Tony asked me to be a guest blogger while he’s traipsing around Spain and the Netherlands, no doubt spending the majority of his time comparing and contrasting U.S. versus European rail systems.  Uhh, maybe not.

In mulling over what I should blog guest-wise about, I conjured up my previous two posts on this site: 10 easy ways to promote business along light rail and 10 easy ways to promote neighborhood events along light rail. Do you see a trend here?  Do you see where I’m heading?

While I could be charged by Sheriff Joe with redundancy, I’m still not sure everyone and everything within shouting distance of the METRO light rail line is taking full advantage of what light rail can “bring to the table” for them.  Are clients or meeting attendees dropping by your office via light rail (and not having to worry about where-to-park-where-to-park)?  Are Red Hat Society ladies dining at your restaurant?  Are suburbanites tinged with nostalgia attending your historic home tour?  If the answer is “no” or “you mean they can really do that?,” then peer down to the appropriate bullet point:

• If you’re a business, go here.
• If you’re a neighborhood group, click now.

So here’s the twist to this trifecta of “10 easy ways.” Upon review, I’ve noticed that a combination of tips in the previous two lists can apply to the numerous arts and cultural sites along light rail that add so much to the quality of life of our communities.  Since National Arts and Humanities Month is coming up in October, it’s time to start a-plannin’.  And because artists are known for going “over the top,” let me go over the top as well by listing not just 10 – no, no, no! – but 20 easy ways to promote arts and culture along light rail:

1. Add nearest light rail stop and map on your website.
2. Add light rail stop on any press release you issue.
3. Add light rail stop on any print ads you do.
4. Add light rail stop on any billboards you do.
5. Add light rail stop on your business card.
6. Add light rail stop on your e-mail auto-signature.
7. Communicate light rail news and information in your patron print or e-newsletter.
8. Provide a link to METRO’s Arts and Culture Ride Guide.
9. Communicate targeted messages on your exterior signage or marquee.
10. Use social media to communicate to light rail fans and advocates.
11. Pitch stories about patrons who use light rail to METRO and the media.
12. Advertise on light rail buses and stops (if the budget allows).
13. Adopt a light rail stop.
14. Create a light rail special discount, possibly through Culture Pass.
15. Create a light rail special menu item or drink (if you serve refreshments on-site).
16. Participate in the Metro Max program.
17. Ensure affiliate groups possess your most updated information, including your light rail stop (e.g., showup.com, Arizona Commission on the Arts, and your city’s office of arts and culture).
18. Host a light rail meet-up.
19. Incorporate a light rail or transportation themed activity into your programming (e.g., a play, a musical piece, a gallery showing).
20. Surprise light rail passengers with a spur of the moment performance.

Now here’s a paragraph for all of you who are scratching their heads and saying, “I’m not an employee of an arts or cultural organization.  What’s in this blog posting for me, me, me?”  How about this?… With all the talk swirling around our heads about economic boycotts, stay-cations, and buy local, now is a good time to be cultural tourists in our own backyard — not only to benefit our arts community and local economy, but for our own mental health as well.

To you regular Joe’s and Josie’s out there, get out! To you arts and cultural groups out there, get the word out!

The two “W” neighborhoods border light rail, and that got me to thinking.  What free or low cost things can “light rail adjacent” neighborhoods do to promote their home tours to light rail riders?   Or for that matter, other events throughout the year, such as block watch parties, holiday luminaries, etc.

Which naturally leads me to…

Jim’s Top 10 List of Free/Low-Cost Things Light Rail Adjacent Neighborhoods Can Do To Promote Their Events to Riders

1. Add nearest light rail stop and map on your website.
2. Add light rail stop on any press release you issue.
3. Add light rail stop on any print ads you do.
4. Add light rail stop on any billboards you do.
5. Pitch stories about neighborhood residents who use light rail to Valley Metro and media.
6. Advertise on light rail buses and stops (if and when advertising is approved).
7. Communicate light rail news and information at neighborhood meetings.
8. Use social media to communicate to light rail fans and advocates.
9. Create a light rail special discount for your event.
10. Encourage neighborhood businesses to participate in the Metro Max shopping discount program.

My singing voice is such that I haven’t “toured” since my junior class play (along with 25 others in the cast drowning me out).  The only tours I’ll be taking are those historic ones noted above.  I hope you do too.

The facilities folks where I work are happy to include information about the nearby station in our promotional materials and website. And that got me to thinking: what can other establishments do to promote their products or services to light rail riders? Bing… Light Bulb… Top 10 List.

I ran the idea by two of my favorite light rail and downtown advocates, Tony Arranaga and Nick Bastian.  (I could write paragraphs upon paragraphs of all the good that people like Tony and Nick are doing to benefit the community, but I’ll save that for a later day.  Back to this Top 10 thing.)

Returning from some car-free adventure, Tony suggested, “Hey, why don’t you post your list on my blog.”  I replied, “Okay, how do I do that?”  He kindly offered up a lightrailblogger.com username and secret password, along with an enticing, free cuppa joe at Royal Coffee at the Downtown Phoenix Public Market, and the rest is history. Well, not quite.  It will be when you finish reading this.  So without further ado, I bring you…

Jim’s Top 10 List of Free/Low-Cost Things Retailers Can Do Now To Promote Their Business to Light Rail Riders

1. Add nearest light rail stop and map on your website.
2. Add light rail stop on your menu or product card.
3. Add light rail stop on your business card.
4. Add light rail stop on any print ads you do.
5. Add light rail stop on any press release you issue.
6. Use social media to communicate to light rail fans and advocates.
7. Create a light rail special menu item, drink, product, or service.
8. Create visually-appealing signage for your business’s exterior.
9. Monitor light rail hours of operation versus your own.
10. Participate in the Metro Max shopping discount program.

Done!  Now for that cup of coffee…