Request for Proposals
Visit Natchez Digital Marketing Services
Proposals will be due by 5:00pm CST on Monday, September 30, 2024.
DELIVERY REQUIREMENTS
Submittals must be marked “Request for Proposals: Digital Marketing Services Limited
Duration/COVID- 19 Recovery” and delivered to Visit Natchez, 500 Main Street, Suite One, Natchez, MS, 39120 or via email at lynsey@visitnatchez.org.
MISSION STATEMENT
The mission of the NCPC and Visit Natchez as the city’s official destination marketing organization is to increase the economic impact of tourism in Natchez by developing and promoting the city to individual and group visitors.
ABOUT VISIT NATCHEZ
The Natchez Convention Promotion Commission and Visit Natchez (hereinafter referred to as NCPC) was established by authority of the Mississippi Legislature for the purpose of encouraging and promoting tourism for the Natchez/Adams County area. This commission is appointed by the Mayor and Board of Aldermen of the City of Natchez.
The NCPC is Natchez’s liaison between potential visitors to the area and the businesses that will host them when they come. It acts as a marketing organization, as an information clearing house, and as a promotional agency for the City and its attractions. It also has fiduciary responsibility for how the tourism taxes funding the NCPC’s activities are spent.
ABOUT NATCHEZ
Originally inhabited by the Natchez Indians and founded in 1716 as a French settlement, Natchez, Mississippi is the oldest city in the state and one of the oldest cities in the country. Located on the bluffs overlooking the Mississippi River, we are known not only for our historic buildings, homes and churches, National Park sites, ancient Indian mounds, and the Natchez Trace Parkway, but also for magnificent sunsets, delicious cuisine, a vibrant art and music scene, outdoor adventures, walking trails, and events all year long. The travel and tourism industry has long been a major driver of the local economy, with employment over 20%, and supports hotels, B&B’s, restaurants, shops, tour companies by welcoming visitors from around the world. Natchez has a rich history to share including the stories of the Natchez Indians, pre-civil war houses and architecture, African American history from slavery to the civil rights
era, women’s groups who saved the city from bankruptcy and irrelevancy. In addition to our unique history, Natchez is also looking forward with a vibrant experience for travelers including a burgeoning movie production scene, the largest assortment of bed and breakfasts in the country, riverboat cruise ships and authentic Natchez shopping and dining. The cultural background in Natchez is very diverse with not only a strong parity of black and white demographics, but also a rich tradition of women leadership and a growing LGBTQ community.
Natchez faces an opportunity to drive a greater volume of visitation with travelers looking for a new adventure as we emerge from the pandemic and travel restrictions. Post COVID-19, we must be prepared to inspire travel and capture our share of the market to help aid in economic recovery for Natchez and the tourism industry. We have a new story to tell and are looking to create a new brand to help define and represent our path forward.
More details can be found on our website: visitnatchez.org
OBJECTIVE & SCOPE OF WORK
This RFP has been issued to seek qualified digital marketing agencies with extensive experience working with the tourism industry and can demonstrate the necessary experience and creativity to create and implement digital marketing campaign. The campaign will be for two twelve-month periods (2025 and 2026) and designed to increase brand awareness and promote the Natchez brand messaging to target designated market areas and must provide additional focus to aspiring demographics, Generation-X, African-Americans. The selected agency will work closely with the NCPC and our other marketing partners, Madden Media (Website, SEO) and the Lou Hammond Group (Public Relations) to develop new content and ensure a cohesive and coordinated strategy. The scope of work includes:
·
Comprehensive digital marketing strategy including:
- Targeted Digital Display
- Geofencing / Mobile ads
- Email marketing
- Paid Social media (Facebook & Instagram)
- Online Pre-Roll video
- Content marketing (Sponsored articles)
The campaign must include monthly campaign reporting including Google Analytics analysis and robust visitor attribution tracking.
The NCPC will provide the new brand logo and brand guidance to the selected agency.
AVAILABLE RESOURCES
Until an agency is selected, the Executive Director will be designated as your contact and will coordinate any materials needed or questions answered. The Executive Director will be available to conduct a Q&A call should you have any questions. Once the agency is selected, the agency will collaborate with the full staff as well as with our marketing partners.
TIMELINE
- Proposals will be due by 5:00pm CST on Monday, September 30, 2024.
- A committee of staff and commissioners will review the proposals and may request a presentation either in person or via video conference with agencies prior to making a final decision by October 11, 2024.
- The committee will submit a recommendation to the NCPC Board of Commissioners by October 14, 2024.
- Final decision will be made by October 16, 2024, and the selected company will subsequently be notified as well as notices to all submitting companies
- Work should begin by or before January 6, 2025.