Positioning Check
A free look at how your place presents itself, compared with what we have documented about other places.
Since 2014 we have interviewed many of the people who market and develop cities, regions and countries. The Positioning Check uses that material to look at your place. You tell us where your positioning is set out, we read it, compare it with what comes up online and with what we know from other places, and send you our observations.
The free check looks at one topic of your choice, for example tourism, investment, talent attraction or your place brand as a whole.
What you receive
Three short observations, written by our editorial team.
Legibility gap
Is what you say about your place also what people find when they look it up? We look at how far apart the two are.
Distinctiveness
Many places lead with similar claims, quality of life being the most common. We look at how much your main message overlaps with what others say.
Credibility
How convincing are your claims to someone who doesn't know your place? We look at whether you back them up with actual results, such as new residents, investments or visitor numbers, or mostly with campaigns, events and website visits.
How it works
1. Fill in the form below: your place, your organisation, the topic and a link to your positioning.
2. We read your material and compare it with what we know from other places.
3. You receive our observations by email, usually within a few days.
See an example
Our Copenhagen profile shows the kind of reading the check is based on.
Why it's free
Over the years we have collected a lot of material on how places position themselves, and we think it is useful beyond our own articles. The check is an easy way to share it.
If you want more, such as several topics or a comparison with other places by name, we also do paid reports. Just mention it in the form.
The Place Brand Observer is a unique organisation based in Switzerland, one of the world’s most respected countries that is taking a scientific and considered view of nation branding and soft power. As such, its efforts have to be applauded.
David Haigh
Chairman, Brand FinanceI am impressed with the work of The Place Brand Observer, the best organization for bringing together place branding researchers and professionals, and letting them engage in improving the theory and practice of Place Marketing.
Professor Philip Kotler
USAWhat I like the most about The Place Brand Observer is that is it not simply a collection of copy-paste material but that it is built on the editors' curiosity to understand more about place branding, from which we can all benefit.
Magdalena Florek
Intl. Place Branding AssociationRequest your Positioning Check
To request a Positioning Check, write to us at editor@placebrandobserver.com with your name, organisation, the place you represent and the topic you would like us to look at.