Promoting or advertising?
With the recent reinstatement of the city-based "Did You Know" column, one question remains unanswered by Marion City Council.
What is the definition of promotion? Council members discussed what it wasn't but not what it was.
In the job description for the city economic development position, it states the director will "promote" all city businesses.
Does promote mean "Come to XYZ Store to buy a special on beans 3 for $1" or does it mean to promote the business itself such as it is expanding, moving, or information about personnel such as training, etc.?
Somewhere along the way the council needs to determine the city's definition because right now there seems to be a blurred line between "promotion" and "advertising."
It could be as simple as following the dictionary's descriptions.
Go to the dictionary. Look it up. I did.
Promote: "To help or encourage to exist or flourish."
Advertise: "To announce or praise (a product or service, etc.) in some public medium of communication in order to induce people to buy or use it."
The city's role is to promote all Marion businesses.
The column can be extremely useful in keeping the public informed about city and business happenings but the advertising should be left to those businesses that depend on it for their livelihoods.
Simple, isn't it?
— SUSAN BERG
