Member Benefits
As a member of Otter Tail Country Tourism Association you will receive benefits from a comprehensive marketing plan that would be too expensive and difficult to implement alone.
Internet Marketing:
With the advent of the Internet, tourism organizations were given a great marketing tool. Otter Tail Country is dedicated to making its web site an integral part of its marketing strategy. In 2007, OTC spent nearly $20,000 developing a state-of-the-art website.
A major benefit to our members is a free listing on OtterTailCountry.com. OTC also promotes the website (and our area) through internet advertising. These efforts include regular search engine optimization, pay per click advertisements, listings/links in niche directories, as well as tile and banner ads on popular websites.
Print Marketing:
Tourism in Otter Tail Country is also promoted through print advertising. Each year, various print advertisements are created and distributed throughout the upper Midwest.
OTC advertises in major metropolitan newspapers (e.g. St. Paul Pioneer Press, Minneapolis Star Tribune, Des Moines Register, Sioux City Journal, Omaha World Herald, Fargo Forum), national magazines (e.g In-Fisherman, North American Fisherman, AAA Home & Away), Minnesota State tourism publications (e.g. Hospitality MN - Where to Stay and Dine), ., including: rack cards at Travel Information Centers and the Explore Minnesota Tourism store.
Otter Tail Country Vacation Guide:
Otter Tail Country's Vacation Guide is the most professional and comprehensive publication for tourism information in Otter Tail Country. It is the ONLY publication that promotes the Otter Tail Country area broadly. Each year, more that 40,000 OTC Vacation Guides are distributed across the United States. The Vacation Guides are:
- Displayed and distributed in many local businesses.
- Mailed to potential visitors who request information through our
800-number or website. - Taken and distributed at sport shows.
- Displayed and distributed in tourism information centers, local rest areas,
local civic and commerce centers and at the Mall of America.
Click here for Vacation Guide application.
Sports Shows:
Sport shows continue to be a great place to contact potential guests. As a member of Otter Tail Country, you will be represented at some of the biggest and best sport shows in the region. Past sports shows include: St. Paul, Minneapolis, Des Moines, Grand Forks, Omaha, Council Bluffs, Sioux Falls, Cedar Falls, Cedar Rapids, and Fargo.
At each show, an OTC representative distributes the OTC Vacation Guide and member brochures while thousands of potential vacationers learn about Otter Tail Country. This benefit gives you great exposure without the cost of time and travel.
Events:
Over the past 30 years, OTC has organized and sponsored a wide range of events in the area. In fact, the Otter Tail Country Tourism Association was recently recognized by the state of Minnesota for bringing the Professional Walleye Tournament to our state.
This event attracted thousands of people to the area, brought in tens of thousands of dollars for local businesses and governmental agencies, and created close to $200,000 worth of advertising to be spent on Otter Tail County and surrounding areas.
