f . Marketing and Communications

Marketing and Communications

GOED Marketing and Communications (MarComm) is the voice of the state of Utah to the business community . We promote Utah as a premier global business destination and a business friendly environment where companies can grow, engage and prosper . We provide strategic communication direction to support the GOED programs with public relations, social media, digital and traditional advertising, events and branding . MarComm serves our programs as an in-house service center for public awareness and promotional needs .

Achievements

Public Relations: The team distributed or assisted with 72 press releases and facilitated more than 116 interviews and media requests resulting in coverage from local media as well as Bloomberg News, U .S .A Today, Company Week, Business Facilities and La Nacional Argentina. In the fiscal year, there were more than 200 articles mentioning GOED programs, state economic development initiatives and Utah accolades . Events: To support program activities and general awareness, MarComm managed out-of-state trade shows, governor’s business development trips, and business marketing sponsorships and in-state events. This represented 17 large events (such as Economic Summit, AUVSI, Governor’s No . California trip, and Science Medals dinner) and 45 small events (such as exhibit tables at MWCN and Women Tech events) . Online Marketing: MarComm maintains active web, social media and email communication channels . The business .utah .gov website, which includes searchable databases for corporate recruitment and an up-to-date newsroom, anchors these efforts. For the fiscal year, web users rose 4 .4 percent from 130,528 to 135,932 . Through use of promoted posts, social media followers have increased 15.8 percent year-over-year from 9,210 to 10,666 . Posts promoted events and services, and highlighted trends and economic accolades . Monthly emails to general business contacts extended awareness-building efforts to 12,369 individuals, up 17.2 percent from last year’s 10,551 . Initiatives: The team was instrumental in supporting the expansion of strategic industry cluster initiatives such as the Aerospace and Diesel Tech Pathways Programs, the Outdoor Recreation Grant Program, and Technology Commercialization and Innovation Program promotion . In addition, the team supported the Point of the Mountain Development Commission, Inland Port Committee and the development of the 25K Jobs Initiative . Business Support: Five print and three radio ads with Utah-based publications and stations promoted PTAC, Broadband and other GOED services . A total of 30 sponsorships drove awareness with stakeholders and out-of-state business visitors. Key efforts included the Utah Technology Council, Sundance Film Festival activities, VentureCapital .org and Utah Hispanic Chamber of Commerce .

In addition, the team produced 139 GOED senior management public presentations to local business and community groups . These presentations routinely cover the range of services GOED offers . MarComm will lead GOED’s Business Elevated branding campaign, including the launch of a redesigned business .utah .gov . In addition, MarComm will expand both earned and owned media through various social media outlets, multi-media content and proactive media pitching . The team will work closely with each program to assist in telling the GOED story .

Contact

Aimee Edwards

Communications Director 801-538-8811 edwards@utah.gov