Mixer highlights need for feedback for new site
By:
Leslie Silverman
The new Keystone tourism website was unveiled to about 30 people who attended a marketing outreach mixer at the KBarS in Keystone May 22.
“We’re in this together,” said Keystone Town Board president Casey McNulty, who alongside new director of tourism Laura Schluckebier formally introduced the new website to town board trustees, city staff, marketing consultants and business owners from the Keystone area.
“We’re all on the same team,” McNulty said. “We want it to be Keystone for the future.”
McNulty said it has been fantastic to partner with the Keystone Chamber of Commerce. He acknowledged his own choice of words in describing the relationship between the city and the chamber was not ideal and apologized for using the word “defunded” in the previous mixer meeting.
The new Keystone website, experiencekeystonesd.com, was created by HomeSlice Media with content provided by the city and the Keystone chamber. It is an additional place, along with the chamber website, for tourists to find out what there is to experience in Keystone. The website will feature a complete list of businesses in town, based on those that have acquired a business license.
Schluckebier said she is happy to have feedback on the site.
“It is a cumulative business listing ... if for some reason a business or organization is missing, please let me know,” she said.
The website displays Keystone as the “Home to Mt. Rushmore” and Schluckebier said anyone searching for Mt. Rushmore should also find the Keystone website in their search.
Although still a work in progress, Schluckebier hopes to have a robust calendar of events in town.
“Check out the website. Send me any events you have,” Schluckebier said.
Eventually people will be able to submit their own events to the calendar. The website also displays a town map and will also have the town history.
“If you see it, you want to do it,” said Schluckebier about how people go about finding a place to vacation. To that end, HomeSlice will take photos throughout the summer to showcase how to experience Keystone. The current stock images on the site will be removed as those more authentic photos are taken. Along with social media, the website will show visitors how to experience Keystone and why to come to the town. Analytics will be tracked and the marketing campaign will pivot as needed, Schluckebier said.
The campaign is also using animated and static images on Google search ads with terms like discover, navigate, explore as well as uncover and experience being highlighted.
“We want your guys’ feedback whether that’s criticism or positivity,” said McNulty. “We want to know what you guys want us to do as we move forward.”
Business owners and the city marketing team will host another free marketing mixer June 12 between 5-7 p.m. at Sprockets Fun Foundry.