Travel Southern Oregon Coast is thrilled to announce that Mari Smith, widely recognized as "the Queen of Facebook," will be the keynote speaker and workshop leader at this year's TSOC Network Conference. We had the privilege of talking with Mari about her background, experience, and what she intends to bring to the upcoming TSOC Network Conference. Below is an excerpt from that insightful conversation.

Mari believes she gained the moniker "the Queen of Facebook" from long-time friend Michael Stelzner, CEO and founder of Social Media Examiner. He declared, "If there's anyone on the planet who can help you build a business using Facebook, it's Mari Smith." In the rapidly-changing landscape of social media, Mari's forte is identifying and clearly explaining the key updates that directly impact small and medium businesses (SMBs).

Although she has collaborated with renowned names such as Adobe, AT&T, Bank of America, and Facebook (now Meta), Mari believes that SMBs maintain an inherent advantage over these larger enterprises. Because of their agility and ability to make swift decisions, SMBs are better equipped to succeed in the ever-evolving social media market. For SMBs in the tourism industry, her tip is to create personal and emotional content, mirroring the style of friends and family.

Mari’s three-part formula for social media success involves creating engaging content, driving organic engagement, and focusing on converting leads to sales. In her upcoming workshop, she will delve into what she calls her "Amplify Method," which calls for utilizing video content and strategic boosting to guide viewers toward a call-to-action that helps them create a custom audience. Although this method may sound complex on paper, Mari will highlight examples that illustrate how easy this method is to implement.

Through her workshop and keynote address, Mari hopes to inspire and educate attendees on the effective use of social media, challenging the notion that businesses must constantly generate content, and instead emphasizing the importance of maintaining an optimized online presence for potential customers. She hopes you will join her at the workshop and conference.

FOR THE LOVE OF THE SOUTH COAST - REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN FOR THE SECOND ANNUAL TSOC NETWORK CONFERENCE

Don't miss out on the opportunity to register. Last year's event sold out quickly!

If you are interested in attending this no-cost, social media marketing workshop, use the button below to email Barb Dunham at Travel Southern Oregon Coast.

On January 30, join Oregon Trails Coalition for an informational webinar on recreational immunity in Oregon.

The Oregon Coast Visitors Association (OCVA) has achieved a significant milestone in sustainable tourism by securing funding for 82 new electric vehicle (EV) charging ports along the Oregon Coast. This funding includes the installation of 10 charging ports in Coos and Curry Counties. Along with AtRivers Edge RV Resort in Curry County, four businesses in Coos County - Bandon Inn, Florencein, Edgewater Inn, and Table Rock Motel -were each granted $8,500 in rebates to support the installation of two EV charging ports.

For more information about the ongoing ODOT Community Charging Rebates Program, visit the ODOT Community Charging Rebates Program webpage.

OCVA is offering scholarships for courses from the American Hotel & Lodging Educational Institute (AHLEI). These courses include Certified Restaurant Server, Front Desk Attendant, Guestroom Attendant, Maintenance Employee, Kitchen Cook, and Guest Service Gold® Tourism: Oregon.

Coastal businesses can receive up to $1,000 towards the Guest Service Gold Tourism: Oregon course, and up to $500 for the other internationally accredited courses. These online programs provide essential knowledge and soft skills required in the hospitality industry.

If you're interested, please email Arica Sears at icom@thepeoplescoast.com. Make sure to provide the number of employees to be trained and specify the course(s) that interest you.

For more information about the courses offered, visit AHLEI's website.