Electronic Advertising

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Exploreminnesota.com

We continue to improve our consumer Web site at exploreminnesota.com. The latest upgrade includes mapping of all of the events, attractions and lodging properties in our database. Enhanced mapping on the regions section of the site will launch end of January 2009.

ExploreMinnesota.com receives more than 3 million visits from potential travelers annually. And we expect that to  just keep getting better! In 2009, we will be putting our resources toward getting visitors directly to your businesses.

- TV ads will drive traffic directly to ExploreMinnesota.com
- Online ads on Google, Yahoo!, Star Tribune, accuweather.com, Kare 11 and more will drive traffic directly to ExploreMinnesota.com
- We are making extra efforts to assure that our Web site is search engine optimized (SEO) so that ExploreMinnesota.com will show up high in all relevant searches done through all search engines on the World Wide Web

Advertising opportunities on exploreminnesota.com

Enhanced listings - Web Package A, A for DMOs and B
Deals
Search results sponsorship
Graphic ads
Explore Minnesota e-newsletter

Web Package A $275/year
Tourism businesses and organizations may add two photos and 150-word description of your business on your businesses’ individual page on ExploreMinnesota.com. In addition, your business will receive a photo, 25-word summary and link to your Web site in search results.

Did you know? Web site users are three times more likely to click on search results that contain a photo.


Web Package A for Destination Marketing Organizations $275/year
Includes the above Web Package A, AND placement of your destination on our Web site’s brochure order page (for the same low price of $275/year). This feature could lead to hearing directly from more travelers interested in exploring your area of the state.

Web Package B $600/year
Receive all the benefits of Web Package A plus additional (up to four) photos, 300-word description of your business.

Added bonus: Search Results Sponsorship for one month.
Once you see how well this feature works, you may also purchase additional months of Search Results Sponsorship at for half price – just $100/month - half off the retail price!

Deals - $300/year
You may post updated “deals” on exploreminnesota.com on an ongoing basis. In addition to a special Deals Section on the site itself, the posted deals populate the right-hand column of many pages of the site and are used in our weekly e-mail to customers who have signed up for the Explore Minnesota Deals Newsletter.

Notes: To qualify, deals must represent some percentage off the retail price for those services, or an additional benefit included in the services. Explore Minnesota Tourism reserves the right to remove deals that are not updated at least monthly.

Search Results Sponsorship - $200/month
When an exploreminnesota.com user does a search for a business like yours, your listing will come up as one of the top rotating, highlighted properties for all relevant search results. You may choose the month(s). With a Web Package B, you get one month free, and can purchase additional months for $100 per month.

Additional Advertising on exploreminnesota.com

The following may be may be purchased by Minnesota tourism organizations and businesses, as well as companies and organizations that promote travel and tourism in the state of Minnesota. You need not be in Explore Minnesota Tourism database to purchase these ads.

Graphic Ads - $300/monthGraphic ads allow users to “click through” to your Web site and offer a great way to show customers the personality of your business. You may choose to put your ad on many exciting pages, such as a dedicated “camping” or “bed and breakfast” page to maximize the exposure of your ad to the audience you want to capture.

Ads are priced based on exposure. All of our graphic ads are page-specific and will rotate randomly. Ads per page are limited, so reserve your space early!

Notes: Graphic ads must be designed by the advertiser and approved by Explore Minnesota Tourism. These ads may be designed as complete graphics, or as combined graphics and text. Graphic ads are 144 pixels wide x 154 pixels tall. Ads should not be more than 20k. Preferred formats are .jpg or .gif. See the Terms and Conditions of the Advertising Contract for further specifications.

Sponsorship of Explore Minnesota e-newsletter - $1500/issue
This opt-in, targeted newsletter reaches those who have requested electronic information about Minnesota six times a year. If you’re looking for a qualified audience, you need look no further!

Sponsorship of the Explore Minnesota e-newsletter will be limited to a maximum of three advertisers per issue, on a first come, first-served basis. Contact our sales representatives for availability.

Contacts:
For the Northwest, Central and Southern Regions:
David Bergman
218.681.0997, 888.563.7777
david.bergman@state.mn.us

For the Northeast Region and Minneapolis St. Paul Area:
Tim Campbell
218.723.4692, 888.876.6784
tim.campbell@state.mn.us

Explore Minnesota Tourism
121 7th Place East, Suite 100
Saint Paul, MN 55101

Advertisers are solely responsible for any information they include within their advertising on exploreminnesota.com. Explore Minnesota Tourism reserves the right to remove any language deemed to be offensive, misleading, inaccurate or that in any way is not in the best interest of Minnesota tourism.

Explore Minnesota Tourism reserves the right to make final determination of appropriate advertising. Information about the sale of property, time share, or membership is prohibited from listings. Explore Minnesota Tourism reserves the right to edit listings, and to periodically review listings for continued eligibility.

Search Engine Optimization Copywriting Best Practices

Studies show that more than 80% of Internet users begin their time online with a search engine. Many of these searches are for the very products and services you offer, and we want to increase the likelihood that your page on exploreminnesota.com will come up near the top of search results.

To learn how to best optimize your content for search engines read this post:
Search Engine Optimization Copywriting Best Practices

Enhancement Programs & Pricing Details (updated for 2009)

2009 EMT Web Advertising Contract

Instructions for updating your listing and advertising on exploreminnesota.com

How to Read and Understand Your Ad Metrics

View or download video instructions about updating your listing and advertising on exploreminnesota.com

Free Listing!
Your Minnesota tourism business or organization may be eligible for a free listing in the extensive Explore Minnesota Tourism database, which fuels our Web site. This database is also used in some of our publications and by our Minnesota based travel counselors to answer consumers’ questions and offer one-on-one customized travel planning.

List your qualifying business, organization or event in Explore Minnesota Tourism’s database at extranet.exploreminnesota.com.

Adding a link back to exploreminnesota.com from your site may also improve your ranking in search results.

Contact: Kimberly Clarke
651.757.1842, 800.657.3737
kim.fitzgerald@state.mn.us