Helping Local Business Market to the World

Tourism is and has been, Tuolumne County’s largest private sector employer and business generator for many years. Even businesses and groups that don’t serve tourism directly benefit from the money visitors spend with local businesses.

For that reason, the Tuolumne County Visitors Bureau is offering a free seminar on January 21st at The Grill at Pine Mountain Lake in Groveland called, “Smart Partnering and Marketing for Success.” It will include a panel discussion with Lisa Smith and Nancy Reid on the online radio and magazine, Big Blend that reaches listeners and readers around the globe as well as Linda Kissam, a travel, food and wine writer.

The panel will focus on Partnering as a community, public relations and marketing, generating positive media coverage and how community groups can work together to bring more business to our area.

We’re fortunate to have a wide network of community organizations focused on promoting business in our area – each with a different focus and approach. The organizations most familiar to everyone are our local Chambers of Commerce. Their primary focus is helping local businesses get established and grow, working with local and state agencies for more business-friendly legislation and most importantly, reaching out to the local community to encourage patronization of local businesses.

Visitor bureaus have an entirely different focus: to entice people who don’t live locally to come here and spend time and money while they’re here on a county-wide basis. Local friends and acquaintances frequently ask me exactly what the visitors bureau does since virtually all of our time and money is spent outside the county. And the answer I always offer is that, unlike chambers of commerce or community organizations, our one primary goal is to entice first time visitors to come and see what we have and encourage repeat visits from everyone who comes here.

The January 21st workshop will look at ways all of us can work more effectively and cohesively to fulfill our primary objectives and how local businesses and organizations can be more involved. The workshop is from 1 PM to 4 PM and although admission is free, advance reservations are required. If you’re interested in attending, RSVP to the Tuolumne County Visitors Bureau by Friday, January 17th at 209-533-4420.