Publisher's Note

Greetings and welcome to Insights, SMG’s online newsletter designed to provide senior executives with useful articles and concepts to help you improve your organization’s marketing efforts. Our goal is to provide you with market relevant information like we’ve been doing for a wide range of clients in the tourism and hospitality industry for over 10 years.

In this issue we take on the idea of ideas. More importantly we provide some thoughts on the importance of the continuous flow of new ideas for developing effective marketing strategies for your organization. We also look at how critical ideas are to making your organization more valuable to your destination and more competitive for public dollars.

On another note, one issue that is prevalent in most every VCB in the State of California is the issue of funding. Make no mistake the financial situation in California is forcing communities all over the state to face tough choices -- tourism funding or police and fire departments? -- a tough challenge even in the best of times. In a recent SMG online poll 75% of VCB executives indicated they were looking for other sources of funding. Many are considering membership, a Business Improvement District Assessment as well as a host of other innovative ideas. This is going to be a challenging year for many, but there are some bright spots with the economy’s slow improvement as well as the forecast for travel to do the same.

I hope you enjoy this second issue of SMG Insights. If you have any ideas on topics you’d like us to cover or any input on how we can better serve your needs, please email me at carl@smgonline.net. And please visit our Web site, www.smgonline.net, for more useful marketing information.

Regards,

Carl Ribaudo

Your Best Marketing Tool?

Too often in the marketing profession our time is consumed by looking for the next silver bullet solution to the marketing challenges we face when one of the best tools we have is one that is close by and often overlooked. Our own ideas. 

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Report from the Field: Idea Generation and VCBs

Remember that old Abbott and Costello routine 'Who's on First' and how confused they both were? That skit doesn't seem too far off from how new marketing ideas are managed in many organizations today. After all, who has time to look after the generation and management of new concepts?

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Generating New Ideas for Your Organization

When it comes to increasing the flow of innovative ideas in your organization, it can be difficult to find the time, the energy, or the motivation. We've got a few suggestions to help you out.

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