In the age of the Internet, Blackberrys and the iphone some question why a print version of a guidebook?  What we know is that even those traveling fully equipped electronically, like to have a  Maine’s Best Regional Guide in their hand.  While one person does the driving, passengers are looking through the colorful pages, gathering ideas of things to do, see and buy. 

Every page is in full color and filled with information that tourists and those moving to the area want and need. According to Kelly Cochrane, EACC Marketing Coordinator, “As with most guidebooks, there is tourism information, but what makes our guidebook unique is that it houses our chamber business directory and short articles on many locations in and around Ellsworth that we want visitors to experience.”  Beautifully illustrated with photographs, descriptions and maps, the guidebook helps visitors have the most enjoyable time when visiting the area.

Guidebook advertising is a great medium for reaching out to potential customers for a variety of reasons.

• The guide is a high quality, locally produced publication with 100 + pages in full color.  Buddy Chase and Marty Lyons of Studio 3 in downtown Ellsworth know the area and what visitors want to see and do while here.  They design ads that work.

• Maine’s Best Regional Guide gets into the hands of a targeted audience – annually 30,000 copies land in the hands of thousands who are planning a trip and thousands who have arrived in our region.  The guidebook helps influence them when selecting lodging, dining, activities and services in our region.
• The guidebook is not a one time flip through, it is used multiple times.  We love it when a tourist walks in with the guidebook open to a certain page and asks for more information.  We have visitors tell us they have taken every day trip in our book.  These example let us know that our book is right on track.
• Statistics show that guidebooks are often looked at by more than one person.  In addition to our tourism business members, local cottage and rental property owners stop in to pick up guidebooks to have for their guests all season.
• Information in the guidebook is presented by region and your business ad is inserted next to specific content that best fits your business.
• Once your ad is created you own it and can use it for other purposes.
• Our guidebooks are distributed throughout the State, the region and internationally.

Local businesses have guidebooks handy for their visitors.  And, it is not just those in businesses directly linked to tourism.  The staff of Rooster Brother, a store for cooks and those that love them report that their clientele love the guidebook and it is difficult to keep enough on hand. If you would like books for your customers, call the Chamber office.

At the Chamber we keep advertising options affordable.  Your membership includes a listing in the business directory conveniently housed in Maine’s Best Regional Guide. Purchased advertisements in the publication start under $300. (see the form inserted in this newsletter). 

 Sign on today, we think you will be pleased with the results.