- What were some of the key elements discussed when developing MississippiHills.org?
The primary focus of the Mississippi Hills National Heritage Area website was to create a focus on the cultural and heritage assets of the hills region – a 30 county area in North Mississippi. The site focuses on the preservation, enhancement, interpretation and promotion of the four main interest areas: Civil War, Architecture, African-American History and Art.
- What are some of the current objectives of the heritage area’s online initiatives?
Mississippi Hills is focusing on driving traffic to the website through web banner advertising, social media (Facebook and Twitter), e-newsletters with links to the site, SEO, public relations efforts and tradition print advertisements. Mississippi Hills Heritage Area Alliance, the governing body for Mississippi Hills National Heritage Area, members also promote the website through their tourism marketing of the region.
- In your mission statement, you indicate that the key objectives are to increase jobs and visitation to the area and to develop and support projects and programs that sustain the heritage tourism industry within the region. How is MississippiHills.org aiding in this venture?
Mississippi Hills is promoting the region as a whole. Through our marketing efforts, we aid in bringing awareness to the many historical places, events, festivals and attractions found in the Mississippi Hills region. Through these promotions to the cultural and heritage traveler, statistics show this niche traveler typically stays longer and spends more than the average traveler. Through the development of more tourism to North Mississippi, more hotels and restaurants will be utilized, more products purchased and more economic impact on our region.
- How has your site incorporated the cultural characteristics specific to the generations that have lived in the Mississippi Hills to bring unique information to visitors?
We invite our visitors to “Discover our stories. Experience our culture. Celebrate our heritage.” Through this campaign we are trying to connect generations of travelers with an array of interests, from the literary works of Faulkner to the blues of Howlin’ Wolf, the Civil War Battle of Brice’s Crossroads to the regions rich agricultural heritage, one of America’s largest Bonsai exporter to the birthplace of Elvis... diversity is a way of life in the Mississippi Hills.
- How have you used social media to connect more directly with both past and prospective visitors to the Mississippi Hills?
We make certain that all of the information that is distributed online has a connection to our website, Facebook, Twitter accounts and an opt-in opportunity to the e-newsletter that is distributed to an extensive database bi-monthly. Additionally, in an effort to reach an even broader market, we have several community colleges and universities within the Mississippi Hills region and are strategically planning to reach former and current students through their websites and alumni publications.
- What tools have you integrated to help visitors experience some of the the culture of the Mississippi Hills on your site? What led you to add a music playlist of Mississippi Hills’ music to the website?
We have an extensive inventory of cultural and heritage assets throughout the 30 county area in North Mississippi. We have integrated tools to allow visitors to the site to chose their area of interest and extensive itineraries that surround that interest. Visitors may also chose the area they will be visiting and the date to check for additional events or festivals that may suite their interest that are not listed in the permanent itineraries of the region.
- Why are Mississippi Hills’ celebrities an important component of the website and the overall Heritage Area?
The celebrities that we promote on the Mississippi Hills website are part of what has made our region, Mississippi and even America what it is today. William Faulkner once wrote, “To understand the world, you must first understand a place like Mississippi.” Understanding the pride and heritage of these familiar faces and names allows visitors a glimpse of history and a sense of honor we feel in proudly claiming them as Mississippians from “The Hills.”
- Can you tell me about the “Travelogues” on the site? Who wrote them and how can site visitors benefit from reading them?
The travelogues were written by our staff in order to give visitors a glimpse into the unique attractions of this region. By reading and exploring these travelogues, visitors can prepare a customized itinerary prior to arriving for their visit. These serve as educational tools as well as sales guides for each of the interest area.
- What else would you like to share with us about MississippiHills.org or the National Heritage Area?
We have developed a partnership with Mississippi Public Broadcast television located in Jackson, MS. They produce a television show called, “Mississippi Roads.” We wanted to showcase places in our area with video and this was the perfect opportunity. Often visitors can get a better understanding of the unique beauty and hospitality of the region by seeing some of the places we describe on the site. We hoped that these videos would give a sample of the Mississippi Hills region that would entice them to want to see more.
- What else would you like to share with us about MississippiHills.org or the National Heritage Area?
We are currently in the process of developing plans for the Mississippi Hills Heritage Center which will open in 2011. This will be a museum that will interpret the four major focal points of the region; the architecture, arts, Civil War and African-American heritage.
We want visitors to our site to know that they have a special invitation to Discover our stories. Experience our culture. Celebrate our heritage... you will understand why we proudly call Mississippi Hills National Heritage Area home.