For as long as I have been involved with marketing and living in Wollongong – well over 20 years – I have been aware that a lot of people (who don’t live here) have very fixed perceptions about our city.
Anecdotal evidence suggest they usually comprise of old TV snippets from Aunty Jack and ageing photos of belching smoke stacks from supposedly dark satanic (steel) mills.
But one thing I have always known is that if you can get someone to visit our beautiful city just once, they will always return again (and usually with a friend) – sadly about half of the inhabitants of our closest and largest one day tourist market, Sydney, have never ever made the short trip southwards.
To its credit, since early 2001, the Wollongong City Council has run an image campaign to help overcome these stereotypical images and it must be said that the man appointed, recently retired Bob Doyle, delivered the goods and any early criticisms of The City of Innovation tagline have now well and truly disappeared.
Unfortunately these days, the old stereotypes have been superseded by a bunch of sleazy developers and councillors and images of a blond young town planner with large framed dark glasses.
Which raises the question: how do we get Wollongong back on track – image wise?
YourOnlineCommunity, publishers of WollongongOnline, think they have the answer and it involves video and the internet!
Individuals can help by either uploading videos about Wollongong to www.yoctv.com – your favourite beach, hobby, sport, best pub, what ever or simply by emailing friends any where in the world with links to your Secret Wollongong videos (only three samples now – but we expects heaps more in the months ahead).
Local organisations wishing to become involved with this initiative are asked to contact Andrew Connery by phone 4254 0200 Bus Hrs or to email: >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
On the internet you don’t have to remember any special URLs – simply Google ‘Secret Wollongong’ and you’re there!
YourOpinionCounts. CLICK HERE >>>>>>>>>>>> | 
