# Here’s How Social Media Makes The Flower Show BLOOM

- Link: https://chatterblast.com/blog/heres-how-social-media-makes-the-flower-show-bloom/
- Published: 2016-03-01T20:46:39-05:00
- Author: chatterblastteam

By mid-February, Philadelphians are cranky.

One might even say, _disgruntled_.

All of our sports teams have lost. The holiday weight gain won’t quit. And most 
us have _at least_ one ice-related injury. And while a select few are lucky enough
to jet off to a tropical island, the rest of us are, well, just stuck in the cold.
Our social media feeds are just as bleak. Aside from a few award show critiques,
political ramblings and an occasional celebrity death, there’s nothing pretty or
inspiring to share, ‘gram, pin or tweet.

Then, like a heavenly mirage, the [**Philadelphia Flower Show**](http://theflowershow.com/)
appears. The **Pennsylvania Convention Center** transforms into a lush, colorful
and (dare we say) humid paradise as thousands of Philadelphians flock to the show
like it’s the **Jersey Shore** on **Memorial Day Weekend**.

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And while the florals are fragrant and the fauna is fantastic, one of the **Flower
Show’s** most engaging assets is the social media fodder it provides over its 10-
day lifespan. Ok, maybe the flowers are more engaging – but hey, we’re biased.

Not only are we biased, but we’re also the experts. (With social media. Not flowers.)
For the third year in a row, we’ve worked with the [**Pennsylvania Horticultural Society**](http://phsonline.org/)**(
PHS)** to help bring the Flower Show to life on social media. We sat down with PHS’s
Digital Content Manager** Noelle Wheatley** and dished about all things **Flower
Show** and social media.

**ChatterBlast Media: Hi Noelle! Since you’re at the helm of the show’s social media,
how would you best describe your social presence? **

**Noelle Wheatley:** [**_Facebook_**](https://www.facebook.com/theflowershow)_ is
our __home base for social content and customer service during the Show. _[**_Twitter_**](https://twitter.com/philaflowershow)_
is our real-time conversation piece. And _[**_Instagram_**](https://www.instagram.com/phsgardening/)_–
well, it’s everything and then some, in that it is so visual – the beauty, creativity
and arduous labor of the _**_Flower Show_**_ naturally gravitate here – but it is
also the hangout of the next gen consumer and fan base of the of the _**_Philadelphia
Flower Show_**_. So we’re going to be there, but in new ways!  _

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**CBM: Content is king, but striking a chord with your audience trumps all. In your
opinion, what content themes do you find create the most meaningful conversations?**

**NW: **_There are really two threads for this year’s Show. _

_The first – we want to rejuvenate a sense of history of the _**_Flower Show_**_(
as the Show enters its 187__th__ year) with our immensely loyal and loving consumer
base. You will see evidence of this in some of the questions we pose, like “Why 
do you love the _**_Flower Show_**_? Why do you return year after year, after year?”–
the response is _explosive_ and the data obtained from these conversations is _gold_._

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_Second – we will be providing the learning tools (selfie sticks, _**_Snapchat_**_
tutorials and all) and even act as guides (think: a social media squad of #SelfieRangers
after all, we are celebrating the National Park Service) to a social media experience
that not only connects guests with _**_PHS_**_ and the _**_Flower Show_**_, but 
helps our guests capture and share memorable moments that live beyond the Show floor._

_We’re getting personal. We’re getting hands-on. And we’re letting our consumer 
drive the conversation – while we enjoy all the action. _

**CBM: How important is the role of your social in building relationships with the
Flower Show community? **

**NW: **_Our social relationships are defined by more than those who purchase a 
ticket to the Show; _**_The Flower Show_**_ sustains a responsibility to build lasting
relationships with over a whopping four-thousand volunteers, hundreds of _**_PHS_**_
staff, exhibitors and general contractors, who, every year, __transform the 10 acre
main exhibition floor of the _**_Pennsylvania Convention Center_**_ into a world-
class, world-famous, horticultural extravaganza._

_The conversations we ignite with _**_all_**_ of these users – are the ones that
ultimately tell the story of _**_PHS_**_. _

As you can see, social media and the **Flower Show** were made for one another, 
and this year is no exception. This year’s theme, **Explore America**, celebrates
the 100th anniversary of the **National Park Service**. You can buy your tickets
[here](https://secure.interactiveticketing.com/1.9/4b4ef8/#/select).