Branding Detroit
A brand is the story of a person, company, city or state. There are a number of agencies and organizations that wish to tell Detroit's story or recreate its brand. It is important that these organizations collaborate to make sure it is told accurately. In telling Detroit's story, however, we need to remain true to our brand, our place in history and our untold story that has yet to happen. We need to celebrate our strengths, celebrate our achievements and work to tell the stories that have yet to be told. Detroit's challenge, however, is tell this story as a region. In order to build a brand that everyone can get their hands around it needs to be uniform and reflect the diversity of the region. We need to stop competing against ourselves and work together to bring brand cohesion of regional unity. In today's world, image is everything. Today, our image is fragmented, that affects confidence among ourselves and decreases our influence. By working together to brand Detroit, we can increase our influence, grow investments in the region, expand access to global markets, increase tourism, develop partnerships, enhance community pride and create harmony in the region, attract and retain talent and reverse any negative thoughts and misperceptions others have about our region. However, an image is not built on solid media relations campaigns, tweets or ads. It is driven by sound public policy choices and strong leadership in the public and private sector. If we are to change our image and tell our story, then we need to change the public policies that drive business in the state and in our region. Later this week story tellers will gather at Wayne State University at a summit organized by New Detroit Inc., to determine how to tell our story. As the story tellers gather later this week, I hope and encourage that the policy makers will be a part of the story. *Cherrin posted this blog on www.crains.com.
Obama -- Creating & becoming your brand
Despite running for President, Barack Obama has created a unique brand that has changed the political landscape. According to Keith Reinhard, chairman emeritus of DDB Worldwide, "Barak Obama is three things you want in a brand: (1) new, (2) different and (3) attractive." And Obama has spread his brand on a new medium that many of us are still trying to figure out -- New media and online social networks. Any forward-thinking business should take note of Obama's rise, despite what you may or may not think of him. According to the April 2008 issue of Fast Company, social networking poses challenges for marketers no matter what or whom they are selling. Companies must cede a certain degree of control over their brands if they are to leverage their on-line presence. BarakObama.com features constant updates, videos, photos, ring tones, widgets and events to give supporters a reason to come back to their site. On mybarackobama.com for example, the campaign's quasi social network, guests can create their own blog, send policy recommendations, set up their own mini-fundraising site, organize an event, even use a phone bank widget to get call lists and scripts to canvass from home. John McCain's and Hillary Clinton's site offers similar networking tools as does Obama, but Obama has invested more in building his brand both on and off-line. It sure beats the "meet-ups" and "move-ons" from the 2004 presidential election. The Obama campaign has also tapped other on-line communities. And while he, like others, must cede some control, you can still stay on message and pass on your messages to others. However, like everything else, you need to continually monitor the web and act or react accordingly. The best strategy however for an on-line presence, is to build your brand, connect with a diversity of viewers and engage others in the discussion.