By George Maguire
I think that we can all agree that app-based navigation tools such as Google Maps, Apple Maps or Citymapper have changed the game in terms of how humans move around. No small thing! Through the interface of our phones, these apps get you from A to B with a clarity and precision that is to be marvelled. When we decided to create our own UK culture maps, we weren’t trying to compete with these lofty tools. That was never the point…
Instead, we set out to celebrate the UK culture scene in a very tangible and curated way. Here’s four reasons why we’re so hugely excited about our latest print maps and you should be too…
1) Enhanced Value for our Wonderful Cultural Clients!
We live in a time where competition over digital attention is increasingly fierce. Cultural institutions (big and small) often have limited marketing budgets but need the kind of consistent visibility that leads to reliable bums on seats. Our maps offer a pathway to stand out among digital noise with a physical presence in hotels, travel hubs, cafés, and venues. This is affordable, high-impact exposure that is disengaged from the online ticket arm-wrestling contest!
2) Tangible Culture Guides – For Free!
What’s the most difficult part of being a tourist, or a culturally-motivated resident? Finding a quality toilet? Water bottle refills? Nope! Inspiration. With our maps (we now have two different London in print!) you can pick one up and put it in your pocket. It’s yours – and it’s free! No batteries, no signal, no GPS. Our maps offer you high quality options suitable for a memorable day of culture, whether it’s a West End performance or an cutting edge avant-garde gallery.
3) Brand Visibility and Authority
Having our maps out there in the wild (on our racks – that are handily already positioned) offer us some really excellent brand recognition. Maps (digital or physical) are the compasses people turn to when looking to find things they like. We want to influence and be associated with this hunt for culture! A connector of the UK’s best communities and experiences! At the end of the day, the more visibility our maps have, the more likely we are to grow further as a business and the more we can support the overall culture scene.
4) Digital Potentials…
Insert a QR code, hashtag, or URL and our maps become noise-free tools for directing attention into the digital space. Imagine this… What if our maps helped you find an absolute gem (perhaps one not currently ranking highly on Google), helped you access a booking website online? Got you a great deal? Helped you sign up to the venue’s newsletter? Pointed you towards an interview with the director or the lead star? The holistic digital journey for the map-reader is enormous…
Looking Ahead
The hope with our culture maps is that we can help people to explore, to connect, and to reach experiences that they might not overwise. As we expand into new regions and experiment with fresh formats (such as a digital version), we’re staying rooted in our mission: to elevate culture through accessible, beautifully crafted guides that matter. If you’d like to get involved; as a cultural partner, supporter, or distributor we’d love to hear from you!
See you on the rack…