LCVA gives Web site a face-lift to draw visitors
By Lynn Wolstenholme
Loudoun Convention & Visitors Association has launched a new Web site that is more user friendly and visually appealing.
“The whole goal of the face-lift was to incorporate new videos and a more robust way to learn about Loudoun,” said Jeremy Harvey, marketing director at LCVA.
While the old site brought users essential information about shopping, dining and entertainment events, the new site is more in line with 21st-century technology, with videos showcasing unique vendors in the county, photo slide shows and RSS feeds, a Web site function that notifies users when information on the LCVA Web site has been updated.
The site also features online versions of LCVA's travel publications -- Loudoun Food + Wine Guide, Towns & Villages of Loudoun County and Loudoun County Official Visitors Guide – along with customized search functions and review sections broken down by category.
Users also can gather all the necessary information about a trip to Loudoun – shopping, dining, maps, events and reviews – in a user-friendly format and send them to others.
All the publications can be saved as a pdf file or e-mailed to others, Harvey said.
One feature Harvey pointed out was the My Trip Builder function, which now allows users to choose the places people are planning on visit in Loudoun. The site will map out the routes along with all the detailed information for each stop.
“This is just one of the large projects of our marketing component,” Harvey said of the site.
LCVA staff earlier this year launched a new branding campaign calling Loudoun County “DC's Wine Country,” and also debuted more than 30 Web videos, or mini documentaries of Loudoun vendors, on 35 video Web sites including YouTube.
Harvey said LCVA staff members hope these videos will work as “homing pigeons,” bringing people into the county for vacations.
Within the next couple of weeks, Harvey said, LCVA will to launch a more in-depth site for meeting groups, and within the year a more in-depth culinary Web site, both of which still will be accessed through www.VisitLoudoun.org.