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Core Principles for Visit Ladonia

🌟 1. Keep the Core Mission Clear

Your brand purpose should remain:

“Visit Ladonia exists to promote Ladonia—its attractions, events, businesses, outdoor recreation, history, and future opportunities—for visitors, residents, and potential investors.”

Everything you post should support at least one of the following:

  • Draw people into Ladonia

  • Increase pride, engagement, or participation among Ladonia residents

  • Strengthen Ladonia’s identity and visibility in the county/region

  • Build momentum for future economic or tourism growth

This keeps you from drifting into “Visit Fannin County” or “Visit Bonham.”

🧭 2. Define What “Local” Means for Your Brand

For rural communities, “local” is usually broader than for cities because:

  • Activities are limited

  • Amenities are distributed across multiple towns

  • Residents already travel regionally

However, for destination-branding purposes, you want tiers:

Tier 1 — Ladonia proper (your primary focus)

  • Events in Ladonia

  • Ladonia businesses

  • Ladonia parks, trails, outdoors

  • Ladonia history and culture

  • Lake Ralph Hall and things tied to it

  • Ladonia Chamber, city, community groups

➡️ 75–80% of your content should be about Tier 1.

Tier 2 — “Greater Ladonia Area” (within a 10–15 min drive)

Examples:

  • Pecan Gap

  • Petty area

  • Surrounding rural attractions

  • Businesses just outside city limits that serve Ladonia

This is relevant because visitors staying in Ladonia will travel this far without a second thought.

➡️ 10–15% content.

Tier 3 — The “Support Region” (Fannin County + adjacent towns like Bonham, Wolfe City, Commerce, Honey Grove)

These should be shared selectively—not regularly.

➡️ Use this for:

  • Regional attractions that complement a Ladonia trip (e.g., lodging, heritage sites)

  • Major events that draw visitors to the county but may include Ladonia as part of their visit

  • Partnerships with chambers or tourism orgs

  • Content that strengthens the perception of Ladonia as part of a vibrant region

➡️ 5–10% of your content.

🎤 3. So should you promote a concert in Bonham?

Yes, but only under certain conditions:

✔️ Share it if:

  • There are no similar events in Ladonia and you want to keep your page active

  • The event is a major draw to the county (county fair, fireworks, festivals, major concerts)

  • You can frame it as “Make a weekend of it!” or “While you’re exploring the area…”

  • There is mutual value (e.g., Bonham Chamber shares your events too)

  • Your local audience would genuinely benefit

  • It helps position Ladonia as part of a small but connected region

❌ Do NOT share it if:

  • Bonham posts something every day (their flow will drown your mission)

  • It competes with a Ladonia event

  • It would shift the center of gravity away from Ladonia

  • It doesn’t serve your brand purpose

Use this rule:

If the event doesn’t enhance Ladonia’s identity, skip it.

🤝 4. Structure Partnerships—Don’t Just Cross-Promote Everything

Set up intentional content-sharing agreements with:

  • Fannin County Chamber

  • Bonham Chamber

  • Regional tourism boards

  • Local historical societies

  • Other small towns

Let them know:

“Visit Ladonia focuses primarily on Ladonia, but we selectively feature regional events that support tourism and help visitors plan a complete trip. If you’d like us to share your biggest events, we’re happy to share a few key items yearly in exchange for helping promote Ladonia’s signature events.”

This keeps you from becoming a generic bulletin board.

đź“… 5. Content Formula (so your feed stays balanced)

Here’s a sustainable mix:

Weekly

  • 2 posts about Ladonia (events, history, business spotlights, Lake updates, nature, fun facts)

  • 1 “evergreen” post (why visit, trails, picnic spots, best photo locations)

Monthly

  • 1–2 regional/tier-3 posts:

    • Only the highest-value events

    • Only those that enhance the “Visit Ladonia” trip experience

Seasonal

  • Countywide festivals

  • Holiday events

  • Joint campaigns (Shop Small, Memorial Day tourism, etc.)

🏞️ 6. Make Ladonia the Hero

Even when you post regional content, frame Ladonia as the anchor.

For example:

Instead of:

“There’s a concert in Bonham tonight!”

Try:

“Planning a weekend in the Ladonia area? A great regional option is the outdoor concert happening just 20 minutes away in Bonham—after exploring the grasslands or grabbing lunch at [Local Spot], make it a full evening.”

Ladonia stays the destination,
the event becomes a side quest.

This is how small towns increase their tourism footprint while keeping brand integrity.

🚀 7. Long-Term Branding Strategy

Use Visit Ladonia to seed the narrative that:

**Ladonia is small but growing.

It’s authentic.
It has history, charm, and a future connected to Lake Ralph Hall.
It’s a quiet, scenic, nature-oriented place to explore or invest in.**

Your site can grow into:

  • A resource hub for relocations

  • A digital business directory

  • An event calendar

  • A volunteer networking space

  • A brand that tells the future story of Ladonia’s economic potential

đź“Ś Final Guidance Summary

Do:

  • Keep 75–80% of content Ladonia-focused

  • Share regional events only when they strengthen Ladonia’s offering

  • Build partnerships intentionally

  • Frame “nearby events” as enhancements to Ladonia visits

  • Serve both visitors and locals without diluting the mission

Don’t:

  • Become a county-wide event board

  • Over-share Bonham’s activities

  • Let the site’s identity drift toward promoting other towns

  • Post anything that doesn’t support Ladonia’s story