Campbell Express: NEW DOWNTOWNCAMPBELL.COM WEBSITE PROMOTES EVENTS AND COMMUNITY
The following article appeared in the April 21st edition of the Campbell Express newspaper in Campbell, CA.
There's something big and new in Downtown Campbell, but you'll have to get online with your computer to find it. Earlier this month, the new DowntownCampbell.com website was launched to provide Campbell area residents with up-to-date information about news, events, and activities happening in Downtown Campbell.
The new website was a joint effort between the Downtown Campbell Business Association and the Campbell-based community network, Social Wave. It was created through Social Wave's "Downtown Destinations" service, which helps local downtowns brand and market themselves as community centers through interactive websites that allow merchants and associates of local downtowns to put their information online themselves with no technical expertise required.
The DowntownCampbell.com site employs many features commonly found in big-budget websites employed by designer shopping destinations such as Santana Row, but emphasizes community charm rather than trendy appeal. While it may not focus on trendy appeal, it's not because Downtown Campbell is behind the times. As the first local downtown to go online with Social Wave's community-oriented online marketing service, Downtown Campbell is far from being out of date; it's serving as an example of how technology can work hand-in-hand with local communities. After viewing the new DowntownCampbell.com, other downtown districts have expressed interest in having similar websites.
Many people are interested in their local communities and want to become more engaged in community life. DowntownCampbell.com was designed to appeal to people seeking community connections as well as people just looking for fun things to do. In the past, when cities were smaller and transportation more scarce, downtowns were focal points where real community life happened because people had to cross paths to buy goods or get information. We no longer need to go downtown for vital necessities, but our downtowns can still serve as community centers where people can meet, get to know each other, and find a range of high-quality goods and services from personable local merchants. DowntownCampbell.com can help supply the information needed for community life to happen in Downtown.
Visit DowntownCampbell.com and you'll find out that there's a lot more going on than the weekly Farmer's Market and seasonal festivals in Downtown Campbell. You might find that there's a computing interest group meeting at Orchard Valley, a social mixer happening at the Coop, or a jazz band playing at a wine singles event at Tannins. If you're looking for neither entertainment nor community connections, then check out DowntownCampbell.com to get the scoop on sale announcements or browse the merchant profiles of some of your favorite businesses like Radio Daze, Twist Cafe', or the Stone Griffin. There's also a photo gallery that's regularly updated with pictures of what's new around Downtown Campbell and there's an electronic newsletter that you can sign up for as well.
See it for yourself. Go to www.downtowncampbell.com and explore all that your favorite downtown has to offer.
Disclosure: The author is the creator of the Social Wave Community Network and developer of the new Downtown Campbell site.
