In a bold move to attract new business by pandering (can I just come out and say pandering?) to CEOs the Ohio Business Coalition has come up with a new slogan to revitalize our appeal to business by attracting their bosses. In a vein similar too but much worse then the wonderful "Believe in Cleveland" slogan which does a fine job of getting the "at least we are trying, right?" point across the new "Build your business build your life" pretty much comes right out and says it all. We only care about the folks with the cash money.
I get the import of such an ad campaign. Ohio is in desperate need of business to replace our decaying manufacturing base (blame yourself sprawl-marters) but why are we creating a campaign based upon CEO's? Is a major company going to open a branch office here because of a pamphlet of some guy in a suit jumping off of steps with a coffee in one hand, waving a PDA in the other, while young kids watch in awe going to convey that we can offer a style of exciting and wondrous life you really can't get anywhere else?
Is a slick ad campaign going to retain start up companies in the area or will they stay because of the community ties, their friends and family and the solid client base that allowed them to become a start up in the first place?
Shouldn't we concentrate on bringing in business by actually offering something that benefits everyone? Show off our infrastructure (the highways are ALWAYS under construction, they have to be doing SOMETHING out there!) or our schools or our activism or our ingenuity. Heck, show off something!
I don't know. Personally I am just wondering how long the "Be leavin' Cleveland" effect hits this slogan. I will accept any suggestions to the bastardization of this new one.
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