PIERRE, S.D. – The South Dakota Department of Tourism has launched a social media campaign encouraging travelers to “find their great place” in South Dakota while on vacation. The campaign will use the hashtag #MyGreatPlace to document the travels of the public as they visit their favorite places across the state.

To capitalize on the power of social media, the Department has partnered with four influencers to document their trips, share experiences, and highlight the uniqueness of South Dakota throughout the duration of their customized itineraries.

Social media influencers are used in marketing for businesses to grow and expand relationships with consumers. Influencers have loyal and trusted audiences who respect and value the opinions of the online influencer; they have the power to motivate consumers to take action. Through the partnership with these influencers, the Department is able to reach new and niche audiences.

“The voice of consumers has continued to serve as a valuable component of our online advertising,” states Jim Hagen, Secretary of the Department of Tourism. “Collecting sentiments from our travelers and the influencers in this campaign and on hashtags like #HiFromSD can serve as great third-party promotions to inspire others to travel to our state.”

The influencers will be visiting the state’s bountiful attractions and one-of-a-kind sceneries, experiencing thrilling adventures, enjoying the slower pace of life, and tasting the unique flavors of wine, brew, desserts, and other culinary offerings.

The goal of the campaign is to inspire the Department’s target market audiences to travel to South Dakota during the peak travel season. This will be measured by social media engagement, website referrals, vacation guide requests, sign-ups for the Department’s eNewsletter, and the use of and engagement with the hashtag #MyGreatPlace.

In conjunction with the campaign, the Department is hosting a sweepstakes for a vacation giveaway to the state. Consumers can follow the itineraries of the influencers, choose which one inspires them the most, and enter with their email address for a chance to win a customized trip to experience South Dakota for themselves.

Complete information regarding the “My Great Place” campaign can be found at travelsouthdakota.com/MyGreatPlace, and by visiting the Department’s Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages.

The South Dakota Department of Tourism is comprised of Tourism and the South Dakota Arts Council. The Department is led by Secretary James D. Hagen.

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MEDIA NOTES:

Landing page link - http://www.travelsouthdakota.com/MyGreatPlace   

Link to creative for the campaign: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/ttyfezds0xoyyh9/AAClT5rZy8rbXK1RFLiRfeuma?dl=0