Google Honors Ocean City’s Online Efforts

OCEAN CITY — When it comes to reaching out to potential guests and consumers online, Ocean City does it better than any other city in Maryland.

Google named the resort the 2015 eCity of Maryland award winner. Google, the omnipresent Internet search engine, this week announced Ocean City businesses do a better job than any other municipality in Maryland in reaching guests and potential customers.

The Google eCity Award recognizes the strongest online business community in each state and Ocean City was Maryland’s winner in 2015. This year marks the second Google eCity award for Ocean City, which also garnered the recognition in 2013. Ocean City Mayor and Acting City Manager Rick Meehan said this week Ocean City and its businesses realize the reach of the Internet and embrace it as a means to reach its target audience.

“We know that more than 50 percent of people get information online and our local business owners do a great job connecting virtually with our visitors and our residents to promote all of the wonderful things Ocean City has to offer,” he said. “This is a terrific honor and another positive example of hour our community is thriving, both online and off.”

Google worked with independent research firm IPSOS to analyze the online strength of local small businesses in cities in all 50 states. The city with the highest score in each state was designated as a 2015 Google eCity.

Ocean City Hotel-Motel-Restaurant Association Executive Director Susan Jones said this week the award recognizes how Ocean City businesses have embraced the Internet and used it as a decided marketing advantage.

“It is always exciting to hear Ocean City win a ‘best of’ list,” she said. “Google is certainly a go-to choice for many people searching, and to hear they are searching for Ocean City is wonderful news.”

Greater Ocean City Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Melanie Pursel agreed the Google award recognizes the local business community’s outside-the-box thinking to reach its expanding market.

“This is fantastic recognition,” she said. “Ocean City continues to stay in touch with our guests and potential guests on-line in creative and effective ways. Our businesses are experts in utilizing the web to get the message out about Ocean City. Having cutting edge websites, mobile-friendly sites and excellent online resources for guests to utilize it is a top priority for businesses.”

About The Author: Shawn Soper

Alternative Text

Shawn Soper has been with The Dispatch since 2000. He began as a staff writer covering various local government beats and general stories. His current positions include managing editor and sports editor. Growing up in Baltimore before moving to Ocean City full time three decades ago, Soper graduated from Loch Raven High School in 1981 and from Towson University in 1985 with degrees in mass communications with a journalism concentration and history.