Member Article

USP Creative appointed to ‘It’s Liverpool’ app

Liverpool-based branding agency, USP Creative has been appointed to build the ‘It’s Liverpool’ app aimed at leisure and business visitors, students and residents.

The agency took part in the five-way pitch for the AT Brand project, a major initiative bringing together European cities with a reputation for their expertise on place branding. Liverpool is the pilot scheme for the app and it is intended to be rolled out across many European cities.

Officially launching later this year, the ‘It’s Liverpool’ app will be a one-stop-shop designed to help visitors, residents and students get the most out of the city.

As well as covering key areas including where to eat, attractions, events, travel and accommodation, it will generate suggestions based on factors such as the current weather conditions and the users’ location.

In a move designed to showcase the best of Liverpool, it will allow the public to instantly add their favourite places and experiences. Users will be able to rate the destination, with the most popular at the time being then promoted by the app.

Paul Symes, Head of Digital at USP Creative, said: “When someone visits a new place, they don’t want to be overloaded with information – they want to know how to get around and have an idea of the best things to do. We’re designing the ‘It’s Liverpool’ app so visitors, residents and students can easily plan and enjoy their experience in the city with one simple app.

“It is a testament to our credentials as a full-service marketing agency that we have been selected to design and develop this app. Our digital offering is going from strength to strength, and our appointment to this particular project really shows USP Creative’s proficiency in this field.”

Caroline Hoppé, Marketing Manager at Marketing Liverpool, said: “We want people visiting, living or studying in the city to enjoy the best of Liverpool and to share those experiences with us. The development of the ‘It’s Liverpool’ app is an essential part of that ambition.

“Mobile first is an increasingly important part of our strategy and as Liverpool is one of the most popular city-break destinations in Europe it was felt there was a real need for an easy-to-use app which not only suggested places to go in the city, but which the public was able to actively contribute.

“Allowing the users of the app to instantly add destinations and rate them gives visitors, residents and students an excellent view of where the action is across the city in real time.

“Liverpool’s culture and nightlife is vibrant and varied and we hope the app will eventually be used by those living in the city to take advantage of this.”

In addition to the app development within the AT Brand, Liverpool hosted the first City Branding summit between 25th and 27th June. Part of the International Festival for Business (IFB 2014), the conference saw around 45 delegates from around Europe come to Liverpool for a packed programme looking at areas such as integrated branding, strategy of visual communications and the importance of public/private sector partnership.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Simon Malia .