�� Destination Blue Ad Renewal – What You Need to Do ��
• ✅ Keeping your current ad?
Just send in your payment to secure your spot.
• �� Submitting a new ad?
Email your updated ad file (correct size and format) along with your payment.
• �� Complimentary ads:
Please confirm you still wish to be included in the next edition. No confirmation = no placement.
• �� Be sure to read the updated Guidebook! It includes new tips, promo suggestions, and important details for getting the most out of your listing.
• �� Paid ad participants:
Don’t forget to join our two International Facebook groups so you can promote your ad during Small Business Saturday and other group events. See detail in this guidebook.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/destinationbluebusiness/
Contact me at: Terryklawrence@aol.com
Subject: Grow with Destination Blue – Complimentary and Premium Ad Opportunities
Dear Members,
I hope this message finds you well as we navigate this new world.
Destination Blue has now been active for six months, during which it has already fostered numerous connections and success stories for our featured businesses. As the creator and curator, I am continuously exploring innovative ways to promote the catalog and broaden its reach. With the fall and holiday season approaching, I’m optimistic that the next six months will bring even more visibility and engagement.
We offer complimentary business card-sized ads, as well as larger paid ad spaces for expanded presence. If you don’t have a ready-made ad, we also provide digital design services to create a polished, professional layout for you.
One key to maximizing the impact of your listing is sharing the catalog with your own community and customers. The more it’s shared, the more visibility we all gain—it’s a collective effort to support and uplift like-minded businesses. Everytime I share the link to the catalog there are increased views that day. It does work, but think how many more consumers would see the catalog if everyone shared it.
I’d love to include your business in the upcoming edition. If you’re interested or have any questions, feel free to reach out directly.
Together, let’s make the next season of Destination Blue our most successful yet.
Warm regards,
Terry Kathryn Lawrence Founder, Destination Blue Terryklawrence@aol.com
DESTINATION BLUE CATALOG AD OPTIONS
Complimentary Option:
�� Business Card Size Ad — Free
Size: 3.5 x 2 inches | Format: JPEG | Resolution: 300 DPI
PAID AD OPTIONS:
�� All paid ads include 1 live link (to your website or email)
• 1/4 Page Ad (4” x 5”, vertical) – $25
• 1/2 Page Ad (8” x 5”, horizontal) – $40
• Full Page Ad (8” x 10”, vertical) – $75
• 2-Page Spread (two opposing 8” x 10” vertical pages) – $100
FILE REQUIREMENTS:
✔ All ads must be submitted as flattened JPEGs
✔ Resolution: 300 DPI
✔ Ad must be full size to fit designated space
ADDITIONAL SERVICES:
�� Add a live link to your website or email – $10 (Included in all paid ads)
�� Resize or reformat a business card ad – $10
�� Need help designing your ad? Design services available starting at approx. $75 (quoted per project)
�� Ad Run Duration:
All ads will appear in the catalog for 6 months. Current cycle runs through January 31, 2026.
Payments : Venmo @Terry-Lawrence-20
Zell terryklawrence@aol.com
Paypal terryklawrence@aol.com
Please include your name as well as business name and state (Fl or Mi) with payment
DESTINATION BLUE CATALOG CATEGORIES
Please choose a category for your ad:
Art
Wall Decor, Pottery, Digital Downloads, Galleries
Books & Publications
Print & Digital Books, Magazines, Bookstores
Business & Travel Services
Lodging, Travel Agents, Expediters, Cybersecurity, Web Design, Financial Services, Realtors
Shoppes & Restaurants
Gift Shops, Home Decor, Jewelry, Online Stores, Clothing
Personal & Pet Services
Salons, Spas, Massage, Doulas, Therapists, Photographers, Nonprofits, Pet Services
EXPANDED OPPORTUNITY FOR PAID ADS
As many of you know, Destination Blue was originally created as a catalog to showcase and support progressive and left-leaning businesses. While it has been promoted in liberal Facebook groups, the reach hasn’t been as broad as I had hoped. We do have hundreds of people that have viewed the catalog each time I share it, but we need more.
To help your businesses gain greater visibility, I’ve decided to promote the catalog to the general public—beyond progressive-only spaces. The good news? Destination Blue contains no explicit political messaging, so it’s perfectly suited for a wider audience.
I manage two large, active travel and lifestyle Facebook groups with over 150,000 members combined, primarily U.S.-based members.
• French & Parisian Lifestyle & Travel
• https://www.facebook.com/groups/166346013998464/
• Great Britain Lifestyle & Travel
• https://www.facebook.com/groups/1773508479615412/
I’ll be sharing the catalog in both groups to help bring more attention to your businesses.
Bonus Promotion Opportunity:
All businesses with paid ads in the catalog will be allowed to advertise in those groups on Small Business Saturday (under a dedicated post I will create). This gives you an excellent chance to engage directly with a broad, interested audience. It will be in the Featured Section every Saturday and you can add your business in the Comments. See the links above to become a member.
Unfortunately, while many progressive Facebook groups have expressed support, few have actively shared the catalog as often as I submit it. I will continue this endeavor and request that you share it as well.
To grow your visibility and attract real buyers, I believe expanding our reach is the right move—and I hope you’ll agree.
Let’s talk about our group’s AI-generated posts.
You may have noticed some posts in the group that seem extra polished or pop up more often in your feed — those are created by Facebook’s built-in AI feature, and in our group, she goes by the name French Fling. ��♀️
We’ve noticed that these AI posts tend to get much more visibility than regular member posts — Facebook really pushes them out. So, here’s a tip for our approved advertisers and small business members:
�� Watch for these French Fling posts and jump in with a comment if it’s relevant to your business!
Whether you’re sharing travel tips, home decor, French-inspired products, or anything that fits the vibe — a thoughtful, engaging comment can help get your business seen by more members, organically.
It’s a smart (and subtle!) way to participate and promote without spamming. Simply comment and add the link to your business in the comment.
�� Not sure which posts are AI? They’re usually short and topic-based (like “What’s your dream destination in France?”), and they come from French Fling.
Let’s keep the group active, fun, and supportive for all — with a little help from our digital friend, French Fling! ��
I have tracked these posts compared to member posts and the reach is at least 10 times member posts, so let’s use them to encourage more engagement and benefit our members and businesses.
In the Italian Lifestyle group AI is called ItaliaChat.
In the Global Chic Lifestyle she is called Travelista.
In the public French group she is called Bonjourista.
We do not have one yet for the Great Britain group.
Tips to Improve Engagement in FB Groups
1. Prioritize Conversation, Not Just Promotion
• Ask open-ended questions (e.g., “What’s your favorite…” or “How do you handle…”).
• Use polls to encourage quick, low-effort interaction.
• Post “this or that,” “would you rather,” or “fill in the blank” prompts.
2. Use Native Content First
• Facebook favors content that keeps users on the platform: images, videos, and text posts tend to perform better than links.
• Post behind-the-scenes images, sneak peeks, or carousel-style albums.
3. Go Live or Use Video
• Facebook heavily promotes video and lives in the feed.
• A quick live tour of your business can boost reach.
4. Engage Right Away After Posting
• Stick around to comment or like responses immediately after posting — this signals the algorithm that the post is worth showing to more people.
• Tag people (when appropriate) and reply to all comments quickly.
5. Use Themed or Recurring Posts
• Example: “Show & Tell Tuesday,” “Favorite Find Friday,” or “Behind-the-Scenes Sunday.”
• Members begin to expect and participate more with consistency.
Should You Post External
Links?
In Short: Yes, but sparingly and strategically.
Facebook deprioritizes posts with outbound links in the algorithm unless:
• The link drives high engagement (comments/shares).
• It’s a “value-first” post (not overly salesy).
Best Practices for Sharing External Links:
Do Avoid
Add value before the link: “Here’s a collection I curated based on your feedback…”
Just dropping a link with no context: “Shop now: [link]” Share link in the comments instead of the main post (“See comments!”).Do not use the word Link.
Use image-based posts with the link in comments.
Drive traffic to a landing page you control (e.g., your own site or catalog), then guide to Etsy/Amazon.
Bonus Tips:
Using too many links in a short period — hurts reach.
Relying on link previews as the only image — they don’t grab attention.
Sending people to too many platforms, confusing their next step.
• Use tagging smartly: Tag collaborators or frequent commenters.
• Ask for feedback: People love giving opinions.
• Time your posts: Try mornings or early evenings, and test what times get better response.
Creating a Successful Small Business
What NOT to Do in an Ad
1. Be Vague
• Avoid unclear, generic statements like “we’re the best.”
2. Overstuff With Text
• Too much content overwhelms the reader. Keep it skimmable.
3. Forget a CTA or Contact Info
• Always include what to do next and how to reach you.
4. Use Low-Quality Images
• Bad visuals reduce trust and appeal.
5. Assume Everyone Knows Your Business
• Spell out what you do, who you serve, and why it matters.
6. Ignore Your Target Audience
• Make sure your language, visuals, and offers speak directly to your ideal customer.
7. Miss Typos and Errors
• Always proofread. Sloppy grammar signals poor professionalism.
8. Use Passive, Weak Language
• Say: “Visit our store today for 10% off,” not “Discounts are available.”
9. Forget Mobile or Format Readability
• Make sure it looks good and reads well on all screens and formats.
