Dayton City's Updated Website

Looks like everyone is updating their websites. In addition to the Downtown Dayton Partnership's new and improved site, City Hall has updated theirs as well. Check it out.

Check Out the New DDP Website

The new Downtown Dayton Partnership website is up and running with some pretty cool stuff. Check it out.

Dayton could use THIS kind of marketing!

Ok, this is actually an extended ad for BMW, but it is interestingly tied to Richard Florida's Creative Class theory.  And while it is simply an ad for BMW, I believe it communicates the definition of the Creative Class in a very well done and well produced video.  Now I realize that this probably took a ton of money to produce, but imagine if Dayton could have some marketing like this!  THIS is what it means to be creative - watch it and tell us what you think... (click on the pic)

 

Get Midwest - We think of Everything?

If you are a regular reader of this blog then you know that we try to stay focused on the positives about our city - since there is already enough negativity out there.  But this time I'm going to stray a bit from that approach because this latest "effort" by the regional powers-that-be simply begs to be questioned (if not bashed mercilessly)...

These are the new logos for the region's new branding campaign which was unveiled by the Dayton Development Coalition recently.  If you're like me, you are now asking yourself - "are they kidding me?"  No, they are not kidding.  In fact, I'll bet that a ton of money went into this branding effort - and in my opinion it fails on several levels.

First, let me tell you that I included "Dayton Region" in the above logos because that is how they are presented on the DDC's website, but I have a feeling that the words "Dayton Region" are not part of the official logo nor are they part of their new web address: www.bemidwest.com.  If that assumption is correct, then how in the world is ANYBODY supposed to see this logo and think of Dayton?  Or even Ohio for that matter?  Why are we marketing the entire Midwest here?  Did Iowa, Missouri, Kansas, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana and Michigan contribute money to this campaign?  This is like Seattle changing their slogan to "Be Pacific Coast", or Charleston, S.C. saying "Get East Coast".  It says NOTHING about Dayton or why a business or person should want to be here.  I would almost expect something like "be southwest ohio" since the leaders of this region seem hellbent on advocating sprawl to the south.  But "be midwest" is so vague it's almost funny.

"We think of everything" - what does that mean?  Perhaps it is supposed to mean that our region is full of people that "think" for a living so as to try to attract businesses that are looking for that quality in a workforce.  But how does this differentiate our region from ANY other region in the country ?

Here are some more opinions of "get/be midwest - we think of everything!":
Get Midwest - or not? - Dayton Daily News
“Get Midwest”- A generic campaign that is guaranteed to fail. - Esrati.com

And here is a list of alternatives that are probably just as effective (and not any worse than) "be midwest - we think of everything":

• "Dayton Region - We're WAY Better Than Flint, MI"
• "Dayton Region - It Is Cheap To Live Here"
• "Dayton Region - We Don't Have Too Much Traffic"
• "Dayton Region - We're Like Family Friendly and Stuff"
• "Dayton Region - We're Like High Tech and Stuff"
• "Dayton Region - We Have Nice Parks"  ..... (and Stuff)
• "Dayton Region - Go Ohio State Buckeyes!" (oh wait, that is Columbus)
• "Dayton Region - We're Really Close to Cincinnati"
• "Dayton Region - We Were Famous 100 Years Ago"
• "Miami Valley - Just Like Miami, Florida... But Different"
• "Dayton Region - Including Warren County, the Cultural Epicenter of the World"
• "Dayton Region - We Have the Best Suburbs"
• "I Am Dayton - And So Can You!"  (actually I like that one - thanks Colbert!)

By the way - the City of Dayton is supposedly still working on ITS branding efforts - let's pray that THEY have the sense to include the word "Dayton" in the slogan!

A 2008 Wish List for Dayton

The week between Christmas and New Years is usually a time for reflection, goal setting, and dreaming. In that spirit, I've put together a 2008 "wish list" for Dayton. Granted, I don't expect many of these things to happen in 2008; but, hey, you gotta start somewhere. Feel free to add to the list.

"I wish we were more like..."

I often hear about the inferiority complex that we have here in Dayton.  Of all the places I've lived in, Dayton's complex is certainly one of the most noticable - but I've never lived in or been to a city that DID NOT have an inferiority complex.  I suppose it is human nature to think that the grass is always greener on the other side.  Here are some cities I've lived in and their inferiority complexes:

If Youngstown can do it...

In a previous post we discussed the negative spin our local media seems to have when it comes to the City of Dayton.  And if you've ever heard our schpeel or read our About Us, you know that the reason we started this website was to give people an alternative view of our city that they don't necessarily get with local news.  We are not an official media source, but simply proud citizens that decided to tell the world how WE see our city.  We realize that our city continues to face huge challenges, but we believe those challenges can be overcome.  Sure, it will take a significant amount of financial resources that these days seems to be quite scarce, but by helping to instill a sense of Dayton city pride - both within the city as well as the overall region - it can be done.  With the right message, anything is possible...  Take a look at what Youngstown is doing: