Another Angle - City communications, marketing and community branding by CityImage Communications

City government buys porn URL

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 16 Dec 2011 20:43:00 +0000

The folks in Windsor, Ontario aren't taking anything for granted. Rather than have someone purchase a URL bearing their name, and also an XXX extension, the city has beaten any would-be pornographers to the punch and purchased the URL (www.citywindsor.xxx) itself.

So, if you live in Windsor, Ontario, Canada and are looking for adult content, don't bother checking out www.citywindsor.xxx. Unless, that is, you get turned on by city council meetings and information about the latest planning and zoning cases.

Here's the latest on the issue from the local Windsor paper

Great way to measure government social media

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 04 Dec 2011 22:24:00 +0000

The word "communication," by definition, is a two-way exchange of ideas, concepts, information and stories. When it's applied to governments, at various levels (local, state, federal), it should definitely be a method of not only reaching out and pushing information to people, but also (and perhaps, most importantly) receiving feedback from those you are serving.

Think of your personal life. If you only hear one side of a story, only one perspective on a topic, or can only receive information through one vehicle, you probably feel shortchanged and searching for more. This should be the case when you hear from your government. If they aren't giving you an opportunity to learn more, or to interact in some way, there's a serious problem that needs to be addressed.

When it comes to social media, here's a great way to measure what is coming from your government. Check it out and let me know what you think!

Being politically correct during the holidays

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 27 Nov 2011 19:34:00 +0000

It's "the holidays" again, and you'll doubtlessly be hearing people wishing you "Happy Holidays" or "Merry Christmas" or another variation of these greetings in the coming month or so.

A friend of mine posted something on Facebook last night that made me think. She contends that since she celebrates Christmas, she will wish everyone she meets a "Merry Christmas" and doesn't care if this is thought to be "politically incorrect."

How do you plan to greet people at this time of year - especially since many of you may work in local government. Is it OK to say "Merry Christmas" even in a work environment, or should you always say "Happy Holidays" to make sure you are covered depending on the person's religious beliefs. And what if the person you are addressing is not religious and doesn't celebrate a holiday in December? Is "Festivus" from "Seinfeld" an acceptable substitute?

What do you think? I'm interested to hear your experiences and how you handle this annual conundrum.

Tucson: That other Arizona city south on I-10

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 00:00:00 +0000

Having lived in Phoenix for eight years, I can tell you with certainty that there's a rivalry between "the Valley" and Tucson.

Phoenix, now the sixth-largest city in the United States, tends to get most of the attention when people think of Arizona. It's the capital, home of four professional sports teams, half the nation's MLB Spring Training facilities, Arizona State University (Go Devils!), and even the nation's largest generator of electricity (Palo Verde Nuclear Generating Station).

Indeed, it's been a long time since people only knew Phoenix as the place where the TV show "Alice" is set (while being filmed in California).

But what about Tucson? What is it best known for? Sadly, in recent history, it's probably known for the shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords. And while Tucson is also the home of the University of Arizona, there's not a lot of other landmarks or events happening in town that warrant national exposure. Even when one takes a flight out of Tucson, it typically needs to land in Phoenix first and pick up more passengers.

As a result, some in the local community have had enough of playing second fiddle to Phoenix, and are seriously considering a branding initiative to showcase Tucson on a national level, help give the city more exposure, and boost economic development.

We'll see what happens, but it will definitely be tough to upstage its larger neighbor to the north.

If you live in Arizona (particularly in Phoenix or Tucson), I'd love to hear your impressions of this rivalry between these two cities. Email me or post a comment to this blog today!

Until next time,

Tom Bullington
CityImage Communications
651-402-6356
tom@city-image.com

Words of wisdom from Steve Jobs

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 22 Jul 2011 23:44:00 +0000

I couldn't have said it any better...

‎"You can’t connect the dots looking forward. You can only connect them looking backwards, so you have to trust they will connect in your future.

You have to trust in something—your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever—because believing the dots will connect down the road will give you confidence to follow your heart, even when it leads you off the well-worn path, and that will make all the difference."
- Steve Jobs

Are more super-sized cities coming soon?

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 18:41:00 +0000

Are super-sized cities the answer?

For years, people have talked about a phenomenon called "suburban sprawl" - what happens when cities tend to blend into each other along a stretch of road, making it difficult (if not impossible) to tell when you have passed into a bordering community. This is often said of the Chicago to Milwaukee corridor - both large cities seem to have become one huge metropolis. Drive around the Phoenix area and you'll get the same sensation as well (are we in Chandler or Tempe or Gilbert?)

Well, with city budgets being so lean nowadays, one wonders if communities will start partnering even more to provide services such as public safety, water, street maintenance, etc. Sure, this is already going on out there (particularly when a small city can't afford its own public safety or water departments), but I think we're going to start seeing it spread like wildfire (pardon the pun).

Beyond this "sharing" of resources, I wouldn't be too surprised to see some cities (and counties) merge together entirely - creating mega-cities or huge regional entities. It's already happened in places like Louisville, Kentucky. Their "Metro Council" - which resulted from a 2003 merger with Jefferson County, Ky. - contains a total of 26 districts and 26 elected representatives.

What do you think of the "super sizing" of cities in the United States? Is it a good response to budget constraints, or are communities creating unnecessary bureaucracies that will make consensus difficult?

New city branding concepts unveiled in Colorado, Iowa communities

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 23:32:00 +0000

Despite (and due to) the continuing economic pressures they are under, communities are wisely continuing to look at branding and promotions as part of a potential solution to their fiscal woes. Take the cities of Loveland, Colorado and Orange City, Iowa, for example.

Leaders in each city have correctly decided that rather than sit back and let others define them (and simply wait for developers and prospective businesses to call), that they would launch a community branding initiative. Economic development doesn't just happen - and especially in these times where bolstering a commercial tax base can be, let's just say, a bit daunting at best.

Name the most BORING city in the U.S. - Win a $25 Starbucks gift card!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 23:05:00 +0000

There's always a lot of media attention given to communities where exciting things are happening (Las Vegas, New York, Chicago, etc.)

But you don't hear much about cities that are incredibly boring. You know, real snoozers. Where it seems like nothing happens and nothing ever changes.

Maybe you live there. Maybe you've just driven through it and barely noticed (because it's so boring).

CityImage is taking nominations for the most boring city in the United States. Be sure to explain why you think the city is boring - and perhaps what the community could do to improve and become a bit more interesting.

Winner gets a $25 Starbucks gift card (of course, there's probably not a Starbucks in the most boring city, so you'll have to drive somewhere more exciting).

Here's your chance to cash in on, well, nothing worth writing home about. Post your nomination here or email me directly. Deadline is July 15, 2011.

Good luck!

Fenton, Mich. authority continues contract with local marketing firm

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 28 Jun 2011 03:47:00 +0000

The Downtown Development Authority in Fenton, Mich. voted recently to extend the contract of local marketing firm, New Moon Visions, for the monthly fee of $5,000. The stated goal of the DDA and the firm is not only to boost the local economy, but also promote events that will hopefully drive more foot traffic and tax receipts in the community.

It's great to see the DDA understand that "it takes money to make money," and that a prudent investment in the marketing of a community will lead to good things down the road. After all, if no one knows what's going on in Fenton, people won't come and spend money. Sounds pretty elementary to me, anyway.

Fayetteville, NC to spend $160K on All-America City Award

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 25 May 2011 03:50:00 +0000

I read today that Fayetteville, NC officials are planning to spend around $160,000 related to the All-America City Award, for which they are a finalist community. Now, most of this won't be spent until they actually win the award and want to promote it. Yet, it's still quite a large number for a city to cough up for any reason, and especially during challenging economic times when most cities are tightening their belts.

It may be due to the long-standing reputation of Fayetteville, NC as a town that has been dealt its share of troubles. I've actually heard it referred to numerous times as "Fayette-nam" (as in Vietnam). Not flattering.

Perhaps local officials believe winning the All-America City Award will help paint the community with a different brush. Perhaps at long last the region, state and nation will see that Fayetteville isn't that bad, after all, and change their attitudes. Maybe businesses will flood into the area and offer tons of new jobs.

It could happen. But I think I'll have to side with the folks who are rightly concerned that streets aren't being repaired, public safety services are stretched, and the social needs of community residents should be a priority.

A compromise might be $20,000 IF they win the award. Otherwise, raise the funds privately and hope for the best. The other $140,000 can remain in the community and do much more good for a greater number of people.

What do you think? Do you agree with the community spending $160,000 in such a manner? Let me know!

Branding is critical to small business success

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 22 May 2011 19:00:00 +0000

There's a framed quote by Malcolm Forbes in my office that says this: "There is just no way any management with any intelligence and foresight cannot recognize the value of a corporate image. It is the best, single marketable investment that a company can make."

As an owner of a small business, I enjoyed reading this article about the critical nature of branding (in addition to other factors, such as money management). Simply said, if you don't brand your company effectively, you likely aren't going to reach the goals you have set for yourself or achieve the growth that is possible.

How does your small business brand itself? Did you develop a new logo and call it good, or do you have a more defined strategy for increasing brand awareness? I'd enjoy hearing your perspective on this - call me or drop me a line.

Seth Godin on branding

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 28 Mar 2010 04:11:00 +0000

Famed author Seth Godin nailed it today when he wrote about branding in his blog. Cities who dive into a "branding" effort without first establishing an objective for conducting such an exercise are simply wasting their time.

Finding your brand essence - by Seth Godin

I got an email from someone who had hired a consulting firm to help his company find their true brand selves. They failed. He failed. He asked me if I could recommend a better one.

My answer:

The problem isn't the consultant, it's the fact that if you have to search for a brand essence, you're unlikely to find one.

Standing for something means giving up a lot of other things, and opening yourself to criticism. Most people in the financial services industry (or any industry, actually) aren't willing to do that, which is why there are so few Charles Schwabs in the world.

First, decide it's okay to fail and to make a ruckus while failing. THEN go searching for the way to capture that energy and share it with the world.

Clothes don't make the man, the man makes the man. Clothes (and the brand) just amplify that.

Richardson to market itself to passers-by on Central | News for Dallas, Texas | Dallas Morning News | Breaking News for Dallas-Fort Worth | Dallas Morning News

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 20 Feb 2010 21:54:00 +0000

Richardson to market itself to passers-by on Central |
News for Dallas, Texas | Dallas Morning News
| Breaking News for Dallas-Fort Worth | Dallas Morning News

Posted using ShareThis

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

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — 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.

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

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — 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 (Anonymous) — 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 (Anonymous) — 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.

Laying it on the line in Bay City, Mich.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — 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 (Anonymous) — 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 (Anonymous) — 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 (Anonymous) — 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 (Anonymous) — 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.

A town that's gone to the frogs

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — 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 (Anonymous) — 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!

Tri-Cities Michigan writer understands branding is more than a logo and tagline

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 18:22:00 +0000

A Michigan blogger (who works for a well-known graphic design and advertising studio) seems to understand the basic premise that we have often discussed in this blog - that effective community branding that produces tangible results requires more than a logo. Logos and taglines, we feel, may feel good for a while, but if they don't reflect the true DNA of a city, and aren't backed up by a comprehensive marketing plan, they won't last.

And now, after only three years with a brand under Bay City's belt, the "Tri-Cities" in Michigan (Bay City, Midland and Saginaw) are currently talking about creating a joint branding campaign to better market the area. The author of the Michigan blog is skeptical, given how the 2005 "brand" was used by the Bay City community.

Read his entire post here.