City communications, marketing and branding

Why didn't you say so before? Waseca, Minn. residents want old slogan on new welcome signs

noreply@blogger.com (Tom Bullington) — Sat, 08 Aug 2009 03:24:00 +0000

Imagine this scenario: Your city has just spent thousands putting up new welcome signs at your community's entrances, including a significant amount of landscaping. The signs feature the city's revised slogan: "Discover Waseca."

Well, now that the signs are up, some residents are crying foul, asking the city to add the city's old slogan "An hour or a lifetime" to the new signs under "Discover Waseca." According to the Waseca County News, the city manager will now get estimates on adding the previously used phrase to the signs.

Setting the quality (and originality) of the slogan aside for a moment, this does seem to be a case of "too little too late" by what appears to be a vocal minority of people who didn't express their opinions adequately during the development of the signs. Here's hoping that cooler heads prevail, and the signs can remain "as is" without an unnecessary change that will add expense to the project.

Read the full story here.

Roanoke Regional Partnership endorses greater online marketing push

noreply@blogger.com (Tom Bullington) — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 03:03:00 +0000

The Roanoke Regional Partnership in Virginia has announced plans to push search engine optimization to new heights in order to gain attention in its marketplace, according to the online newsletter Brafton.

"We don't have a bad image - we have no image," said Beth Doughty, executive director of the partnership. "People don't know we're here."

The article in Brafton said the Roanoke partnership is undertaking a massive online marketing campaign, created a new website - www.roanoke.org - and is using Facebook, Twitter and YouTube to get its message across to more potential developers, businesses and residents.

Melbourne, Australia embroiled in logo controversy

noreply@blogger.com (Tom Bullington) — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 20:11:00 +0000

Examples of communities paying exorbitant amounts to come up with new city logos, and very little else to show for it, are plentiful here in the United States. We've written about them here for years, and you can see ample examples of how this has been mishandled by doing a simple Google search on "city branding" (albeit an inaccurate search term).

This story, however, comes to us from Melbourne, Australia, where folks are chiming in on Twitter today about the $240,000 (AUS) the city paid to develop a new logo. Described by the Melbourne HeraldSun as a an "M that looks like shards of glass," the city's new mark is not exactly popular with many who have expressed their views online.

The newspaper goes as far as to price out what social services could be made available for $240,000 (600,000 nutritional meals, etc.)

All of this underscores, of course, the need to correctly position a new logo as only one small part of an overall marketing and communications plan - not the centerpiece. If all of the emphasis is on the new logo, your citizens will (justifiably) eat you alive in a public forum.

New Omaha mayor understands importance of marketing city

noreply@blogger.com (Tom Bullington) — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 14:45:00 +0000

Jim Suttle, the new mayor of Omaha, Nebraska, faced with a serious budget crisis, believes cuts made by others to the Convention and Visitors Bureau should be reversed. I like this guy. He understands that an economic downturn is the worst-possible time to cut promotional budgets. After all, if no one knows about what your city has to offer, how are they going to be attracted there and spend money? Makes me proud to have graduated high school in Omaha!

Here's the story from KETV in Omaha.

Most businesses increasing marketing budgets

noreply@blogger.com (Tom Bullington) — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 15:06:00 +0000

Saw this article today about how most businesses nationwide are increasing marketing budgets, in expectation of an economic recovery in the last half of 2009 and into 2010.

But many cities are cutting marketing and communications, saying they can't afford to promote themselves and provide information to their residents and prospective developers, etc.

Something's wrong with this picture, folks.

California city website sells ads for revenue

noreply@blogger.com (Tom Bullington) — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 19:36:00 +0000

Not 24 hours after writing a post suggesting cities could develop a website to raise revenues by promoting local businesses, I found this article from Cathedral City, Calif. Coincidence?

There's no doubt cities are getting creative in finding ways to raise non-tax funding, and this is a perfect example.

For more details on CityImage's endorsed online revenue-generating plan, click here, or feel free to contact me directly at (651) 402-6356 or via e-mail at: tom@city-image.com.

Does your city need more revenue?

noreply@blogger.com (Tom Bullington) — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 21:49:00 +0000

Well, I already know the answer to the question I posed in my blog post headline. Of course, your city needs more revenue. This year is probably the most challenging for cities since the 1930s.

As you know very well, states are cutting back on municipal funding, cities are receiving less from local taxes - both property and sales), and that means residents are likely going to feel the pinch when it comes to service cuts. All in all, not a very pleasant situation for those of us who work in local government.

But what if there was a way to generate revenue for your government, and at the same time promote local businesses in a win-win situation?

Since creating CityImage in 2002, I have known of city governments that have sold advertising in their city's newsletter, community calendar and other publications such as a recycling guide or resident's guide. Cities have sold ads in ice arenas, city parks and on the backs of city vehicles. Public buildings have sold naming rights and even city services themselves have been sponsored by private companies.

Now, in 2009, there's an opportunity for cities to promote their community businesses online, and at the same time, create a revenue stream that can fill the coffers at City Hall. It's called 360Directories, and CityImage is proud to promote this opportunity to city governments on a national basis.

The best way to learn more about 360Directories is to visit the company website at www.360Directories.com. There you'll find links to the directories already online across the U.S. and Canada, you'll see videos of how the sites work, and an FAQ page.

CityImage endorses 360Directories because it truly gives city governments an excellent opportunity to create an online community business directory that shines a positive light on the city, helps local business, and generate non-tax revenue.

Please feel free to contact me with any questions directly at (651) 402-6356 or at tom@city-image.com.

Very sincerely,

Tom Bullington

President, CityImage Communications

(651) 402-6356

tom@city-image.com

www.city-image.com

An opportunity to make our case

noreply@blogger.com (Tom Bullington) — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 03:42:00 +0000

Yesterday in this space, we introduced the topic of city budget cuts and what that means for communications and marketing budgets. So far at least, the news has not been good folks.

A communications director from a major Midwestern city contacted me a few weeks back and told me her department had been cut back from 20 people to three. While the city manager opposed this move, it was ordered by the city council. Ouch.

The problem with such a major cut taking place is that other communities see this and use it as an example of what can be done to save money. But there are two problems with this argument. First, such a dramatic slashing went way overboard, particularly if this council expects the same level of service as before (which it does). Second, the premise that communications and marketing are "nice to have" vs. "need to have" line items is false.

A city cannot effectively market itself or communicate with key audiences if it eliminates the budget that funds such activities. Period.

In an attempt to be proactive and defend our turf a bit and at least lessen the effects of the budget ax, it is incumbent upon all local government communicators to remind elected and appointed officials of the intrinsic value they have in the organization. Do a little PR about PR, in other words.

No marketing for your city? Economic development efforts will be much more difficult. No communications, website upgrades or newsletters? Dealing with the news media, and keeping residents up to date will be much more challenging, if not impossible.

Never question your worth to the community. Your city and your residents need and appreciate what you do, even if it is sometimes overlooked. And remember, similar cuts were made at cities in the early 2000s, and most positions were ultimately rehired a few years later.

Tom Bullington

President, CityImage Communications

651.402.6356

tom@city-image.com

www.city-image.com

Reflections on a poor economy

noreply@blogger.com (Tom Bullington) — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 22:20:00 +0000

Since we work with so many cities across the country, and have contact with many city officials - both appointed and elected - throughout the year, we have been hearing a lot lately about the poor economy.

There is no question that the adverse economic conditions in the United States (and worldwide, for that matter), are having a major effect on the marketing and communications budgets of municipalities and county governments. The number of RFPs out there for city communications work (city marketing plans, consulting, city branding, graphic design, etc.) has dropped off dramatically in recent months.

And if you've worked in and around cities like I have for 20 years, you understand that city budgets are typically last to feel the effects of national budget problems. As we speak, most cities are setting their budgets for the 2010 fiscal year. And marketing and communications are on the chopping block.

It's undoubtedly a challenging time for those of us in city marketing circles. So, should we just give up and just concede that our various target audiences (residents, businesses, visitors, etc.) are simply not going to receive vital information. Should we stop sending out newsletters, stop updating city websites, halt all economic development work that markets our communities to incoming businesses? Of course not.

CityImage would like to start a conversation with you about this topic. What, if anything, can those who have a passion for city communications and marketing, do about the current situation? What can we do to emphasize the important role our work plays in the quality of life and economic health of our cities?

Send your thoughts and ideas to: tom@city-image.com or call me at (651) 402-6356. We'll continue talking in this blog and hopefully emerge from this economic "perfect storm" even stronger than before.

Respectfully,

Tom Bullington

President, CityImage Communications

www.city-image.com

Council decides marketing, resident communications are top priorities

noreply@blogger.com (Tom Bullington) — Sun, 31 May 2009 21:02:00 +0000

Hats off to the Jordan, Minnesota City Council, which recently decided on its priorities for the coming months and years. Topping the list were marketing the community and enhancing communications with residents.

Council members in Jordan understand that marketing their city to developers, businesses, visitors and residents is increasingly important as the marketplace becomes more competitive. If you haven't believed that cities compete with each other, this year's economy has certainly put that concept to rest. Doing nothing, and hoping people somehow find out about your community is wishful thinking.

I was also impressed to see resident communications as one of the priorities. In an age where cities have been cutting this back to the bone (and, in some cases, the marrow), Jordan's elected officials realize that it's critically important to stay in touch with residents and let them know what is going on.

Residents, as taxpayers, have a right to know what their government is going to cut (and spend)- and why. It just isn't right to keep them out of the loop, and then act surprised down the road when they learn what was removed from their budget. Still, there are some city officials who feel this way - that citizens just won't understand - so they don't inform them.

My advice to cities throughout my career has been to practice a full-disclosure policy. Hold open houses, put your budget considerations on the web and gain input proactively. This will serve you well when the inevitable questions come, and you'll be able to point to the public input you received when decisions were being made.

Iowa cities scramble to welcome gay couples wishing to get married

noreply@blogger.com (Tom Bullington) — Tue, 26 May 2009 23:09:00 +0000

Regardless of how one feels about the topic of gay marriage, there's little debate that it's currently a hot topic in America. Today, the California Supreme Court upheld the results of a ballot initiative held last fall that effectively banned gay marriages in that state.

In Iowa, however, the practice is still very much legal, which has caused many cities in the Hawkeye State to see an opportunity to gain additional tourism dollars. Iowa City is just one example of a community that has opened its arms to couples coming to the heartland for a marriage that, a few years ago, would have been impossible to imagine (in a legal sense).

Here's the complete story from the Chicago Tribune.

360Directories really rock, generate revenue for communities, businesses

noreply@blogger.com (Tom Bullington) — Fri, 15 May 2009 17:12:00 +0000

One of the big questions being asked right now by communities is "How much can we cut from the marketing budget without doing serious damage to our image in the marketplace?" In other words, communities are trying to find the line across which they cannot cross without setting themselves back.

In this economic climate, as we have preached in this blog for months (if not years), the default "We'll just cut marketing and communications" attitude taken by many elected and appointed officials, is just darn-right foolish. There is simply no way that decreasing the awareness of your community in the mind of prospective clients (businesses, residents, developers) is a good idea. The smart cities get this, and they are the ones that will continue to be on top when the economic storm clouds clear.

The question for you is this: If the battle gets tough, do you retreat and face certain defeat, or do you get creative and develop a new line of attack designed to result in your ultimate victory?

In this spirit, in an effort to help communities look at things in a new way, CityImage recently partnered with a firm called 360Directories. 360Directories has been in business since 1999, developing community-oriented online directories. They started out with www.360Wichita.com and now have 25 in operation - most recently www.360Knoxville.com and www.360Winnipeg.ca (their first Canadian site).

The software that runs 360Directories is now available to cities, counties, local civic organizations (chambers, visitors bureaus), media firms (radio stations, newspapers), and individual entrepreneurs who are interested in owning their own business.

The bottom line of 360Directories is that they generate non-traditional revenue for those who set them up. I've been impressed enough by their work that I've partnered CityImage with them, and I encourage communities and others looking to generate non-traditional revenue to check them out at www.360Directories.com.

Are these business-oriented directories for every community? No. But for those who are looking for non-traditional revenue to offset state and federal budget cuts, 360Directories might just be worth considering. Plenty of cities out there publish newsletters, community guides and calendars featuring advertising - 360Directories gives them an opportunity to do the same thing online.

I would be happy to give you more information about 360Directories. Please call me at (651) 402-6356 or e-mail me at tom@city-image.com.

East Palo Alto, Calif. mayor looks to create new city image

noreply@blogger.com (Tom Bullington) — Fri, 08 May 2009 02:06:00 +0000

Getting a city's image back on track - really back on track - rarely revolves around the creation of a logo and tagline.

Just ask East Palo Alto, Calif. Mayor Ruben Abrica, a man who has had enough of his city's rough image and vowed this week to do something about it. First on his list is updating rent control laws, boosting community health and pride, and enhancing the city's overall image.

"We're a young city, and I think we're still engaged in shaping our own unique identity," Abrica said during his annual State of City address on May 4. "Twenty-six years ago we became a city, and we spent the first years basically trying to survive."

Plans for this year include more parades, community festivals, a public flea market and/or community garden across the street from City Hall, and overtures to a number of communities internationally to start a Sister City-type program.

Read the whole story from the Silicon Valley Mercury-News here.

New Jersey town can't decide on name

noreply@blogger.com (Tom Bullington) — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 14:02:00 +0000

From the Associated Press...

WOODLAND PARK, N.J. -- Would a New Jersey town by any other name smell as sweet?

West Paterson voters narrowly passed a referendum last November to change the Passaic County town's name to Woodland Park this year. But some supporters of the change claim borough officials are secretly supporting a grass-roots campaign for another referendum that could change the name back to West Paterson.

Among the reasons cited by Woodland Park supporters is that many signs haven't been updated with the new name of the small community just west of New York City. They claim that's an endorsement by town officials of the Save West Paterson group.

Councilman Keith Kazmark says borough officials decided to gradually implement the name change to save money.

At least three other times residents rejected new names, including Garret Mountain in 2001.

Perris, Calif. takes drastic measures to uphold city image

noreply@blogger.com (Tom Bullington) — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 17:26:00 +0000

When I lived in Arizona, some of my neighbors obviously missed the idea of having a white lawn around the holidays. They would either spraypaint their yard white, or place several white blankets over the rocks and dirt to make it feel like it was a "White Christmas."

So when I read about folks in Perris, Calif. spraypainting the lawns of foreclosed homes green, it reminded me a bit of the Arizona "winters" I once experienced. Now, in light of the foreclosure crisis, it seems that realtors have started adding a bit more green to brown areas of lawns, hoping the illusion of a green yard will lure more buyers.

Here's the story if you think I'm making this up.

Somewhere out there...

noreply@blogger.com (Tom Bullington) — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 05:19:00 +0000

Somewhere out there...

- A city is $1.5 million in the hole because the state government has decided to not allocate funds planned for that city's budget. The city is now faced to cut drastically, and marketing is on the list of possible cuts.

- In another city, community leaders are meeting every week, talking about the need to bring more visitors to town and increase development. They know the answer to their problem is NOT cutting back on marketing what their town has to offer. They understand what real municipal marketing is all about.

These stories are real and taken from actual communities in the past month. If there's a message here, it is to encourage cities and local government agencies to be thoughtful before slashing and burning budgets, and especially careful to maintain funds for marketing and communications.

Effective municipal marketing WILL bring more people to your community. Cutting it will NOT bring more people to town to spend money, open businesses, employ your residents, etc.

Effective municipal communications WILL help bridge gaps between City Hall and residents. Cutting it will NOT help inform your citizens about what their government is doing on their behalf. Cutting it will breed more mistrust between residents and City Hall, because residents won't know what is going on, or how their tax dollars are being used.

Our hope is that challenging economic times will strengthen the resolve of local governments to promote their communities and keep residents completely in the loop. Anything less is irresponsible government and will come back to bite City Halls across the country.

Flagstaff approves $250,000 in new marketing funds

noreply@blogger.com (Tom Bullington) — Mon, 09 Feb 2009 18:22:00 +0000

There's been a lot of talk recently about what will turn around the national economy, and the budget woes of local communities. And while some may think that cutting back on marketing is a smart move, I believe those who invest in the future will emerge well ahead of their competitors.

A great example is Flagstaff, Ariz., where City Manager Kevin Burke and the Flagstaff City Council have decided to spend $250,000 on community marketing, in addition to starting a number of other projects designed to create jobs and build infrastructure. In fact, Burke commented that the marketing and tourism funding will "generate $8.22 for every dollar spent."

Burke and the Flagstaff council clearly understand that times like these are the best-possible time to make investments that will pay dividends down the road. Treating a recession as an opportunity to spread news about your city (while others cut back) is the smart way to go. There will inevitably be critics of this approach, but I encourage Flagstaff to forge ahead.

Read the entire story here.

Laying it on the line in Bay City, Mich.

noreply@blogger.com (Tom Bullington) — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 03:35:00 +0000

Graphic designer and advertising pro Shawn MacDonald of Bay City, Mich. reminds readers of his blog what we have said here for years - a city logo is not a city brand. Way to go, Mr. MacDonald!

We'll let Shawn have the stage in this post... You can read his other thoughts here: http://989design.blogspot.com

I love Bay City. Even now, in the dead of winter, there is nowhere else I'd rather live. I chose to move here from the world-class city of Denver—that's how much I love it here.

That being said, once again I find myself feeling frustrated with the city leadership.Remember a few months ago when I wrote about the money Bay City wasted on developing the new city brand? A few years ago, the city paid nearly $50,000 for a horrible logo—an absolute abomination. Along with the horrible logo there is a trite saying. VOILA! There's our brand.No matter how many times I scream it, a logo is not a brand!

Anyway, we've got our logo so we're all set, right? Bay City is on the rise again. No bad decision making or bad publicity can affect us because, after all, we've got that crappy logo...er...brand.

Our first stop on the bad-PR train came in December when a Wall Street Journal article featured a mention of Bay City alongside one of their trademark stipple images of our mayor, Charles Brunner. The city couldn't afford to put up the annual Festival of Lights display for Christmas this year and the story was wrapped into a Journal piece on cities feeling the economic crunch at Christmas time. This was a good decision by the mayor, it was just a small bit of bad PR. No city wants to be painted as anti-Christmas, but there we were on the front cover of one of the most-read newspapers in the world.

Fast forward one month to a much uglier story. Two weeks ago, the body of a 93-year-old man was found dead in his home on Bay City's southwest side. The house is actually only a mile away from mine. The man, a veteran who received the purple heart as a medic in World War II, died of hypothermia in his home. You read that correctly, he froze to death in his home. Due to unpaid electric bills, the city electric department had placed a device to restrict the amount of electricity he could use.

He apparently didn't know what the device was or how to reset it and died a very slow and painful death.His death has received all sorts of national attention, once again turning the nation's eyes to Bay City. MSNBC is among the many national news sources who carried the story. According to our city manager, he didn't think the city did anything wrong. I understand that actions have to be taken when bills aren't paid, but you'd think they'd be a little more careful when it comes to something like this.

The new policy is to not use limiters, but don't you think we could have come to this sensible policy, say, before an old man died needlessly? One time after another, this city keeps giving itself a black eye. You know what I think might help?

A new logo...some new branding idea that clearly states that we no longer kill our elderly for unpaid electric bills.

Wichita Falls, Texas moves forward with marketing plan

noreply@blogger.com (Tom Bullington) — Fri, 23 Jan 2009 15:59:00 +0000

All of us know that journalists approach each article they write with a blank slate, an objective, unbiased viewpoint that doesn't slant the story. They simply report on the news in a "fair and balanced" manner, right? Um, well, most of the time anyway...

Check out the first line of this story from Wichita Falls, Texas. "Despite the financial picture, the city's new marketing campaign goes forward." The rest of the story is here.

This perfectly illustrates a perception problem that is often perpetuated by the news media when it comes to city spending on marketing, branding and communications efforts. What do they mean "despite the financial picture?" Actually, it should really read "Because of the financial picture..."

Without a plan, how else do they think the community is going to promote itself and attract economic development and jobs to Wichita Falls? By hoping a developer happens to drive through north Texas and decides to invest millions of dollars? How else do they propose bringing tourists, athletic tournaments, conventions and new restaurants to town?

To be frank, the same people who always loudly oppose cities spending money on marketing are the same individuals who criticize city officials for not attracting investors to the community, and not having a plan to make forward progress.

Wichita Falls officials "get it." They grasp the critical nature of city marketing and communications and are creating a plan. My only advice for them is to concentrate on the details of the plan, and not worry as much about the logo at this time. The logo is frosting on the cake - but first you have to bake the cake with the right ingredients.

The worst city logo ever designed?

noreply@blogger.com (Tom Bullington) — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 20:17:00 +0000

Another blogger recently labeled the logo for this German city as the "worst city logo ever designed." I don't usually weigh in on such matters, but I would tend to agree...

Let's hope they weren't told by a firm this was their new city "brand." Describing it that way would put a dent in the self confidence of this community.

Read the full blog here.

Chicago can't catch a break

noreply@blogger.com (Tom Bullington) — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 18:21:00 +0000

Poor Chicago. Long known as a hotbed of (alleged) political shenanigans, the ill-fated 1968 Democratic Convention, and my jinxed Chicago Cubs, it finally looked like the "Second City" had caught a break last fall when President-elect Barack Obama was elected in convincing fashion.

It couldn't get more "storybook" than this. While Obama is not a Chicago native, he adopted the city as his own, worked as a community organizer, represented part of the city in the Illinois State Legislature, was elected U.S. Senator in 2004, and ultimately ascended to the presidency at the age of 47 against all odds in a history-making campaign. In many ways, this result (regardless of how you feel about the outcome) meant that Chicago had finally reached national political prominence (in a good way), and its image appeared to be on the mend.

Indeed, much of America and the world caught part of Obama's address to his supporters in Grant Park on election night, and for a minute, it felt like all of us were proud Chicagoans.

Then, the other shoe dropped...

Less than two months later, the bottom fell out of Chicago's new-found image of hope and progress. It was revealed that federal investigators believe Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, the man who would be appointing Obama's replacement to the Senate, had allegedly engaged in an illegal and unethical effort to sell the seat and reap personal benefit from the situation.

Instantly, the headlines reminded readers that Chicago's (and Illinois') past political malfeasance had returned, that the governor was crooked, and that there might even be some involvement by others close to the incoming president (though none have subsequently been found). Even though this wasn't specifically a Chicago story, the press jumped on the city's past and tied it into the coverage.

I'm sorry Chicago. The best story in a generation comes along and you can't even enjoy it.

Bonita Springs, Fla. debates "brand" (read: slogan)

noreply@blogger.com (Tom Bullington) — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 23:22:00 +0000

Is Bonita Springs, Fla. "The Gateway to the Gulf?" Is it "Where You Want to Be?" Or both? Or neither?

In the most-recent episode of "(Insert city here) wants a new brand (even though they're actually referring to a slogan and/or logo)," officials and community leaders in Bonita Springs, Fla. recently discussed the community's dueling slogans at a city council meeting on Jan. 7.

The exchange, which included the city's mayor, council members and chamber of commerce officials, revealed the reason why individuals can't agree on a new slogan - they have apparently not done the research to determine the city's identity or yes, its brand.

When properly discovered and established, the brand is what makes Bonita Springs unique, and what will make it stand out in the marketplace to various audiences - something a logo or tagline with a short shelf life can't accomplish. You can't just "create" a new brand for a community - it is already there and must be found through the correct methodology - much like reading someone's DNA.

Mayor Ben Nelson doesn't personally like "The Gateway to the Gulf," but understands the city needs to be defined by its proximity to the water. Council Member Pat McCourt said he fears attracting more tourists to town - "The majority of our constituents don't want more tourists," McCourt said. Council Member Martha Simons disagreed, stating that "the economy is based on tourism."

Bonita Springs officials clearly need to get together with the local chamber of commerce and other community groups to work together in a united fashion, or these disagreements will not subside. Read the full story here.

Two bloggers get serious about city marketing

noreply@blogger.com (Tom Bullington) — Mon, 05 Jan 2009 23:43:00 +0000

I always enjoy reading blogs by others who understand that communities must market themselves (today more than ever) to get the kind of attention they are looking for. Simply being a great city just isn't enough - you really do need to go out and tell people about it to achieve your goals and objectives.

One individual who really understands that is businessman Chris Ecklund of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada. Chris has taken it upon himself to promote his community as the "Waterfall Capital of the World." Check out his latest blog post to see the extreme step he has taken to market his city. I think you'll be very impressed by his dedication.

The second blog I'd recommend you read is "The Urbanophile," a blog that focuses on marketing and image of various midwestern cities. The most recent post discusses the "brand promise" of Indianapolis in depth. Other entries show impressive insight into how image effects the economic health of communities, not only in the Midwest, but everywhere.

A town that's gone to the frogs

noreply@blogger.com (Tom Bullington) — Thu, 01 Jan 2009 22:37:00 +0000

I first heard about Milton-Freewater, Washington's efforts to draw tourists back in 2004 when I was writing the WeeklyImage newsletter. As some of you may recall, the city decided to copy Chicago's famous cows - statues of cows placed around town painted various colors, and adorned with humorous clothes and objects.

The campaign is well known nationally as a community marketing ploy that attracted more visitors to Michigan Avenue shops and other establishments. Since it worked in Chicago's case, literally hundreds of cities across the country have tried to duplicate the effort - with mixed results - mostly unsuccessful.

One of the copycat communities in '04 was Milton-Freewater. The city's campaign even drew attention from The New York Times. However, five years later, few apparently believe the effort did little to improve the city's overall image. See what you think - click here for more on the story.

Pasadena's run for the roses

noreply@blogger.com (Tom Bullington) — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 22:29:00 +0000

When I was growing up, I remember watching the Rose Bowl Parade each New Year's Day morning. That's what made the new year official - tuning in to see the floats, bands and various characters marching down the road in Pasadena, Calif. So, for me, Pasadena means New Year's Day - more than staying up 'til midnight, sleeping in, or spending at least two weeks each year writing the wrong date on my checks.

This kind of community branding is priceless, because it means a guy who grew up in Iowa will forever associate Pasadena with a positive childhood memory. It's priceless because there are countless college football fans out there who instantly think "USC" and the glory days of "Southern Cal." And still others simply know Pasadena as a place where rose petals litter the streets and the warm sun shines in wintertime. It may be January in most of the country, but Pasadena looks like paradise when you tune in on Jan. 1.

Place Marketing Group wrote a great blog about Pasadena and how the nation has a special relationship with the city on New Year's Day. It's well worth a read.

Happy New Year from all of us at CityImage!