139: From Tourism to Business Attraction: Podcasting in Economic Development with Adam Stoker

In this episode of the Econ Dev Show, host Carlson sits down with Adam Stoker, president and CEO of Relic, to discuss the intersection of economic development and destination marketing. Adam, whose company specializes in creating podcasts for Destination Marketing Organizations (DMOs), shares insights on how the strategies used in tourism promotion can be effectively applied to economic development efforts.

The conversation explores the similarities between attracting tourists and attracting businesses, with both aiming to bring outside money into specific geographic areas. The discussion then delves into the power of podcasting as a marketing tool for economic developers.

Adam emphasizes how creating valuable, educational content through podcasts can help build relationships with potential investors and businesses without resorting to direct sales pitches. He shares success stories from his experience, highlighting how inviting guests to share their stories on a podcast often yields better results than traditional outreach methods.

The episode also addresses common objections to starting a podcast, such as fear of poor performance and lack of time, with Adam encouraging economic developers to overcome these barriers and prioritize audience building for long-term success in their community promotion efforts.

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Special Guest: Adam Stoker.

Sponsored By:

• Sitehunt: Sitehunt is an AI-enhanced platform that helps economic developers build a comprehensive property database, enabling informed decisions and efficient RFI responses to accelerate site selection and project success.

Links:

• Adam Stoker | LinkedIn
• Relic Agency: Holistic Marketing Partner for Destination Organizations
• Destination Marketing Podcast
• 336: Why Destination Marketers Should Think Like Economic Developers with Dane Carlson — In this episode, Adam talks with Dane Carlson, host of the Econ Dev Show and CEO of Site Hunt, about the crucial link between tourism and economic development. Dane shares his journey from blogging to economic development, including how he transformed Mariposa California by adding an escape room to the visitor center. Dane also emphasizes the importance of collaboration between economic developers and destination marketers to create meaningful visitor experiences and drive local economic growth.
• Launch Your Economic Development Podcast — Ready to amplify your economic development efforts through podcasting? The Econ Dev Show is partnering with destination marketing expert Adam Stoker to help economic developers like you launch successful podcasts. Whether you're looking to attract businesses, engage with investors, or showcase your community's unique strengths, we're here to guide you every step of the way.