By Anne Hershewe
news@joplinglobe.com
Joplin wants to enhance its online profile.
The city has partnered with a marketing agency, CGI Communications Inc., of Rochester, N.Y., to improve Joplin’s official Web site as well as the Web site of the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce.
The new Joplin Web site will feature videos of iconic areas, including the renovated downtown area, city parks and shopping areas, along with other city information, such as meeting times and council minutes and agendas.
Lynn Onstot, public information officer for the city, said city officials hope to have what is called the “Community Showcase Program, a Video Tour Book,” up and running by the end of this year. Right now, she said, CGI is researching for the program and would probably come to Joplin in late August to begin on-site filming.
The city picked CGI, Onstot said, because the company’s upgrade of the Web sites comes at no-cost to the municipality or to local taxpayers. The site seeks local businesses to sponsor videos and place ads on the pages, which, she said, pay for the site’s makeover.
CGI has developed or enhanced Web sites for a number of communities around the country, including Anchorage, Alaska, and South Bend, Ind.
The city also decided that a change could only bring about a positive impact in this technological age.
“I think everyone is tending to look to the Web for information. We want to get onboard with that,” Onstot said.
She hopes the new Web sites will reach a wide range of people and encourage them to not only visit Joplin but to move here or relocate businesses to the area. That means this Web site will be geared mostly toward people who might be in the area for a while, she said.
“We want to depict Joplin as we see it, as a good place to live, work and play,” said Onstot.
The city thought a new Web site also would help current Joplin residents learn a little more about their hometown.
“People will know more about Joplin, even people who live in Joplin,” said Onstot.
Officials with CGI did not return calls.
