The use of social media is the new focus for tourism efforts for Fountain Hills, and staff members believe they have made significant inroads in promoting the town since taking over tourism efforts from the Chamber of Commerce in January.

Community Services Director Mark Mayer and intern Grace Rodman-Guetter recently gave the council a year-end wrap-up and six-month status report.

Rodman-Guetter began working with former recreation supervisor Bryan Hughes in January when the Community Services staff took over. They have worked jointly with economic development staff in promoting the town.

The use of social media was expanded and showed promising results during the first six months of the year. As an example, the town reached nearly 20,000 people on Facebook the week of the St. Patrick’s Day event in March. That included four new Facebook “likes” per day, and more than 600 talking about the event on Facebook.

Overall, Rodman-Guetter told the council that since the town took over social media presence has grown. Facebook “likes” are up by 7.75 percent. People “talking about us” on Facebook is up 440 percent, and “reach” is up by 207 percent.

For the coming year the tourism effort will be focused on some 40 special events scheduled in the Town of Fountain Hills. That is to include some potential new events.

The strategy for the upcoming year also includes continued analysis of social media through analytics, particularly Facebook; promotion of all online entities and media; and creation of “things to do” through incentive fliers, calendar of events updates, branded online and print materials and a greater presence by staff at events and town activities.

Outreach will include exploring other recreation and convention and visitors bureau opportunities with Scottsdale and Phoenix and meeting with stakeholders.

“Experience the real Arizona; discover Fountain Hills” is the online branding for the tourism efforts.

The proposed budget for tourism in the coming year is just under $50,000. That includes brochures, posters and collateral, airport advertising, website support and print media campaigns.

The town has allocated $103,000 in the budget from the downtown excise tax. Staff anticipates an Arizona Office of Tourism grant of $21,500. That compares with a grant of $20,551 last fiscal year.

A partnership with the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation included $5,000 last fiscal year. That amount is undetermined for the coming year.

The town’s tourism website is experiencefountainhills.org.