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ENHANCING YOUR ONLINE PRESENCE

In IPM's TECHNOLOGY issue, Andrew Hyde explained how facilities are turning to technology to help promote themselves in the online marketplace. Here are some additional details and resources you can use to get started. (Courtesy of Andrew Hyde)

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BLOG

One of the most popular online blog websites is Blogger (http://www.blogger.com). The free site allows users to create and customize their own blog. Best of all not much computer experience is needed – to write a blog one simply types in a form like they would an email. For parks with existing websites, sites such as Blogger offer tools to integrate their blogging features into a preexisting website. Other blog websites include TypePad (http://www.typepad.com)  and BlogWare (http://www.blogware.com).

WEBCAMS

Setting up a webcam can either be extremely easy or very difficult depending on the location where the camera is placed. The key is connecting the webcam to the internet. Simplest connections can be made for under $200, but require a computer nearby with internet access. Higher priced “professional” style (http://www.stardot-tech.com) webcams, while not much greater in image quality, generally allow wireless internet access (you can place the camera away from the computer) and provide other special features such as live feeds or user-controlled camera movement.

PODCAST

Creating a podcast can be tricky at first, but once everything is setup things come together rather quickly. Two components are need for the basic setup – a microphone that plugs into a computer and a program on the computer to record and edit the audio recorded by the microphone. All Mac computers come with a free program called “Garageband” that can record and edit audio. For Windows users the free program Audacity (http://audacity.sourceforge.net) works well. A good computer microphone can cost upwards of 30 dollars, and it doesn’t hurt to have a good pair of headphones. 

Once the podcast is recorded it has to be uploaded to the internet. It can either be hosted on web server for the park’s website or there are several websites that, for a small fee, will host and create an archive of podcasts. 

Another key is alerting iTunes. Getting the podcast to show up in iTunes’ podcast directory can be achieved by logging on to Apple’s website and completing the easy application. Once the podcast shows up on iTunes people can subscribe to it – meaning whenever a new podcast is released the person is alerted and the podcast is downloaded for them. Now that’s something traditional print or TV marketing can’t do.

MYSPACE & YOUTUBE

To create a MySpace page simply log onto MySpace.com. Use the MySpace page to post important dates (opening day, special events, discount days, etc.) and utilize the blog/journal program built into the page. Don’t be surprised to see that people discover your “space” even if you don’t market it that well – in the MySpace world people search out for friends, they usually don’t wait for “friends” to come to them.

YouTube is similar. It is free and extremely easy to register. It is best to state on each video that it is from the official source to give the video some creditability. Be aware the copyright infringement is still an issue on the internet. Don’t post anything you wouldn’t want to see people copy and re-post.