Advertising RFP Issued By Blythewood, South Carolina

The Town of Blythewood, South Carolina (the “Town”) is seeking the professional services of a qualified full service marketing, advertising and/or grant writing services agency to work with the Town in the development, implementation and evaluation of the Town’s strategic and integrated marketing program to promote the Town, Doko Manor, Doko Meadows Park, and the Palmetto Citizens Amphitheater as a travel-event destination to state, regional, national and international markets. The Town seeks a partner with experience in brand development and management, marketing, social media strategy, implementation, grant and market research. The successful firm shall assist the Town in the planning, development, creation and execution of various marketing and advertising programs in support of the Town’s tourism goals.

Background:

The Town desires to grow its economy by fostering sustainable tourism, economic development and effectively market the Town to increase visitation and improve the quality of life for all citizens. The Town wants to grow the tourism activities and in its broadest form, “put heads in beds”, “feet on fairways” and people in restaurants. The specific annual value of the contract is directly tied to the Town’s annual budget cycle and will fluctuate from year to year based on the budget allocated to tourism by Town Council each year and based on tourism marketing priorities in any given year.

Scope of Work:

The Town seeks a firm or joint venture with the ability to provide a broad range of marketing services, including:

• Research and strategic planning

· Account services

· Media planning, evaluation, negotiation, and purchasing

· Ad trafficking across all types of media

· Creative and production services for traditional and digital mediums and emerging mediums

· Cooperative advertising programs

· Interactive media

· Digital media

· Search engine optimization

· Search engine marketing

· Collateral

· Industry relations

· Web development and maintenance

· Web tracking/reporting

· Mobile application development and maintenance

· Mobile trafficking and reporting

· Public relations services

· Social media, analytics tracking and reporting

· Social media advertising

· Photography services and video production

· Measurement/tracking and reporting

· Subcontracting for goods and services as necessary to execute the Town’s marketing programs

· Accounting, billing, and invoice reconciliation

RFP SCHEDULE

The Town has established the following target dates for processing the RFP. The schedule for evaluation and award of this RFP is subject to change and can be affected by various interviewing events.

· Release Date

· Qualification Proposals Due Date (evaluation and interview, if needed, by selection committee)

· Selection Committee Recommendations for Approval to Council

· Approval of Selection Committee’s Recommendations by Council December 30, 2020 January 15, 2021 (5 p.m.) January 18, 2021 January 25, 2021

Due Date:

January 15, 2021 (5 p.m.)

Address:

171 Langford Road POB 1004 Blythewood, S.C. 29016 803-754-0501 www.townofblythewoodsc.gov

Relevant agencies to consider include Magrino PR and Hunter PR.