Social Media Case Studies

The annual Minnesota State Fair is one of the most popular tourist destinations in the region. In 2024, the fair saw 1,925,904 guests Aug. 22 to Sept. 2. This overview of the State Fair's 2024 marketing & communications strategies will cover organic social strategy, paid digital advertising and community management at a large volume and how social media can drive internal operations of one of Minnesota’s largest annual events.

Presenters:

Maria Hayden is Marketing & Social Media Supervisor overseeing organic social channels, serving as spokesperson and contributing to all things digital marketing for the Great Minnesota Get-Together.
Blaire Huneke is Marketing & Guest Services Supervisor overseeing information services, guest relations, accessibility programming and marketing materials for the State Fair.

Lola Red worked with Bally Sports USA and its affiliates to market this one-day event. The goal was to drive trial or subscription to Bally Sports Streaming services leading up to Hockey Day Minnesota, taking the IRL event to the small screen.

Presenter:

Alexis Walsko is the founder and visionary of Lola Red, the world-renowned creative PR agency with deep roots in Minneapolis. With a commitment to service and results, the agency continues to lead the evolution of public relations in the digital age to exceed client expectations of what authentic storytelling and a heavy dose of imagination can do for their business.

Join The Social Lights as Taylor Lovaas (Creative Director) and Saskia Van Riessen (Sr. Social Media Strategist) go behind some of our latest viral posts for brands like Totino’s, Pillsbury, Cinnamon Toast Crunch, and Gushers. Hear what it takes to decode fandom culture to create content that hits both brand strategy and community engagement.

Presenters:

Taylor Lovaas is a Creative Director at The Social Lights. As a former music journalist, he is inspired by pop culture and influence, contributing to his multiple Shorty, Webby and Addy award wins. Over his career, Taylor has built some of the Internet’s favorite social and influencer campaigns for brands like Totino’s, Gushers, Trolli, Essentia Water, and Heineken.
Saskia Van Riessen is a Senior Strategist at The Social Lights. As an expert culture decoder, Saskia’s pulse on audience and industry trends helps her create strategies for award-winning work like Totino’s, Oui, Haribo, and the Jackson Hole Travel & Tourism Board.

Improving is a modern digital services company that offers IT consulting, software development, and agile training across the globe.

8:00 am - Networking/Coffee & Breakfast (bagels and cream cheese, bacon, mini cheesecake)

8:25 am - Welcome/Announcements

8:30 am - Presentation

Host or Publisher Social Media Breakfast - Minneapolis/St. Paul