EVOCITIES CAMPAIGN CELEBRATES ONE YEAR OF SUCCESS
- Interest in the Evocities campaign from Sydney and beyond continues to grow
- Cities welcome 275 new residents in first year of the campaign, with 400 more planning a move
- More than 100,000 visits to the Evocities website in year one
Exactly one year after being launched by Regional Australia Minister, Simon Crean, to the public, the Evocities campaign has successfully attracted 275 new residents to the seven cities, and continues to generate enormous interest amongst Sydneysiders who are looking for an alternative to capital city living.
Evocities launched on 22 September 2010 with the message that a move to an Evocity is a city change to a quality life where a wide range of opportunities exist for personal and professional growth. The seven Evocities are Albury, Armidale, Bathurst, Dubbo, Orange, Tamworth and Wagga Wagga.
Evocities spokesperson James Treloar said the while the initial focus of the first year of the campaign was largely on building awareness, Evocities had also been successful in convincing Sydneysiders a "city change" is for them.
"We are delighted with the amazing response to the first year campaign and are excited that 12 months on the interest in our cities continues to grow. Our first priority was to let people know what the seven cities have to offer, and we have certainly been successful on that front.
"Since the campaign kicked off there have been over 100,000 visits to the evocities.com.au website by people interested in the Evocities campaign. The fact that almost three-quarters of visitors to the website are from Sydney is strong validation that we are hitting the mark in terms of reaching our target - Sydneysiders who are considering a new life in an Evocity regional city.
Mr Treloar said that the enormous interest in the campaign had already been converted into successful relocations across the seven Evocities.
Key statistics for year one of the Evocities key statistics:
• 275 people have relocated to an Evocity
• A further 400 are planning to relocate in the next 12 months
• There have been 2,800 relocation enquiries received
• The Evocities websites has had 105,000 visits from potential relocators
• 72 per cent of all visits have been from Sydney
• 75 per cent of all traffic to the website is from first-time visitors
• More than 5,000 jobs have been listed on the EvoJobs employment website
• There have been almost 104,000 visits to EvoJobs
• Just under 1,200 employers and employment agencies have registered on
EvoJobs
"It is fantastic to see the cities already gaining new residents as a direct result of the Evocities campaign. We know that moving to a new city is a long-term decision that takes an average of around 12 months, so to have attracted 275 new residents in the first year of the campaign shows the strength of what the Evocities are offering to Sydneysiders. "We have also received around 2,800 genuine enquiries from people interested in making the move. In addition to those who have already relocated, a further 400 of these enquirers have indicated they plan to move in the next year.
"Just as encouraging is the variety of career and job roles that have been taken up by the new Evocities residents. So far our cities have welcomed relocators in diverse careers such law, financial services, franchising, health and office administration. In the first year of the campaign, more than 5,000 jobs were featured on the EvoJobs website, which demonstrates the potential for Sydneysiders from a variety of fields to find a new home in an Evocity," he said.
Mr Treloar said Evocity residents can help the campaign by spreading the word to people in Sydney and beyond who might be ripe for a city change. Mr Treloar said locals should direct their family and friends to www.evocities.com.au or to one of the Evocity Facebook pages that have been set up for each of the seven cities.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY: As Evocities turns one, (from left) member for Riverina Michael McCormack and Wagga mayor Kerry Pascoe cut the cake. Photo courtesy of the Wagga Daily Advertiser.
