2011 South Dakota Rooster Rush

Pheasant hunting is one of South Dakota's major draws each fall. It has become a tradition for many families and friends in communities across the state and across the country. In 2009 and 2010, South Dakota Tourism celebrated this tradition with a marketing campaign called Rooster Rush. To continue the tradition, we're celebrating Rooster Rush again in 2011 with another great giveaway, an integrated marketing campaign, and promotional opportunities for the visitor industry.

This promotion offers a great opportunity to bring more hunters, conservationists, families and friends into your communities this fall. Don't miss this chance to get your community involved.

Marketing

The Department of Tourism will place advertising in target markets such as Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa and Nebraska, asking hunters to take part in this annual tradition. We'll also promote the Rooster Rush via online marketing, social media efforts and a giveaway.

A Rooster Rush logo has been developed for use on all promotional materials and for special events. The logo is available for businesses, Chambers of Commerce and CVBs to use when developing unique events and for marketing materials and promotions of their own.

The Department of Tourism is providing ad templates to be used to promote your hunting season celebrations and events. There are templates for newspaper ads, direct mail postcards and a radio ad. They may be downloaded and then customized with information regarding your event.

We also offer a limited number of pre-designed and produced promotional items that can be ordered through the Department of Tourism. These items can be used to decorate your community, as giveaways, or prizes.

We market Rooster Rush to sportsmen and women across the Midwest to enhance the image of your businesses while promoting pheasant hunting in South Dakota. In addition to print and broadcast marketing, we develop a section of www.TravelSD.com dedicated to promoting Rooster Rush.

Toolkit

We put together a Rooster Rush Toolkit that will help you develop your own Rooster Rush promotion. The kit includes ideas for events and promotions in your community, a sample news release, economic impact information, media relations strategies and social media outlets.

Partnership opportunities

The Department of Tourism promotes this campaign statewide and wants to get as many communities involved as possible. Therefore, we're prepared to help communities across South Dakota get started with their own Rooster Rush promotion.

We offer funding assistance. There is limited availability and applications will be reviewed and approved by the Department of Tourism.

There will be industry recognition. The Department of Tourism will present the Rooster Rush "Cacklin` Community" Award during the 2012 Governor's Conference on Tourism.

Benefits:

• As a partner in this effort, you will show hunters that South Dakota has the best pheasant hunting in the world and works collaboratively to welcome hunters from every corner of the country and the world.
• You are part of a coordinated Department of Tourism effort that includes thousands of dollars in marketing to drive hunting traffic to Rooster Rush communities.
• Promoting Rooster Rush in your community and hosting special Rooster Rush events will make out-of-state hunters feel welcome, and could keep them coming back year after year.

FOR INFORMATION

For more information, contact Eileen Bertsch, Industry Relations Representative, at 605-773-3301 or eileen.bertsch@travelsd.com.