County Web videos hope to keep the hits coming

Wednesday, 28 October 2009

by Laura Adelmann Thisweek Newspapers Dakota County wants the world to “come to know” it’s “going wild” on You Tube. Armed with new marketing initiatives, such as its parks “wild” theme and the library’s “come to know” branding, Dakota County’s menu of promotional and instructive You Tube videos has drawn thousands of views. According to the site www.youtube.com/dakotacountymn , the county’s most popular video has 3,700 views and takes viewers on a tour inside the county jail. The video’s instrumental blues music is occasionally interrupted by the clicking of handcuffs, crackling leg chains, or closing of a cell door. At the video’s end, it promises a sequel. Next most popular, boasting 2,736 views as of Oct. 27, is a clip featuring county jail inmates creating a mural on the wall of the jail’s gym. Jail Cmdr. Blair Anderson explains the program was designed to inspire change. Other popular videos include a tour of the Robert Trail Library and highlights of a wedding held at a Dakota County park on a picture-perfect day. Earlier this month, the county was approved by You Tube to customize its site, an application process open to governmental entities. With the option, the county added a navigational bar that mirrors its own Web site, the county logo, and pictures taken around the county. “We wanted to have a page that reflected our identity,” Dakota County Communications Director Gail Plewacki said. All the videos are made by Plewacki’s staff, a time-consuming process. The time it takes to set up, shoot, and edit a video is highly variable, taking anywhere from hours to weeks to complete, because the county produces videos that are 1 to 6 minutes long, said Dakota County spokesman Tim Mozey. Future plans are to add  about five entertaining, yet instructional, videos annually. Each one will have a specific purpose, such as helping people use the self-checkout machines in the county libraries. Plewacki is particularly excited about this marketing strategy to promote county services and inform citizens because the cost it is well within the county’s $5,000 marketing budget. “It’s free,” Plewacki said. “It doesn’t cost taxpayers a dime.” Laura Adelmann is at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it Comments (0) Subscribe to this comment's feed Write comment Name Email Comment smaller | bigger Subscribe via email (Registered users only) I have read and agree to the Terms of Usage. Write the displayed characters Add Comment

Last Updated ( Wednesday, 28 October 2009 )

 

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