Allow me to start off by saying that LiveWorkPlayColumbus.com is a nice looking website with a nice collection of information and links.
Now allow me to say that I’m completely underwhelmed and a little bit saddened by the launch of this new site.
According to a Dispatch article yesterday, this site was launched by the Chamber of Commerce, the City of Columbus, and the Department of Development to help job seekers have an easier time learning about our fair city. Which is all fine and dandy, but isn’t this information already out there?
I’m not just saying that because I run ColumbusUnderground.com, but I mean… just look at ExperienceColumbus.com (managed by the Greater Columbus Convention & Visitors Bureau). Isn’t it pretty much the exact same site? Or what about DowntownColumbus.com? It focuses more centrally on downtown, but it’s still pretty darn close. And forget about how you used to go to Columbusarts.com (if you ever went there)… because now you can go to the Arts Page on LiveWorkPlayColumbus.com that features the same links to the same things (links coming soon).
I could pretty much go on like this for another hour, but I assume you get my drift. How many more times are we going to have to reinvent this wheel?
And what sort of young people these days are looking for a website that contains some basic overview information and collections of links? There’s no interactivity to the site (although some features may be added when the more finalized version goes live) and really no reason for people to make return visits to this site. Most tech-savvy youngsters are way beyond the basic need of finding out the address of Opera Columbus or searching for a list of restaurants in the Arena District. That’s what google is for. (link and link)
Young people (notice I keep avoiding “professionals”) want to know where they can find a restaurant that only serves food using locally-farmed ingredients and they want to read what the locals have to say about it. Young people want to find other people to connect with and attend events with. Young people already have direction. What they want is content, and they want it to be dynamic.
I guess what I’m trying to say to say here (without sounding too tacky) is that LiveWorkPlayColumbus.com appears to be a Web 1.0 site trying to cater to a Web 2.0 demographic. Ok, yeah… that was pretty tacky.
I appreciate the effort on behalf of the city, but it leaves me wondering if this project came about by really asking what their target audience wants and then following through with it. Because I don’t think people really want another site that contains links to stuff to do. Especially when those links don’t even work with the initial launch of the site.