In case you haven't heard, the big game is coming to town. In a few weeks, Houston in hosting Super Bowl LI . This is not just an exciting opportunity for the city of Houston to put its best forward, it's a “super” opportunity to use social media to promote your brand.
The #BigGame is coming and #TeamHouston is ready
At the October Social Media Breakfast Houston meeting, local social media reps, A.J. from Visit Houston, Tess from The City with No Limits and the Greater Houston Partnership, and Amanda from the Houston SuperBowl Committee, shared their vision for the lead up to the biggest sporting to come to Houston in over a decade. Since the last Superbowl in Houston to be precise.
The last few years, there has been a focus on Houston as destination. Sharing our diverse food and art offerings alongside our unique mix of technology and culture has become a focus of the tourism board and companies alike. Hosting the SuperBowl is a terrific opportunity to build on that.
This has value for everyone. This increased exposure offers up more than revenue for local hotels and restaurants, it brings a spotlight to companies, far and wide, small and large.
When we bring people to Houston it benefits the whole city…not just downtown. #SMBHOU cc: @Ajmistretta & @VisitHouston
— Lindsay McClelland (@Lindsaylm) October 14, 2016
The Rules of the Road
AJ joked that putting #Houstonfirst is about bringing people who come spend their money and then leave and not add traffic. But the money isn't limit to the Convention Center. It brings support to the Energy Corridor, Bay Area, Galveston, and even Katy.
Knowing the rules of the road, however, when it comes to using hashtags is important, however. While the SuperBowl in Houston provides great marketing opportunities, the hashtag does not.
You CAN use the name #SuperBowl if used for editorial purposes, NOT commercial or promotional. #SMBHOU @amandaworthy @HouSuperBowl pic.twitter.com/zlIcmXvVI4
— Eric T. Tung (@EricTTung) October 14, 2016
With an event as exciting as the Olympics or the biggest football event of the year, everyone wants to capitalize on the enthusiasm, but don't fall on the wrong side of hashtag use. When promoting the Houston area and all of the special things visitors can do here, feel free to use the hashtags #biggame or #teamhouston, but don't use them to promote your product or brand.
But, What About the Traffic?
On the other side, if you are worried about any negative impact that the Big Game can bring, e.g. the Galleria closure last time, worry not. While the city is expecting over a million visitors over a 10-day period, the committee is preparing now and has a transportation plan.
.@amandaworthy from @HouSuperBowl says they're already working on traffic plans for #SuperBowl. #SMBHou pic.twitter.com/m9oFbfcPbL
— Eric T. Tung (@EricTTung) October 14, 2016
"Everything is being done to have transportation be as smooth as possible for @HouSuperBowl." –@amandaworthy #housuperbowl #SMBHOU
— Cynthia Murga (@CynthiaAtLNC) October 14, 2016
So let's make the best of this unique moment in our city's history. Stay safe. Stay engaged but stay on the right side of trademarks. Go Houston!
You can watch a replay of this event on the Facebook page or right here, below.
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A big thank you to our Speakers:
Amanda Worthy Weeks, General Counsel & Director of External Relations, Houston Super Bowl Host Committee
Amanda Weeks has enjoyed a career in sports since 2004. Weeks graduated from Arizona State University with a B.A. in Journalism and attended law school at Syracuse University. Prior to attending law school, she worked in media relations for the Arizona Super Bowl XLII Host Committee, and later in B2B Public Relations. While attending Syracuse, she worked in the Syracuse Athletic Compliance Office and spent time as a law clerk for the National Football League’s Management Council during the 2011 lockout. Weeks is an original member of the Houston Super Bowl Host Committee where she is the General Counsel and Director of External Relations, and has been overseeing the Host Committee’s digital communications since 2014.
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A.J. Mistretta, Director of Public Relations at Visit Houston
A.J. is an award-winning writer and editor who has made Houston his home. He has written extensively for magazines and newspapers in Houston, Dallas, Austin and New Orleans, covering issues from education to economic development. He currently oversees public relations efforts at Visit Houston and steered the national launch of the My Gay Houston campaign in 2015. A.J. serves on the board of several local LGBT nonprofits and published the book 100 Things to Do in Houston Before You Die. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University of New Orleans.
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Personal Twitter: https://twitter.com/
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Tess Cook, Marketing Manager, The Greater Houston Partnership
Tess Cook started her career in economic development under Governor Rick Perry, working to promote Texas as the best place for business and recruit large corporations. Cook left state service and joined the Greater Houston Partnership in 2011 with a focus on business recruitment. Cook now oversees digital marketing social media for the Partnership’s image and talent attraction campaign, which works to promote Houston as the best play to live, work, play and build a business. When Tess isn’t working to promote Houston, you will find her chasing her busy toddler around the Heights.
Houston No Limits Accounts
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