We ran away from home for a few days to the Oregon Coast. We planned to drive until we came to a small tourism town that seemed to be making it through the recession in one piece. We found what we were looking for in Bandon, Oregon.



What’s working in Bandon.

“It’s the people,” says chamber director, Julie Miller. “We may not always agree, but we support each other and work together on our common goals.”

Bandon has the same problems that other small rural communities have:

• Aging population
• Poor regional access to broadband
• Businesses owned, operated, marketed by, cleaned and stocked by the same person.

But, it’s Monday and the streets are packed with visitors! Why??

Here’s what I heard from the visitors themselves:

“It’s half way between San Francisco and Seattle. That makes it a great spot for our families to meet every year.” (Location)

“It’s the beaches! They’re close to town and we can get to them without going through private property or a hotel.” (Geography and attractions)

“It’s the coolest town on the Oregon Coast. We live in Coos Bay and we bring company here instead of our own downtown because of the cool downtown scene.” (Amenities, ambiance, and reputation)

“No distractions. Our family can spend quality time together here.” (Meeting customers’ expressed needs)

So, how are they doing with Internet marketing?

Bandon is typical of many small tourism towns. They’re moving very slowly into the Internet Age.

Broadband is available within their city limits, but outside of town, where many of their chamber board members live, people are still on slow, slow wire. Thus the attitude that we’re doing just fine without much access.

As with so many small towns, demand is driven by need. Here, locals are doing quite well without email or Google searches or Internet shopping. These small owner-run businesses don’t have IT departments pushing for new online marketing techniques.

And, the town is full of customers. For now, traditional marketing is still working for the most part.

Marilyn Pounder, owner/operator of the Bandon Fish Market and Bandon Coffee Café has websites. She is listed on Google Place Pages and advertises this in the windows of both businesses. She feels that her success is built on quality, location, return customers, and traditional word-of-mouth.

But, she understands the importance of Internet marketing. She knows that those regular positive Yelp reviews are helping too.

What are the lessons we can take from Bandon?
Bandon is benefitting from all its past efforts.

So, get busy! Don’t let the recession undermine efforts to revitalize your town. It might not turn you around tomorrow, but work now is building your future.

In Bandon: Its business community supports its chamber. People work together for the sake of the town regardless of their differences. Signage, ambiance, etc. in the town center is pleasing and inviting – that has taken lots of time effort and money.

Don’t rest on your laurels.

Every business in Bandon should be following in the Pounders’ footsteps and starting some Internet marketing by getting listed in online directories and review sites.

Nowadays, if you’re comfortable with your marketing, it means your falling behind. We’re in a paradigm shift when it comes to marketing. Do some Internet marketing every month. Get comfortable with it, then add another online technique. Here’s the checklist I use in workshops: “An Internet Marketing Checklist For Rural Tourism Business Owners.”

If you think you can survive without changing, remember the dinosaurs.

You can read and comment on all of Joanne Steele’s posts on Rural Tourism Marketing on her Rural Tourism Marketing Blog.

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