Blog

Winning isn’t everything…but it feels good.

As children we are taught to play our best and not worry about winning or losing… it’s how you play the game. That is true in business as well, now that we are all grown up. But doesn’t if feel good to actually win once and a while? I think it does.

It started a month or so ago when I submitted our entries into the Illinois Excellence in Tourism Awards for the Illinois Governors Conference on Tourism. I submitted a number of entries with the slight hopes of possibly winning just one award. Wouldn’t that be nice, I thought, to bring home some “hardware” for all to see? (But remember – it’s not whether you win or lose, it’s how you play the game). I kept trying to tell myself that or furthermore believe it. I kept asking other Bureaus in the state if they had entered, and if so, what category? I was trying to size-up my competition like a linebacker waiting to pounce on a frail running back. It didn’t help though… I was anxious.

Finally it was time for the Friday afternoon Award Luncheon and to see which Bureau was lucky enough to shine above the rest in each respective category. One category down – didn’t win. Second category down – didn’t win. Third category down – same thing, didn’t win. I was starting to see my hopes fading and I was wondering if my “loser-face” was dignified enough to be shown on camera like they do at the Oscars when the actors that don’t win are so happy and clapping and smiling for the others… hmmm… I wonder. Fourth category down – still nothing. Then it happened: “In the category for Best Visitors Guide the award goes to the Chicago North Suburbs CVB…”
I stood up as fast as I could and started for the stage. The crowd was roaring and standing on their feet in applause. (not really but that is what I saw in my mind). I accepted the award and went back to my seat victorious. I had won! (I mean the Bureau had won). It was a great day for the Bureau and for the work we’ve put into promoting our region.

All joking aside, it really is how you play the game. Hard work, dedication, and commitment to your craft is all one needs to be successful. Everything else is just the cherry on top.

Sincerely,

Brent Edwards

Tradeshow Season

As the weekend approaches I must prepare myself for yet another tradeshow. Not that I’m complaining… tradeshows are the means to building relationships, finding new customers, exploring options and new ways of delivering your message to potential visitors, and so much more. Tradeshows allows the seller (me) to meet with buyers (everyone else) and develop relationships to one day entice the buyer, with enough information, to visit our region and hold a meeting in our hotels, or bring a motor-coach and see our attractions.

This tradeshow season was busy for me. I traveled to many places delivering the message of the Chicago North Suburbs and all the things one can see and do in our region. The message is simple, on the edge of it all… I met with Meeting Planners, Motor Coach Operators, Faith Based Meeting Professionals, and Sports Tournament Directors delivering that message. The Chicago North Suburbs is on the edge of it all… on the edge of great dining, great attractions, great accommodations, a great lake, and a great city.

We sent 178 leads for business to our hotels in 2011 and I know we will continue that strong effort in 2012. So as I’m packing this week to go to another tradeshow, remember that I’m out there as an extension of your marketing efforts. I’m showing potential visitor just how great our region is and inviting them to visit the Chicago North Suburbs.

Sincerely,

Brent Edwards

Videos Online

Hey everybody! I just thought I would send out a note regarding the power of videos on your website. A video that lasts between 2-3 minutes is all it takes to make a huge impact on visitors and clients. This is what we’ve found at the Chicago North Suburbs Convention and Visitors Bureau. We decided to start featuring partners of the Bureau in a variety of 2-3 minute videos and upload them to Youtube, Facebook and our website. So far so good!

The video below is a great example of how fast a video can spread.

I shot and edited the video one day and uploaded the video the next day. Within about an hour of the upload I received a message from the corporate office of Lynfred Winery asking if they could use the video for their marketing efforts. Google Alerts had sent them a message about the upload.

I was flattered that they thought enough of the video to use it in their marketing efforts and immediately said yes. It’s great promotion for the Bureau, excellent promotion for the Winery, and wonderful promotion for our region. A win win for all!

So keep pushing the message out through video… we certainly will.