In order to help communities participate fully in and get the word out about Rooster Rush, the Office of Tourism has compiled a lot of useful information into the Rooster Rush Toolkit. We`ve included everything from a sample press release to media relations tips to a recipe for sidewalk paint. And, if you have questions or need assistance beyond what is offered here, we encourage you to contact us at 605-773-3301 or nicole.soukup@state.sd.us.
General Information | Media Relations | Social Media
General Information
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Media Relations
It`s no secret that South Dakota has more pheasants than any other state. What can be a secret is how great the pheasant hunting experience is in your community. We`ve included a sample press release that you can send out to your local media, but there are more stories to be told over the course of the season.
If you have an event, it`s never too early to start talking about it and the people behind the event. Even if all the details aren`t finalized, it is okay to talk about it and then keep the media posted on details as they emerge.
As a general rule, the media is looking for things that are new, different or relevant, and that`s a great place to start. The media is also looking for human interest, small business and trend stories, so build those into your arsenal of gaining publicity. One often overlooked way to gain media coverage is to ask your local reporters what types of pheasant hunting stories they are looking for. It works.
One common misperception is that you need to issue a press release to get your story out to the media. The fact is, a phone call or email is usually more effective when it contains an interesting story or story angle.
Here are some story angles that you might consider, or download a PDF of these Media Relations tips:
- Localize the economic impact and give it context and perspective. Think about this example: there were 7,399 out-of-state hunters in Brown County, which is almost 4.5 times the number of people that live in Groton. Out-of-state hunters spent $13.2 million in Brown County last year, which equates to $372 for every man, woman and child in the county.
- Do you know of a family who has four generations of hunters who get together every year for the opener?
- Does a business really roll out the red carpet for hunters? Highlight them and have them talk about what pheasant season means to them.
- What trends are you seeing? Are people staying longer, hunting later in the season, using GPS systems? Is there CRP land that has been put in production that has been replaced by public land?
- What youth programs do you have in the area to keep the traditions alive into the next generations?
- Do you have a group of women who hunt together every year?
- Who`s the oldest hunter in your community?
- You may have people who have overcome disabilities or are disabled and are still active hunters.
- Highlight a bed and breakfast that caters to hunters.
- Dogs are a part of the story for any hunting season. Spotlight how your community caters to the canine hunters.
- If you know of any international guests who come to South Dakota for the pheasant hunting season, let the media know and help to arrange an interview.
Keep in mind that not every story you pitch to the media is going to get picked up, but it`s like hunting: you`ll miss all the shots you don`t take.
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Social Media
You`ve undoubtedly heard of Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, Flickr and any number of blogs and forums. These social media outlets represent a great way to get your story out there. Hunters are part of a community all their own, and they are active participants in talking about the sport and the experience that they love.
Here are some examples of how you can make use of some of these outlets, or download a PDF of this Social Media information:
- Blogs and Forums: Creating your own blog is easy and inexpensive, and gives you the opportunity to be your own news channel. There are a number of blog platforms that have simple-to-use templates that you can use to create a blog for your pheasant hunting community and fans.
There are also a number of blogs and forums that attract thousands of hunters to share information and stories. Be a part of them. Make sure that you get engaged and let people on these websites know what your community has to offer as well as what their experience will be. Once you get a feel for the conversations that are taking place in the forums and blogs, jump in and tell your stories, post videos and photos, and give the readers the “insider`s guide” to hunting in your community.
Here`s a short list of popular blogs and forums that you can be a part of, and a quick Google search will give you many more:
- Facebook - www.facebook.com
It`s easy and free to start a Facebook fan page to build your community of hunters and make sure that they get your news, photos, discussions, and upcoming events. At the same time, Facebook gives your fans a chance to trade stories and interact as a part of your community.
- YouTube - www.youtube.com
Nothing captures the experience like video. YouTube gives you the opportunity to tell your story in video, whether it`s footage from your hunt, or an interview with your favorite hunting ambassador. Consider this: more than 2 billion videos are viewed on YouTube every day. Your video can be linked to your website, a blog post and just about anywhere.
- Twitter - www.twitter.com
Twitter is the fastest growing social medium giving people the opportunity to follow and be followed by people with similar interests. Many of the top news sites, outdoor magazines and blogs now have Twitter accounts that allow them to keep the conversations moving. The best part is, with tools like tinyurl.com, you can place links to your sites in the 140 character posts.
- Flickr - www.flickr.com
Flickr allows you to post photos of your community and the hunting experience into a searchable website that is viewed by millions every day.
If you decide to engage in one or more of these social media tools, make sure you are committed to keeping your blog or profile updated with current content.
We are here to help you! If you have a question, a story idea or just want to bounce an idea off of someone, give us a call. We have an experienced team of PR professionals that are ready to help you get your story out there. We would love to hear what you are doing and make sure that we coordinate everyone`s efforts in attracting hunters from all over the world to South Dakota.
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FOR INFORMATION
Please contact Wanda Goodman, Media & Public Relations Manager, for more information at 605-773-3301 or wanda.goodman@state.sd.us.
