Articles written for the Aberdeen Chamber Progress Magazine. This is a bi-monthly magazine with a close to 20,000 circulation to businesses, households, and committee members.

1. PARENTAL CAUTION: Aberdeen, It’s a Kid Thing
No matter how old you are, or think you are, Aberdeen has the ability to have
you acting like a child again. Imagine yourself chasing rainbows down the Yellow Brick
Road, reliving your favorite childhood nursery rhyme, or splashing around in our aquatic
center the entire afternoon.
While Aberdeen attracts visitors from all age ranges, it is the newest campaign by
the Aberdeen Hotel Alliance that brings out the kid in everyone. “Aberdeen – It’s a Kid
Thing” and its new website, www.AberdeenFun.com; features information on all of the
great adventures Aberdeen has to offer the family traveler. From unique local
attractions, a plethora of wonderful restaurants, and fabulous and restful hotels; this
website helps out-of-town visitors plan their perfect vacation to our area and create one-
of-a-kind memories while they are here.
Travel and tourism is a $1.95 billion industry in South Dakota. In total, tourism
provides 1 in 11 jobs in the state and generates $291 million in tax revenue. Without
this additional revenue from tourism, each household in South Dakota would be
responsible for $878 in additional taxes! Last year we saw roughly a 5% increase in the
visitor industry from 2011 which translated to an economic impact of almost $2 billion.
We look forward to the summer travel season, and hope you all have safe travels,
wherever the road may take you!
For more information about the Aberdeen Hotel Alliance and its efforts, contact
Sabrina with the Aberdeen Area Convention and Visitors Bureau at (605) 225-2414, or
smetz@visitaberdeensd.com.

2. Creating an Engaging Marketing Campaign
Perhaps you have noticed the rise in advertising in your everyday life. From email to
television, websites to print, and all gamut’s in between, you are inundated with
products and services. In 1996, Bill Gates said, ‘Content is King’ and in 2014, this could
not be more true.
While it is great as a consumer to have all this knowledge at your fingertips, it is hard for
a business to stand out in the crowd. So how do you make sure your message is heard,
and reaches the people that can benefit from what you offer? Think about
implementing an engaging marketing campaign.
With Social Media marketing on the rise, it is easy to engage your customers, and in turn
gain new ones by being the face behind the business. If you use social media platforms,
try to post messages that encourage people to interact with you, share your message,
and create buzz about your business. Share interesting articles, events happening at
your location, and ask questions that people want to respond to. Make sure you listen to
your customers and what their needs are, after all; you wouldn’t be in business without
them.
Using Calls to Action (CTA) can also help engage your customers and track your efforts.
Your CTA can be as simple as asking them to post a review that you feature on your
webpage, to a buy one get one offer that can be redeemed when they follow your
directions. Whatever you choose, make it something that is enticing for your customer.
While the majority of social media sites are free, make your plan this year cost-efficient.
Be sure to look at your other elements while producing an engaging marketing
campaign. Creating consistent and recognizable messages in print, television, and
online media can led to brand awareness in consumers and can help stretch your
marketing dollars. Make sure your marketing message is an authentic one. Every
business offers something that no one else does. Find what makes you stand apart from
others and tell your story in your ads. When you can offer something unique, your
customers will appreciate it and want to share it with their friends and family.
The Aberdeen Area Convention and Visitors Bureau strives to get our visitors to come to
the area, shop our stores, stay in our hotels, utilize our businesses, visit our attractions,
and share their experiences when they get home. We couldn’t advertise for this great
city without the businesses and organizations in town that make us stand out! Thank
you for being a part of Aberdeen. We hope that you have a profitable 2014 and success
in the years to come.

3. The Hunt Starts Here: Aberdeen, SD
The Aberdeen Hotel Alliance encourages hunters to come to Aberdeen, SD every fall
and take their shot at a million dollar bird. Started in 2009, the Million Dollar Bird
Pheasant Hunt was a chance for hunters to not only bag their limit of birds, but to also
have a chance at winning one million dollars while hunting in Brown County, South
Dakota.
This year is no different. Pheasant season begins October 18th, and to participate,
hunters need to shoot one of one hundred banded birds that have been released in
Brown County. If a hunter gets one of these banded birds, they must return the
numbered band to the Aberdeen Area Convention and Visitors Bureau. Not only will a
hunter receive an entry into the $1,000,000 drawing to be held January 9, but each
unique number is worth anywhere from $100-$500.
As an added bonus to the Million Dollar Bird Pheasant Hunt, the group is giving away a
Winchester XS3 Black Shadow, the Official Gun of the 2014 Million Dollar Pheasant
Hunt.
For more information about these contests, private and public hunting information, visit
MillionDollarBird.com or HuntFishSD.com.

4. Are You Selling Aberdeen?
I recently took a trip this summer and my family and I stopped at what I would
consider a great ‘tourist trap’. Our quick stop ended up being a two hour excursion
around the area looking at everything they had to offer. We had a great time, and while
we were at one last store making a purchase, I happened to ask the person behind the
register if the restaurant across the street was a good place to eat. With a look of distain
on her face she replied ‘no’. Needless to say, we did eat at a different local
establishment, but I questioned how many others she had said that to that day, that
week, and this year.
Employees of customer service businesses are often the first impression visitors
get of the town and all it has to offer. Do your employees know how to answer
questions tactfully and offer suggestions to tourists coming through Aberdeen? Are
they aware of the business and services Aberdeen offers, and attractions to make their
trip enjoyable? Interaction with customer service employees can often change the
overall opinion of a traveler’s enjoyment of their trip.
Travel and tourism is a $1.95 billion industry in South Dakota. In total, tourism
provides 1 in 11 jobs in the state and generates $291 million in tax revenue. Without
this additional revenue from tourism, each household in South Dakota would be
responsible for $878 in additional taxes!
When travelers enjoy their stay and feel a connection with the area they visit,
they make sure to share their stories with friends and family. Encourage your employees
to be ambassadors of the Aberdeen area, and share with visitors what they like in town.
Informing visitors of events, areas of interest, and favorite places helps visitors engage
with the area, and can make a lasting impact towards their feelings of their vacation
destination.
The Aberdeen Area CVB has a variety of information about the city of Aberdeen,
and the surrounding area. If you are interested in learning more so you can share with
your staff and visitors, please stop by our office at 10 Railroad Ave SW or call us at
605.225.2414.

5. Aberdeen Area Events
2015 was a year full of events and activities for Aberdeen, but like with all good things, it must come to
an end. That is not to say that 2016 won’t be another great year for our fine city! Organizations and
committees are already planning events for this year, and there is a lot going on. Here’s a quick rundown
of what’s coming in the following months.
January will host the 70th
Annual Snow Queen Festival at the Aberdeen Civic Arena. This festival includes
the Junior Snow Queen competition on January 9, and the crowning of the Snow Queen on January 16.
January will also include a Chicago Tribute Band named Transit Authority on January 23rd, and the
second annual citywide Yogathon on January 30th.
Viking fans can rejoice – Chuck Forman will be the speaker for the Boys & Girls Club Awards Banquet at
the Dakota Event Center on February 26! You can also check out the Winter Big Boy Toy Show on
February 13-14 and the Ag Expo on February 23-25, both scheduled at the DEC. Across town, the
Ramkota will be hosting the Bridal Style Show on February 21 and Safe Harbor’s Mardi Gras on February
27.
With Easter on March 27, the yearly Easter Egg Scramble, sponsored by the Aberdeen Optimist Club will
be on March 26th
out at Wylie Park Pavilion. And, Aberdeen will be seeing the Shrine Circus at the Civic
Arena early this year. Mark your calendars for March 24-26 to attend this family fun event. You should
also check out The Diamonds, presenting “Bandstand Boogie!” brought to you by Aberdeen Community
Concerts.
This is just a small snippet of events happening in our city this winter. To check out all of the activities
happening in town go to: VisitAberdeenSD.com/AreaEvents. If you are an organizer of an event, and
want to be listed on the Aberdeen calendar, please contact Sabrina at smetz@VisitAberdeenSD.com.