For almost a week now, I’ve been getting ads like these show up when I’m on the web (these are just screenshots):
Visit Savannah’s new “My Savannah” ad campaign has been pretty much under the radar so far, at least to most people. The full-length videos are still “unlisted” on YouTube, but they can all be watched from the campaign homepage.
Here’s the trailer for the series:
The series follows four Savannah-area residents — Cathy Liberatori, Jonathan Stalcup, Cecilia Arango, and Jared Hall. (I’m proud to say that I’m friends with Jonathan, Cecilia, and Jared, all of whom I have great respect for.)
I love this approach to selling Savannah because it relies on actual area residents talking about things they do every day, whether it be enjoying locally owned bars and restaurants, paddleboarding, playing and hearing music, running, or exploring the city’s rich architecture and history. There is an emphasis on places that don’t get mentioned all that often enough to tourists, like The Jinx, Gerald’s Pig and Shrimp, and Kayak Kafe. And it’s worth noting that all four of the videos mention or show alcohol, although not at all in a woohoo-let’s-get-bombed-for-St.-Patrick’s-Day way.
Visit Savannah certainly seems to be mindful here of the tourism trends toward authenticity, culture, and activity.
These are authentic voices that have true passion for Savannah.