Ep.61 The Secret to What's On Reading's Success
With Damien Passmore
Episode Description:
Damien Passmore, Marketing Officer and Web Editor for What’s On Reading, shares his journey with the organisation and how it has become the “ultimate guide” for arts, culture, and heritage events in the Greater Reading area. The discussion covers the website’s creation, its operational structure, and Damien’s background.
The conversation delves into the evolution of the business from its launch with 60 partner organisations to its current state with over 250 active partners. Damien explains his marketing philosophy, which highlights the crucial role of social media as a two-way communication tool.
Finally, the discussion touches on the future goals for What’s On Reading, including the potential for physical advertising, such as print flyers or posters. Damien concludes with a message about the vibrant arts and culture scene in Reading, urging listeners to use the website to prove wrong anyone who says there is nothing happening in the town.
What’s On Reading Website: whatsonreading.com/
What’s On Reading Socials:
Find out what Arts & Heritage-related activities are happening near you:
Listen to the episode
Episode Time Codes
00:00 Greeting
00:15 What is What’s on Reading?
01:31 Why What’s on Reading only covers Arts Culture and Heritage events
02:58 The ‘team’ behind What’s on Reading
04:08 How you can get your Arts/heritage event(s) listed on What’s on Reading?
05:10 Damien’s background and he got involved in What’s On Reading
06:55 To what extent has Damien’s personal involvement in local Arts and Culture helped him in his role at What’s on Reading.
08:15 The challenges Damien faced in getting traction going at What’s On Reading
10:28 How Damien promotes events in Reading
15:45 Connection between most popular content and most popular events
17:55 What’s On Reading data peak
20:25 Why events are important and advice for business owners
22:58 The future for What’s On Reading
24:24 Final thoughts
Videos
How What's On Reading Promotes Events
The Best Way to Learn
Developing Beneficial Partnerships
Focus on Developing Your Relationships
Developing Your Social Media Strategy
Consider Every Customer Touchpoint
Key takeaways
Credibility is Currency: Building a strong reputation and relationships within the local community is crucial for success. Damien’s personal involvement in the arts and culture scene gave him immediate “legitimacy” and credibility with partners. This established a foundation of trust that made it easier to get organisations on board and grow the platform.
Social Media is a Two-Way Conversation: Social media is not just a broadcasting tool; it’s a communication tool where “communication always goes two ways”. What’s On Reading’s strategy focuses on being “social,” engaging with followers, and responding to questions and comments. Damien also emphasises the importance of authenticity and adapting to platform changes.
Collaboration Drives Growth: Partnering with other local organisations can expand your reach and benefit your business. Passmore gives examples of successful collaborations, such as art exhibitions in pubs, which can draw in new customers. By finding the “right partnerships” that align with their brand, businesses can increase footfall and show community support.
Episode references
Check out the podcast:
What’s On Reading Podcast
