Your choice for new Walton TDC website name?

**Bob Hudson** · 04-19-2011, 06:42 PM

The new TDC branding would require a new domain name to match it's new brand change from Beaches of South Walton to South Walton. The most desirable domain would be a .com domain. It appears that LKM (TDC marketing company) purchased the domain "www.toeachyourbeach.com" in November of last year. The two other domain names that appear to be desirable would be "www.southwalton.com" and "www.visitsouthwalton.com" and those are currently owned by other individuals - one since 1997 and the other since 2009.

Who will win the contest ? Who will grab the golden ring ?

**Bob Hudson** · 04-19-2011, 08:19 PM

Thanks to whoever altered my poll. I should have included the add I guess but really don't consider it an option.

**Beach Runner** · 04-19-2011, 08:51 PM

People don't identify a location by the county. Example: "Funn in Fulton County" versus "Atlanta" (enough said).

With the word "Walton" in the name, one can't tell clueless people where it is because they always think "Ft. Walton." Same for "Santa Rosa Beach" -- that's not the same as Santa Rosa County. I am really tired of explaining where our beach house is.
Me: It's in Seagrove Beach.
Others: Where's that?
Me: Have you heard of Seaside or Watercolor or Grayton?
Others: No.
Me (after much frustration): Well, it's halfway between Destin and Panama City.
Others: Oh, yes, I know where that is.

The solution is the name "SoWal." It doesn't explicitly say the county, yet it does it implicitly once one "get" it. I don't understand why Kurt hasn't cashed in on that name because it is upscale and exactly descriptive. Absolutely perfect.

**Smiling JOe** · 04-20-2011, 10:11 AM

I think we should get the url, "half-way between Destin and Panama City Beach.com"

**Teresa** · 04-20-2011, 10:23 AM

I choose none of the above - entirely too limited.
South Walton - with no beaches? this leaves out a very important word that describes this area). we could be in Oklahoma, who could tell?

I would either go with the current website - which is fine (the domain name is ok, the website itself is not the best), or change to:
Southwaltonbeach.com
Southwaltonbeaches.com

and then also add on the visitsouthwaltonbeach.com, or whichever, if that is really needed, which I do not know if it is.

after seeing other TDCs online, some have two sites:
one is for the TDC itself - such as - waltoncountytdc.com
one is for promotion of the area - visitstpeteclearwater.com

**SWGB** · 04-20-2011, 11:58 AM

Unfortunately Teresa those are already owned, one by a real estate company and the other is owned by something called Destin Directory.

**Bob Hudson** · 04-20-2011, 01:44 PM

Originally Posted by Smiling JOe

I think we should get the url, "half-way between Destin and Panama City Beach.com"

Good one !

**BeachSiO2** · 04-20-2011, 02:03 PM

How about

**Bob Hudson** · 04-20-2011, 02:25 PM

I now know which one it will not be, Breaking news later this week.

**Bob Hudson** · 04-20-2011, 07:51 PM

Well That One Is Gone !

WALTON COUNTY, Fla., April 20, 2011 - 30A.com announced the acquisition of the website domain name, SouthWalton.com. The URL joins a family of other brands owned by the company, including Grayton.com, 30-A.com, ThirtyA.com, 30Arealestate.com, 30Arentals.com, 30Abeaches.com, CoastalDuneLakes.com, 30Atv.com, 30Anews.com, TheBeachHighway.com and over 150 other domain names related to the region.

"Everyone knows what 30A is, but there's always been some confusion about how to brand the broader region," said 30A.com's Mike Ragsdale. "With civic institutions already in place such as South Walton High School, South Walton Fire District, South Walton Courthouse Annex and South Walton Coastal Branch Library -- in addition to the recent 'South Walton: To Each, Your Beach' marketing initiatives announced by our Tourist Development Council -- it's clear that the 'South Walton' brand is here to stay."

30A purchased the domain name from Robert Nelson of I Fix Computers, Inc. (I Fix Computers, Inc.) in DeFuniak Springs.

"I like what Mike's doing with 30A.com, and I'm happy that we were able to strike a deal," said Nelson, who has owned the domain name since 1997. "I know he plans to use it to promote our community and local businesses."

Terms of the acquisition are undisclosed, and Ragsdale said that the company is not yet ready to share its vision for the brand.

"It's a very exciting opportunity, and it's also a responsibility that we take very seriously," said Ragsdale. "Right now, we just know that owning SouthWalton.com will enable us to drive even more visitors to local businesses, charities and events."

**MrMentalFitness** · 04-20-2011, 08:20 PM

I wonder how much cheddar 30A.com had to spend on that "acquisition" (I love that term - they're acting like two media giants just went all Wall Street). They bought a domain name for crying out loud, not an institution.

Anyway, I'm happy for 'em cuz I love 30A.com. 'SouthWalton.com' is NOT, however, the premier item it may seem to be to those of us who see ka-ching in the words "south" and "walton". There's a lot of work ahead for whoever wants to somehow get that term linked with paradise in the imaginations of non-natives everywhere. Most likely, there'll be at least one other major image revision before somebody gets it right, and it's not going to be 'South Walton' or 'South Walton To Each Your Beach'.

Gonna be something else. I'm FROM here and it doesn't do anything for me, so I can't see it having an effect on those alien to this region.

**Bob Hudson** · 04-20-2011, 08:48 PM

Originally Posted by MrMentalFitness

I wonder how much cheddar 30A.com had to spend on that "acquisition" (I love that term - they're acting like two media giants just went all Wall Street). They bought a domain name for crying out loud, not an institution.

Several hoops I hear !

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They bought "ocean front" based on the new TDC brand.

What is left is 1/2 mile off the beach.

**MrMentalFitness** · 04-21-2011, 12:41 AM

Hey I like that KA-CHING! Best one I've seen. They bought the land - now they gotta do some serious building, and it's gonna have to outshine everything else that has to do with 30A, Walton County, South Walton Blah Blah, Beaches, Real Estate, etc.

Heck, I think SOWAL would have been a much better buy, because it doesn't sound backwoods like "South Walton" does. Every time I see or hear "South Walton" I hear, "G'nite John Boy - g'nite Granpa, etc. etc." crickets chirping and mosquitos and banjos being plucked and you shore got a purty mouf and whatnot. When I see 'SoWal', I see hip, elegant, chic, and beach scenes with lavish beauty in my mind. Of course, that's cuz it's been conditioned. I'm sure "To Each Youz-a Beach-a" will find its way into the psyche after a few years of much money spent trying to get people to stop saying "The Beaches Of South Walton."

In any case, they got some bright pros on the job and I'm sure TDC and 30A.com have grand, exciting things up their sleeves.

Then again, I should probably shut up cuz deep down I don't want anybody else knowing about all this awesomeness. Matter of fact, if they succeed the way they hope, all that prosperity is gonna suck!

G'nite Bob, g'nite BeachSi02, g'nite Teresa, g'nite SWGB, g'nite Smilin Joe, g'nite...zzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

**playing4possum** · 04-21-2011, 01:22 AM

I have a question. The Tourist Development Council or TDC as it is called wants to promote tourism in Walton County. Is there a reason that we do not market all of the county? Sure the beaches are nice, but that is only part of the charm of coming here. Right? Who cares where the tourists decide to go once they are in our county and spending money, right? Why not market all of Walton County and use the current Walton County website that we have. If you look at other counties, big places....they do not seem to need another website to tell people about their county. You can do it all on one website, save taxpayers some money.
Tourism is important, don't get me wrong about that. I'm well schooled enough to know that we make in one day off tourism what it costs to take care of the Sherrif's office for a year....or thereabout.
I just feel that we're about to come to blows with this NORTH and SOUTH county stuff. Unless we're going to divide and conquer and become two seperate entities, we need to start thing of the whole picture. Try holding off on that new website. Walton County can't afford it.

**Smiling JOe** · 04-21-2011, 09:09 AM

Because the TDC makes its money only from people staying short term (6 months or less) in SOUTH Walton. They are trying to promote off-beach activities now, hence the desire to drop "beaches" from the branding. They know that many people enjoy much more than the beach. Prime example is my friend who is in town right now, who has yet to step foot on the sand, and won't be likely to do so before leaving. For her, the beach is about just visiting friends, with a touch of shopping and dining.

**wrobert** · 04-21-2011, 11:36 AM

The north end does not participate in the bed tax and yet the TDC does do some eco tourism up this way and does market activities up here. But it is hard to blame them for not focusing on the part of the county that is footing the bill.

**SWGB** · 04-21-2011, 12:21 PM

The purchase of SouthWalton.com is pretty big. Keep in mind that Google goes for keywords in the actual domain name first. Obviously throwing the word beaches in there would help, but my understanding is with minimal content that domain name has gotten some serious traffic over the years.

**MrMentalFitness** · 04-21-2011, 02:26 PM

Originally Posted by SWGB

The purchase of SouthWalton.com is pretty big. Keep in mind that Google goes for keywords in the actual domain name first. Obviously throwing the word beaches in there would help, but my understanding is with minimal content that domain name has gotten some serious traffic over the years.

You're right on that one. I've been snatching up domain names in my area of expertise with that exact strategy in mind. Only a couple more to go, but they're the really costly ones, and the current holders know I want them so they're raking me over the coals.

Dang it!

**scooterbug44** · 04-21-2011, 02:51 PM

I voted for the current name. All of these constant changes are stupid.

You know what happens when I have a link bookmarked and it doesn't work? I delete it. I don't go searching to find the new website.

And I think it's a mistake not to market the whole county to the whole country. Defuniak and the surrounding area have some pretty cool stuff - Chataqua, holiday lights, holiday home tours, springs, E.O. Wilson Biophilia.....

**CastlesOfSand** · 04-21-2011, 03:36 PM

I say stay with the current name as well.

**SWGB** · 04-21-2011, 05:29 PM

Originally Posted by scooterbug44

I voted for the current name. All of these constant changes are stupid.

You know what happens when I have a link bookmarked and it doesn't work? I delete it. I don't go searching to find the new website.

And I think it's a mistake not to market the whole county to the whole country. Defuniak and the surrounding area have some pretty cool stuff - Chataqua, holiday lights, holiday home tours, springs, E.O. Wilson Biophilia.....

They'd be stupid not to forward the existing domain to a new one to prevent lose of traffic.

I know what I said, no need to point out the obvious in that statement.

**WaltonIsOne** · 04-22-2011, 08:19 AM

www.thewaltonriviera.com

All of the wine sniffers in Walton County would go for this one.

**SWGB** · 04-22-2011, 12:22 PM

Originally Posted by WaltonIsOne

www.thewaltonriviera.com

All of the wine sniffers in Walton County would go for this one.

For the record the panhandle was marketed as America's Riviera during the beginning of the last century. Somehow that fell away.

**scooterbug44** · 04-22-2011, 12:24 PM

IMO the Redneck Riviera (at least pre-BP) is WAY nicer than the European Riviera.

**Teresa** · 04-22-2011, 07:03 PM

Beach is a very important identifier, but does not mean there is nothing to offer here other than sand and water - just as other beaches throughout Florida - there is much to offer. My guess is that the beach is the number one reason for tourism here.

What about something completely different:
The South Walton Coast

does that pretty it up a little Mr Mental?