Panties still in knot, bad puns proliferate
Submitted by jarah on Tue, 12/05/2006 - 14:56.
Bill McEwen is still really, really miffed the City of Fresno spent $120,000 of our hard-earned tax dollars to hire a professional PR firm.
We can't dispute McEwen's claim that "performance is more important than image," but his ire seems a little misdirected. Fresno has got to be on par with only Britney Spears as a PR client, what with the history of corruption, horrible air quality, and penchant for trampling on the constitutional rights of the homeless.
But that's all the more reason to seek out professional help. The city can't do it themselves. McEwen points out that there are six Public Information Officers on staff. They're not doing a very good job. Maybe hiring a PR firm is easier than firing a city employee.
He goes on to say:
So, why not call on the Economic Development Department? It has seven employees, a yearly budget of about $1.5 million, and is the city's very own chamber of commerce.Economic development people are experts in schmoozing and strategizing. They're supposed to have contacts all over the country. And they're supposed to bury the universe in brochures and e-mails at the first hint of good news.
There's no good reason they couldn't do what the city-contracted marketers will do: build a pro-Fresno Web site, send out clippings and pitch story ideas to major media organizations.
We suppose they are supposed to do all that, but they aren't. Perhaps one reason is an "interim" CEO, Steve Geil. We're not sure why they hired Globi Designs to do their web site (Nanotechnology?!), but the EDC clearly doesn't have the capacity to make the right design choices. And judging from the lack of large corporations relocating here, we're not sure they are such experts in "strategy" either.
McEwen ends his column with:
Finally, Computerworld, an information technology weekly, recently ranked the city of Fresno's Web site as the best in the country among cities with more than 250,000 people. The criteria: user friendliness and the ability to conduct business online.Marketing didn't bring that recognition. Performance did.
Yes, congratulations on hiring Seattle-based Saltmine to redesign your web site City of Fresno! Congratulations on recognizing your weakness and seeking outside help to get the job done right.
law
Panties are divided into various types based on such criteria as amount of rear coverage, width at the sides, and height at which they are worn.
Globi Designs
Jarah wrote: "We're not sure why they hired Globi Designs to do their web site ...":
Perhaps you can ask these fine folks that did the same:
Junior League of Fresno, www.jlfresno.org
CVBI, www.cvbi.org
Hinds Hospice, www.hindshospice.org
Hey Kids, Let's Cook, PBS television show, www.heykidsletscook.com
McCall's Nurseries, www.mccallsnurseries.com
Wonder Ice Cream, www.wonderic.com
Pit Popper, www.pitpopper.com
Laura Porter, www.fresnoharpmusic.com
Parlier Police Department, www.cityofparlierpd.com
Clovis Botanical Garden, www.clovisbotanicalgarden.org
PJ Ranch, www.pjranchminicattle.com
It Will Be Alright, www.itwillbealright.com
AgSecure Insurance Services, www.agsecure.com
Gregor Boats, www.gregorboats.com
Borchardt, Corona & Faeth Accoutancy Corporation, www.bcf-cpa.com
Pleasant Mattress, www.cannonsleep.com
Shaun Young Marketing, www.symarcom.com
Pet Hunters International, www.pethunters.com
Western Homes, www.westernhomes.us
EDC
For some reason my mind read "Corporation" instead of "Department" in McEwen's column. My mistake.
In the interest of keeping the players staight, the City's Economic Development Director is Scott Johnson.
Yeah, Steve Geil is the EDC's interim CEO, not the EDD, which is a city department. Not sure where Jarah was going with that point in any case.
City website
The new site looks more professional, however, the old site had MUCH EASIER access to information. The older site contained data that was actually useful. The new site requires you to use the search engine which constantly brings up the same files. Try another search and you get the same useless files. Want an example? Look for Fresno's population and its projected growth rate. "Graph of Fresno's population and growth rate" Hummm, which document do I want to look at, the 20MB Budget of 643pages or just the consultant study that was done in 2004 with 116pages. I want just a one page graph. It used to be easy to access through the Economic Development Department link that isn't even available anymore with the "prettier" web design.
Also, a slight correction regarding Steve Giel: he is the new interim director of Fresno County's Economic Development, not the City of Fresno.
I agree talk is cheap. Image is about reality
If the old site scored such high marks, how much higher would the new site have scored. Bill McEwen is getting a lot of milage out of this story. To me, this is another eample of a reporter looking for low hanging fruit to make their job easier. I have spoke to several internal residents regarding the image of Fresno and the overwhelming response is that residents are the City's own worst enemy.
I will not purport that the image can be fixed by providing all residents with Tony Robins latest book or forcing everyone to watch Dr. Phil. But come on people...stop bashing your own City.
Do you know who speaks highly of Fresno? Transplants and Boomerangs. Why? It's because they have perspective. I work for a company that has had probelms in the past finding good talent within. My most recent recruiting efforts have surfaced several people who want to move to Fresno. YES PEOPLE WANT TO MOVE TO FRESNO.
The publicity campaign is not about covering our S#$T. It's about messaging and speaking the truth. It's not about spin. It's about not letting stories get spun. The $120k story is a perfect example. The City is proactively managing its image and the TOTAL amount of the contract is $120k. Objective reporters (Matt Leedy) mentioned the fact that it is a performance based contract. That means the agency (ASTONE) has to put up or shut up. It means that results are important. That the image must imporve or $120k is not a reality.
I encourage others to talk positively about the City. I have a new tag line for the naysayers: "Fresno-if it's so bad, leave".
That's my rant.
Well....
I couldn't get a hold of anyone at the National Policy Research Council, the group that did the study, to verify dates. When called Saltmine did say they designed the site that was featured in Computerworld.
Regardless, I think the new fresno.gov is leaps and bounds above the old.
Getting fact straight on City website
Apparently jarah is another one of those people who likes to comment before getting the facts and it doesn't help the the City wants it kept a secret. Yes Fresno's website was ranked best in country, but is was not the new half million + website done by Saltmine. The study was completed between May and July prior to when the new design went live; yes the old site created by City staff was the award winning site. Anyone wanting to verify can contact Computerworld.
dammit boss, what kind of headline is that anyway...
I've tried to read this stupid string seven times.
I can't get past 'panties in a knot..' and that Jarah posted it.
For the life of me, I don't know what it means.
It's like that damn 7th grade just after gym class blur all over again,
(I can even hear the rapid fire of 'lip smackers,' being uncapped with farah styled 'agree' smellin' 'do's....
-with cowl necks...
-Is that 'More than a Feelin' I'm hearing in the background...
or Foreigner...
-it's like freakin' kryptonite.
I'm blushing like a brakelight over here...
Don't
Use
'panties'
in
post
any
more.....
(thats it,,,,
I need a brisk walk in the cold night air surrounded by dope slingin' peeps to clear my head...)
Stop worrying? What do you suggest?
It's real easy to fire off a quick 2-sentence statement but I'd like to hear what you suggest is the "underlying problem" with Fresno's image. Take some time to explain what you mean and how you suggest we solve this problem. There are too many people pointing fingers and making blanket statements and not enough people working to solve problems.
Fresno has always and still does have great things, but we have always had bad or no press. Sometimes when a critic ignores an event, it is a good thing. (then he can not destroy it)Houses, resturants, colleges, theater, opera symphony,etc. are all top notch. Over the years we have been told to eat in chain resturants and applaude for out of town entertainers. Our home grown is the best.
How about we stop worrying about how we look to the rest of the country and start working on the underlying problems that cause the image problem in the first place? The marketing group is just going to try to cover our $#!T but its still gonna stink.
Production and Marketing
I had an old MGT professor whose favorite saying was: There is Production, and there's Marketing...the rest is all staff. Not sure of the totality of that statement but in this case it does apply.
We should be focusing on DOING (producing) things that are great and can elevate Fresno in the minds of the masses. But we also need to get the word out (marketing), and get it out explosively. More than hopeful word of mouth or email/fax blasts can accomplish. We do need someone working exclusively on raising our banner high above the noise.
Now Councilmember Duncan does raise a very valid point: We also need to focus more resources on Production as well. We should be giving Astone a constant flood of things to trumpet to the world. Yes, the RJI is starting to gain traction...Yes we have written some really pretty, and relevant, reports...Yes, we have been ranked as the 8th best regional Entrepreneurship program in the nation. But can anyone name any/many top producing, high potential local start-up companies or concepts that these programs have produced ? I am sure, or at least hope, there are numerous examples out there, but even locally, VERY few are aware of them. Let's start listing and discussing them. Get our Local community aware and enthused about the Innovative things going on. Internal PR may be Astone's first step. Let's start holding those in charge a little more accountable for the stewardship of our growth. Let's become more impressed with progress, and less mesmerized by hype
The contract has been awarded. Astone knows it's s@## when it comes to PR. Let's start giving them the high-caliber ammunition they need to blow this thing up. Otherwise despite best efforts, our image campaigns will come off like a really bad tap recital
Jeff G
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