DES MOINES, Iowa (March 3, 2020) – Catch Des Moines was recognized at the 2020 Iowa Tourism Awards for Outstanding Social Media Execution for their “S’s Are Silent” video campaign. The awards were presented this afternoon at the annual Iowa Tourism Conference held at the Hilton Des Moines Downtown.
“We’re honored to have this campaign acknowledged by our travel industry peers,” said Catch Des Moines President & CEO Greg Edwards. “This campaign is our most successful marketing initiative ever by nearly every metric, and it does a wonderful job conveying the message that we preach every day: Des Moines is fun! The S’s may be silent, but our social content is undoubtedly creating a buzz.”
Outstanding Social Media Execution honors a business for excellence in social media strategy. Launched in September, the “S’s Are Silent” video campaign includes a :30 commercial spot, five :15 spots, and four long-form commercials staring local actor Scott Siepker (“Iowa Nice Guy”). The series playfully highlights iconic Greater Des Moines food and drink, arts and culture, things to do, and seasonal attractions.
In the first four months, the videos amassed nearly 2 million views on social media and were featured and shared everywhere from Reddit to CNN. The videos feature more than 50 local businesses and attractions and have even been used by metro communities as a recruiting tool to showcase the region to potential talent.
The Catch Des Moines video strategy also includes the “Des Best” series, highlighting authentic Greater Des Moines experiences such as Steak de Burgo, the Downtown Farmer’s Market, the Iowa State Fair, and the High Trestle Trail. The integrated “S’s Are Silent” campaign encompasses digital display ads, print, radio, pre-roll, and television.
The award is the second honor the videos have received in the past month, following a win for “Best Internet Commerical” at the American Advertising Federation awards in February. To view the videos, go to www.catchdesmoines.com/videos.
The Iowa Tourism Conference brings together travel and tourism industry representatives from across the state for three days of educational sessions, networking, and the This is Iowa Legislative Showcase. The 2020 conference runs through Wednesday. For a full list of award winners or photos of the award ceremony, contact Mandy McWherter at mandy@catchdesmoines.com.
About Catch Des Moines
Catch Des Moines is the official destination marketing organization promoting and representing Greater Des Moines to leisure travelers and meeting planners. As the visitors’ and meeting professionals’ trusted partner, we elevate the visitor experience by connecting the functional to the aspirational. Our focus is to drive economic success for our more than 840 partners and enhance the quality of life in the 15 Greater Des Moines communities we represent. For more information, visit catchdesmoines.com.
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