Reputations — both good and bad — are the result of that marketing effort. Even more important than marketing, though, reputations are based on the quality of the product. In other words, marketing builds awareness, while quality builds customers.
Cities and states are no different. They, too, spend a considerable amount of time, money and effort trying to convince companies like yours that they stand for quality and reliability, and that their products — work force, business climate, transportation infrastructure, etc. — are exactly what your company needs to improve its bottom line.
Let’s be honest. Cities and states are trying to attract your company, or at least the new facility you may be planning, to their locale in order to provide their constituents with good paying jobs, as well as to improve their overall tax base.
However, that’s really no different than saying your business wants people to buy your product so that they, in turn, will give you money.
It sounds crass — and the relationship is certainly more sophisticated that that — but that’s really the bottom line.
That’s why reputations are so important. Everybody claims to be the best this or the best that, but there are really only two ways to find out for sure. One is to try it yourself, and the other is to talk to someone you trust who has tried it for himself or herself. Given the cost involved in establishing a new manufacturing facility or distribution center, the referral route is a whole lot cheaper.
Expansion Management’s annual poll of site location consultants tries to meet that need for our readers. The people we survey are highly respected professionals in the site selection field, with an average of more than 20 years experience in representing companies like yours.
Identifying the best location to establish a specific business application is what they do for a living, and the folks we talk to are the best of the best.
Cities Demonstrate a Willingness to Work With Companies
The cities that placed highly in this annual poll should be justifiably proud, because their selection is the result of many years of hard work building a reputation that is based upon quality and integrity.
Not only have they demonstrated that their community is business-friendly, but that the locally elected officials and local economic development organizations have track records for helping companies like yours solve problems.
They can’t make a bad business good, but they can help make a good business great. If you’re looking for second opinions from people who have been down the site selection road before, you’ve come to the right place.
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