Liane Caruso runs Limelight Marketing Consultants, a full-service marketing firm she started in 2009.
When she’s working, Caruso always is thinking about how to make something better known, bigger and more successful.
(Courtesy of Liane Caruso)
Even as a candidate for Lutz Guv’na, she can’t take off her marketing hat.
“I would hope that one day this Guv’na thing could be a really big deal,” she said. “I know there’s a lot of people who know about it, but I’m finding that there a lot of people who don’t know about it, and I think what a great way to bring attention to Lutz and the businesses of Lutz.
“It’s a great concept, and I hope that it only continues to grow.”
Caruso decided to help it grow by signing up as a candidate for the ceremonial title, given to the person who raises the most money during the campaign. The winner will be announced during Lutz’ annual Fourth of July celebration, and all monies raised go to local organizations.
To help add a little marketing savvy to the race, Caruso launched ILoveLutz.com, which provides fundraising opportunities for her campaign. But once the race ends, she wants to see it grow into a site for local businesses to make their presence known to visitors and increase visibility for the community in general with news releases, business reviews, and a calendar of upcoming events.
Caruso is from Jacksonville, but spent time in Key West, where she met her husband Larry. They decided that it wasn’t the ideal place to raise children, so they moved to the area to be closer to family and enjoy the strong community presence. They have two children, Kyle, 5, and Lila, 2.
Caruso lives in Land O’ Lakes and moved her business to Lutz last year, and is happy to have the important things in her life close to each other.
“I’ve built my entire life within a 5-mile radius, which I absolutely love,” Caruso said. “I love the community and how supportive they are of each other.”
Philanthropy was another aspect about the race that drew her in, and with some experience in community races — she helped others campaign for king and queen of Fantasy Fest, a 10-day celebration in Key West — she felt it was a good time to take a shot at being Guv’na.
In addition to helping local organizations with much-needed funds, Caruso wants her campaign to also focus on helping local businesses expand their opportunities on the Internet. In conjunction with her ILoveLutz website, Caruso believes companies can utilize a strong Internet presence in conjunction with the face-to-face, personal relationships they’ve built over the years in Lutz.
“Our entire world has shifted to technology and online awareness. It’s great those people that have built their business off word of mouth and the good old-fashioned way,” she said. “So many other businesses don’t have that luxury, and their website and how they’re found online is a first impression, or their first chance. If they’re not found online they’re essentially missing opportunity.”
Local businesses that don’t have a brick-and-mortar location, but are still owned and run by people in the community, need a strong online presence to gain exposure they might not get otherwise, she said.
Caruso’s campaign has gone well, she said, with plenty of fundraising efforts such as raffles, themed parties and workshops, as well as combined events with multiple Guv’na candidates.
One of the fun things about the race is how supportive and friendly the candidates are with each other, she said.
With her constant focus on branding, marketing and social media for clients — and a Guv’na campaign to run — Caruso doesn’t make much room for idle time. But the Carusos enjoy local and state attractions (she admits to being “theme park junkies”) and spending time with local family.
While she sometimes travels out of the state for business and has lived throughout Florida, it’s Land O’ Lakes and Lutz, where Caruso lives and works, that feels like home.
“I wouldn’t move back to Jacksonville, I probably wouldn’t really live in Tallahassee although I loved it while I was there,” Caruso said. “Orlando and Tampa, to me, are pretty comparable, but Key West is very different. This is exactly the right place.”
For more information about Caruso’s Lutz Guv’na campaign, visit ILoveLutz.com or search “Liane for Guv’na” on Facebook.
For more information about Limelight Marketing Consultants, call (813) 419-3777 or visit LimelightConsultants.com.
Published July 2, 2014
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