Halloween landscape is shifting to keep pace. See Festival del Terror at 6 Flags Mexico, the early Cedar Point opening of HalloWeekends, and Knott’s. Follow news from the Haunted Attraction Network for more Halloween updates. Six Flags Great America located just outside of Chicago is hoping to increase job applicants by offering a free ticket for anyone that interviews. Main Topic: Marketing’s Role In R...
NEWS/Quick-Takes: Amazon has YouTube envy: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-08-15/amazon-wants-twitch-to-be-a-youtube-competitor?mod=djemCMOToday Theme Park Announcements: Canada’s Wonderland Six Flags Magic Mountain Carowinds Scary Farm Skullcandy creates live concert series as part of content marketing push “Consumers today, young consumers are very savvy, and they’re very savvy about paid influencers. Obviously, we’re a commercial entity, and of course we want to sell headphones, ...
NEWS/Quick-Takes: This 18+ Horror-Themed Campground Is The Most Disturbing Place To Go Camping: https://www.narcity.com/ca/on/toronto/travel/this-18-horror-themed-campground-near-toronto-is-the-most-disturbing-place-youll-ever-go-camping Six Flags launches loyalty program: https://www.marketwatch.com/press-release/six-flags-launches-preeminent-new-loyalty-program-2018-08-15 Main Topic: Groupon/GoldStar Discounting Often necessary on slower days. Build the margin into your price. Make a discounti...
The hosts walk through best practices for working with marketing, creative, and media buying agencies for your attraction. NEWS/Quick-Takes: Physical products are more valuable than digital products - https://www.adweek.com/brand-marketing/how-can-marketers-deal-with-an-oversaturated-digital-space-turn-back-to-physical-products/ Expansion of Dollywood: “The "new land," a $37 million investment, was the theme park's largest capital investment ever.” https://www.wbir.com/article/news/local/dolly-p...
NEWS/Quick-Takes: Empty Malls - https://digiday.com/marketing/online-retailers-using-empty-mall-spaces-test-products/ The Science of Storytelling - https://marketingland.com/the-science-of-storytelling-245561 The Expanding Market: “DXB Entertainments saw the number of visitors to Dubai Parks and Resorts rise 48% during the second quarter and 46% during the first half of 2018. International guests accounted for 38% of visitors during the first half, while annual pass holders made up 25% of visits...
NEWS/Quick-Takes: Alien: Descent vs. The Void Midsummer Scream: A great convention chuck full of marketing examples for attractions. All the attractions in the Southern California area participate and each is a great example of attractions connection with guests at conventions. Track the hashtag online to see some of the examples. Six Flags brought a scare zone, scare actors, and hosted a main stage announcement panel. Main Topic: Yelp and TripAdvisor Review Websites https://hbr.org/2018/02/st...
NEWS/Quick-Takes: Theme Park WiFi - http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-theme-park-wifi-20180720-story.html Reviews of Comic-Con Activations including escape rooms: https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/jack-ryan-walking-dead-san-diego-comic-con-activation-hits-misses-1128727 TEA Masters: http://www.inparkmagazine.com/tea-masters-call-for-nominees/ Nine Ways To Build Brand Relationships With Teens On Social Media: https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesagencycouncil/2018/07/21/nine-ways-to-b...
Picking Partners: How To Evaluate Sponsorship Opportunities NEWS/Quick-Takes: Elevating Moments Into Lasting Memories article: http://bradjashinsky.com/memorable-moments-themepark-attraction/ Live stream from a roller coaster: http://bradjashinsky.com/live-stream-roller-coaster/ Changing The Game: Socialize Founder Akanksha Goel On The Evolution Of Her Digital Media Agency: https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/316645 Explanation of strategy: “Goel reveals its strategy to be something she calls “...
NEWS Blooloop’s Top 50 Theme Park Influencer List An interesting read to see the diversity of the industry. https://blooloop.com/blooloop-50-theme-park-influencer-list/#top50 How Cedar Fair Scaled An Immersive Mobile Experience Jim Denny VP of eCommerce: https://www.bloomreach.com/en/blog/2018/06/how-cedar-fair-scaled-an-immersive-mobile-experience.html Main Topic: Ask More: A Simple Guide to Asking More Effective Guest Survey Questions Recommended Reading 1.Ask: The Counterintuitive Online Form...
How do you set Prices for your attraction? Pricing is expensive or cheap depending on who you are targeting, therefore, framing & testing is critical. NEWS/Quick-Takes: California Data Privacy Law Passes “The bill -- AB 375, or the California Consumer Privacy Act -- turns the tech world's business model on its head by letting regular internet users ask for the data a company has collected on them and whom the data has been sold to. That alone could be eye-opening for consumers. Most people u...
There is no easy answer to which platform you should choose, but here’s a guide to follow! NEWS/Quick-Takes: Instagram TV is pulling us ever closer to a future full of tall videos https://www.popsci.com/instagram-tv-is-pulling-us-ever-closer-to-future-full-tall-videos “Everyone spends time on Instagram,” he said. “Every single person is always on Instagram. When you go to YouTube, you’re actively looking for something. Instagram, you’re waiting in line and it’s like, let me just go waste some ti...
Just imagine the look on your team’s face when you receive that extra media coverage! How would you feel if your next media event makes a difference? Combining some recent experience from Great America’s new roller coaster with pointers from “The Art of Gathering: How We Meet and Why It Matters” by Priya Parker ( https://amzn.to/2ymtJ0E) , we offer up a checklist for more meaningful media mentions. NEWS/Quick-Takes BarkBox cuts Facebook spending in favor of traditional channels “Smart companies ...
The hosts discuss tracking versus email list retargeting and the best examples for using each at your attraction. “Retargeting ads are a form of online targeting advertising and are served to people who have already visited your website or are a contact in your database.” NEWS/Quick-Takes When: The Scientific Secrets of Perfect Timing Book by Daniel H. Pink Brad’s take: The book is a quick read that I didn’t completely enjoy, but there were some valuable takeaways. The chapter about the importan...
Your listener challenge: Explain what you do in one sentence using a Character, a Problem, a Plan, & vision of Success. Using pointers from “Building a StoryBrand: Clarify Your Message So Customers Will Listen” by Donald Miller (available here: https://amzn.to/2kOGSFY) we discuss the importance of explaining the whole story to your customers. Send us your one-liners for a chance to be featured on the show! Email: philip@gantom.com Subscribe to show notes: www.marketingyourattraction.com NEWS...
People buy the products they can understand the fastest. The hosts discuss simplifying concepts and campaigns using principles from “Make it Stick” and “Building a Story Brand.” Make it Stick: https://amzn.to/2xm6xPn Building a Story Brand: https://amzn.to/2IV9U5h News -Pew Research Center report about social media usage: http://www.pewinternet.org/2018/03/01/social-media-use-in-2018/ -PDF on Top Email Subject Lines from Ask Formula: https://s3.amazonaws.com/ask-warming/Email-Subject-Line-Sample...
The hosts discuss the value of local business partnerships. News: Google Duplex, Skorr, AI Influencers. Leadership Symposium: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/seasonal-attraction-leadership-symposium-2018-registration-45141589710?aff=0a3e2d60b4 Use ‘GANTOMINSIDER’ for $30 OFF Free Subscription to Seasonal Entertainment Source: http://seasonalentertainmentsource.com Subscribe to show notes: www.marketingyourattraction.com...
We explore press kit essentials and media pitches. Subscribe for expanded show notes: www.marketingyourattraction.com Leadership Symposium: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/seasonal-attraction-leadership-symposium-2018-registration-45141589710?aff=0a3e2d60b4 Use ‘GANTOMINSIDER’ for $30 OFF Free Subscription to Seasonal Entertainment Source: http://seasonalentertainmentsource.com...
Influencer Marketing is evolving rapidly and is a significant tool is today’s marketing toolkit. Dive into use examples, dos, and don'ts in this episode. News: Instagram payments & a warning on ‘experts.’ Subscribe: www.marketingyourattraction.com
Ideas stick because they tap into emotion via our ‘Profound Motivation.’ As marketers, we frame ideas to tap into emotion, but often disregard the Profound Motivations of guests. We discuss the concept of framing for higher level motivations. News: Google Rules The World, but so does Facebook; Amazon's Ad Business; Thinkwell Media; Thorpe Park; Axe-Throwing Leagues. Subscribe: www.marketingyourattraction.com
Main Topic: Trends in The Social Landscape News Items: Once focused on scale, Hearst is cutting back on aggregation and viral fluff Disney Parks App Campaign Example: Google Connect LIVE Subscribe here: www.marketingyourattraction.com
“For the first time in human history, people aged 65 and older will outnumber children under age 5.” Mass market is over and demographics are changing. What can you do to appeal to older adults? News: “The Dubai-listed Legoland operator received 851,000 visits in the first quarter of the year, an increase of 55,000 visits over the last quarter”: https://www.thenational.ae/business/travel-and-tourism/dxb-entertainments-reports-45-increase-in-visitor-numbers-in-q1-1.720854 Brad MurderCo “Seriously...
