Walton TDC Presents New Branding

[Bob Hudson]

The photos shown were not the finished product, just concepts. The LKM production crew of 8 people is scheduled to arrive in Sowal on the 15th of April and stay through the 15th of May to shoot photos and videos to be used in the advertising campaign.

The TDC rented a 4 bedroom Gulf front condo (at a cost of $5,723) in Seagrove Beach for their month long efforts.

Here is the invoice.

View attachment 19264

Hopefully they will not be billing the TDC for $400.00 bottles of wine during their stay.

Wonder when the New York models arrive ?

 

[Bob Hudson]

This didn't really register with me the first time through, but I wonder how much he is going to want for it. Maybe he will come on and let us know his thoughts on the branding change since he is likely in line for a nice payout for owning the site. Could be kinda interesting with his perspective on wasteful government spending. I also wonder if any others in the community have any comments on what would be a good selling price.

If he in fact is the owner - not just the registered agent for the domain name - then probably less than a Coastal Re-nourishment engineer's annual cost.

 

[scooterbug44]

Gee, if only we had some local photographers who took amazing photos of the beaches, local events, and people enjoying their vacations - the TDC could just use those photos and save a lot of money.

 

[BeachSiO2]

If he in fact is the owner - not just the registered agent for the domain name - then probably less than a Coastal Re-nourishment engineer's annual cost.

Interesting comparison. Guess I need to get into buying website domains and holding them.

So you have set the ceiling. Am I right to assume that if the asking price comes in over that amount that the WCTA will have an issue, or at least you will?

 

[Bob Hudson]

Gee, if only we had some local photographers who took amazing photos of the beaches, local events, and people enjoying their vacations - the TDC could just use those photos and save a lot of money.

That would actually help the local economy. Something that some people just don't understand I guess.

 

[lenzoe]

If they are looking for focus group feedback:

1) The "S" in "South Walton," using this old-style cursive font makes the "S" look more like a lower-case "f". So on first glance it reads as "Fouth Walton." When the mind tries to make sense of that gibberish, it tends to translate into something that makes sense, like "Fort Walton". Both effects -- confusion and translation -- are not desireable in a logo.

2) As others point out, the tag line "to each, your beach," being grammatically incorrect, is immediately awkward. That renders it either immediately forgettable, or, as with the logo, something the mind tries to translate into something that is more sensible. Again, not the effect you want in a tag line.

 

[Beach Bimmer]

One additional thought: marketing a County area like Walton (as opposed to a town, city, or other defined area) is hard. A story to illustrate:

For years, Lee County, Florida tried to market itself as Lee County. They even named their tourism promotion office the "Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau".

One day they woke up and realized that the crown jewel of Lee County was the Sanibel Island beaches and city of Ft. Myers, since it contained the legendary Thomas Edison Estate and two major league baseball spring training camps.

The marketing was changed to promote Ft. Myers-Sanibel instead of Lee County. The area boomed with visitors, and subsequently attracted some of the strongest new home construction in Florida for a number of years. The arrival of a new airport there helped that growth as well...

Credit goes to Elaine McLaughlin, the retired head of the Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau for capturing what visitors saw and turning it into a much more marketable brand than "Lee County".

 

[Andy A]

Gee, if only we had some local photographers who took amazing photos of the beaches, local events, and people enjoying their vacations - the TDC could just use those photos and save a lot of money.

Yeah, and maybe that local photographer would make a buck as well. I suggest Kurt's photo in "Its a Green flag day" in the "All About SoWal" thread. Its simply beautiful.

 

[Bob Hudson]

Interesting comparison. Guess I need to get into buying website domains and holding them.

So you have set the ceiling. Am I right to assume that if the asking price comes in over that amount that the WCTA will have an issue, or at least you will?

I post under my Name and my posting and views are mine and mine alone. The WCTA speaks for itself through its president Bonnie McQuiston.

I have set nothing in terms of a fair value for the domain name I don't own it.

I don't even know if the TDC would be interested in the domain. They may have other names in mind.

LKM seems very professional (I don't like the whole your beach moniker) and I am sure they have the bases covered in this regard.

How much would the domain Sowal.com be worth?

 

[BeachSiO2]

I have set nothing in terms of a fair value for the domain name I don't own it.

Sorry I misunderstood your post, the way I read it was that if he owned the site the cost would be "probably less than a Coastal Re-nourishment engineer's annual cost." Like you said, we'll have to wait and see. The good news is that it will be public record if it happens.

I have no idea how much the domain is worth and is why I asked the question in the beginning. I would think that sowal.com would have a different higher value as it is something, a very good thing IMO. I don't know how to value a registration of a domain.

[edit] Saw your comment about WCTA, makes sense and thanks for keeping me straight.