By DONALD WITTKOWSKI
Barely a week after the Christmas presents were unwrapped, Sea Isle City tourism officials want visitors to start thinking about their summer vacations at the shore.
A new marketing campaign that launched on social media Tuesday is promoting the idea that there is no better place to spend those languid summer days relaxing on the beach than Sea Isle.
“Make it your New Year’s resolution to spend more time in Sea Isle City, NJ!” says the inviting opening line of a message on Sea Isle’s Facebook page and municipal website.
“Plan the ultimate summer getaway now, and get ready to soak up the sun, sand and enjoy Sea Isle’s must-visit spots! This year, turn your summer adventure dreams into a reality and make unforgettable memories with friends and family,” the message adds.
Sea Isle traditionally rolls out key parts of its summer tourism campaign around Christmas and New Year’s Day, using a combination of social media, video, billboards and other forms of advertising to attract visitors to the shore.
This time of year, Sea Isle places digital billboards on the Walt Whitman Bridge and other strategic locations in Philadelphia that beckon visitors with summer beach scenes and the words, “New Year’s Resolution – Spend more time in Sea Isle City.”
Other parts of the tourism campaign will be unveiled in phases leading up to the bustling summer vacation season. The advertising and marketing blitz is intended to distinguish Sea Isle from other Jersey Shore towns in the fierce competition for tourism business.
Sea Isle spokeswoman Katherine Custer said it is never too early for visitors to get a jump on planning their summer vacations.
“Absolutely, now is the time to plan your summer vacations. No one wants to miss out, because the summer of 2024 is going to be our best one yet,” Custer predicted in an interview Tuesday.
Practically speaking, the earlier that visitors book their vacationers, the more options they will have for rental properties or lodging, she noted.
Reflecting the growing trend of vacationers using social media to share their personal experiences, Sea Isle’s marketing campaign invites vacationers to “drop your favorite Sea Isle City gems” on Facebook at: (1) Make it your New Year’s resolution to spend… – Sea Isle City NJ | Facebook
“We want to engage people on social media to share things they love about Sea Isle City,” Custer said. “There’s nothing like a personal testimonial when it comes to how much people love about Sea Isle City and what they’re looking forward to in the year ahead. We encourage people to share their happy memories about Sea Isle.”
In October, Sea Isle’s Tourism Commission disclosed that the summer marketing campaign will engage vacationers in another way through a 30-second commercial that will include asking people around town, “What is your reason to smile in Sea Isle?”
The format of Sea Isle’s 30-second spot will be similar to the commercials that feature people coming out of a theater and raving about the movie they just saw, marketing consultant Mickey Coskey explained.
The commercial will close with the tagline, “There’s Always a Reason to Smile in Sea Isle.”
The commercial’s “There’s Always a Reason to Smile in Sea Isle” message is inspired by the whimsical slogan painted on the city’s 135-foot-high water tower that greets visitors entering town on the John F. Kennedy Boulevard corridor.
“Smile … You’re in Sea Isle,” the slogan proclaims on the gleaming, sky blue tower. A comical smiley face adorned in a pair of sunglasses also decorates the water tower.
