From Overwhelmed to "The Bomb": How GIS WebTech and GURU Helped Walton County Make a Splash at SelectUSA 2025

One year can make all the difference.

Last year, Ben McDaniel walked into SelectUSA wide-eyed and solo. Armed with ambition but no playbook, he navigated the expo floor like many first-timers do, overwhelmed, under-prepared, and vowing never to feel that lost again.

But this year? Ben, Vice President of Economic Development for the Development Authority of Walton County, came back with a plan, a presence, and a not-so-secret weapon: GURU.

In 2025, everything changed. Armed with GURU, Walton County crafted a smarter, sharper approach to SelectUSA, one built on data, technology, and creativity. While Walton County did have a physical presence (shoutout to SEDC for the space in their booth!), the real power came from what Ben brought to the table—and how GURU helped him do it.

Let’s talk about their peachy strategy.

In a stroke of Georgia-grown marketing genius, Ben brought along 200 peach-colored, peach-scented bath bombs — because nothing says Southern charm like a sweet-smelling souvenir. These little cubes of aromatic strategy were individually boxed and labeled with:

“Walton County is the Bomb”

But these weren’t just sweet-smelling giveaways. Each box also featured a QR code, crafted via GURU’s TinyURL Generator, directing prospects to Walton County’s top property in GURU, packed with due diligence documents, site outlines, and direct contact information – all in one place. According to Ben:

"Last year I was just trying to figure it all out, but this year, we showed up with a strategy. GURU gave us the tools to turn heads and start real conversations."

And Ben wasn’t the only one who noticed the shift. Ben’s boss, Shane Short, Executive Director of the Development Authority of Walton County, pointed out how vital the right tools have become in leveling the playing field:

“In economic development, standing out is half the battle. GURU helps us do more than stand out, it helps us compete. What Ben pulled off at SelectUSA is a great example of what happens when you combine smart strategy with the right technology.”

The Results?

• 200 bath bombs distributed
• 78 virtual site visits recorded so far (that’s nearly 40% engagement!)
• Dozens of conversations sparked by a simple but strategic giveaway

Why It Worked:

• GURU turned a QR code into a full engagement funnel and provided analytics on results
• The site is polished, complete, and purpose-built—no dead ends, no fluff
• The bath bombs? Memorable enough to make people want to scan

Sure, having a booth helped, but GURU made it count. From creating the QR code to enabling a site that told Walton County’s story clearly and effectively, it was the difference between handing out trinkets and building actual momentum.

Final Takeaway?

With the right tools (and maybe a peach or two), even a small county can make a big splash.

And if you’re wondering if people still remember those bath bombs?

They do. Because Walton County wasn’t just at SelectUSA 2025.

They were the bomb.

And Ben wasn’t the only one who noticed the shift. Ben’s boss, Shane Short, Executive Director of the Development Authority of Walton County, pointed out how critical the right tools have become in leveling the playing field:

“In economic development, standing out is half the battle. GURU helps us do more than stand out, it helps us compete. What Ben pulled off at SelectUSA is a great example of what happens when you combine smart strategy with the right technology.”