Working together while building your brand

[Stan Suchan]

iCarpool offers options that can help you boost your brand while you use their system to collaborate with other local organizations. One of my favorite things about the iCarpool system is that it is designed to support collaboration. For example, the system creates a large ridematching database shared by a multitude of local groups instead of a bunch of disconnected databases. In addition, it helps us all make the most of limited marketing resources by supporting shared membership among networks. If Clark County recruits a new member to the system who works in Portland, the state of Oregon, Portland, Tri-Met and others gain a new member, too. And vice versa. The common thread? We are all helping to make it easier to ride the bus, train or bicycle, walk, carpool, vanpool, telework, etc.

Before we all hold hands and sing Kumbaya - and I'm sure there are more than a few Peter, Paul and Mary fans out there - the system also offers options to boost your brand while you collaborate.

You'll find a newly updated brand options summary in the Resources box on the Smart Transportation main page. The summary outlines the three different branding options (standard, express and full) and compares them. 

For many organizations (e.g. WSDOT) standard branding meets their needs. With standard branding, organizations can build their brand by sending email to network members, publishing alerts and messages, touting their network achievements and offering incentives - all under the RideshareOnline.com banner. Other organizations have chosen to embed the iCarpool system into their brand/Web pages using either express or full branding. Examples include Oregon's Drive Less Save More (Drive less. Connect); Idaho's I-Way (Idaho RideShare), Kirkland's Totem Lake Green Trips, Choose Your Way Bellevue (Downtown Bellevue Commute Club) and Clark County Smart Commuter. While this approach requires a bit of money and effort, it can be a worthwhile.  

Want to explore your branding options?

• read the summary in the Resources box on the Smart Transportation main page
• talk with administrators from organizations that have considered the three options
• click the links above, log in using your existing user id and password, and check out the differences