One of the first tasks a city must master to gain a competitive advantage is applying technology appropriately. In long-term efforts to reach out to new businesses, retailers and potential residents, efficiently using state of the art technology allows cities to reach more people with the right message more quickly. The Internet has fundamentally changed the way place marketing is done. Web site optimization, social media, and email have changed former business models completely and those communities not adopting a more modern, business-like approach and using technology to market themselves will lose opportunity in a highly competitive arena.
In today’s world, people shop, learn, communicate, and are entertained while seated in front of a computer or web-enabled smartphone. A community that wishes to be in the middle of progress must be on the cutting edge of technology. I am not just saying cities should use technology for the sake of showing how many widgets can be placed on the homepage, but instead carefully apply available technology to set the city apart. If the city’s location is unique, for instance, don’t tell about it on the web site… show it via video clips on YouTube or another video sharing site. Do the people really shine? Let them via a forum, resident blog, or by featuring user content somehow.
A city has to think ahead of growth because if they react instead of being proactive, they are continually behind the curve, and always trying to catch up with other, more competitive communities. When a retailer, developer, or potential new industry begins research for investment opportunities in new communities and markets, that search begins on the Internet. If your city has a poorly designed web site or does not provide accurate, easy to find data, your community may be overlooked or even eliminated from the search. With easy-to-use solutions and innovative site construction, first impressions can become lasting business relationships.
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“A community that wishes to be in the middle of progress must be on the cutting edge of technology.” –– A true, and powerful statement. Hope cities really pay attention to that idea.
That is too true.
Not being on Twitter is like not having a phone in the '80s.
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