Blog
This is how to stay “top-of-mind”
I was recently flipping through the January issue of a travel magazine that serves the mid-Atlantic region. Most of the ads and editorial content focused on snow sports like skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing and tubing. Keep in mind that I love winter sports. Those...
What the heck is a Brand Essence?
The definition of Brand Essence is “a brand’s fundamental nature or quality.” In other words, it’s the heart and soul of a brand. I've also heard it defined as the reason the brand exists in the first place, which may be accurate for corporate brands but is a bit of...
Looking back at 2018 with gratitude
With the recent passing of former President George H. W. Bush we heard a lot about the many virtues that he embodied in his daily life — service, decency, civility, gratitude and humility. What a great example to emulate as individuals and as businesses. As the year...
Why You’ll Enjoy Life in Halifax County, Virginia
It's no secret in the tourism world that the things that make a community a great place to live are frequently the same things that make it an appealing place to visit. That's one reason why Tourism and Economic Development departments should work well...
The Hard Truth about Jumping on the Latest Marketing Trends and Technology
There seems to be a never-ending race among marketers to stay on the cutting edge of both trends and technology. I have observed something ironic about trends. It helps to have an understanding of fundamental basics of advertising and marketing because certain...
Post Conference Reflections
Among the goals of a good conference agenda is introducing attendees to a variety of ideas and perspectives. At the recent VA-1 Virginia Tourism Summit, two sessions, which took place back-to-back, really got me thinking about a valuable lesson for tourism marketers....
Timeless Wisdom About Creativity in Advertising
"Too many ads that try not to go over the reader's head end up beneath his notice." – Leo Burnett, member, Advertising Hall of Fame This quote is from Leo Burnett, one of the great advertising minds of all time and founder of the global agency that still bears his...
Key Takeaway from the VADMO Conference: Be Bold
The Virginia Association of Destination Marketing Organizations (VADMO) Tourism Symposium was an excellent conference filled with expert speakers expounding on everything from economics to analytics. In my opinion, the most important takeaway for every local DMO in...
We love data — but not everything is measurable
We are looking forward to participating in the Virginia Association of Destination Marketing Organization’s 2018 Tourism Symposium next week in Charlottesville. As a corporate supporter of the organization we will be sponsoring a breakout speaker and both breakfasts....
Brand Awareness – More Than Just Name Recognition
How crucial is a brand awareness phase to the success of a destination brand? It's the ultimate objective. It's the end game. The key to securing conversions. The whole ball of wax. You get the point. It's pretty darn important. Yet too many destinations...
540.774.9932
6 Walnut Avenue • Vinton, Virginia 24179
© Mikula-Harris