May 14, 200916 yr As a visitor, wayfinding signs to great neighborhoods and kiosks with pamphlets in those neighborhoods would do wonders. It does no good for the city when someone to is in downtown Cleveland and there's nothing to point them to interesting spots. I did some research for my trip there, but few people are going to be like, "Ooh, let's scope out what there is Downtown and in surrounding neighborhoods". That probably explains why my roommates left unimpressed with no desire to go back. I wasn't there to guide them.
May 14, 200916 yr ^It also doesnt help that our tourism board is only open from 9-5, 10-3 from Memorial Day to Labor Day.
May 14, 200916 yr If youtube can bring this guy this much attention nationwide, I wonder what an ongoing, online guerrilla marketing campaign would do for the city...
May 14, 200916 yr I'm thinking about setting up a youtube account strictly for posting videos that positively reflect on the city. I'm not talking about news stories... but something like having a night out on the town, enjoying East 4th, the crowds, maybe a night on W.6th, or the energy on the streets after a Cavs game. "Is this Cleveland"? Better believe it.
May 14, 200916 yr I'm thinking about setting up a youtube account strictly for posting videos that positively reflect on the city. I'm not talking about news stories... but something like having a night out on the town, enjoying East 4th, the crowds, maybe a night on W.6th, or the energy on the streets after a Cavs game. "Is this Cleveland"? Better believe it. Sounds like the start of a Blog to me! ;)
May 14, 200916 yr BTW, Positively Cleveland has a blog and they already do things like this. http://fleetothecleve.wordpress.com/
May 14, 200916 yr ^That's actually a nice blog. I was thinking more of someone watching an experience from the view of the camera, at different venues around town. The most viewed video website would be youtube, though it could be in blog form.
May 14, 200916 yr A long time ago I had a marketing idea based on the where is waldo concept. In a series of different advertisements a picture of an activity (scuba diving lake Eire wrecks, skiing, hang gliding at Edgewater, cycling the Emerald necklace, etc.) with a voice over describing the scene ("Its a good day for scuba, surface water temp in the 80's, good visibility and a pristine wreck at 40 feet, etc.") followed by the question, ("Miami?, the Carribean?, Mediterranean Sea?") followed by "guess again" with a picture of the Cleveland summer skyline from the lake. You can imagine what the one for skiing would be like, "another blue sky day, 28 Deg., fresh powder and 350 skiable acres within one hour of downtown, 120 inches per year of snowfall at the higher elevations, "Denver?, Seattle? Vail? guess again" with a winter picture of the Cleveland skyline again from the lake. Do cycling the Emerald Necklace in the spring and hiking the 40,000 acres of contiguous parkland in the fall. Other themes could be dinning/culture, sports, etc. Collectively I think it would have impact to show that there are exciting and somewhat unique things to all year round. Not all cities can say that. What do you all think?
May 14, 200916 yr You know who I think is doing a good job? Whomever it is in Michigan's CVB who came up with the text and the voice over talent who does the "michigan.org" radio ads. They are really well written and enticing and change depending on the season and really make you want to go to the website and see about taking a trip to Michigan. Do you guys know the ads I mean? The guy has a really friendly, welcoming and calm voice and the ads are usually anecdotal with some sort of story component.
May 14, 200916 yr A long time ago I had a marketing idea based on the where is waldo concept. In a series of different advertisements a picture of an activity (scuba diving lake Eire wrecks, skiing, hang gliding at Edgewater, cycling the Emerald necklace, etc.) with a voice over describing the scene ("Its a good day for scuba, surface water temp in the 80's, good visibility and a pristine wreck at 40 feet, etc.") followed by the question, ("Miami?, the Carribean?, Mediterranean Sea?") followed by "guess again" with a picture of the Cleveland summer skyline from the lake. You can imagine what the one for skiing would be like, "another blue sky day, 28 Deg., fresh powder and 350 skiable acres within one hour of downtown, 120 inches per year of snowfall at the higher elevations, "Denver?, Seattle? Vail? guess again" with a winter picture of the Cleveland skyline again from the lake. Do cycling the Emerald Necklace in the spring and hiking the 40,000 acres of contiguous parkland in the fall. Other themes could be dinning/culture, sports, etc. Collectively I think it would have impact to show that there are exciting and somewhat unique things to all year round. Not all cities can say that. What do you all think? That is GREAT!! That's the type of perception changing marketing I'm talking about. Positive images in the faces of people who see almost nothing about negativity each time they read the paper would help change the mindset of locals and out-of-towners alike. Of course the perception wouldn't change overnight, but it would over time.
May 14, 200916 yr *ALERT* http://www.cleveland.com/brett/blog/index.ssf/2009/05/cleveland_youve_got_to_be_toug.html You've got to be tough, Cleveland by Regina Brett/Plain Dealer Columnist Thursday May 14, 2009, 12:17 PM Mike Polk poked fun at Cleveland with his "Hastily Made Cleveland Tourism Videos" that are making the rounds in cyberspace on You Tube. I wrote about him in my column on Wednesday. He's a good sport and agreed to be my guest at 9 a.m. Friday on "The Sound of Ideas" on WCPN/90.3 FM the radio show I host every week....
May 14, 200916 yr I believe I recommended youtube neighborhood tours (Downtown is included in my definition) before. Not specifically for Cleveland, but neighborhoods listed and videos for each would be cool. Hmm, gives me an idea for my blog.
May 14, 200916 yr Well, the Hastily Made Tourism Video 2 hit youtube about a week ago. I know it's supposed to be funny, however, a couple of my friends from out-of-state emailed it to me and told me maybe they shouldn't visit this summer. I thought they were joking, but they were serious. My one friend said downtown looked terrible. I explained to my one friend anyone could do this same type of video in every city. That's too bad, because it sounds like they would really enjoy W. 6th St. :-P
May 15, 200916 yr I must have been living under a rock lately, as I haven't even heard of theses videos until yesterday. Honestly, they're hillarious, in particular the first one. The tune is kinda catchy, the blurb about Mike being paid $14 million by the Cleveland Tourism board is VERY clever, and, hell, it's giving the city considerable publicity...and not even all that negative as it sparks discourse, defenders, and dialogue about our downtown. I've read a few messages here and am surprised by how some of you guys have taken offense. It's basically just a guy roasting the city, and no one ever takes those all that seriously. Or at least they shouldn't because the point of a roast is to be over-the-top, to be insulting in a friendly way, and to not REALLY offend anyone. I think part of the problem is that Cleveanders sometimes are afraid to laugh at themselves, but c'mon, "Who the f uses a phonebooth.." How can you not smirk at that tune? The line about d-bags going to West 6th? Tremendously funny too. I also think it's a little silly for Positively Cleveland to be pursuing rebutal videos. First of all, I'm guessing those videos will pale in comparison to the originality and dark humor of Mike's stuff. Second, if the new videos aren't funny, then what's really the interest? There are all kinds of tourism videos on youtube and truveo, so what's the point. And third, sometimes a cigar is just a cigar. The video is just not meant to be taken all that seriously.
May 15, 200916 yr the point is that Cleveland is behind in online usage and digital marketing, compared to the other top 15 metropolitan areas. I think this is a step in the right direction as Cleveland needs to use every available distribution channel (pun intended) to market the city.
May 15, 200916 yr ^^I thought the first one was funny, and it did not get me rilled up. The second one wasn't funny and rather mean spirited, it detracted from the first one. The guy's a hack.
May 15, 200916 yr Did anyone participate in this online discussion about the videos today? http://www.cleveland.com/news-videos/index.ssf/2009/05/hastily_made_cleveland_tourism.html "...Mike McIntyre, who thinks they're funny, and Plain Dealer columnist Regina Brett, who isn't so sure, will talk it over at 11 a.m. today on More to the Story at cleveland.com/news-videos."
May 19, 200916 yr i agree with TBideon and think the videos are classic cleveland self depreciating humor! regarding the Where's Waldo suggestion by tedolph, there is a group creating an online version of the amazing race set in cleveland. it's called got*city*game http://www.gotcitygame.tv/
May 19, 200916 yr That's fantastic! I love the Got City Game idea .. promoting people going back to college, especially. Awesome, out of the box thinking!
May 19, 200916 yr You know who I think is doing a good job? Whomever it is in Michigan's CVB who came up with the text and the voice over talent who does the "michigan.org" radio ads. They are really well written and enticing and change depending on the season and really make you want to go to the website and see about taking a trip to Michigan. Do you guys know the ads I mean? The guy has a really friendly, welcoming and calm voice and the ads are usually anecdotal with some sort of story component. Isn't it Jeff Daniels on the Michigan voiceovers? He often appears in their tourism ads and considers it a pet cause. As a spokesman, he has a lot more gravitas than Drew Carey. And I still don't trust the PR skills of any group that calls itself Positively Cleveland. Dropping that name would improve their effectiveness immediately. Overtly cliched humor is a sign of discomfort with the message on the part of the messge-bearer.
May 19, 200916 yr You know who I think is doing a good job? Whomever it is in Michigan's CVB who came up with the text and the voice over talent who does the "michigan.org" radio ads. They are really well written and enticing and change depending on the season and really make you want to go to the website and see about taking a trip to Michigan. Do you guys know the ads I mean? The guy has a really friendly, welcoming and calm voice and the ads are usually anecdotal with some sort of story component. Isn't it Jeff Daniels on the Michigan voiceovers? He often appears in their tourism ads and considers it a pet cause. As a spokesman, he has a lot more gravitas than Drew Carey. And I still don't trust the PR skills of any group that calls itself Positively Cleveland. Dropping that name would improve their effectiveness immediately. Overtly cliched humor is a sign of discomfort with the message on the part of the messge-bearer. I know i'm going to regret this, but I must ask, from a professional point, what makes you an authority on PR & Marketing to make a statement like the above? What have you done to help positively cleveland? Have you shared any of your ideas with the group?
May 19, 200916 yr I know you weren't directing your comments at me but AFA Positively Cleveland, I have talked to a couple of people over there, we run into each other at some of the same social functions in town and I often share my ideas and thoughts with them. As I've stated previously I think they are doing the best they can with what's probably a very limited budget and staff and I support their efforts.
May 19, 200916 yr I know you weren't directing your comments at me but AFA Positively Cleveland, I have talked to a couple of people over there, we run into each other at some of the same social functions in town and I often share my ideas and thoughts with them. As I've stated previously I think they are doing the best they can with what's probably a very limited budget and staff and I support their efforts. No, 327.
May 19, 200916 yr You know who I think is doing a good job? Whomever it is in Michigan's CVB who came up with the text and the voice over talent who does the "michigan.org" radio ads. They are really well written and enticing and change depending on the season and really make you want to go to the website and see about taking a trip to Michigan. Do you guys know the ads I mean? The guy has a really friendly, welcoming and calm voice and the ads are usually anecdotal with some sort of story component. Isn't it Jeff Daniels on the Michigan voiceovers? He often appears in their tourism ads and considers it a pet cause. As a spokesman, he has a lot more gravitas than Drew Carey. And I still don't trust the PR skills of any group that calls itself Positively Cleveland. Dropping that name would improve their effectiveness immediately. Overtly cliched humor is a sign of discomfort with the message on the part of the messge-bearer. I know i'm going to regret this, but I must ask, from a professional point, what makes you an authority on PR & Marketing to make a statement like the above? What have you done to help positively cleveland? Have you shared any of your ideas with the group? Why is this at issue? What are you getting at by demanding my qualifications, on a freaking message board? Are you hoping I'll say something that opens the door to some sort of gotcha comment on your part? What is the sense in questioning another forumer's personal bona fides? I don't need to justify my career to you, or justify my opinions by means of my career. I don't misrepresent myself on here, I don't assume anyone else does, and that's all you need to know. This personal confrontation BS has got to go. If you must know, I've done significant PR work for a couple of nearby government agencies. My comment about the name Positively Cleveland is that of a concerned citizen, a citizen who like many others is aware of media tropes. Puns are not considered cutting edge, and puns hardly seem appropriate if one is using them to mock one's own central purpose.
May 19, 200916 yr You know who I think is doing a good job? Whomever it is in Michigan's CVB who came up with the text and the voice over talent who does the "michigan.org" radio ads. They are really well written and enticing and change depending on the season and really make you want to go to the website and see about taking a trip to Michigan. Do you guys know the ads I mean? The guy has a really friendly, welcoming and calm voice and the ads are usually anecdotal with some sort of story component. Isn't it Jeff Daniels on the Michigan voiceovers? He often appears in their tourism ads and considers it a pet cause. As a spokesman, he has a lot more gravitas than Drew Carey. And I still don't trust the PR skills of any group that calls itself Positively Cleveland. Dropping that name would improve their effectiveness immediately. Overtly cliched humor is a sign of discomfort with the message on the part of the messge-bearer. I know i'm going to regret this, but I must ask, from a professional point, what makes you an authority on PR & Marketing to make a statement like the above? What have you done to help positively cleveland? Have you shared any of your ideas with the group? Why is this at issue? What are you getting at by demanding my qualifications, on a freaking message board? Are you hoping I'll say something that opens the door to some sort of gotcha comment on your part? What is the sense in questioning another forumer's personal bona fides? I don't need to justify my career to you, or justify my opinions by means of my career. I don't misrepresent myself on here, I don't assume anyone else does, and that's all you need to know. This personal confrontation BS has got to go. If you must know, I've done significant PR work for a couple of nearby government agencies. My comment about the name Positively Cleveland is that of a concerned citizen, a citizen who like many others is aware of media tropes. Puns are not considered cutting edge, and puns hardly seem appropriate if one is using them to mock one's own central purpose. Oh relax already. I asked because you're quick to critizice without staying why you don't like it or offere a suggestion. And working in PR for the Gov is vastly different than the private sector. Especially travel and leisure in this economy. I've never been a fan of the marketing efforts and ive sent them numerous ideas and requested a meeting. You only get one chance with me.
May 19, 200916 yr It may surprise you, but I don't come to this forum to talk about myself. If there are professional insider bits of knowledge you feel I may lack, why not just share them with the class instead of issuing a personal challenge to me. My resume has nothing to do with any of this and I'm really tired of having it called into question. Either I'm right or I'm wrong about any given issue, but that question is never answered by going after my personal background. So quit it. My only complaint about Positively Cleveland involves the image put forth by their name, which is something one doesn't need advanced certification to notice. I'm not going to call them and tell them I don't like their name. That sounds like a job for MTS. I only bring up the name because the issue here is their attempt to counter these joke videos. I like that they're doing so. I would prefer they did so with a different name, and I wonder (non-professionally, I suppose) how that name and its implications might play into their overall effort.
May 19, 200916 yr One thing that I like about this forum is that it can be a place for brainstorming ideas, for coming together as a community for the betterment of the community at large. It frustrates me when people on this forum shoot people down for making valid comments or wanting to open up discussion that can help to achieve that goal. Maybe going out and DOING is more beneficial, but if WE can't be a community for discussion and conversation, who's to think that anyone out there will be??
May 27, 200916 yr There's a lot of responses to the "Hastily Made Video" showing up on youtube: here's some examples: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-H8FydJxWU&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Ecity%2Ddata%2Ecom%2Fforum%2Fcleveland%2F624665%2Dhastily%2Dmade%2Dcleveland%2Dtourism%2Dvideo%2D3%2Ehtml&feature=player_embedded http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2_Fwhsl7i8&feature=related
May 27, 200916 yr Saw that they guy who started all of this with his unfunny tourism vid posted a second, similarly snarky vid. Finally had to let him know what I thought. I hope a lot of others besides me let their feelings known to this "comedian". "I realize you think you're being funny, but you're not. At all. If you look at the number of views your videos have gotten, and if you read the comments, you might realize you are doing quite a bit of harm. Perception is everything and the perception people get watching your videos is, needless to say, not a good one of Cleveland. You may be trying to show off your "cleverness", but at the expense of a city that could use a little help right now. I live in LA cause of my job, and I'm tired of having to defend Cleveland to people who've never been there. Guess why they have such a negative impression? That's right, in part cause of people like you who have no consideration for those around them, and no thought about the damage they do. The people who have been to Cleveland are always surprised at how much they liked it. Do something positive for a change, and highlight the good. Sincerely, -----J"
May 28, 200916 yr Winners we announced for the contest: http://www.positivelycleveland.com/hastilymade
May 31, 200916 yr A group of Green Bay Packers supports has chosen Cleveland for their one away game a year. Ironically, it was seemingly due to Mike Polk's video. http://www.thebuckychannel.com/2009/05/why-were-going-to-cleveland.html Can reverse promotion of the city actually bring more tourists here too? Don't want to try it out, but interesting question.
June 4, 200916 yr PD doing positive stories and posters not trashing the entire article and making valid points. Hell must be getting colder. Cleveland gets rave reviews from travel writers in town for conference Posted by Stan Donaldson and Trevor Hunnicutt/Plain Dealer Reporters June 03, 2009 22:41PM Tracy Boulian/The Plain Dealer What we take for granted in Cleveland, a group of travel writers found unique. Some of the sights they liked: Big Fun in Cleveland Heights; the Christmas Story House in Tremont; and East Fourth Street, downtown's newest entertainment district. http://blog.cleveland.com/metro/2009/06/cleveland_gets_rave_reviews_fr.html
June 4, 200916 yr "Cleveland has the benefits of a city like Chicago without all the people," said Jeffrey Lehmann, who hosts "Weekend Explorer" on PBS. That made me laugh.
June 5, 200916 yr The Travel+Leisure magazine America's Favorite Cities 2009 Survey is up. Go on and vote for Cleveland, there was a great campaign last month to get in on the ballot, and now its up against 30 other cities, including the apparently crowded Chicago. :wink: Vote early and vote often! http://www.travelandleisure.com/afc/2009/survey/index.cfm
June 5, 200916 yr The Travel+Leisure magazine America's Favorite Cities 2009 Survey is up. Go on and vote for Cleveland, there was a great campaign last month to get in on the ballot, and now its up against 30 other cities, including the apparently crowded Chicago. :wink: Vote early and vote often! http://www.travelandleisure.com/afc/2009/survey/index.cfm Yay! We made the short list!!!
June 8, 200916 yr Those commercials (and billboards) are fantastic. One of the reasons the imagery is so effective is that Michigan's coastline is simply breathtaking; miles of large sandy beaches, 100 foot dunes, open access to the water and beach culture in abundance. We just don't have those same resources here...anymore. But an effective Cleveland campaign should capitalize on our greatest strength, the diverse little neighborhoods that make us a mecca for cool bars, current music, restaurants and cafes. You know who I think is doing a good job? Whomever it is in Michigan's CVB who came up with the text and the voice over talent who does the "michigan.org" radio ads. They are really well written and enticing and change depending on the season and really make you want to go to the website and see about taking a trip to Michigan. Do you guys know the ads I mean? The guy has a really friendly, welcoming and calm voice and the ads are usually anecdotal with some sort of story component.
April 5, 201015 yr New Web site -- theplus.us -- touts Northeast Ohio economic development efforts CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The organizations toiling to build the region's economy have differing aims, but now they have one place to tell their story. A new Web site, theplus.us, is the new portal to business-building efforts from Youngstown to Lorain. The site is a combined effort of two economic development heavyweights -- the Fund for Our Economic Future and the Cleveland Plus Marketing Alliance, whose members are Positively Cleveland, the local convention and visitors bureau; Team NEO, which leads the region's business-attraction effort; and the Greater Cleveland Partnership, the region's largest chamber of commerce. http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2010/04/new_web_site_--_theplusus_--_t.html
April 28, 201015 yr We all know Cleveland Cavs playoffs=money into Downtown and the area. but, how smart of a move for Gilbert was it to sell that 15% to the Chinese investors?? Even if these estimates of Chinese viewers are high, I bet there are still millions and millions of Chinese routing for Lebron and Cleveland. One great shot of the skyline already by TNT. Cleveland: Cavs in playoffs boosts local businesses' payoffs CLEVELAND -- The economic impact of the Cleveland Cavaliers' playoff run increases with every round the team competes in. Local businesses have been cashing in for years. The Cavs and Positively Cleveland estimate as many as 200,000,000 Chinese fans could be watching each playoff game, especially Cavs games. "Basketball is the most popular sport in China," says Roche. The Cavs not only have the game's most popular player in LeBron James, but a Chinese investor also owns a substantial portion of the Cleveland franchise. "All those views of Cleveland on TV, the beauty shots and scenes of our city, are priceless in terms of promoting Cleveland," Roche says, of the exposure Northeast Ohio gets on international NBA telecasts, especially in China. http://www.wkyc.com/news/local/news_article.aspx?storyid=135026&catid=3
April 28, 201015 yr Michigan was once part of Ohio..."The Ohio Territory" No,,,,, it was called the "Northwest Territory". The states of OH, MI, IN, IL, MN & WI were carved out of the territory. The capital city was Marietta and I beleive the Territory was formalized in 1789.
April 28, 201015 yr Here's a peek at the 2010 LiveCLEVELAND! guide: http://www.mydigitalpublication.com/publication?i=36704 45,000 copies have already gone out with the May issue of Cleveland Magazine, and another 12,000+ copies will be distributed throughout the next year.
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