[press release from Rebecca Pawlowski, WCTC Director of Communications]
Marketing Organization Wants to Know: What Do DC Residents Love About DC?
(Washington, DC) - The Washington, DC Convention & Tourism Corporation (WCTC) has launched a new website, www.shareyourdc.com, designed to give local residents the opportunity to answer the following question: What do you love about DC?
Launched on January 26, 2007, the site is part of a greater research initiative coordinated by WCTC to determine the city’s position in the mind of those who live here and from travelers around the world – with the ultimate goal of creating a more vibrant experience and generating more resources for the city, its residents and businesses through destination marketing.
The public site offers the community the opportunity to “share their DC.” Residents can log on to www.shareyourdc.com and participate in the process by responding to a brief survey, answering weekly polls and uploading images of their favorite things and sites around the city. The website will also track the progress of the research initiative and its findings. The information gathered from residents will be used as input in creating an inclusive destination brand for Washington, DC. “Residents and workers are the greatest ambassadors for the city, so we need to hear what they think about DC. What they tell friends, family members and potential visitors helps to shape DC’s overall reputation and often impacts whether someone chooses to visit,” said William A. Hanbury, President & CEO of WCTC.
Marketing, branding and positioning a destination is just as important as any other consumer product. The image of a city can determine whether people choose to visit, live, attend a university or locate their business there. The stakes for destination marketing are high - particularly in Washington, DC - where visitors pump more than $5 billion annually into the local economy, generating $543 million in local tax revenues for vital city needs.
The goal of the project is not to create a particular tagline, logo or advertising campaign, rather, it is to create a common vocabulary of images, words and emotions that will guide collective marketing efforts for the city. Everyone's opinion is important in this process. For those without internet access at home, work or school, the DC Public Library offers free access to the internet at all of its neighborhood locations.
Thanks for letting me know, Jason. (Although was actually yesterday if anyone goes looking for it on Wonkette.)
Their cheeky comment about '10 more Spy Museums' aside, this campaign may seem crass to some but we shouldn't underestimate the value of 'rebranding' DC. And we certainly shouldn't cede such efforts to people who would define DC by... I don't know, say, the Spy Museum, or the number of convenient Potbelly's or whatever.
For example, believe it or not, Stockholm was often seen (by Europeans at least) as a cultural backwater as little as 20 years ago. Then a cool magazine called Stockholm New came along and really helped change the whole perception of the city to this kind of hip outpost. Or at least tapped into changes that were going on anyway... I should point out that it actually was a cool, tasteful magazine, with a savvy sensibility, full of interesting articles, photography, etc. And, behind the scenes, it was hand in hand with the Swedish chamber of commerce types...
I guess the point is, if someone out there is trying to shape the reputation of our city, better to be a part of it. Because it may just work. And I think Petworth residents have a certain urban vision (or they wouldn't live here ;), hopefully we could help shape the debate.
Posted by: Bill | January 31, 2007 at 01:31 PM
Congrats, Bill. This piece is cited by Wonkette today (under the heading "Metro Section: Intelligent Dance Music")
Like, who doesn't read your blog?
Posted by: Jason G | January 31, 2007 at 01:09 PM
By the way, usually I'm pretty strict about keeping posts neighborhood-based. But I thought I'd give Petworthers (Petworthians? The Petworthy??) a chance to chime in on this.
Posted by: Bill | January 30, 2007 at 09:05 PM