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

Latest Campaign in a Car vlog: Will Mitt Romney win it all?

2012-01-14T13:06:00.000-08:00

Mitt Romney may have won the New Hampshire primary, but does that mean it's "game over" for the other Republican candidates? Here's my latest "Campaign in a Car" vlog where I discuss the results and look to the future of the Republican nomination process in 2012.

City government buys porn URL

2011-12-16T12:43:00.000-08:00

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

2011-12-04T14:24:00.001-08:00

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

2011-11-27T11:34:00.001-08:00

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.

GREAT Minnesota website design company - SpinIt!

2011-11-20T15:52:00.001-08:00

My friends at SpinIt! website design company do an incredible job for their clients. I highly recommend their work. If you're interested in learning more, please give me a call at 651-402-6356 or email me at: tom@HastingsHappenings.com and I will hook you up with a great deal.

About SpinIt! Design

From logos to collateral to multi-page websites, we create effective imagery that conveys your message, builds your brand and supercharges your success. All of our work is completely custom, crafted to build your brand, engage your target markets and generate the momentum you need for long-term success.

Save money and unify your business’ brand with a design package. Our packages will not only help you cut costs, they'll give your marketing communications a consistent, unified look and feel that greatly enhances its effectiveness.

For more information, check out SpinIt! online at www.spinit.com and tell them you heard about them on HastingsHappenings.com!

Get your city on Facebook and Twitter - today!

2011-09-23T20:01:00.000-07:00

It's time. You know it, and your residents really know it. It's long past time for your city to get on Facebook and Twitter.

Facebook is unveiling new developments almost on a monthly basis, and the Twitter juggernaut shows no signs of slowing down. In shorthand, more and more of your city's residents are on Facebook and even more than anticipated are starting to appreciate the use of Twitter. So, if there's ever been a good time for your community to have a presence on Facebook and Twitter, this is it.

This is not to say, of course, that Facebook and Twitter are the only ways you can communicate with your residents, but the numbers of citizens online and actively engaged in social media is constantly growing. It's really undeniable, and there's no good legitimate reason not to get your city on board.

In other words, if you aren't at least using Facebook in some way, you are missing a great opportunity to reach your citizens with important information, videos, and interesting links to pertinent websites (including your own!)

-- By Tom Bullington. Learn more at www.city-image.com.

CityImage updates YouTube site

2011-08-02T09:42:00.000-07:00

While our recently recorded promotional videos on YouTube aren't necessarily the quality of late-night cable informercials, we hope these informal spots will give you a better idea of what CityImage is all about - and how we can help your community in a variety of ways.

I'd love to hear what you think. We are going to be doing much more with video in the coming weeks and months, so stay tuned to this blog, our Twitter page, our Facebook page, and our website too!

If you have any questions about CityImage, or just need some quick, complimentary advice about a local government communications issue, please feel free to give me a call at 651-402-6356. I'd enjoy hearing from you and seeing if we can be of additional assistance to your community.

--Tom Bullington

Cities, states spending much less on marketing themselves - not a good way to attract visitors

2011-08-01T15:41:00.000-07:00

By Tom Bullington, CityImage President and Founder

Most states and communities realize that they need to spend tourism dollars to bring in more tourists. Anyone who has ever opened a new restaurant, for example, understands this. It's never enough to just hire a cook and wait staff and then open the front door, expecting a throng of hungry customers to stream in. There must be a marketing strategy in place well before you reach that point.

Similarly, in tourism, particularly in this time of limited disposable income (for most families, anyway), it's not enough to simply be a destination and hope that people will travel to your location and spend money. Even if you are a well-established brand (Florida, Las Vegas, Arizona, etc.), if you don't advertise, you aren't going to attract return visitors, and you certainly aren't going to lure newcomers.

A recent article in USA Today outlines the issue and speaks with industry experts about the situation and when things might get a bit better for destinations. (Hint: When they market adequately).

What have your experiences been with marketing your community, even if it's not a big tourist destination. I'd enjoy hearing from you!

Tucson: That other Arizona city south on I-10

2011-07-23T17:00:00.000-07:00

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

2011-07-22T16:44:00.000-07:00

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

Tales from the Road: Gov't in Turmoil Across Three States

2011-07-17T15:18:00.000-07:00

Last week on vacation, I traveled across three states before spending time with friends and family on a lake in Michigan. While the great majority of my time, of course, was spent kayaking, canoeing, swimming, sightseeing, and eating much more than I should have, it was still hard to avoid the way residents of each state (Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan) are being fed messages by political influencers in these three states.

At Sleeping Bear Dunes, Michigan

Minnesota, as most of you know, has been in "shutdown" mode since July 1. While there is apparently a deal in the works to resolve the situation this week (I'll believe it when I see it), it already stands as the state's longest shutdown in history. All of the rest areas in Minnesota are closed and the ramps are blocked off. All state parks are shut, and even the lights that usually shine on the "Welcome to Minnesota" entry marker on Interstate 94 near Woodbury are turned off.

As a Minnesota resident, I've heard plenty from both "sides" of this $1.4-billion dispute since it started. They say distance can give you perspective, so it was interesting to see from afar how both the governor (a Democrat) and the legislative leadership (Republicans in both chambers) were playing politics - and in some cases, not playing very nicely with each other. They are now both declaring victory and posturing for the next election cycle.

Meanwhile, when you cross the border into Wisconsin, there's a sign that says "Open for Business" - a clear slap at the Gopher State across the Mississippi. But life is far from normal in the Badger State. As you have probably heard, the state is undergoing a number of recall elections against Republican legislators who voted in favor of Governor Scott Walker's "cut to the bone" budget earlier this year.

Regardless of how you feel about Walker or the recall candidates, it has been true political theater with nasty campaign ads, mailings, phone calls, emails, bumper stickers, and rallies at the capitol building in Madison. I saw a number of bumper stickers while on the road, demanding the recall of the governor, (as well as some supporting Walker). And while in Wisconsin earlier this year, I noticed the airwaves were clogged with ads on both sides of the issue.

So, when we crossed into Michigan, I thought that maybe, just maybe, we would be spared some of the political signage and sentiment we found in Minnesota and Wisconsin. Think again. While it's no secret that Michigan has suffered economically for years (even before the Great Recession), I hadn't heard much about any specific issues.

No escape from politics on vacation!

That all changed when we pulled over to buy some cherries at a roadside stand. We were greeted by a billboard sponsored by the Michigan Education Association (MEA) claiming that education cuts had funded large tax breaks for corporations.

Perhaps the moral of the story here is that no matter where you live, or travel, this is not a particularly harmonious year for those involved in government.

Whether you're a state legislator, governor, union member, special interest group, association or resident (remember them?), the mood is ugly and the "solutions" range from bad to worse.

I would wager that no one out there with authority over, or input into, such budgets will remember 2011 with fondness.

And this was not supposed to be an election year, which are always more acrimonious. Imagine what will happen in 2012 when legislators at the state and federal levels are up for election (in addition to the presidential contest).

Have you been on vacation this summer and noticed political advertising? Have you been to a state that has cut back on services (or even shut everything down - Minnesota)? I'd love to hear about it!

Editor's note: I highly recommend northern Michigan for your next vacation. And make sure you go during cherry season!

Are more super-sized cities coming soon?

2011-07-08T11:41:00.000-07:00

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?

Federal and state budget troubles affect attitudes toward government communications

2011-07-06T14:42:00.000-07:00

By Tom Bullington, CityImage President

I guess it was inevitable. After a contentious spring, federal and state budget deficits, and political posturing on both sides of the aisle (in an extreme case - Minnesota - both sides walked away from the table and the state government actually shut down!), government communications and marketing funding is on the chopping block.

Derided as "fluff" and "nice to have, not need to have," government communications and marketing always seem to be the odd man out during these negotiations. Of course, when the feds and the states are cutting their own budgets, that means they'll cut aid to local governments like counties and cities as well. Once again, the very people they claim to represent are the ones who feel the most pain at the local level.

You may ask, how can the lack of communications and marketing inflict pain on residents? After all, people don't really need to know what is going on in their communities to eat, find shelter and send their kids to school, right? Wrong - and here's why.

Imagine one day there was suddenly no government newsletters, emails, websites, flyers, doorhangers, televised meetings, newspaper articles, or even recorded phone calls letting you know about meetings, aid opportunities, hours of operation, available programs, and so on. You'd have no idea where to find out more about your local government and no clue on where to seek help, attend events, or register your kids for recreation programs.

Your only solution would be to take off work (because City Hall is typically open weekdays when most people are working), drive to City Hall (if you live close enough), and go ask your questions to someone at the front desk. Of course, the city would need to hire more people to be at the desk to answer these questions, or you'd need to stand in line until the one person there was available. Ah yes, you could call City Hall, but good luck getting through. Remember, the budget cuts have resulted in no website, no newsletters, no mailings - nothing. So all you have is the front desk as your direct line to everything you need to know.

And what about city marketing? After all, a city isn't a product, right? You can't "market" a community, right? Well, without marketing, I'd argue that very few people outside of the immediate area are going to learn much about your city unless they happen to visit. With no website, no printed materials and no advertising campaign to promote your city, you would succeed in making yourself virtually invisible to the outside world. Tourists would go elsewhere to spend their vacation dollars. Prospective businesses wouldn't locate in your town, because they'd know all about other cities in your area - but not yours. Sorry!

While things look grim for government communications, there is some hope on the horizon. I have faith that government leaders will realize that they need to keep their residents adequately informed of what is happening in their community and that some form of citizen communications will continue. And the smart cities out there will beef up their marketing budgets - understanding the value of standing out in the crowd, particularly when times are tough and competition is so fierce. Some cities may even decide to outsource their communications and marketing efforts if they can't afford a full-time staff person.

In the end, communications and marketing for local governments will hopefully survive, because people will demand to know what is going on in their communities. Those who propose cutting off this information will likely do so at their peril come election time.

Do you have an opinion about this? I'd love to hear what you think. Please send me an email or post a comment.

A (serious) proposal to rename Pensacola, Florida

2011-07-04T13:01:00.000-07:00

Apparently there are 17 marketing firms now bidding to develop a new branding campaign for the City of Pensacola, Fla. I suppose that if I represented Pensacola that I would be flattered so many people wanted to help my community (either that, or the number of firms in the industry is far greater than the number of cities issuing RFPs).

In the spirit of Independence Day, I have a revolutionary idea that will cost Pensacola absolutely nothing, get people around the world talking about the city, and generate a great deal of recurring tax revenue that the city can use to pay for public safety, recreation, public works and other expenses.

Call up Pepsi and propose a deal. The City of Pensacola will now be known as the City of Pepsicola.

Stick with me and I'll explain how this would work. First of all, before everyone freaks out about the cost of "reprinting stationery" and "changing business names" around town, I would propose a compromise. The "official" name for legal purposes will remain Pensacola. The city can keep its stationery and wouldn't need to reincorporate.

But in exchange for Pepsi's funds coming into the community, there would need to be certain changes. Signs leading into the city and at publicly owned facilities would be changed to read "Pepsicola." City vehicles, apparel, etc. would be retrofitted with the name Pepsicola. Of course, all Coke machines and sales of Coke would need to end within city limits. At council meetings, elected officials would be seen sipping from a Pepsi or Mountain Dew can, or drinking Aquafina water. The new city seal would include a Pepsi logo.

The reason why this off-the-wall proposal isn't completely a joke is simple - this move would generate a huge amount of international media coverage. Having recently fallen to third place in the soft drink world (Coke and Diet Coke are #1 and #2 respectively), Pepsi could really use the positive press. Think of the buzz on the web if this took place. Think of the tourism value and the revenue that could come in (above and beyond Pepsi).

Setting the name issue aside for a moment - imagine if Pepsi issued a statement saying it "understands the tough position Pensacola is in given current economic conditions. With cutbacks to key programs, we at Pepsi have decided to fund much-needed public safety and recreation programs to benefit the people of Pensacola - in exchange for the marketing value that comes from this fun campaign."

Before you dismiss this out of hand, communities have done this before for similar reasons. The most famous, of course, is Truth or Consequences, New Mexico (which renamed itself after a game show). But more recent examples also exist (remember Mojito, New Jersey - which came about when the community of Richland, N.J. needed more recreation funding and changed its name for two weeks in exchange for a check from Bacardi).

So, think about it Pensacola (and Pepsi, too!). You'd definitely put yourself on the map, gain endless media coverage, and acknowledge the light-hearted comments you've likely been hearing for years from tourists asking if they are in "Pepsicola, Florida." For once, you could proudly respond in the affirmative.

What do you think of this idea? Please send me your thoughts!

New city branding concepts unveiled in Colorado, Iowa communities

2011-07-01T16:32:00.000-07:00

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!

2011-06-30T16:05:00.000-07:00

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

2011-06-27T20:47:00.000-07:00

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

2011-05-24T20:50:00.000-07:00

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!

Ridiculous, brilliant, or somewhere in the middle?

2011-05-23T21:11:00.000-07:00

Richard Florida is not one to pull any punches when it comes to discussing how communities are developing (and, in some cases, deteriorating) across America. His article in the May 23 edition of The Atlantic, takes on the prevalence of "city branding" initiatives. Florida believes some of the slogans that emerge from these campaigns are, in a word, "ridiculous."

What do you think? Are branding campaigns a wise investment of time and money, or can they, at times, be a futile attempt to put lipstick on a pig? I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Branding is critical to small business success

2011-05-22T12:00:00.000-07:00

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.

There's something in the soil in Farmington, Minn.

2011-05-21T19:26:00.000-07:00

No, there was not a toxic spill somewhere in Farmington, Minn. that requires EPA testing of the soil and groundwater. Actually, "There's Something in the Soil" is the second half of this community's new slogan: "Grow Farmington: There's Something in the Soil." Yes, really.

As reported in a series of Twin Cities publications, Farmington has leaped into the community marketing game with both feet, and landed in what it hopes to be fertile economic soil. Farmington is, indeed, a growing community, and I've actually driven through it quite a few times on my way south out of the metro.

But it needs something. It's not really a destination here in the Cities, beyond the annual Dakota County Fair. Perhaps the community can tout its inexpensive land, access to highways and proximity to the greater metro area? Time will tell how successful this initiative is, but my hat is off to Farmington for giving it a shot. I'm just not that crazy about the new slogan...

What do you think? Do you know of any other communities that have swung and missed when selecting a tagline? I'd love to hear from you - send me an email!

Arizona town wants to turn the Page

2011-05-20T21:44:00.000-07:00

It wasn't a unanimous vote, but the Page City Council on May 12 allocated $25,000 to a local firm to develop a brand for this northern Arizona community.

While the vote was 5-1 to approve the measure, with another $25,000 posssible down the road, the lone dissenter, Council Member John Kocjan, said he doubted the city would end up with "anything more than a logo."

Another council member, who actually approved of the expenditure, voiced serious concerns. Council Member Tom Puckett called the initiative "a misuse of public money."

Discussion prior to the formal vote, while generally supportive of the effort to market the Page community, underscored the fact that local government budgets are stretched and such campaigns may require creative financing (which may include private sector funding and donations).

When a simple slogan backfires

2010-06-05T14:45:00.000-07:00

Companies, political campaigns, and yes, even cities, are always quick to buy into a simple slogan they think will gain them market share or win a few votes here and there. Seth Godin's blog from today adeptly points out that if you rely on a slogan to forward your cause, you need to be prepared when it backfires on you - big time.

Drill, baby drill - by Seth Godin

I used to see a black Hummer driving around town, complete with a "Drill, baby drill" bumper sticker.

What a fabulous slogan.

Slogans are fabulous when they use few words (two! one used twice) to unite, energize and signify a tribe. You're either an insider or an outsider, but there were no fence sitters on this one. The slogan captured a can-do, engineering-centric, please-get-out-of-my-way, anti-intellectual, regulate-industry-less mindset that this driver (and presumably others in his tribe) could broadcast and be motivated by. In three words! A key part of the slogan is the extraneous word 'baby', which reinforces the informality, the certainty and the impatience with bureaucracy. Support it or not, you have to agree that it was a great slogan. (Until it wasn't).

Like most good political slogans, it called for something to happen in the future, something someone else would do and be responsible for, nothing that could come home to roost in a really short time. Of course, few could predict how close the future actually was. Ideally, next time you'd pick a slogan that had a much longer expiration date.

Seth Godin on branding

2010-03-27T21:11:00.001-07:00

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.

Should city marketing suffer due to lower budgets?

2010-03-14T11:12:00.000-07:00

I'm sure it's tempting for cities facing cuts in state government aid and declining property tax revenues to seriously consider paring back their communications and marketing budgets.

But let's consider the downside of this for a moment. Unless your city already has a stellar reputation as a tourist destination or a premium location for business, you are still in need of a marketing budget. I would argue it's more important than ever due to the fierce competition between municipalities for commercial developments - anything to bring in more revenue to fund city services.

Those who dismiss city marketing and communications as "just fluff" (and I've heard this quite a few times over the years) are missing a great opportunity to build up their city's coffers. My advice is for cities to stay ahead of the curve in the current economic climate, so they will be that much more ahead of their rivals when things turn around in a year or two. Yes, it will take some courage, and you may not see an immediate return on investment, but when you think of the alternative - which is doing nothing or drastically cutting back - there really is no choice. Developers, prospective residents, and visitors won't hear about your city through magic - you have to tell them your story!

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

2010-02-20T13:54:00.001-08:00

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

2009-08-07T20:24:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-30T20:03:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-23T13:11:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-22T07:45:00.001-07:00

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

2009-07-20T08:06:00.001-07:00

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

2009-07-17T12:36:00.001-07:00

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.

An opportunity to make our case

2009-07-14T20:42:00.000-07:00

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

2009-07-13T15:20:00.000-07:00

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

2009-05-31T14:02:00.000-07:00

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

2009-05-26T16:09:00.001-07:00

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.

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

2009-05-07T19:06:00.000-07:00

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

2009-04-20T07:02:00.000-07:00

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

2009-03-19T10:26:00.001-07:00

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...

2009-03-05T21:19:00.000-08:00

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

2009-02-09T10:22:00.000-08:00

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.

2009-01-29T19:35:00.000-08:00

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

2009-01-23T07:59:00.000-08:00

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?

2009-01-21T12:17:00.000-08:00

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

2009-01-19T10:21:00.000-08:00

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)

2009-01-09T15:22:00.000-08:00

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

2009-01-05T15:43:00.000-08:00

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

2009-01-01T14:37:00.000-08:00

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

2008-12-31T14:29:00.000-08:00

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!

Get yourself an umbrella this winter

2008-12-22T20:41:00.000-08:00

You usually don't hear anyone talk about needing an umbrella in winter, but that's exactly what I'm advocating (in a way...) Let me explain.

Last week, I was speaking with a client for whom CityImage had developed a marketing and communications plan earlier this year. One key component of that plan is to get community organizations, key businesses, chamber, residents, the city and county governments on the same page and work together under a common umbrella.

But, while the client told me that her community was making progress toward implementing the plan, she feared the many groups were going to split off and pursue their own strategies. It is a legitimate fear, and one that actually comes to fruition in a number of cities (although I think her community is making significant progress).

People by nature are looking out for their own best interest. They aren't going to knowingly do something that injures their position in the world. So, it's not surprising that community organizations - even though they are based in the same city and should share the same goals - would have differing opinions on the best way to proceed when it comes to marketing.

However, while it may be human nature, selfishness is not an advisable strategy if your organization is truly serious about helping the greater community prosper. Concessions will need to be made, and some tough discussions will need to take place if your marketing committee is going to emerge with a winning plan.

Communities attempting to market themselves when key players are not under the same umbrella are going to confuse audiences, fight turf battles, and most likely fail in their pursuits. If you're in a city like this, where there's no consensus on methods, goals and outcomes, make it a priority to bring everyone together in common purpose.

If you ultimately can't agree on how to do this, start looking for another community to promote. Seriously.

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

2008-12-16T10:22:00.000-08:00

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.

Minneapolis paying $180K to market tap water

2008-12-09T07:54:00.000-08:00

The national economy is in tatters. Two wars are raging. City governments across America are dealing with the effects of reduced revenues from state and local sources, and are laying off employees as a result. In the face of this, the City of Minneapolis has decided to hire a PR firm to market its tap water to other communities. The cost? $180,000.

Take a deep breath. There's an explanation behind all of this. Minneapolis has an abundance of water and already sells it to several suburban communities in the Twin Cities. When money comes in from these cities, it flows (sorry for the pun) into the Water Enterprise Fund, which will ultimately help reduce rates for Minneapolis residents. Makes sense, right?

I have mixed feelings about this story. From the perspective of someone who has worked in and with city government for 19 years, I understand the situation. Minneapolis can't just hope others buy the water - they need to go out and tell people about the quality of their product. I agree with the basic premise.

However, as noted earlier, it really seems to be poor timing to roll out this campaign when economic conditions are so lousy. Yes, I know it will help Minneapolis and they'll make up the money they are spending on the effort. But the public's PERCEPTION is that this is a ridiculous idea, and that is damaging to the overall Minneapolis brand (which doesn't necessarily have the best reputation to begin with).

Part of the expense also involves convincing Minneapolis residents to drink tap water rather than bottled water. Yes, really.

Perhaps a little more work could have been done proactively to explain how this will benefit residents? Or existing city communications staff could have been used to a greater degree? Instead, the city is now playing defense and it's hard to erase the initial PR mess this created.

Here's the story that was sent to me, and there are several others out there courtesy of Google.

Mt. Pleasant, SC looks to future as destination

2008-12-08T22:28:00.000-08:00

From the Charleston, SC Post-Courier - Dec. 8

Back in August, the town of Mount Pleasant formed a Community Development and Tourism Office and, as a new year approaches, it promises to brand the East Cooper community as a destination.

Ashley McKenzie, director of the office, said tourism became more important to the town as construction continued to dwindle in the lagging economy. To capitalize on the travel market, McKenzie said her office asked for its own Web site.

"The city site is great for residents, but I don't think it captures the true essence of Mount Pleasant as a tourist destination," she said.

The new site, planned for the coming year, would focus on what to do and see in Mount Pleasant. But before it goes live, McKenzie said the town must first decide how to sell itself.

She anticipates having a strategic plan to present to Town Council in the next few months. That document will propose marketing to specific types of visitors, such as the eco-tourists.

"We have to find the right brand for Mount Pleasant before moving forward," McKenzie said. "I think it's going to put Mount Pleasant on the map."

-- Allyson Byrd

McAllen, Texas may ditch "City of Palms"

2008-11-28T10:22:00.000-08:00

For the past 35 years, McAllen, Texas has been known as the "City of Palms," but city officials are currently looking at ways to more aggressively market their community to developers and prospective businesses.

A recently issued marketing analysis completed for McAllen states the community is "associated with being a border town filled with drugs, high crime, poor education and immigration problems." In other words, unless Quentin Tarentino is looking for a suitable backdrop for his latest movie, the city's image leaves something to be desired.

Reading some of the quotes in this article makes me a bit nervous however. It sounds like there's a tendency to believe that simply changing the tagline will be enough to change perceptions of the community. I hope they don't actually believe that.

Checking back in with Hamilton, Ontario

2008-11-25T07:45:00.000-08:00

As we reported several months back, Hamilton, Ontario has labeled itself the "City of Waterfalls." Local entrepreneur and community activist Chris Ecklund has been leading the charge for this effort, and recently wrote a blog entry that addresses the never-ending issue of enhancing a city's image.

Ecklund understands that city image work takes more than creation of a tagline, and has worked to create a long-term community attitude that transcends graphics and an ad campaign. True community branding goes to the heart of what your city is all about - its DNA. Tapping into that and finding effective ways to communicate it to residents, businesses and visitors takes time, but it's something that will last longer than any logo or tagline.

Here's a link to Chris' blog about Hamilton.

Santa Clarita named business-friendly city

2008-11-19T14:31:00.000-08:00

Encouraging economic development in your community doesn't just happen. You need to go out there and proactively work to attract business and be known as a city that's friendly to prospective employers.

Santa Clarita, Calif. has apparently grasped this concept, and has been named the "Most Business-Friendly City" in Los Angeles County, Calif. The award, known as an "Eddy" (for Economic Development) was handed out on Monday night.

Some factors that may have contributed to the recognition include Santa Clarita's status as a California Enterprise Zone (which reduces taxes for companies), and the fact Santa Clarita does not charge a utility user tax or a tax on gross receipts. Not sure what the net gain is to the city's residents is when all of these taxes are waived, however.

Congratulations to Santa Clarita! Here's the full story.

Too soon to brand Greensboro, NC?

2008-11-12T08:37:00.001-08:00

Greensboro, NC has distributed an RFP for a branding project. I'll offer no opinions here, but at least one local blogger thinks it's too early for such an effort.

It's an interesting question. Does your community do more harm if it launches a marketing strategy to promote something that may not be ready to have the world see? Or should it wait until there are compelling reasons to spread the word? I guess it all depends on your definition of "branding" - which is much more than a logo and tagline, whether it costs $5K or $105K to produce.

ANY city willing to shell out the dough can roll out a logo and tagline to say their community is the "best" or "the greatest city in (insert state here)," but if there's no "there" there, and if the campaign doesn't center on highlighting the city's real identity, it's a wasted effort.

Cities caught up in the branding frenzy need to step back, take a deep breath and consider what their realistic goals are. Do they really need to spend $80K and up and assume they can buy the love and admiration of visitors, developers and residents? Or would a reasonably priced city marketing and communications plan phased in over time make more sense?

Monona, Wis. council to vote on new logo

2008-11-03T07:35:00.000-08:00

The first paragraph of a story detailing Monona, Wisconsin's proposed new logo typifies the misconception of what a city "brand" is all about.

"If community identity can be found in a logo, Monona officials hops their proposed blue, green and white swoop and accompanying motto - "Greener. Bluer. Brighter" - conjures up the image of a city on a lake with plenty of trees and a promising future."

Let's see...what's wrong with that paragraph? While it may be true that Monona is indeed on a lake, and there are plenty of trees around, this is not the city's identity. And a "community's identity" cannot be found in a logo. Are there other cities out there next to lakes? Are there others with trees? How about promising futures? Yes, yes, and yes.

There is nothing about this that you can pull out and say - "Ah, that's Monona's identity. That is unique to this community." True community identity work requires digging deeper, not just scratching the surface. And what does "Greener. Bluer. Brighter" really mean? Is there a comprehensive strategy in place to explain this, to market the community, to go beyond a logo and tagline?

The article continued: "The Monona City Council is expected to decide tonight whether to approve the prospective brand."

Another interesting use of words. A city council cannot "approve" a brand. The city's "brand" already exists and is out there in the community and beyond. It cannot be created, it can merely be discovered and then exposed and shared in a proactive way.

The city's brand comes from this: What do people think when they hear the name "Monona?" What unique characteristics does the city possess (the good, the bad and the ugly). What is special about Monona? What is Monona's DNA? When you find out all of this and take the time to dig deeper, then you have the brand and community identity.

What you choose to do with this information is then up to you. It may ultimately include creating a city logo and tagline, but that's far from the first thing cities must do. I wish Monona well, but my guess is that a logo built on sand will be short-lived.

Greater Montreal unveils new logo

2008-10-30T08:44:00.000-07:00

The Greater Montreal area has a new logo and tagline combo (bi-lingual, of course) and there's a fair share of criticism - at least from one blogger.

I don't necessarily want to critique the new look, but I can't keep thinking of Toucan Sam's beak when I see it. See what you think here.

Tom Bullington is President of CityImage Communications. Learn more about CityImage at www.city-image.com or e-mail us at: info@city-image.com

Colo. Springs opens up budget discussions

2008-10-29T15:02:00.000-07:00

If you're a Colorado Springs resident and don't have anything else going on tomorrow night (Thursday, Oct. 30) stop in at City Hall. The City Council is projecting a $23 million shortfall from its original 2009 budget and is calling a special meeting to solicit public input.

I'm on the Colorado Springs "CityWire E-News" list and just received a notice about the meeting. While I'm not a resident and won't be able to attend, I was intrigued by the e-notice going out 24 hours before the meeting. Not sure if they are planning on going line-by-line through the budget with a red pen (remember the movie "Dave"?), but the process could be entertaining.

Wondering if anyone else out there is calling special budget meetings and soliciting such public involvement? Anyone reading this blog concerned about cuts in city communications?

Tom Bullington is President of CityImage Communications. Contact CityImage today at 651.402.6356 or via e-mail at info@city-image.com.

As the economy churns...

2008-10-27T13:49:00.000-07:00

In case you missed it, October wasn't necessarily a good month for the national economy.

The values of stocks and bonds dropped nearly 25%, huge banks and investment firms failed and were swallowed up by other banks, major employers announced layoffs, home values soured and the federal government injected billions into the economy in a massive bailout. Even the most bullish economists had to agree the country was in a recession, and a few dared to utter the "D" word to describe the current state of affairs.

As you know, this news did not help city governments, particularly at a time when many are deciding what to cut from the 2009 budget. So what does that mean for the future of city communications and funding for such expenditures as marketing, branding and web sites?

Well, as much as we would like to believe it will make no difference, that would be a foolish assumption. And, without a doubt, a city communications budget line item makes some council members and city managers salivate when they look for things to trim.

All of this leads to one big question: Are you ready to promote the value of your work as a local government communicator?

As many of us heard at the 3CMA Conference last week, providing information, and marketing services to our community's residents, businesses, and visitors is vitally important to the long-term health of our cities.

Simply saying nothing to the media is not an option. Doing nothing to promote your city is just plain stupid. And not offering an interactive way for residents and others to learn about your community and share information on the web is damaging.

Cities that take a hatchet to their budgets and start cutting communications will regret their decision in a variety of ways - tangible and intangible. Here's hoping that cooler heads prevail when it comes time to start cutting back.

On the city branding front, here's the latest from New York, where the "South Bronx" has now been renamed "Downtown Bronx." Is anyone really buying it?

To hear more about our services, sign up for our free monthly newsletter, or just chat, please contact CityImage anytime via e-mail, phone - 651.402.6356 or snail mail - 1807 Market Blvd. Suite 300, Hastings, MN 55033.

Tom Bullington is President of CityImage Communications. CityImage is based in Hastings, Minn. and Phoenix, Ariz.

CityImage now on Twitter

2008-10-20T11:23:00.000-07:00

CityImage enjoys connecting with our clients, whether in person, on the phone, or online. So check us out on Twitter for the latest and greatest. We'll still keep posting on this blog, but we'll use Twitter for instant commentary, observations, and well, just to have a little fun during the day.

Let us know you're reading us on Twitter, and on this blog. Drop us a line anytime at: info@city-image.com, log on with us at Twitter, call us at 651.402.6356 or use snail mail: 1807 Market Blvd, Suite 300, Hastings, MN 55033.

Have a great week! - Tom Bullington, CityImage President

New address for CityImage

2008-10-16T12:06:00.000-07:00

While our complete contact information has been updated on our web site, I thought I would let regular readers of our blog know that we have officially moved locations.

Our new address is: 1807 Market Blvd., Suite 300, Hastings, MN 55033.

We encourage you to check our web site to find out more about CityImage. Founded in 2002, our mission is to provide local governments with quality communications services such as marketing and branding plans, media training, web sites, and logo development.

For cities out there who don't have a full-time staff person for communications, or are facing tough budget cuts, CityImage can provide advice, editing and planning to put you on the right track. We are also available "on call" if you need help with media relations and other matters.

Thanks for reading our blog and thinking of CityImage!

Elgin, Ill. contemplates dropping $75K on city image initiative

2008-10-09T16:00:00.000-07:00

While this story is not exactly clear on what officials in Elgin, Ill. are considering with regard to "branding" their city, here's what it does say. Back in 2002, the city and the local chamber started something called "Enhancing Elgin," to "improve the city's reputation throughout the region and among its residents." The article says the city has already invested $478,000 and that another $585,000 has come from the private sector, for a total of $1.1 million in the past six years.

Tonight, the city is considering chipping in another $75,000 to pay a firm to conduct "preliminary research" related to branding and marketing the city. I must really be missing something here. If there has already been $1.1 million spent on this, is there really a need to put another $75K toward "preliminary" research? Something doesn't add up - except the bill.

Cities certainly don't need to spend this much money on branding and marketing themselves. Even the $75,000 figure seems rather high - but I can only imagine what kind of work you can get done for more than $1 million.

Also, is the timing of all this very good after a day when the stock market fell 7 percent?

A new look for Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

2008-10-03T14:53:00.000-07:00

It goes without saying that many American cities are trying to rebuild and reposition their historic downtowns in a variety of ways. There are many reasons why these communities find themselves in a bit of a pickle, but this is not the place to pass judgment on developers and councils who created this monster.

The fact remains that downtowns are hurting and communities now feel the need to turn around this trend, fill the empty commercial space and breathe new life into their core cities. Case in point: Saratoga Springs, N.Y.

With a new logo and tagline: "Downtown Saratoga Springs - Discover it again and again," the group of 20 local businesspeople hope the effort brings more attention to the shopping and dining opportunities downtown. Direct mail pieces and monthly giveaways are planned, a web site has been developed, and an e-mail database will be created to keep visitors informed of happenings downtown.

Curiously, other marketing initiatives for Saratoga Springs are also underway by the Downtown Business Association (the group to which many of this team belong), the local chamber of commerce, and convention and tourism bureau. My thought is that will definitely weaken this effort - if everyone isn't on the same page, using the same messages and sharing the same goals.

We'll see what happens. I'm wondering if there's a definite plan in place to measure the effectiveness of this campaign beyond "let's do a logo and see what happens." I'm not seeing evidence of that from the news article, but it could be there. Without a plan, cities will definitely not get the results they want, and they'll be back in two years to try yet again.

Click here for more on the story.

Slogans without marketing plans are useless

2008-09-26T15:41:00.000-07:00

A newspaper reporter for a daily paper here in the Twin Cities called me yesterday. It seems a local city held a contest recently asking its residents to come up with a new slogan for the community. Two of the top entries were chosen and citizens (including schoolchildren) are being invited to vote on these and determine a winner.

When the reporter told me the two finalists and asked for my feedback, I responded with a few questions she didn't expect. "What is the purpose of this slogan? What audiences are being targeted by the city? Is there a marketing plan also being put in place to help support this slogan in some way?"

Simply put, a slogan is just a slogan. A logo is just a logo. They are really meaningless unless they are backed up by a communications and marketing strategy. The strategy must identify target audiences, key messages, communication vehicles to be used, expenses, staffing needs, etc. Without a plan, you can have the best slogan in the world and it will do nothing for you.

In fact, if your city puts a slogan out there and doesn't back it up, you can perhaps cause more damage to your city than by doing nothing. Ask yourself who will answer the phone when the slogan prompts a developer, reporter or tourist to call and request more information - and do you actually have more information to give them? What will you tell each of these people when they call? Have you really thought this through?

All of this brought up another question for me: Is a public contest really the best way to find a new slogan for your community? I have always believed there is a fundamental flaw in this method - one of the entries has to win. If your city puts itself out on a limb in this way, you have to follow through and pick one - even if they all, well, suck.

When I was a city communications director, there was much talk at one point about changing the logo. No one knew what the current logo represented, the colors were antiquated, the font was circa 1962, and it was just plain unattractive. At the time, we considered having a public contest to replace the logo - after all, it would be less expensive than hiring a professional graphic designer, and it would give the public a warm feeling that they helped out.

In the end, we simply upgraded the logo with new colors and a new font. There was no support for a public contest (thank goodness) and even less support for hiring a designer to come up with a new logo. Few people in that city of 70,000 still know what the logo represents (the shape of the city), but it's somewhat more attractive than it had been.

I may get some nasty e-mail for saying this, but while it may be cute for kids to come up with a new name for a classroom hamster, or design a logo for their home room at school, municipal marketing is serious business that requires strategic planning and professional experience.

Why we have much to learn from New York's city branding efforts

2008-09-23T20:36:00.000-07:00

If you were alive in the 1970s, you probably remember that New York City wasn't exactly a great place to be. Crime was rampant, the city (and its Hudson River) was known for being filthy, and social issues such as drug use and prostitution seemed out of control. The city's economy was in shambles and it seemed all hope was lost.

I remember traveling to New York in 1979 as a 12-year-old just assuming I would be mugged during my visit. (I wasn't, and returned to Manhattan several more times when I lived in New Jersey for a few years in the 80s).

Well, as they tend to do, New Yorkers fought back. They attacked crime and pollution, voted in a new generation of leaders, and started a little campaign you may recognize - "I Love New York."

For more on the story, read this excellent article in The New York Times.

Live from the Iowa League of Cities annual conference in Council Bluffs

2008-09-10T21:29:00.000-07:00

Just going over a few notes prior to speaking at the Iowa League of Cities annual conference here in Council Bluffs. It's fun to be back in town - I graduated high school in Omaha (Millard North '85 if you're wondering), so I'm sure I'll swing over there before departing.

The main text of my remarks tomorrow will focus on how cities can create a positive image for their communities. I hope to give the attendees some helpful tips on how to proactively engage their target audiences with messages that resonate.

The more I think about it, creating a positive image for a community is a lot like a political campaign - except it never stops (and it could be argued that when one election ends, another campaign begins for the next cycle). Cities need to constantly be thinking how they can present themselves to the news media, and also take their "campaign" directly to residents via the web, city publications and face-to-face communications.

Can you imagine a candidate for office today without a web site or literature? A city can't afford to be without these tools either.

Now everyone has heard of Wasilla, Alaska

2008-09-04T14:06:00.000-07:00

Regardless of your political leanings, it would be hard to find anyone in America who has not heard a little bit about Wasilla, Alaska in the past six days. In case you've been on the moon or hiking in northern Canada since last Thursday, Wasilla is the town (pop. 6,800) where Sarah Palin served as a council member and mayor before becoming governor of Alaska in 2007.

Palin is now on the Republican ticket for vice president, and her hometown has received quite a flurry of news coverage in the past week. Setting national politics aside, what kind of impact will this attention have on Wasilla in the coming months and years? Will curious political tourists travel to Wasilla just to see Palin's home? To see where she ate meals in the local cafe? Will all of this turn Wasilla into another Plains, Ga. - home of former President Jimmy Carter?

Time will tell, and the final verdict will come in early November as America votes. Wasilla's future as a tourist destination depends on the outcome. Stay tuned!

Gainesville, Fla. council doesn't get it

2008-09-03T07:36:00.000-07:00

Here's another example of a city council that doesn't get the importance of communications. Faced with tough economic times and a tight budget, the Gainesville, Fla. City Council is thinking of cutting back or even eliminating its city communications department.

According to an article in the local Gainesville paper (which has since been removed from the web), council members recently engaged in a conversation about the merits of having such a department, and whether it was a "nice to have" or a "need to have" element of the city government.

I would argue that city communications departments are more necessary than ever in challenging times. How else are you going to get your message across to your residents and other audiences? How else are you going to promote what's happening in your city to those who will come to Gainesville and spend money or open a business? If a negative news story arises (and Gainesville has had a few of those as I remember), will you be caught with no media strategy or way to effectively communicate your point of view? Will you need to hire a PR firm at $150 an hour instead? How does this possibly help your city grow and prosper?

Cutting communications will take Gainesville back several steps. Residents, business owners, visitors, the news media, and citizens of surrounding communities would be left to their own devices to find out information about the city. As I tell clients, if you don't fill the airwaves and the newspapers with your point of view, someone will fill it for you.

Camarillo, Calif.: Is being known as "the prison hospital town" such a bad thing?

2008-08-27T12:58:00.001-07:00

Residents and officials in Camarillo, Calif. are debating the pros and cons of locating a prison hospital in town.

Those in favor of the proposal point to the jobs the facility and related businesses will bring to town.

Those opposed cite safety concerns (sick prisoners could escape their beds?), city resources and a negative effect on the city's image.

I believe it's not always a bad thing to have a major corrections facility in town, especially if you have something else positive happening in your community. For example, here in Minnesota, Stillwater is the site of a well-known prison, but is also considered one of the top five tourist destinations in the state.

I would add that our home base of Hastings, Minn. is the Dakota County seat, which means the county courthouse and jail are located here - about a mile from my office. As a result, most of the "bad" headlines dealing with detainees accused of committing horrific crimes come with a Hastings dateline. Our city's image, however, is not affected by the jail. People still love to come here because it's an attractive small city on the Mississippi River.

The added benefits of increased employment and higher tax revenues, in my opinion, offset any possible negatives that come from having a prison, prison hospital, or jail located in your town. The downside (if there is any) is just not large enough to deny Camarillo this economic boost, just so a few folks can feel better not being "the prison hospital town."

Read the full story here.

Auckland, N.Z. government introduces "spin doctor" team to handle media inquiries

2008-08-12T12:57:00.000-07:00

The City of Auckland, New Zealand recently created a new policy for media contacts. Rather than have journalists call sources directly, the city wants the media to head straight for the Communications and Marketing department first for "information and assistance."

Having worked as a city communications director and consulted with cities for the past six years, I completely understand the importance of message control. Ensuring your content experts are all on message is critical, particularly when a difficult (or simply confusing) issue arises.

Yet, having worked as a journalist as well, I see their side of the story too. Shouldn't a newspaper reporter be able to contact sources and not call a gatekeeper first?

Here are my thoughts: If there is a communications director or main spokesperson working at a city, that individual should ideally take the first call from the news media. This actually helps the journalist (who is often clueless who to call) be directed to the correct person within the government.

When I was a communications director, reporters would call me and tell me what they were writing a story about. I was then able to put them in touch with the right person - and also equip the source with messages that would help them get the city's point across.

If a reporter called a source first - which happened on occasion - city employees knew to contact me when they were called. At that point, I could either help prep them, or, if the interview was already over, I would be able to tell the city manager and city council to expect a story in the paper or on TV.

What you want to avoid is city employees giving interviews that are off message and misinformed. You also want to minimize the number of news stories that appear from out of nowhere. The worst-possible thing is for a city council member or city manager to read an article they didn't know was going to be printed, and, in particular, an article that contains misinformation.

So, while Auckland may have gone a bit overboard in this case, I can definitely see where they're coming from! Read the whole story here.

Marketing working too well in Surf City, USA?

2008-08-11T07:26:00.000-07:00

A few years ago, Huntington Beach, Calif. trademarked "Surf City USA" as its own moniker. Since that time, with the help of aggressive city marketing and the addition of beachside events, visits to the city have skyrocketed. For example, last month's U.S. Open of Surfing brought 340,000 visitors to town.

And, according to the Los Angeles Times, a recent Huntington Beach CVB study found that annual visitor spending has risen to $350 million, up from $191 million seven years ago.

But, as with any good thing, some locals are wondering if all the hub-bub has been worth it. While a dramatic rise in tax receipts from visitors is undoubtedly great, certain local businesses say Huntington Beach residents stay away from their shops on event days - mainly because there's no available parking. Service-oriented stores such as hair salons and dog groomers are feeling the pinch.

Can "too much" tourism traffic in your community be a bad thing? Read the full article here and decide for yourself.

An Olympic effort: Vancouver taking cues from Beijing to brand itself before 2010

2008-08-10T10:38:00.000-07:00

The world may be watching Beijing for the next few weeks, but officials in Vancouver, B.C. have already prepared a comprehensive branding strategy for their Winter Games in 2010.

Steve Lange, "Look of the Games" director (his actual title), is in China this month for a view of the final Games before Canada regains the world stage in two years.

Lange said he is looking at every aspect of the Beijing Games - logo placement, television camera angles, how advertising is done, street decorations, sponsorships, etc.

"I am looking at the overall look to see how (Beijing) delivered the branding and color strategy, but I am also looking at what technologies and methodologies they've used," he said.

Read the rest of the story here.

Hamilton, Ont. - "Waterfall Capital of the World"

2008-08-09T18:22:00.000-07:00

Chris Ecklund, a self-described "businessman and philanthropist," is working hard to brand his hometown of Hamilton, Ontario, Canada as the "Waterfall Capital of the World." With more than 100 waterfalls in the city, there's probably something to that.

Ecklund's recent blog post correctly points out the difference between branding and simply creating a motto or slogan, which is definitely a good sign. So far, so good Chris!

To read Ecklund's entire blog, click here.

To see a preliminary branding site dedicated to Hamilton, click here.

New marketing logo for Paso Robles, Calif.

2008-08-08T13:30:00.000-07:00

The new promotional logo and tagline: Paso Robles - Authentic California, was approved this week by the Paso Robles City Council in a 3-1 vote.

A comprehensive marketing plan was adopted last November, and the new look will be used in upcoming campaigns. Yes, even a tourist mecca like Paso Robles realizes the value of promoting itself and not resting on its laurels.

This brings to mind cities such as Scottsdale, Ariz., Las Vegas, and San Diego - all well-known destinations that still spend a ton on marketing and advertising. They understand that if they don't keep reminding people about their attributes that tourists, businesses and prospective residents will look elsewhere for the "next big thing." The challenge is to stay fresh in the customer's mind, and this is what Paso Robles is going for.

Read the full story here.

Ocean City mayor understands need for communications and marketing city - hires new director under criticism

2008-08-07T07:52:00.000-07:00

Municipal communications officials everywhere should salute Mayor Sal Perillo of Ocean City, N.J. Perillo recently hired Laurie Howey as a full-time communications director.

Now, it would have been quite easy for the mayor to cut the position from his budget and bow to pressure from city union employees who criticized the move.

But Perillo understands that having an effective city communications and marketing strategy is perhaps more important than ever in a time of economic challenges. He grasps the concept that, if you don't market your community, you are essentially leaving future economic growth up to chance and the whims of business owners and visitors who are considering places to spend money.

If Ocean City doesn't appear on anyone's radar, how will it grow, attract visitors, expand its tax base and reduce current economic problems? Critics of marketing the community are being extraordinarily short-sighted and selfish.

Way to go Mayor Perillo and best wishes to Laurie Howey!

Read the entire story here.

Rutland, Vermont looking into branding

2008-08-06T16:59:00.000-07:00

Once known as "A City for Weddings," Rutland, Vermont is in search of a new marketing approach. Locals are expressing interest in a campaign to identify an effective way to market the community and drive more business and visitors to the city.

CityImage associate Bill Baker, of Total Destination Management, and author of "Destination Branding for Small Cities," believes the city name "has a lot going for it."

"In Washington state and in Australia where I'm from, you have a lot of communities with hard to pronounce indigenous names," Baker said. "Rutland might not necessarily be a disadvantage if you think of the process as a blank piece of paper that you fill in with good things."

Before they get started, as Mr. Baker points out in his book, one thing Rutland and other cities must realize is that an advertising campaign is something much different than branding.

"Branding" is all about finding a community's unique nature, what makes it stand out from all others. Advertising and marketing, while definitely a critical piece of the puzzle, is only designed to attract certain audiences for a limited period of time.

Think of it this way. Your brand is your DNA - that won't change. Your advertising efforts are the kind of clothes you wear - and hopefully those will change!

For the whole story, click here.

Brand Atlanta may end in December

2008-07-31T15:16:00.000-07:00

This news just came across - the heralded "Brand Atlanta" initiative, which started in 2005, may wither and die due to lack of funding.

The City of Atlanta, which has had to let employees go and make other cutbacks, has also cut funding to a public/private partnership established to market itself. Staff has been eliminated, and there's less than $500,000 left in funding available.

So, barring any additional funds coming in 2009 from the Georgia legislature, "Every Day is Opening Day," may soon reach its closing ceremonies. More on the story here.

This is yet another cautionary tale for communities considering spending exorbitant amounts on finding their "brand," only to come away with a new logo and tagline (not a brand), and no budget for implementation. One wonders if the citizens of Atlanta will be receptive to another "branding" exercise anytime soon after this folds.

Marshall, Texas responds to criticism of branding, signage expenditures

2008-07-23T09:33:00.000-07:00

Officials in Marshall, Texas are responding to criticism following approval of four contracts totaling $192,000 related to branding and signage.

The work being performed is designed to lure more visitors and businesses to the community. The city's brand "Marshall, Texas - Center Stage" was approved in May 2007 by the Marshall Branding Development Committee.

Committee chairman Steve Carlile emphasized that the expenditures come from a funding source that cannot be used for other city expenses.

"One of the things that we want to stress is that the money that's going to Brand Development is money that can't be used the same way that other money can be used. For the most part, it comes from hotel/motel tax that, by state law, has to be used to promote tourism," Carlile said. "What we're trying to do is to use it in the best way possible to promote tourism and help Marshall transform the city."

Carlile also defended the pace of the brand's implementation, which some have said is slow. "This is a marathon, not a sprint," he said.

In fact, the chairman said the committee "really hasn't spent very much money" to date.

"We've been very frugal with what we've done," he said. "We're in the process of signing these contracts that will be going on for months into the future," he continued. "It seems like a big number — $192,000 — but it's not like we're sending the money out the door today. It's going to be over a year or so.

"It's true, it sounds like a lot of money, but it's really pretty reasonable for everything we're going to get," Carlile added. "That's particularly true if you consider the consultants (DDI) thought we'd spend close to $300,000. It's expensive work but we'll definitely get our money's worth."

Read more here.

Marco Island, Fla. communications policies a little over the top?

2008-07-11T08:17:00.000-07:00

From the July 11 ICMA Briefing

Florida's Naples Daily News reports that Marco Island City Manager Steve Thompson, who "said one of his top priorities" for the city "is 'open and accessible information,'" is balancing that policy with one department's use of "an old policy...now being enforced to limit media and city council communication with city staff."

Community Development Director Steve Olmsted's "policy states that requests under the Freedom of Information Act, requests by media, city council, and other city departments must go through Olmsted first in order to 'coordinate a response'" from his department. The Daily News points out that Thompson "said he is 'not concerned (the policy) is a cap on open communication,'" but that he will hold Olmsted "responsible" for properly executing it, and "if there are any complaints about the policy or access to information, he would not tolerate it."

CityImage: Is this policy going a bit too far? Or is coordinating media interviews through department heads a good idea to ensure a consistent message? What do you think? Read the full story here.

Belfast, Northern Ireland rebrands itself

2008-07-05T20:18:00.000-07:00

Known for decades as a strife-torn city, Belfast has unveiled a branding effort with the stated goal of "promoting a unified vision of the city as a vibrant and optimistic place in which to live, work, invest and visit."

It's an admirable endeavor due to this community's past issues that have earned it a reputation for unmitigated violence. One has to think that if Belfast's campaign succeeds, other hotspots will be encouraged to give it a try someday.

For more on the story, click here.

Birmingham, Ala. goes for the 2020 Olympic Games

2008-06-28T12:32:00.000-07:00

Officials in Birmingham, Ala. recently hurled a javelin into the ring to become the host of the 2020 Olympic Games (Summer edition, of course). A committee has been formed to look into the idea, and the concept is said to be gaining traction in the community.

Mayor Larry Langford and Alabama Sports Festival Director Marc Riker are both on board with the idea to bring the world's greatest athletes (some of whom are currently 6-10 years old) to Alabama in August of 2020. They contend that the area's colleges and universities have enough venues to make the dream a reality.

Inspired by the international response to the 1996 Atlanta Games, and the ability of Atlanta to capitalize on this exposure more than a decade later, Birmingham believes it has a shot at winning the gold in this challenging proposition. At the very least, one council member said the process itself might help boost the city's image and resident morale.

For more on the story, click here.

Midwest floods underscore need for city communications plan

2008-06-15T19:47:00.000-07:00

We've all seen images from Midwestern cities ravaged in recent days by epic floods. My hometown of Des Moines, Iowa, as well as Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Gays Mills, Wis. and many others have been hit with an influx of water some say qualifies as a "500-year" event. (Unfortunately, the last 500-year event occurred in 1993).

In the days leading up to the floods and as the water took over these towns, we've heard interviews with elected officials regarding the severity of the disaster. Many city employees with varying degrees of authority have given interviews to CNN, local newspapers, international news agencies, bloggers, local TV stations, and other organizations.

Working in the city communications field as I have for 18 years, I can't help but wonder if these cities have a crisis communications plan in place, or any communications plan for that matter. Such a plan helps your employees prepare for such events with media training, and ensures your city staff knows who should (and shouldn't) be speaking with reporters, issuing press releases, holding press conferences, and what to say in these situations.

Cities operating without a crisis communications plan are taking as much of a risk as cities that don't build adequate levees to withstand floods. They are rolling the dice and hoping nothing happens. It's too late to put a plan together when the water is heading down river, and you're running the risk that your impromptu communications efforts will make the disaster even larger. Anyone remember Hurricane Katrina?

Avoiding cookie-cutter web sites

2008-06-01T19:48:00.000-07:00

Here's an entertaining article from the June 1 edition of the St. Paul Pioneer Press. While it's true that web site templates can be a cost-effective option for some cities, there's still definitely something to be said for using original artwork and other elements that actually feature the community being showcased on the site.

The lesson behind all of this is that cities are not interchangeable. They are as unique as individuals and lack of originality in any communications vehicle will be noticed by the general public (as it was in this article). Accordingly, city web sites, newsletters, communications plans, logos and yes - branding and marketing campaigns - must reflect the character and traits of their community.

For more on this important topic, read the full article here.

Downtown San Mateo looks for image boost

2008-05-25T13:55:00.001-07:00

Kelly Mitter, president of the Downtown San Mateo understands something that many others entering a city branding campaign don't comprehend - you can't make your community something it isn't by merely creating a new logo and tagline. San Mateo is in the final stages of creating an effort to attract more visitors and merchants to the downtown area.

Mitter puts it simply - "It's about getting a sense of place here. We're not trying to be something we're not." Mitter continued on to say that San Mateo's goal is to emphasize its strengths and market them to the appropriate audiences. It definitely seems like they are on the right path in San Mateo!

As for others thinking about "branding" their communities, here is some food for thought. While you can certainly spend $90,000 or more marketing your city as the "Greatest City in California" - complete with development of a beautiful logo, nice display ads, and a big unveiling event, it doesn't make it so. After the big event is over and the cake and punch are consumed, your new "brand" must be grounded in reality and follow a plan to take you from Point A to Point B.

In fact, no individual city can accurately be named the "greatest" city in any state. Frankly, that doesn't really mean anything. It could be said about any community and you could probably find someone who would agree. But it shouldn't be the basis of a city branding initiative charged with bringing new business or visitors to town.

Click here for the whole story from the San Mateo County Times.

Welcome to Connecticut's friendliest city!

2008-05-17T09:54:00.000-07:00

We're not sure who, exactly, voted on this designation, but the people of West Haven, Conn. have now claimed the title of "Connecticut's Friendliest City." A celebration was held on May 16 on the steps of West Haven City Hall to kick off a campaign to encourage townspeople to well, be really friendly.

Skip Falcone, a local attorney who organized the event, has even written six "precepts of friendliness" for people to follow. Schoolchildren will come up with the remaining four "commandments." In case you're wondering, the first six are: Smile. Be courteous. Use proper greetings. Say a kind word. Be helpful. Have pride in your city.

So, if you're ever in West Haven, Conn. and someone is unfriendly, they must have missed the memo. Read more about this campaign here.

And I thought it was just an airport...

2008-05-08T12:30:00.000-07:00

I've flown into Seattle a few times, and always heard it referred to as "SeaTac" - something I thought was a combination of the names "Seattle" and "Tacoma." But apparently there's really a city called SeaTac, Wash., which was incorporated in 1990, is 10 square miles, and has a population of 25,000.

So, it's probably a good idea for them to make people aware that they exist! The answer to this (unless it's just me) is the new "Everywhere's Possible" campaign. It is an effort to drive economic development in the city, and there's even a new (yet-to-be-developed) companion web site.

To read more about the campaign and some of the other marketing strategies being started up by SeaTac, click here.

New CityImage video partnership announced

2008-05-06T11:53:00.001-07:00

CityImage's clients are always looking for more ways to successfully promote themselves for tourism and economic development reasons.

And there's no denying that video, especially video on the web, is becoming a more effective and economical marketing tool than ever before. When a community posts a promotional video on the web, it lets the world gain yet another perspective on the city's attributes on a 24/7 basis.

Economic development officials love video because it can showcase available properties, tout new developments, and paint a positive picture of the community. Tourism bureau directors appreciate video since it can give prospective visitors a "sneak peak" at places they are considering visiting - without ever leaving their den.

Recognizing that high-quality video production for communities is in demand, CityImage is proud to partner with Redbone Multimedia of Nashville, Tenn. for video projects. Redbone Multimedia has worked to promote communities through video for more than seven years, and has illustrated a commitment to excellence in its work.

To learn more about Redbone and view their video work, visit them online at: www.redbonemultimedia.com

Visit CityImage online at: www.city-image.com or call us at 651.402.6356.

Oklahoma City NBA team to use city name

2008-04-30T09:13:00.000-07:00

You may know them now as the Seattle SuperSonics, but it appears that after 2010, they'll be hitting the hardcourt in Oklahoma City. The Sonics' owner has apparently signed an agreement with the city to move the team after 2010, or earlier if a deal can be reached with Seattle officials. It's truly the end of an era for NBA fans.

Local elected officials, realizing the deal has city branding implications for Oklahoma City, last night added a clause to the formal lease agreement stating that the new NBA team will carry the name "Oklahoma City" - not just "Oklahoma" as has been suggested by NBA Commissioner David Stern.

Stern contends that folks in Tulsa and other regional cities would be more likely to attend games if the name were more inclusive. The OKC City Council unanimously approved the lease containing the "OKC" clause by a vote of 7-0.

For more on the story, click here.

Harvard, Ill. hopes for image turnaround

2008-04-24T09:41:00.000-07:00

The community of Harvard, Ill., hit hard by the closing of a Motorola plant five years ago, is getting serious about turning around its city image. Projects include a $2.2-million rehab of its main downtown street and a plan to build condos with storefronts.

Harvard is perhaps best known by Chicagoans as "the end of the line," since the Metra Northwest Line stops in the city. Harvard Mayor Jay Nolan has put a nice spin on this fact, saying it is "not the last stop, it is the beginning."

We'll see how the downtown redevelopment works to improve the overall city image (particularly the construction of new condos in the present real estate market), but it's encouraging to see Harvard taking its image seriously.

Click here for more details from the Chicago Tribune story.

Subscribe to our FREE e-newsletter!

2008-04-21T09:02:00.000-07:00

For the latest on trends in local government communications, marketing and city image campaigns, subscribe to our free e-newsletter! It's an easy way to learn more about our industry, pick up some advice and network with others around the country.

To subscribe, drop us a quick e-mail at: info@city-image.com today!

"Shake and bake!" Talladega may need Will Farrell to help its image

2008-04-18T21:30:00.000-07:00

The Talladega (Alabama) City Council and Talladega Board of Education are in agreement - the reputation of their community is in the pits. As a result, the Council has requested a meeting with the Chamber of Commerce and local real estate agents to brainstorm solutions to the city's negative public image.

"I was told Talladega is a hell hole," said former schools superintendent Lee Messer, recalling what he maintains someone at the chamber told him before moving to town.

For the record, chamber officials deny ever describing the town as a "hell hole."

More on this story from the home of "Talladega Nights," starring Will Farrell, here.

From Madison, Indiana: If people can't find downtown, get some better signs!

2008-04-17T14:35:00.000-07:00

Madison, Indiana has a problem. It's hard to find downtown - even if you're a tourism professional who is following the signs. Consultant Roger Brooks recently let the folks in Madison know about this shortcoming as he filled them in about his branding research.

As Brooks aptly points out, having effective signage in your community is critical if you're going to direct visitors to your town's attractions. If it's too hard for tourists to find the parts of town you feel are your greatest strengths, you're just making it more difficult for them to spend money, and less likely that they'll tell other people to visit your city or consider it for a move.

Read more of Brooks' assessment of Madison here.

Why CityImage is in business

2008-04-15T15:43:00.000-07:00

A personal message from Tom Bullington, CityImage President

When I started CityImage in 2002, I did so because I knew there were many local governments out there with communications and marketing needs that were not being met.

I understood this because I had spent my entire professional career working in and around city government communications, and had seen too many cases where cities had missed opportunities to connect with their residents and promote themselves effectively to prospective developers, businesses and visitors. Too often, I saw the media or an "anti-government" group take an issue and run with it - to the detriment of residents - while the city government belatedly scrambled to respond after it was already too late.

By dismissing the importance of communications, these cities let others determine their image, drive the public discussion, and begin a defensive, reactive cycle that did nothing but tarnish the city's reputation and make citizens question their government's motives.

There were, and still are, cities and towns of all sizes that don't publish a resident newsletter. There are communities that don't have a web site of any kind, or even if they have one, it is not consistently updated. There remain cities without a communications plan, or anyone on staff serving as a spokesperson who can put out press releases (positive and negative) and answer calls from the media. In short, there are many communities desperately in need of help with a number of communications issues. And they are often ill-prepared to communicate in the event of a crisis.

Six years later, I'm very proud of the work CityImage has done to help such communities spread the word about themselves and empower their residents with information. As we have grown, we have worked with cities across the country on communications plans, branding and image campaigns, media training, logos, and a variety of publications such as community guides, brochures and newsletters.

As a matter of principle - not profit - CityImage belongs to (and participates in) professional associations such as 3CMA, ICMA and IABC. We have been asked to present at state and national conferences on a number of topics, including community branding, city reputation management, and media training basics. We have won a number of national awards including a Savvy, Silver Quill and Bronze Quill. We have developed partnerships and alliances with designers and others who share our passion for local government communications. And we've made a number of good friends along the way.

I'm writing this because I'm passionate about doing the best-possible job we can for your community, so I want to share a little more detail about what makes us tick.

Here are CityImage's guiding principles of doing business:

What we're about

--City Hall experience. We are proud of our 18 years working in and around local government communications and want to share our experience and skills with communities across the country.

--Work ethic. We work with local governments because we love their dedication to serving the public and admire their tireless work ethic. We share this same commitment to working hard for our clients.

--Creative solutions that connect with the city's customers. CityImage is committed to providing excellent communications tools and strategies to cities and counties. We want to see them succeed and flourish to the benefit of their citizens.

--Engaging and empowering residents. We feel that residents who know more about what's happening at City Hall are much more likely to be productive members of society, get involved in their neighborhoods and schools, and understand the need to speak out on issues of concern locally - as well as at the state and national level. Real people - not lobbyists - are the best at making real changes happen!

--Honesty. We are quite honest when speaking with prospective and current clients. If a community comes to us and wants a "new brand," rather than salivate and sign them up right then and there, we take the time to ask what their goals are. It may be that a brand is not what they really need. Instead, it could be a communications plan, or a bit of an enhancement to their existing logo. That's less money for us, but it means the client will get what they really need.

--Budgets based in reality. Since we've worked for cities, we understand that communications and marketing budgets are tight - and are often reduced during poor economic times. We work with you to keep costs down.

What we're not about

--Cookie cutters. CityImage does not aspire to be a big agency with hundreds of clients. We are not interested in generating volume for the sake of volume. Rather, we are interested in quality and providing our clients with work that is based on their community's unique needs. We are not a branding mill or a web site factory.

--Overhead. Our staff is based in satellite offices designed to help them work for you with minimal interruptions. We aren't charging you exorbitant rates so we can enjoy office space in a high rise, BMWs and $5 cappucinos. (For the record, we drive GM cars and drink black coffee).

--Corporate clients. While there are many firms out there with slick portfolios full of work for high-profile corporations producing everything from soft drinks to SUVs, we question their understanding of local government communications.

Why contact CityImage?

If you're a city or county administrator interested in reaching out to your residents in a proactive way, please give CityImage a call. If you're a government communicator looking to start an affordable community branding campaign, we'd love to hear from you. If you're in search of communications advice, staff media training or a newsletter or web site, CityImage is here for you.

Wondering how to start effectively marketing your community? Just want to bounce some communications ideas off someone with no obligation? Please feel free to call me personally at 651.402.6356 or e-mail me at: tom@city-image.com. I look forward to hearing from you soon!

Very sincerely,

Tom Bullington

Founder and President

CityImage Communications

651.402.6356

tom@city-image.com

www.city-image.com

We want to hear from you!

2008-04-11T09:15:00.001-07:00

CityImage Communications appreciates your interest in our firm, and we'd like to hear more about your organization's communications efforts. Please take a few minutes to complete this quick survey and help us find out more about what you need from a communications firm.

Thanks in advance. Click here to begin!

Boise, Idaho seen as hot terrorist target. Huh?

2008-04-07T09:52:00.000-07:00

When we look into all of the factors that comprise a city's image, we naturally tend to concentrate on things such as crime, climate, education, job creation/unemployment, tourist attractions, entertainment, sports, and aesthetics. What doesn't usually come up is how susceptible the community is to a terrorist attack.

Granted, random acts by terrorists, "both foreign and domestic," seem to be a bit more likely nowadays, but is it fair to paint one city as more likely to be attacked than another - thereby inflicting harm to its reputation before anything happens?

Ask the folks in Boise, Idaho what they think of a recent report that our friends at the Homeland Security Department put together (Yes, I'm still annoyed that you took my cologne a few months ago). After studying a number of factors, the HSD believes Boise is a hot target for terrorists. (No jokes about potato guns allowed, please).

Now, don't get me wrong. I'm sure we're all glad that our government is looking into such things, and is hopefully letting officials in Boise know what their vulnerabilities are (there's a major dam nearby). But you have to wonder why such information needs to be made public in such a huge way, i.e. a story in the Los Angeles Times.

It's another example of how the media walks the line between the public's right to know and restricting sensitive information that is being used by law enforcement and local officials to keep people safe.

In my view, I really don't think the average American needs to know that the HSD thinks Boise is a good target for terrorists. Let the appropriate people take the necessary measures to protect Boise and let me enjoy the city without knowing something that I'm powerless to control. Too much information like this hurts the city's reputation and might even give people some ideas of ways to attack.

Instead, I'll join most people in Boise and concentrate on these facts: Boise is the #1 "Adventure Town" according to National Geographic, second on Forbes' "Best Places for Business and Careers" list, #9 on the Inc. com "Hottest Cities for Entrepreneurs" list, and #8 on Money magazine's "Best Places to Live" list.

Let's hope people don't stay away from Boise because of the report. That would be a huge shame and one sure way to let the bad guys out there win without doing a thing.

CityImage is a full-service communications and marketing firm working exclusively with local governments. For more information, contact CityImage President Tom Bullington at 651.402.6356 or at tom@city-image.com

CityImage recently opened an Arizona office. Reach us at:

CityImage Phoenix

1301 N. Grand Ave., Suite 4

Phoenix, AZ 85007

E-mail: arizona@city-image.com

Web site: www.city-image.com

CityImage opens office in Phoenix!

2008-03-28T14:33:00.000-07:00

CityImage Communications is proud to announce the opening of a satellite office in Phoenix.

"Arizona is the perfect place for CityImage to open its second location," said CityImage President Tom Bullington. "As the state continues to experience rapid growth, communications is a critical part of any community's game plan going forward. Cities, towns and counties will need to find new and innovative ways to share information with residents, visitors, and businesses, and we'll be there for them."

Phoenix was selected as the site of the company's first expansion after market research illustrated increasing need for the CityImage's communications expertise with a focus on local governments, visitor bureaus and chambers of commerce. CityImage's national client list includes communities in Arizona, Minnesota, California, Washington, Ohio, Texas and Florida, among others.

CityImage's communications experience is wide-ranging, including: city crisis communications plans, city communications audits, general communications consulting, city image and identity campaigns, media training, and city web site solutions. More information about CityImage can be found on the firm's web site: www.city-image.com

Bullington started his professional career as a newspaper editor in Glendale and Peoria, and has held communications positions in Minnesota and Arizona since 1990. His career includes time spent as a communications team director, city spokesperson, trainer, editor and writer. Headquartered in Hastings, Minn, about 20 miles southeast of St. Paul, CityImage was founded in 2002.

"It was merely a coincidence that we announced the opening of this office as Minnesota experienced a six-inch snowfall - on March 27th," Bullington said. "We look forward to working with many Valley cities and communities across Arizona in a much more direct fashion."

CityImage Phoenix:

1301 N. Grand Ave., Suite 4

Phoenix, AZ 85007

E-mail: arizona@city-image.com

Web site: www.city-image.com

CityImage is a full-service communications and marketing firm working exclusively with local governments. We haven't seen another one in the five years we've been doing this (and believe me, we have looked!)

For more information, contact CityImage President Tom Bullington at 651.402.6356 or at tom@city-image.com

Crisis communications: A Tale of Two Cities

2008-03-27T13:59:00.000-07:00

Here's a story about two cities and their approach to city crisis communications plans. See if you can figure out which one is better prepared in the event of a crisis or even a somewhat-negative news story. (The names have been changed to protect the ill-prepared).

City A sends out press releases proactively at the rate of about two per week. These press releases mainly contain "good news" such as community event promotions, recreation coverage, police charity drive results, fire station tours, parades, etc. City A often meets with the reporters covering City Hall to talk over current issues, give them a preview of upcoming council actions, and gives the media access behind the scenes of city government so they will be better prepared to educate residents about what's really going on.

In City A, the 8-page city newsletter comes out bi-monthly and is mailed to each household and business address on a regular schedule. The city has a good relationship with the local weekly newspaper and occasionally gets covered by the local network TV stations when "feel good" community events take place. The city spokesperson is generally considered a good source for news.

City A has someone assigned to handle media inquiries. While this city has a designated "communications" official, other City A examples often choose someone as a "go-to" person when the press calls about a story. The spokesperson is ready to go on camera and speak with reporters, in addition to preparing other city officials with key messages for their interviews.

City B never sends out press releases because it doesn't have time and doesn't have a spokesperson lined up. They don't have a city newsletter. Their city web site design was last updated in 2005 and the most frequently visited page on the site is "City Jobs," which contains outdated information. When the local paper calls, the reporter rarely gets a call back on the day of his call, and is frequently blown off by City Hall entirely.

City B's city council and city manager believe communications is "fluff" and phased out the communications director position two years ago. City B often receives coverage in the news media, but the council complains that the press only covers "bad news." This negative coverage, they believe, is to blame for the city's bad image. One prominent city staff person has floated the idea that the only cure for this poor image is to change the name of the city. Someone else at City Hall believes a new logo and tagline will magically transform the city's image.

OK, which city will get the best coverage when a crisis or negative situation arises? Imagine you're a newspaper reporter who never gets a press release from City B, and one suddenly appears on your desk (and it's bad news), what will be your reaction? Actually, this assumes that someone at City B actually thought far enough ahead to write and send out a press release.

The more-likely scenario is that City B will close ranks and hope the news media doesn't call them. If they do get a call, they may respond with a "no comment," or if a comment is unavoidable (i.e. half of the city is under water), they may decide to trot out the mayor for a "deer in the headlights" interview without adequate preparation.

My advice is to be proactive. Establish relationships with your local news media, even if it kills you. Send out press releases, make calls to pitch positive stories, place up-to-date story ideas on your web site, set up a blog - do everything you can to get the word out about your city BEFORE something negative happens. And develop a comprehensive city crisis communications plan so you'll have a guideline to follow in these situations.

Even if you must send out a "bad news" press release now and again, it will be the exception, not the rule, in the minds of the news media. Think of it this way - a 98% positive news rating (City A) is much better than a 100% negative news rating (City B). If you only communicate with the media when bad news happens, your city will quickly take on a negative image.

By acting proactively and working with the media in good times, negative stories won't sting as much and you can move on much more quickly. You don't have to be buddies your local reporters, but it's always in your best interest to help them do their jobs.

Tom Bullington is President of CityImage Communications. Contact Tom at 651.402.6356 or at tom@city-image.com. CityImage has offices in Hastings, Minn. and Phoenix, Ariz.

"Be Berlin" campaign marched out

2008-03-17T21:43:00.001-07:00

It would be fair to say that Berlin, Germany has had a somewhat rocky road image-wise over the past century. Of course, it would be difficult to ignore its role in two world wars, and its subsequent division along political lines for 45 years.

All of that inevitably created a bit of a negative reputation in the eyes of the world - in spite of the past 19 years of "peace" and the presence of McDonald's "Happy Meals" in the former Soviet Bloc.

But, with the 20th Century behind it, Berlin has emerged as the top tourism attraction in Germany, and aims to attract even more visitors and businesses to town with the new "Be Berlin" campaign. The locals are a bit amused at the tagline, particularly because the city is in deep debt and spending $16 million on an image effort. And...the slogan is being displayed in English - not German - which has understandably caused a few folks to protest.

Perhaps they should have reprised President Kennedy's famous "Ich bin ein Berliner" (which a German friend of mine once told me literally translates into "I am a jelly doughnut.")

Read more about Berlin's effort here.