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Get Your Business Into a Major Regional Marketing Effort This October |
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Art of Ellsworth returns Oct. 1 through 4 as part of Maine Craft Weekend, and this year’s marketing reach is growing in a major way. With support from a Maine Office of Tourism marketing grant, we are building a six week campaign designed to introduce more visitors to Ellsworth. The campaign will direct audiences toward the full Art of Ellsworth schedule while showcasing downtown’s creative energy, locally owned businesses and authentic Downeast character. The current media plan includes traditional television, streaming television, online video and digital display advertising. Ads will reach audiences within a 50 mile radius, along with television viewers across the Bangor, Augusta and Brunswick markets. Target audiences include travelers, families, cultural arts enthusiasts, outdoor recreation enthusiasts, fine dining enthusiasts and people actively considering domestic travel. The proposed campaign represents more than 588,500 impressions! There is no fee for businesses, artists or organizations to have an event included in the Art of Ellsworth schedule and promoted as part of the weekend. Heart of Ellsworth will curate the complete schedule and connect registered events to the broader regional campaign, including promotion through Maine Craft Weekend and other tourism and regional partners. Questions and early ideas are welcome. Reach out before submitting if talking it through would help. |
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| | | Opportunities & Resources to Know |
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| Downtown Ellsworth has felt active this summer, but visible foot traffic does not always tell the full story. Are more customers coming through the door? Are they spending differently than last summer? How are they finding you? What questions are visitors asking most often? Are they staying in Ellsworth, passing through or returning more than once? These questions matter because 2026 travel trends show that visitors are planning more intentional trips. They are looking for local food, culture, outdoor experiences and places that feel distinct and meaningful. They are also relying more heavily on social media, online reviews and artificial intelligence tools to decide where to stop. A simple midseason review can help businesses make the most of the weeks ahead. Check that your hours are accurate everywhere they appear online. Ask customers how they found you. Pay attention to the products, experiences or recommendations visitors respond to most. Make sure accessibility information, pricing and booking details are easy to find. Now is the time to understand what is working, make small adjustments and help more of that activity turn into meaningful business. |
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Heart of Ellsworth board members have started visiting businesses throughout the downtown district as part of a new relationship-building effort. These visits give business owners a direct way to share what they are experiencing, learn more about available resources and connect with the volunteers helping guide our organization. For our organization, the effort helps our board better understand the people and businesses our work is meant to support. It also brings more voices into the conversations shaping future programs, communication and priorities. This is one more way we are working to stay connected, listen closely and strengthen relationships across Ellsworth. |
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| Alignable is a free networking platform created specifically for business owners. Rather than focusing primarily on professional updates and job connections, it is built around local relationships, referrals and practical business support. Businesses create a profile outlining what they offer, who they serve and the types of connections they are looking for. From there, members can connect with other business owners, exchange recommendations, ask for referrals, join conversations and find potential customers or partners within their community and beyond. You do not need to approach it with a major strategy. Start by creating a profile, finding a few businesses you already know and exploring who else is using the platform. It may become a simple way to strengthen existing relationships, make a useful introduction or connect with someone who can support your next business goal. The platform is free to join and worth exploring to see whether it could be a useful tool for your business. |
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| As the country recognizes 250 years of American history, Main Street America is taking a closer look at the places where so much of that history has unfolded. This Main Spotlight brings together stories from communities across the country and traces how Main Streets have reflected changing industries, growing neighborhoods, civic life and generations of local leadership. It is a thoughtful reminder that downtowns have long been places where people build businesses, share ideas, create traditions and shape the future of their communities. It is an easy, interesting read that offers a wider view of the role Main Streets have played over the past 250 years and the role they continue to play today. |
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| | | Commercial Spaces Available in Downtown |
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| | Downtown Ellsworth has space for what is next. From small offices to full buildings ready for new owners, there are opportunities for businesses looking to grow, relocate, or invest locally. |
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24 Church Street Available Sept 1. Standalone office building for lease in downtown Ellsworth.Single-story, ADA accessible property. Shared parking with BMV, up to twenty-three (23) spaces. 207.772.1333 |
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66 Main Street Class A office space within a masonry bank building offering large windows, high ceilings and ample natural light. 207.945.6222 |
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16 State Street Artist Studio for Rent. Heat, electricity, and internet included. First, last, and security deposit required. Join a vibrant creative community in the heart of downtown! 207.479.5011 |
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415 Water Street Private office spaces available. If you’re looking for something more permanent than their co-work desks, pop them a note. |
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| | | Listed for Sale: 108 Main Street, 2-4 State Street, 30 Water Street, 204 Water Street |
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| | | | | Ask an Advisor, Online, 12PM: 7/15, 7/24, 7/29, 8/5, 8/12 Wednesday, July 22, 7PM. Online. Child Care Business Lab: Insurance Made Simple Thursday, July 23, 12PM. Online. Funding Opportunities for your Business with Maine Community Bank Friday, August 7, 8AM. Online. August Biz Fit: Imposter Syndrome: No Such Thing!
Thursday, August 13, 7PM. Online. Child Care Business Lab: How to Leverage the Alfond Grant and Maine’s 529 Plan |
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| | | | Marketing Tip From Chesnee |
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| | This month’s marketing tip is a quick visibility check every business can try. As more people use AI tools to plan trips, find places to eat, shop and explore, your online information is becoming part of the answer before they ever arrive. |
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| The 2026 travel trends shared earlier in this newsletter show how common AI assisted trip planning has become. Search engines are also building AI directly into results, which means travelers may receive a short list of recommendations instead of scrolling through several pages of links. Clear, current business information helps your business become part of those recommendations. Take ten minutes and search the way a visitor might. Open Google or ChatGPT and ask a few realistic questions, such as “Where can I buy a Maine made gift in Ellsworth?” or “Where should I get lunch in downtown Ellsworth?” Start with the product, service or experience rather than your business name and see what appears. Then search for your business directly and review the information being shared. Check your hours, location, website, services, photos and business description. Look at the sources the answer is pulling from, including your Google Business Profile, website, social media pages, directories and customer reviews. A recent TechRadar article offers a practical guide for testing this visibility and tracking the questions customers may be asking. It is a helpful place to start as AI becomes a more familiar part of how people search, plan and make decisions.
If you have questions about what this could look like for your business, let’s meet! |
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