HomeMy WebLinkAbout4.2 2021 Budget Project & Initiatives Presentation
TO: Board of Directors, Cottage Grove Convention and Visitors Bureau
FROM: Matt Wolf, Assistant to the City Administrator
DATE: January 22, 2021
RE: 2021 Budget Project & Initiatives Presentation
Background
At the January 22, 2021 Cottage Grove Convention and Visitor’s Bureau Board of Directors
meeting key priorities were finalized as part of the 2021 budget discussion. These items are in
the table below and are all incorporated into the final budget.
Table 1. 2021 Marketing Priorities and Objectives for the Cottage Grove Convention and Visitor's Bureau from the November
23, 2020 CGCVB Board of Directors Meeting.
2021 Marketing Priorities
Photography - $3,500
Digital and Print Advertising (Havefunbiking.com and Let's Play Hockey) - $4,100
360 Degree Marketing Videos for Wedding and Events Venues - $4,000
Web Advertising (Google AdWords and Facebook Ads) - $5,800
Logo and Contact Information Marketing (Parks Signs, Window Clings, etc.) - $400
Dasher Board Ad at Ice Arena - $1,250
Tournament Support - $2,000
Discussion
With the 2021 budget approved staff wanted to go into more detail on the plan to carryout each
strategy and initiative for the Board of Directors to give their thoughts. Each budget item will be
given an update as part of the meeting on Tuesday, January 26. For the sake of brevity and
clarity each item is bullet-pointed below with key topics to be presented during the meeting.
1. Photography - $3,500
a. Sievers Creative has invoiced the Visitor’s Bureau for $1,250 for a day long photo
shoot that includes photo editing. Sievers Creative invoiced the Visitor’s Bureau in
November and the was paid for as part of the Washington County Limited
Convention and Visitor Bureau Assistance Program.
i. Session would take place this summer, ideally when larger gatherings could
occur.
ii. Pictures for the day long photo shoot would include:
1. River Oaks Golf Course and Event Center
2. Restaurant and Dining Options
Board of Directors, Cottage Grove Convention and Visitors Bureau
January 22, 2021
Page 2 of 4
3. Ice Hockey Arena (3 on 3 Tournament)
4. Kayaking at Hazen P. Mooers
5. Kids at Play in Major Parks (i.e. Highlands, Woodridge, etc.)
6. Recreation on Trails/Paths in the Community
7. Country Inn & Suite, Wakota Inn, and Hope Glen Tree House
b. Nathan Klok Photography who the City of Cottage Grove has wo rked with at a rate
of $250/picture
c. Mr. Klok’s work has been used extensively by the City in the EDA Marketing Booth
recently completed, Annual Report, and many other professional documents
d. The Visitor Bureau would use the $3,500 to work with Mr. Klok to take more
pictures of events throughout the year (i.e. Strawberry Fest, Business Showcase,
Kidsfest, etc.)
e. We would also utilize both Sievers Creative and Nathan Klok Photography on an
as needs basis for pictures needed to create ads for various publications.
2. Let’s Play Hockey - $1,650
a. Ice Arena hosts the Figure Skating Club, Hockey Association, Skating School,
East Ridge High School Boys Hockey Club, and Park High School Boys and Girls
Hockey Clubs
b. Use a $1,000 to advertise in Let’s Play Hockey from May to August for their
upcoming season hosted tournaments
c. Use $100 to place white stick logos on the entry of doors at the Cottage Grove Ice
Arena
d. The Parks and Recreation Department will be hosting a 3 on 3 tournament utilizing
the South Rink and would use $550 for social media advertising, lobby banner,
dasher board ad, and potential gift item
3. Havefunbiking.com - $2,450
a. Havefunbiking.com is a popular advertising of up to 300,000 digitial downloads
and 30,000 printed guides
b. Advertising would include a map of Cities trails and a blog post discussing biking
in the community.
c. Annual pricing is $2,450 and would include a second publication in LetdoMN at no
charge
d. Goes to press by the end of March, distribution through Ap ril and in use by Mid-
May
e. Digital version is updated every quarter
4. Wedding and Event Venues Marketing Videos - $4,000
a. Given the current climate of the tourism and wedding event venues, the Visitor
Bureau would delay these videos until later in the year.
5. Web Advertising through Social Media (Google AdWords and Facebook Ads) -
$5,800
Board of Directors, Cottage Grove Convention and Visitors Bureau
January 22, 2021
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a. Staff met with Sievers Creative and Skol Advertising to discuss advertising through
social media
b. Both companies stated that for the best service they would recommend $5,000 a
month for a full package, which includes running the Visitors Bureau social media
accounts with posts, Google AdWords, and Facebook Banner Ads.
c. Currently the Visitor Bureau only has $600/month to spend on web advertising so
Sievers Creative gave us a quote of $600 a month with the running ads starting in
April through December
d. Staff is discussing what is the best method for running social media for the Visitor
Bureau moving forward with a goal to average 3-5 posts a week
e. Services would include online ad campaigns with monthly reporting and ad design
with content creation
6. Logo and Contact Information Marketing (Park Signs, Window Clings) - $400
a. Place Discover Cottage Grove stickers on Park Building Doors at $15 a piece in
April of 2021
b. Place stencil of Visitor Bureau logo on various park paths around Cottage Grove at
cost of $100 for the stencil in May of 2021
c. Install window cling shades at Hearthside (2) and Peter Thompson (2) for a total
cost of $700 in June of 2021
d. Place Park Post Stickers at Cottage Grove Parks at $3 a piece in April of 2021
e. Place Door Window Clings at $10 each in March of 2021
7. Dasher Board Ad at Ice Arena - $1,250
a. Item was included in the Washington County Limited Convention and Visitor
Bureau Assistance Program and is currently installed.
b. Dasher Board Ad is complete and installed through 2022.
8. Hockey Tournament Support - $2,000
a. Staff will be meeting with the Hockey Association on promoting the Turkey
Tournament and bring teams from outside the metropolitan area to utilize our
hotels
Board of Directors, Cottage Grove Convention and Visitors Bureau
January 22, 2021
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b. Meeting will be setup to discuss the details of the support once the Visitor Guide is
complete in April
Recommendation
Review the plans for the 2021 Projects and Initiatives and give comments or suggestions for
changes.