Case Study
San Marcos Talent Earned Media
Economic Development
Background
The tri-county Greater San Marcos Region – located at the heart of the Texas Innovation Corridor between Austin and San Antonio – sought to put a spotlight on what makes the area a great place not just for business, but to visit and live as well.
Strategy
For 5+ years, DCI’s media relations worked with the Greater San Marcos Partnership (GSMP) to position the area as the next up-and-coming location to live and work outside of Austin. DCI focused on hosting reporters to experience the region’s many attractions in-person. DCI secured and coordinated press trips and individual media visits for reporters from Thrillist, Epoch Times, Zagat and more – each trip with a unique focus, whether that be a culinary tour of the region or a journey through the hiking trails and down the famous San Marcos river. Hays County – one of the three counties located in the Greater San Marcos Region – is consistently named one of the fastest growing counties in the country. DCI wanted to tell the story of why people are flocking to Greater San Marcos.
Results
Since beginning work with GSMP in 2015, DCI has placed more than 50 talent-focused articles, resulting in 238K global impressions and over $1.3 million in ad equivalency. Targeting young professionals, families and retirees alike, San Marcos has been featured in The Epoch Times, Southern Living, CNBC and more as a top place to live, visit and work. In fact, Thrillist dubbed Greater San Marcos “The Coolest Small Town in Texas”