Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Congress Square

I really must say. 
When I heard that the city was going to release its new marketing slogan yesterday, I had high hopes. I was kind of excited, wondering in what direction it might go. Would it be a bit shocking? Take a humorous route? Be just plain boring? Or might it play it safe and fall somewhere in the middle?

"Portland, Maine. Yes. Life's Good Here."

Of course, the powers that be down at City Hall think it's downright perfect. For the past few days, via social media they have been floating 'test balloons' with various versions. So, let me get this right. If I have a food truck running city streets this summer and my claim to fame is my scrumptious fried clams, all I need do is replace Portland, Maine with "Fried Clams. Yes. Life's Good Here. How about if I'm a big furniture outlet? Shall I just run a huge banner across my store and my website proclaiming. "Convertible Sofas. Yes. Life's Good Here."
Ok, I think I've got the idea.
I'm willing to bet, by September all the trendy places I frequent will have plastered ad nauseam... "(fill in the blank. Yes. Life's Good Here."
If that's what they want for advertising this city, that's what they'll get.
As Ed Grimley (Martin Short) would say on those old SNL skits, "I really must say..." 
I'm seriously underwhelmed with this slogan. Unless of course. Ah yes. How about this?
"Birdman. Ayah. Life's Good Here." 

17 comments:

  1. A slogan that is completely inoffensive is likely to be boring. How about, "Portland, where the steadfast remain." ?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Someone was paid to come up with that? Hola!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Well, I guess it's a safe choice. You'll have to let us know how it gets rolled out.

    ReplyDelete
  4. It is a bit 'hohum' Birdman, but does it get the message across?

    ReplyDelete
  5. That last one is WICKED good. Ayuh.

    ReplyDelete
  6. How 'bout 'Portland.....where the winters never end except for 2 weeks in mid July and I use my electric blanket all the rest of the time. Visually very purdy, tho.'
    A bit wordy but true. :-p

    ReplyDelete
  7. It seems that most slogans for cities are pretty boring. Trying to please a huge mass of people is hard.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Certainly seems to work well!

    ReplyDelete
  9. You could also say, "It's for the birds, but life's good here!"

    ReplyDelete
  10. You could suggest adding the electric blanket! :-)

    ReplyDelete
  11. I spose the town fathers didn't feel it was necessary to PAY anyone to come up with something clever!

    ReplyDelete
  12. I'll go along with the Birdman slogan.

    ReplyDelete
  13. I perfer Elenka's! That "yes" part is a bit awkward, no? Yes.

    ReplyDelete