Register as a Marketing Vendor

If you are a marketing professional interested in doing project work for state government, we’d like to hear from you. The Chief Marketing Office maintains a list of marketing vendors who provide marketing and creative services.

The State of Vermont is transitioning to a new contract management system. To prepare for the new system, we simplified the Prequalified Marketing Vendor Program. The Program is now a registration-based system that marketing vendors can add their details to. Previously, marketing vendors had to complete an application and request approval.

Registered vendors are included on the List of Registered Marketing Vendors. State agencies often refer to this list when they look for vendors to assist with marketing projects.  

Here are a few things to know about the Program: 

• Registration takes about 15 minutes.
• Registration does not expire.
• Registering as a Marketing Vendor does not guarantee any business from the State of Vermont.
• Any marketing vendor working with the State of Vermont needs to register with the Chief Marketing Office before beginning work for the State.
• Registered vendors must follow the applicable bidding processes outlined by the Secretary of Administration in Bulletin 3.5 and in the RFP.

• Registration Instructions
• List of Registered Marketing Vendors

Primary Marketing Service Categories  

There are 10 marketing service categories below. 

• Broadcast / Video Production
• Copywriting / Editing
• Campaign Concept and Message Development
• Digital Marketing and Communications
• Design and Print Production
• Primary Market Research
• Multi-Channel Integrated Campaign Strategy
• Media Strategy and Implementation
• Public Relations
• Photography

Read each definition carefully. The definitions will help you determine if the services you provide align with the State of Vermont's definition. 

Broadcast / Video Production

Develop videos that incorporate storytelling, creative thinking, and innovative approaches using visual design skills and technical production expertise. Services may include capturing moving images and manipulating raw footage into a creative video product, including pre-production (conceptualizing the idea and writing a script), production (actual shooting or recording) and post-production (video editing, sound editing, adding titles, etc.). Videos will be produced in a way that will be effective for the specific platforms they will run on, such as streaming platforms, social media accounts, virtual event spaces, TV, etc. Videos must meet accessibility requirements of Section 504 Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (508 Compliance). This category does NOT include media buying of air time or placement.

Copywriting / Editing

Implementing the creative concept into headlines, scripts and body copy. Reviewing materials for accuracy (usually to a source document provided by client) and style (according to purpose and client industry norms, such as The Associated Press Stylebook).

Campaign Concept and Message Development

Develop foundational campaign messaging and creative campaign concepts that will resonate with the audience and achieve intended outcome, including the look, feel, and tone of written copy and visual layouts. Establish measurable performance metrics to evaluate campaign success after messaging and creative deployment. May include the development of style guides and specifications for a variety of visual materials across printed and digital platforms.

Digital Marketing and Communications

Develop digital implementation strategies for a variety of platforms including websites, email, social media, and search engines. Services may include, but are not limited to, conducting content audits, establishing user personas, designing a user experience and consumer journey, developing written, graphic, and video content, email marketing, social media marketing, keyword analysis and search engine optimization, analytics and campaign reporting, and training for State employees for long-term management of digital platforms.

Design and Print Production

Develop creative assets to bring promotional campaigns to life and maximize impact. Tactics may include, but are not limited to, print collateral and advertising materials, outdoor installations, vehicle wraps, banners, signage, and tradeshow displays. Creative will align with the messages, targets, and objectives of the State entity specific project. Offer print production assistance, which includes supplying a variety vendor options, collecting bids to assure competitive pricing, and overseeing production schedules for timeliness and quality control. Creative meets accessibility requirements of Section 504 Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (508 Compliance).

Primary Market Research

Determine appropriate tactics to conduct qualitative and quantitative primary research (ie in-depth interviews, surveys, message testing) that will inform the development of communications and marketing efforts; conduct this research, analyze data, summarize the research and notable data points, and provide recommendations for effective marketing and communications efforts.

Multi-Channel Integrated Campaign Strategy

Develop strategies and tactics in the form of marketing plans and campaign proposals to lay an effective foundation for integrated, multi-channel marketing campaigns. This includes stated outcomes that can be measured after materials are deployed to gauge success. Services may include strategic positioning, goal development, target audience identification, prioritization of tactics, budgeting, development of performance metrics, and marketing training to build client capacity and skillsets.

Media Strategy and Implementation

Devise overall media campaign strategy and media plan utilizing the most advantageous channels for each audience or objective, to include but not be limited to: establish timelines and flight schedules, negotiate efficient buys and cost effective rates, develop value added opportunities with the media, traffic the placement and delivery of creative to media outlets, monitor campaigns to ensure insertion orders are properly executed, reconcile media invoices, provide detailed insertion orders and backup invoicing of all media expenses, and provide a post-campaign summary report of the maximum reach and frequency achieved to determine if goals and objectives were met.

Public Relations

Develop and execute strategies and tactics to communicate with the public across various platforms to build awareness and/or strengthen brand reputation.

This may include conducting communication audits, drafting and issuing press releases, creating press kits, crafting key messages, talking points, speeches and other content such as social posts or newsletter copy, hosting public events such as press conferences, arranging interviews, pitching stories, handling media requests, building relationships with partner organizations, media outlets, influencers, managing crisis communication, strengthening community relations, and public relations trainings that offer skill development opportunities.

Photography

Provide professional photography services and image processing for coordinated photo shoots or events, products, places, landscapes, people, etc. Services include shoot location planning and setup, on-site arrangement of subjects and lighting, and post-production image processing. The photography category is reserved for vendors who have dedicated staff resources to provide this service.

Please Note: This category should only be checked by vendors who have dedicated staff resources to provide this service.