Carl Pope told  his audience at Levin College that today's branding strategies no longer involve an image (like the Coke logo/bottle or the Mercedes three point star) - branding today is just a phrase.

Above are images of two popular branding campaigns being promoted around Greater Cleveland, Ohio this fall and winter.   Actually, HEK has been campaigning a little longer, as Norm Roulet comments here on REALNEO.

Which, if either, branding campaign do you find effective?

Which of the messages is more truthful?

Are either of the messages complete spin?

Is one message more sinister than the other?

Does either message have humor?

Which message is more dangerous in our civic space?

Is either message trying to hide the truth?

Which message costs the taxpayers of Cuyahoga County more:

"HEK" or Cleveland+?