Posted on May - 14 - 2010
MemphisConnect bloggers direct traffic to Bluff City
Looks like this 1-year-old is all grown up.
A dozen or so months after its launch, MemphisConnect — a social media site sponsored by The Leadership Academy — has welcomed upward of 41,000 unique visitors from nearly 100 countries and more than 2,500 cities worldwide.
And that’s a whole lotta traffic checking out the Bluff City.
To celebrate the site’s success, members of the organization joined community leaders at Playhouse on the Square recently to promote the bright side of Memphis.
“Memphis is a city of mystique and myth, unlike any other city in the world,” said Nancy Coffee, CEO and president of Leadership Academy. “It resonates with people deep in their souls and they want to experience it. We’re giving them a taste of it though MemphisConnect.”
The online community features some 75 bloggers who post about everything from favorite restaurants and nightspots to information about local neighborhoods and schools and special events.
Shalisha Franklin with the Memphis Shelby County Crime Commission contributes once or twice a month with updates on crime statistics in the metro area.
“Our goal is to increase and promote public safety and this is a great way for us to deliver information,” Franklin said. “It’s a very visible way for us to connect with the community.”
David Waddell, president, CEO and senior investment strategist of Waddell & Associates, agreed.
“It’s high time the optimists take Memphis back and begin trumpeting from the rooftops what’s good and great and grand about this city,” Waddell said. “MemphisConnect provides a megaphone for us to do exactly that and apparently the world is listening.”
In addition to offering a forum to discuss what makes Memphis special, the site is also a helpful tool for local employers.
“We use MemphisConnect as a recruiting tool to let prospective employees get an idea of what it’s like here,” said Duncan Williams, president of local investment baking firm Duncan-Williams. “It’s an honest and open look at who we are and what we offer, with stories told by the people who know this city best.”
To encourage more support for the site and to reward faithful posters, MemphisConnect is holding a contest to determine “How Memphis Lives in You.”
Anyone who contributes comments on that topic will be entered into a drawing. Grand prize is a trip for two to New York City to see the Broadway musical, “Memphis,” which has been nominated for eight Tony Awards.
The contest runs through June 11. For more details, go to memphisconnect.com.
– James Dowd: 529-2737
MemphisConnect by the numbers
41,593: Unique visitors to the site
2,535: Cities represented by visitors
97: Countries represented by visitors
57: Percentage of visitors from the Greater Memphis area
57: Percentage of first-time visitors
9: Percentage of visitors who spend at least 30 minutes on the site each time they visit
7.5: Percentage of visitors who return to the site more than 200 times
Source: The Leadership Academy
Similar Posts:
- Leadership Academy: Kevin Brewer
- Barbecue contest has teams covered with single-vendor tent provider
- Manchester City plans ‘world-best’ training complex with 7,000-capacity stadium
- Chamber site educates voters
- Memphis music is future, needs investment, says ex-Stax leader Bell
