Just Ask For Jill: South Carolina's Free Tourism Marketing Resource for Small Businesses
What Just Ask For Jill Does
Just Ask For Jill is a free marketing resource run by the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism that helps small tourism businesses—hotels, restaurants, attractions, tour operators, and event venues—reach visitors planning trips to South Carolina. The program connects your business with the state's official tourism channels, including the state tourism website, social media, email newsletters, and visitor guides. You don't pay to participate, and you don't need a large marketing budget to get visibility.
The program is named after Jill Darlington, a longtime South Carolina tourism advocate. It exists because many small businesses lack the resources to market themselves statewide or nationally, even though they draw visitors and contribute to South Carolina's tourism economy. Just Ask For Jill bridges that gap by letting the state's tourism office amplify your message to people already looking for things to do in South Carolina.
Key Takeaways
- Just Ask For Jill is a free program that promotes small tourism businesses through South Carolina's official state tourism channels, including the visitSC website and social media accounts.
- The program accepts submissions from hotels, restaurants, attractions, tour operators, event venues, and other tourism-related businesses of any size.
- You submit information about your business, upcoming events, or seasonal offerings directly to the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism, which decides what to feature.
- Featured businesses appear on visitSC.com, in email newsletters sent to thousands of visitors, and on the state's social media pages, reaching people actively planning South Carolina trips.
- There are no fees, no membership requirements, and no obligation to purchase advertising—participation is entirely voluntary and costs nothing.
How to Submit Your Business or Event
Contact the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism directly with details about your business, a recent photo, and information about what makes your offering unique or timely. You can reach them through the visitSC.com website or by calling their main office. Have ready a brief description of your business (what you offer, your location, your hours), a high-quality photo, and any details about special events, seasonal promotions, or new offerings you want highlighted.
The state tourism office reviews submissions and decides which businesses and events to feature based on visitor interest, seasonality, and what's already being promoted. There's no formal application process—you're simply providing information that the state's marketing team can use if they choose to. Submissions can be made year-round, and seasonal businesses should submit information about upcoming seasons well in advance.
If your business is selected for promotion, the state will feature it on visitSC.com, mention it in newsletters, or share it on social media. You'll typically be notified before the feature goes live so you can prepare for increased interest.
What Kinds of Businesses Can Participate
Just Ask For Jill welcomes tourism-related businesses of all sizes. This includes hotels and accommodations, restaurants and food establishments, attractions and museums, tour operators and guides, event venues and conference centers, outdoor recreation businesses, artisan shops and galleries, and bed-and-breakfasts. If your business draws visitors to South Carolina or serves people traveling through the state, you can submit information.
The program doesn't exclude businesses based on size or location. A small family restaurant in a rural town, a one-person tour guide service, and a large resort all have equal access to submit. The state's tourism office decides what to promote based on what will interest visitors, not on how big your business is or how much you spend on marketing elsewhere.
Where Your Business Gets Promoted
Featured businesses appear on visitSC.com, South Carolina's official tourism website, which receives hundreds of thousands of visits each year from people planning trips. The site includes destination guides, event calendars, and business listings organized by region and category. When your business is featured, it typically appears in relevant sections—restaurants show up in dining guides, attractions in activity listings, and events in the calendar.
The state also promotes featured businesses through its email newsletters, which go out to subscribers who have expressed interest in visiting South Carolina. These newsletters highlight seasonal activities, upcoming events, and special offerings. Additionally, the South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism shares featured businesses and events on its social media accounts, reaching followers on Facebook, Instagram, and other platforms.
Print materials, including visitor guides distributed at welcome centers and tourism offices across the state, may also feature your business depending on the season and available space.
Why Small Businesses Use Just Ask For Jill
For small tourism businesses, traditional statewide marketing is expensive. Buying ads in travel magazines, running social media campaigns, or hiring a marketing firm costs money that many small operators don't have. Just Ask For Jill removes that barrier by offering free promotion through channels that already reach people actively planning South Carolina trips.
Being featured on visitSC.com and in state tourism materials also builds credibility. Visitors trust the state's official tourism office to recommend quality businesses, so a feature carries weight that a business's own website might not. Small restaurants, local attractions, and independent tour operators report that state tourism promotion brings steady visitor traffic, especially during peak seasons.
The program also works well for seasonal or event-based promotions. If you're hosting a special event, launching a new offering, or promoting a seasonal menu, submitting that information to Just Ask For Jill gets it in front of people planning trips during that exact time period.
What Information You'll Need to Provide
When you submit your business or event, have the following ready: your business name and location, a brief description of what you offer (50 to 100 words works well), your website and phone number, hours of operation, and a high-quality photo. If you're promoting a specific event or seasonal offering, include dates, times, and any entry fees or reservations required.
The photo should be recent and show your business, your product, or your event in action. A clear, well-lit image performs better on websites and social media than a dark or blurry one. If you're promoting a restaurant, a photo of a signature dish helps. For an attraction, a photo showing visitors enjoying the space works well. For an event, a photo from a previous year or a promotional image is appropriate.
You don't need a professional headshot or expensive photography—a good smartphone photo is fine as long as it's clear and represents your business honestly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is there a cost to participate in Just Ask For Jill?
No. Just Ask For Jill is completely free. There are no fees, membership costs, or hidden charges. The South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism runs the program as part of its mission to promote tourism across the state.
How long does it take to get featured after I submit?
There's no set timeline. The state tourism office reviews submissions and decides what to feature based on visitor interest and seasonality. Some submissions are featured within weeks; others may take longer or may not be featured at all. Seasonal submissions submitted well in advance have a better chance of being included in relevant guides and newsletters.
Can I submit multiple times or update my information?
Yes. You can submit new information about events, seasonal offerings, or changes to your business. If your business has already been featured and you have a new event or promotion to highlight, you can submit that information separately. Keep the state tourism office updated if your hours, contact information, or offerings change significantly.
What if my business isn't selected for promotion?
The state tourism office receives many submissions and can't feature every business. Not being selected doesn't mean your business isn't good—it may simply mean the office is already promoting similar businesses in your area or category. You can submit again with different information or at a different time of year.
Do I have to do anything after my business is featured?
No obligations. Once your business is featured, you simply benefit from the exposure. You don't need to purchase advertising, sign a contract, or promote the state tourism office in return. The partnership is one-way: the state promotes you, and you continue running your business.