Blue Mound Digital offers new local marketing opportunites

The Rock County Star Herald is offering a new type of advertising, Blue Mound Digital Marketing.
Screens are located in businesses throughout the area (Luverne, Pipestone, Adrian, Brandon) and display 15-second high-definition animated clips that can be changed monthly or seasonally.
The Luverne Economic Development Authority discussed the local marketing business during its Monday morning meeting and approved $2,700 worth of advertising in the coming year.
LEDA director Holly Sammons explained the concept, using Salon 75 as an example.
“They have a screen up in their salon and it just continually rolls a digital message so everyone sitting there, a captive audience, basically sees that message as many times as it repeats during their one- or two-hour appointment,” Sammons said.
The EDA will be running ads monthly at a discounted rate for the first year as the business launches.
City ads will focus on seasonal opportunities — such as the new electric bike rentals, residential lot sales and a variety of “quality of life” amenities offered in Luverne.
In addition to the Star Herald office, Luverne screens are located in Howling Dog, Salon 75 and WildFlower Coffee Boutique.
Participating in Brandon are Tailgators Grill & Bar, El Tapatio Mexican Restaurant, 212 The Boiling Point, Happy Nails and Anytime Fitness.
Pipestone businesses with Blue Mound Digital screens are Stonehouse & Quarry Lounge, Los Tulipanes Mexican Restaurant.
Also, the Edgerton Deputy Registrar has a screen, as does The Sports Pages Bar & Grill in Adrian.
“These are places within driving distance of Luverne,” Sammons said. “So, hopefully this gives us a little exposure to a new market.”
As the list grows, so will the length of the digital loop.
“We were one of the first ones to sign up, so our 15-second ad will run in the queue consecutively on every screen in all those locations all the time,” Sammons said.
“If there are only 20 people advertising, then they see our ad every 20 times. If there are 200 people advertising, then they see our ad every 200 times, so there is an advantage to being early to get some of that preliminary exposure.”
LEDA received a 10 percent discount for paying in advance a year up front.
She showed the LEDA board the city’s 15-second ad that currently features the electric bike rental program.
As a side note she provided e-bike rental statistics. There were 111 rentals in the month of June and 41 so far in July.
“It’s been a very fun program to watch take off,” Sammons said. “And I think the bikes are very well received.”
Luverne building official Chad McClure has assisted riders with problems such as mechanical or with the operating application.