A casino operator is aiming to boost visitor numbers by undertaking social networking marketing strategies to reach important new market segments and raise awareness of its resorts.
Agua Caliente and Spa Resort Casinos increased its web presence dramatically in February with the creation of blogs and profiles on more than a dozen social networking, travel and music sites, including Facebook, MySpace, Twitter, GayTravelPalmSprings and TripWolf.
Two advertising campaigns in particular - one for rock band Puddle of Mudd and another for comedian Chelsea Handler - resulted in 810,000 impressions at a fraction of the cost of traditional advertising.
"For years, casinos have been focused on traditional print-driven mediums: direct mail, ads in newspapers, magazines. With new media and social networking, you\‘re literally able to wrap your arms around the world at little or no cost," said Phil Cooper, executive director of marketing for the casinos.
