London Turns to Social Media for Image Advice; Boston uses it to Track Bike Thieves
by Bill Ives
The Greater London Authority is looking to social media to gather public input into consolidating its multiple identities into a more unified package as reported in Brand New. The official invitation, Creative development and design of a brand for London, hopes that contractors will help engage stakeholders in order to develop London’s narrative post-2012.
One London agency, Moving Brands, is already putting social media to work with its blog, A Brand for London, and Twitter account @we_are_london. These initiatives are designed to open up commentary on subjects such as London’s design DNA, architecture, and people who live there.
I think this is a great idea. Many cities are moving in this direction. In my town, Boston, police are using Twitter and Facebook to track down bike thieves. The Boston police also tweet about incidents on the streets of Boston.
In addition, Boston has an iPhone app that helps you get around its pubic transit system. Select a departure station and destination on your iPhone and find the best routes in Boston including: - Fastest Route: based on minimum time estimation. - Easiest Route: based on minimum connections. It is useful if you have luggage, or just prefer an easier route. - Handicap accessible: makes all connections at stations with handicap access.
What is your city doing with social media?
