digital marketing and communications: insights, resources and other random stuff

This is the second in my series on how consumers can use social media to connect with businesses.  As I mentioned in the first part, since I “do” social media for a living, I like to think I know some cool ways to use it as a consumer, too. However, some of these ideas may not occur to other consumers out there. This is my attempt to help.

Use #2: Find Things To Do

Did you know that there's snow just about an hour outside of Fresno during the winter months? This picture is from Fish Camp, just outside of Yosemite National Park (those are snowmobile tracks).

Just a quick word of caution: Chances are, if you’re reading this, it’s because you do know there’s stuff to do in Fresno and the surrounding areas. You do care and you do put in the effort. The sarcasm below is not for you, it’s for those naysayers whom we all encounter regularly. Pass this along to them.

I used to work for the Fresno Convention and Visitors Bureau and prior to that, the Fresno Regional Jobs Initiative, both of which worked, in different ways, to raise awareness about why our region rocks. Call it a job hazard if you will, but if I’ve heard it once, I’ve heard it a million times before: There’s nothing to do in Fresno (and by extension, Fresno’s sister to the north, Madera).

If you really think there’s nothing to do in Fresno, it’s because you live under a rock and you’re lazy. We are not some dusty, ghost town as others have claimed (Marie Claire magazine most recently; Toyota, Conan O’Brien and Jay Leno are also on the list).

All you need to do to find something to do in Fresno is to actually look! I know, that means putting some effort into your social life and reading something other than the texts on your phone. You’re not the newspaper type? No problem, neither am I.

That’s where social media comes in. Follow local organizations and businesses on Twitter or “like” their fan pages. Then, check in like you usually do to read about your friends’ activities, and everything will be right there in front of you. Here are some great places to start:

• Fresno CVB on Facebook and Twitter;
• The Beehive from the Fresno Bee on Facebook, Twitter and MySpace;
• The Fresno Grizzlies Baseball Team on Facebook and Twitter;
• Monsters Hockey on Facebook;
• Joe’s Steakhouse in Downtown Fresno on Facebook;
• Sierra Vista Mall on Facebook;
• Full O Bull in Madera on Facebook;
• Fresno Chaffee Zoo on Facebook and Twitter;

Well, you get the idea.  Just look at these guys’ Favorite Pages on Facebook or Twitter followers and you’re bound to find many, many more local businesses on the social web. Check them out and the next time you find someone saying “There’s nothing to do in Fresno,” just say “Sure” because we all know the truth.

And if you don’t live here in the Central Valley, apply the same efforts in your city and you’re bound to come up with some great things to do you never knew about before.

What cool activity or event have you found out about on social media? If you’re a local business or community organization participating online, add your Facebook, Twitter and MySpace links in the comments. And, sorry if I missed you in the list above!

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