Four months ago we wrote our first progress report, summing up what we had accomplished up to that point in our campaign for Syracuse. You can read that report here. Today we have another campaign update detailing how far we have come in the past four months.
We have focused our mission on spreading the word about the great things that are happening here in Syracuse. We think more people should believe in Syracuse and our work is driven by that premise. We are spreading the word that Syracuse is a city on the rise through digital media, traditional media and events. Our organization exists for the following:
- To utilize digital media such as social media, our website and our email list to accumulate and disseminate information about the positive aspects of Syracuse.
- To work with community partners and communicate with the local news media to spread our message to a broad audience.
- To organize events for Central New Yorkers to come together to celebrate the positive aspects of Syracuse and be part of continuing that success.
Digital Media Progress Report
Social media for us is about compiling and disseminating positive information about Syracuse. To that end we have found our Facebook Page, Twitter and Instagram accounts to be most effective in getting our message out. Also we utilize a blog, LinkedIn group and Facebook Group to communicate when we have major updates to give. | Growth of Facebook Page Likes |
Above and to the right you will see some numbers illustrating how much our message has resonated with people and how effectively we have grown a following and audience online. This online activity is not an outcome in itself but a means to an end of promoting Syracuse. | Facebook Page Stats | Website Visitors |
Digital Media is nothing without good content. To the right you'll see some examples of that content. Some types of content we frequently post are photos of well known landmarks or newly opened businesses in Syracuse, news articles about positive developments for our community, status updates detailing our message, links to our blog posts and promotion of events that we are holding or that other groups are holding here locally. One way that we promote local events is through our Syracuse Community Page which you can see on the right. It is a great resource for anyone trying to find out what events or activities are happening around Syracuse. It's a site everyone in Syracuse should bookmark and keep handy. | | |
Traditional Media Progress Report
Grassroots group promotes positive efforts in Syracuse | 9wsyr.com
Syracuse (WSYR-TV) – A grassroots movement is trying to make a difference in the Salt City.
“Believe in Syracuse” promotes positive things happening in the community and spreading the word on how to make the city a better place.
GET OUT: Believe in Syracuse holds public meeting Syracuse.com-by Katrina Tulloch-Sep 17, 2013
Grassroots movement Believe in Syracuse will hold a general interest meeting tonight to continue promoting Syracuse as a "city on the rise" ...
GET OUT: Believe in Syracuse holds 'Neighborhood Night' at Nibsy's Syracuse.com-by Katrina Tulloch-Sep 4
Tonight, Believe in Syracuse will hold a Tipp Hill Neighborhood Night at Nibsy's Pub at W. Fayette and Ulster Street.
GET OUT: Beer Belly Deli still open for business | syracuse.com
Jul 29, 2013 ... Beer Belly will host a networking happy hour tonight for the local group Believe in Syracuse.
Besides being in the news we have also worked together with partners like the Connective Corridor and the Syracuse New Times who have led the Dear Syracuse With Love campaign to get people's stories out there about what they love about Syracuse. The campaign has a billboard at the corner of West and Fayette Streets. It is pictured below as in October a quote I submitted was placed on the Billboard.
Events Progress Report
We have twice volunteered serving breakfast to the homeless and hungry of Syracuse at the Samaritan Center. We were able to provide about 15 volunteers the first time we went and then 26 volunteers the second time! It was inspiring to be able to make a difference in the lives of some of our city's most vulnerable. |
Back in July Beer Belly Deli on Westcott Street was struggling due to heavy construction in front of their business. Being a relatively new business, the resulting loss of customers put them in danger of shutting their doors for good. We held a networking night at Beer Belly on July 29th, got 60+ people to show up and as a result, one of the owners told us that our business that day would keep them open another week. If that peeks your interest, click here and check out a similar event we're planning on December 4th in Hanover Square. |
Other events we are particularly proud of were the Tipp Hill Neighborhood Night pictured immediately to the left and our Connective Corridor Networking night on the far left. It was good to highlight a great neighborhood and the Connective Corridor project that has made a huge positive impact on the community. |
Our most recent event was our most widely attended and easily one of the most successful. On November 14th we held a networking night at Hafner's on Taft Road. We partnered with a group of businesswomen called the WBOC in promoting the event. We had over 70 people come out and network with us. The night led to some really good conversations between people who really believe in their community.I gave a brief speech as dis Allison from the WBOC. This was also our first opportunity to speak with folks at our events about our fundraising campaign face to face and we got some really positive reactions from folks. |
Our Fundraising Progress Report
On November 6th, Believe in Syracuse launched it's first ever fundraising campaign. Our initial goal was to raise about $500 for the purpose of running some targeted advertisements online and offline to advance our mission of spreading the word about the great things happening in Syracuse and increase awareness of our organization. Five months ago we were able to make a profound impact growing our social media following with a small personal investment of about $50 from our founder John DeSantis. As a result of this small investment we were able to double the number of fans of our Facebook Page Within 48 hours of launching our fundraising on November 6th we had already exceeded our goal! Now we are thinking bigger about what we can accomplish. We are designating funds raised beyond the first $500 for a general operating costs fund. That fund will be used for administrative costs like printing, additional advertising, and potentially filing fees associated with filing paperwork to become a 501c3 non-profit organization. As of November 19th we have raised $830. If we are able to raise $2,000 or more we will strongly consider taking the leap toward becoming a 501c3 non-profit. Click here to learn more and contribute to Believe in Syracuse. This being our initial fundraising campaign means you really have the opportunity to get in on the ground floor. A contribution of $10 could help get our message that Syracuse is on the rise to 5,000 people. $25 could help us reach 10,000 and also get your name on our founding contributors list here: www.believeinsyracuse.org/contribute and raising $100 will get you a Believe in Syracuse t-shirt. Click here for more info and then chip in whatever you can. |
Together we can keep Syracuse's momentum going if we work together. Believe in Syracuse is growing as an organization and if we work together we'll make Syracuse great for years to come.