Social Spotlight: Pechanga Resort & Casino
February 2nd, 2012
The Social Spotlight Series highlights casinos that are leading the way in social media marketing, right now. If you would like to have your casino considered for inclusion, please email us and tell us a little about how you’re creating buzz.
Pechanga Resort & Casino in Temecula, California, continues to lead the way in community management by humanizing their social presence – literally.
Meet Ryan, the all-access insider and exclusive host to everything Pechanga. His lighthearted, humorous tone echoes the fun, welcoming vibe of this luxurious casino resort. What sets Ryan apart from other social media ‘hosts’ is that he’s an actual person, and not just a faceless corporate entity posting and responding to comments.
The tactics? Content creation, engagement, and fan appreciation. For example, Pechanga offered gift cards to anyone who could locate Ryan after he ‘disappeared’ at the casino – a virtual hide-and-seek game that was initiated with a fun video. And when Pechanga’s Facebook page reached 100,000 “Likes,” Ryan asked for fans’ suggestions on ‘the ultimate fan party’ as a way to thank them for their support.
While Ryan is actively conversing with Pechanga’s audience across their Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube pages, he is also a dedicated casino employee that’s available on-property to interview guests, test new products and reveal new promotions.
Not to mention, he and the casino have cooked up some very creative games and activities for their fans – including Slot Wars™, which won them a 2011 Sherpie Award for Best App/Interactive Game.
Now, the property is aiming to set a Guinness Record for “World’s Largest Slot Tournament,” tapping into their massive social media audience to invite players through a Facebook event page. This is a perfect example of how Pechanga creates a sense of community and allows fans to be part of something bigger than just their computer screens.
Although Ryan is the face of the property online, Pechanga’s overall social voice is successful because of the team that works with him to develop and implement these innovative strategies. All brands should understand the immense responsibility of managing their social platforms, and it should never be the sole responsibility of one person. After all, social media never turns off, so someone should be available around the clock to manage it.
Pechanga Resort & Casino’s social media strategy has set the bar high for the gaming industry. We highly recommend you “Like” their Facebook page and follow them on Twitter. Everyone can learn a thing or two from their personable, conversational, and creative approach to community management.
