Jab - Block - Blog!

Jodie Willobee
Promotion, Arts and Culture
Michigan Main Street
Michigan State Housing Development Authority

After attending the National Main Street Conference last week in Chicago and getting daily swift jabs to the ribs from “Social” on the left and “Media” on the right, you will not here me disagree with not only their importance but the potential effectiveness. I get it (dodge-weave), I GET IT! If I were born after, say 1980, I would have shown up to the conference wearing the Blogger-Orange and Twitter-Blue shorts. Alas, I’m apparently getting on in years as I was agreeing with the kind gray-haired woman next to me during the “Gen Y” session that it did seem like the two, young 20-something presenters were talking a bit fast.

Nonetheless, if there is one thing I have learned quickly about Main Streeters is that you know how to talk about your downtowns. And for that reason I’m here to say, not only CAN you blog, but you SHOULD blog. And not only that…there is no reason you can’t be a huge hit doing it.

Another great thing about a blog for you Main Street is that it doesn’t need to be posts only from you. I highly encourage you to regularly invite your board members to post something and include local business owners in that mix as well. Why not let a local high school student post something compelling about the downtown or their take on an upcoming festival? The great part about letting others on your blog is that you will continually increase your “followers”, drive more traffic to your website and ultimately, your downtown.

As for Twittering, it is my latest social-accessory to explore. What I can tell you thus far is that there is intriguing information out there about how effective Twitter can be at capturing new, previously elusive markets. Folks who won’t be at the Rotary meetings, won’t be reading the Chamber’s newsletter – but will reading your Tweets – 2 states away and will be adding you to their vacation itinerary. Or, with all the updates they are getting on what is happening in your downtown, they will have their realtor check into building vacancies for their upcoming expansion. Who knows?!

The biggest thing is to start. Be proactive and take hold of these tools to put your downtown on the social media landscape map. You will also show your peers (the others born before 1980) that it isn’t that tough. Consider the Michigan Main Street Team as your official ring-side team, there in your corner, cheering you along – ready with the smelling salts if you need them. Now get out there and show ‘em whatcha got!