Marketing a Country, State, City & Territory

Alright, we live in an unbelievably technological world and yet some people and cities don't know how to use it to their advantage.

I grew up in the Virgin Islands where 75% of the economy is dependent on tourism and my biggest complaint has always been that the Territory did a bad job of marketing itself, a US Territory that any American can travel to without the need for a passport.

Read any Sunday newspaper Travel Section and you'll read that every country, island and city is advocating for you to spend any of your disposable income there.

Yesterday, Queen Rania of Jordan took to the Internet, scratch that, let me be more specific, she took to TwitVid to kick-off a contest where she wants people to upload videos stating why you'd like to visit Jordan.

The Virgin Islands, recently, signed a new deal to market the Territory to people in the continental United States and you can expect to see more television ads when it's cold in the Northeast.


In the news today, we know that President Obama and his family is heading to Mount Desert Island, off the coast of Maine, and everyone is getting excited.  I'm sure we'll see some candid pictures and videos of the First Family walking, talking, shaking hands and even eating on their visit to Maine.

Here in Worcester, we're hearing more from City Manager Michael O'Brien as he gives his vision for a vibrant downtown filled with stores, art galleries, bakeries and restaurants through the Creative Economy Initiative.  Before the stores and other establishments can be built and opened, we all know that the first step must be the demolition of the former Worcester Common Outlet building and the construction of City Square (fingers crossed).

I wonder if O'Brien is ready to offer his own challenge to Worcester residents?  Imagine if he proposed to City residents to submit videos on ways to market Worcester, with the winning submissions being highlighted along with the winners serving on the City's "Creative" board?