SEPTA To Improve… Marketing

SEPTA has finally heard your complaints, people! For years, people of pretty much all Philadelphians from every walk of life saying that while SEPTA has impeccable transportation provided you want to travel down to Broad, Frankford or Market streets, the rest has a leaves a bit to be desired.

And SEPTA has finally answered the call.

“Some critics have said we haven’t marketed ourselves well,” [SEPTA GM Richard] Maloney said. “This is an example of very targeted marketing in areas of the system that have growth potential.”

Oh. Yes, that’s right, SEPTA is now marketing to annoying people in Manayunk and Roxborough bars with beer coasters, along with magnets, maps and buttons. Ooh, I can’t wait to wear my R6 button! (Where’s my Cornwells Heights station pin? I gotta rep the R7, guys!)

Now, while the campaign is only costing $45 grand and, sure, maybe it will attract riders, the quotes from SEPTA brass are all pretty priceless.

• “We also produced a pocket-sized map,” SEPTA marketing director Rich DiLullo said yesterday. “On one side is a map and the other side is a quirky characterization about the different routes.”
• “What I liked about this campaign is it’s portable,” DiLullo said. “If we did some route restructuring in Chester, we’d be able to promote it in this way as well. We’ve created a template.”
• “The challenge has always been, how do you target people without spending a gazillion dollars … and attract people’s attention,” DiLullo said.

Rich: Duh, you start a blog.

EPTA hopes to pick up riders with bar campaign [Metro]
[Photo via Metro]