Program Gives Nebraska Communities a Look at Their Online Presence Holt Boyd Extension Podcast

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Program Gives Nebraska Communities a Look at Their Online Presence - Holt Boyd Extension Podcast - April 3, 2023 - Jordan Rasmussen, Extension Educator - Rural Prosperity

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• [0:01] There’s an old saying that you don’t know your own backyard.
• [0:05] Referring to tourist attractions, the adage conveys a common belief
• [0:08] that New Yorkers never go to Times Square, and Arizonans never visit the Grand Canyon.
• [0:14] Whether that’s true or not, hometowns often feel so familiar
• [0:17] that residents don’t consider what impressions they give to outsiders.
• [0:20] First Impressions Online, Rural Prosperity Nebraska’s
• [0:24] newest community development program, gives people a view of their own backyard.
• [0:29] “Looking at your community” means searching for a community
• [0:33] online and seeing what comes up.
• [0:35] What restaurants are there? What attractions?
• [0:37] Gas stations? Hotels? Are phone numbers listed? Hours?
• [0:41] Are social media sites up to date? Or is information missing?
• [0:45] The survey is conducted both using a smart phone and computer,
• [0:49] as search engine algorithms change depending on search history and location.
• [0:54] Inspiration for the program came during the COVID-19 pandemic,
• [0:58] when extension educators couldn’t visit communities physically.
• [1:01] As the program’s creator, Rural Prosperity Nebraska
• [1:04] Extension Educator Jason Tuller began Googling Nebraska towns,
• [1:08] he noticed his searches didn’t show many of the unique amenities he knew existed there,
• [1:13] such as mom-and-pop diners or a novelty toy museums.
• [1:17] First Impressions Online aims to help communities match their online presence
• [1:21] with their physical presence, namely for those searching their town -
• [1:25] new and potential residents, and tourists.
• [1:29] However, establishing a strong online presence isn’t just about getting hits.
• [1:33] It’s about portraying Nebraska communities in an accurate way
• [1:36] that showcases their unique qualities - proving that while the state
• [1:40] may not be for everyone, there is at least something for everyone here.
• [1:44] First Impressions Online is the first step in doing that.
• [1:48] After reviewing the First Impressions Online report,
• [1:51] communities can participate in two additional programs.
• [1:53] The Peer-to-Peer First Impressions program
• [1:56] matches two similarly sized communities, and
• [1:59] they work with a facilitator to maximize existing tourism assets.
• [2:03] The Professional program brings in a team of experts in marketing,
• [2:07] food and beverage, tourism, event planning and community
• [2:10] development to identify communities’ existing strengths, opportunities for
• [2:14] improvement and possible future initiatives regarding tourism.
• [2:18] But it all starts with that first look online.
• [2:21] For more information on the First Impressions programs,
• [2:24] please visit ruralprosperityne.unl.edu or
• [2:28] call the Garfield-Loup-Wheeler Extension Office and ask for Jordan.
• [2:32] For Nebraska Extension, this is Jordan Rasmussen.