URBAN MAGNATE • 14
#ILoveWichita hashtag effort unites voices, lifts the ICT By Jonathan Long/
Photo credit: HDR Images and Portia Portugal
A
t a time when everyone was stating how low Wichita’s self-esteem was, the Wichita Metro Chamber of Commerce came up with a way to highlight the best of Wichita. Utilizing social media’s hashtag (#) phenomena, the Chamber figured out just what Wichita needed to pump itself up. By creating #ILoveWichita, Wichitans near and far are able to profess their love for the 316. “At the Chamber’s lunch in February, Laura [Bernstorf] spoke about Wichita not being proud of itself,” said Courtney Sendall, Chamber Communications Manager. “Wichita doesn’t have enough swagger. Let’s be proud, let’s brag, let’s create a hashtag.” Since starting the hashtag in February of this year, there have been more than 236 posts using the hashtag on Instagram and more than 300 uses on Twitter. Part of the popularity of the hashtag came with the Chamber putting on a contest from February 16-27 for those who used
the hashtag. The winner of the contest received a free voucher for a Southwest Airlines flight. “The contest got people’s attention,” Sendall said. “It was very exciting watching people use it and to see the things that they were saying.” “Promoting community is one of the responsibilities of the chamber,” says Angie Prather, Vice President - Communications & Investor Relations for the chamber. “It’s become, not just a promotional tool, but a unifier of communities.” The Chamber hopes that the momentum behind #ILoveWichita will carry over to its newest campaign promoting the Wichita flag. They’ve combined the two to create banners that will appear around the city with individuals holding the Wichita flag and stating why they love Wichita. “It’s made me love Wichita even more,” Prather said. “It’s helped break barriers because it’s not limiting. We’ve been able to interact with so many different facets of the community.”