City to narrow down slogans
By Matt Caulder
Published in News on July 5, 2013 1:46 PM
More than 915 slogans have been submitted for Goldsboro's "What's In A Name?" contest.
Now it is up to the judges to whittle them down to 20 before July 31.
Then city residents will make their selections for the top five.
And from that group, Goldsboro City Council will chose the winner.
The judging team consists of representatives from nine city departments with a marketing interest as well as City Manager Scott Stevens.
"A slogan can be an ambassador for the community," said Kim Best, Goldsboro public information officer. "We want something that makes you want to look (the city) up and see what makes it unique."
After the top 20 proposed slogans are chosen, there will be a one-month voting period to narrow down the top five ideas. Voting to select the top five mottos will take place online at www.goldsboronc.gov until Aug. 31 once the top 20 are narrowed down.
Anyone can vote on their favorite motto -- one vote per IP address, Mrs. Best said.
After the top five are chosen, they will go before the City Council who will make the final decision by Oct. 31.
All of the mottos that will go before the city marketing team and Stevens meet the minimum criteria for consideration: 10 words or less; contain no profanity; and the ideas must represent Goldsboro and not the county or the state of North Carolina as a whole.
"It's going to be a long process but it needs to be," Mrs. Best said. "Everyone (on the marketing team) will see every idea."
The winner and runners-up will receive city-themed prizes such as Downtown Dollars or a free membership to the Goldsboro Family YMCA.
Whoever submits the winning slogan will win a dinner with Mayor Al King in addition to a host of other prizes.
The contest is part of an overall branding effort to pinpoint Goldsboro's identity as seen by three distinct groups and how to best present that face to people outside of Goldsboro, Mrs. Best said.
The three groups the city is targeting for information include incoming service members to Seymour Johnson Air Force Base and their families, non-service member professionals coming into the community and local residents.
By understanding the image Goldsboro presents to each group, the city can better know how to move forward with the overall branding effort.
By involving the citizens so heavily, it allows the branding to be a community effort and not just the marketing team's idea.
"Most of (the branding ideas) will come through community input and contests, mostly with city prizes," Mrs. Best said.
The top 20 submissions will receive two passes to the Goldsboro Municipal Golf Course, two tickets to a Paramount Theatre movie, a "Do It Downtown" T-shirt and a City of Goldsboro bag.
The top five entrants will receive two rounds of golf with a cart at the Goldsboro golf course, two tickets to an event in the Paramount Theatre Performing Arts Series, a gift card to a downtown restaurant selected by the Downtown Goldsboro Development Corp. and one Goldsboro restaurant voucher.
The winning selection will receive dinner with King, a one-year membership to the Goldsboro golf course, a Paramount Theatre full series package, 100 Downtown Dollars, one free Parks and Registration program registration to an activity of their choice, a one-year membership to the YMCA, a prize package at Lights Up Downtown 2013 and will be featured as a guest on the WGTV morning show.