Seaside, Florida: “A Simple, Beautiful” Website
Published on March 10, 2021, at 7:05 p.m.
by Mattie Naman.
Salty air, pearly white sand, pastel houses and the aromatic smell from the food trucks lined up on the street — I can almost picture myself in Seaside, Florida, right now.
There is something so special about this little beach town.
Luckily, when I am dreaming of Seaside, I can experience the nostalgia with just one click!
The town’s website makes you feel as if you were sunbathing along its sandy shores. In public relations, it is important for an organization to create and develop its own brand, and that is exactly what Seaside has mastered. There are so many elements that keep viewers exploring its site.
Simplicity and elegance
Seaside’s website mirrors the elegance and simplicity of the town it represents. The colors include calming blues and neutrals that remind me of sunny days on the beach.
The font is classic and clean, and has been the same since the town’s early beginnings. The website includes the well-known “Seaside” serif font with a mix of sans serif and decorative script.
If you have ever been to Seaside, you can recognize this font from a mile away. I am also sure that you have seen it on the front of a Comfort Colors T-shirt at some point.
The Seaside style
Ah, the classic Seaside T-shirt. The shirt may just be the best marketing tool for the town.
The co-founder of Seaside, Daryl Harris, explained the shirt’s history. “The white cotton t-shirt with the simple graphic, SEASIDE® became the uniform for the first architects, pioneering home-builders and early locals who came together to make the vision of Seaside a reality,” said Harris. Now the shirt can be seen all over the country sported by visitors far and wide.
The classic white shirt has evolved and is now available in a variety of colors, but always sticks to navy, neutrals or pastels. Sometimes it even features the founder’s puppy, Buddy the dachshund, on the front.
The saying on the back of the shirt usually switches between the two slogans “Where Bare Feet and Sandy Floors Rule” and “New Town, Old Ways.” These simple sayings create nostalgia among the customers of the Seaside shop.
Not only is the shirt a great souvenir for guests but also a walking billboard for Seaside. The apparel intrigues people and gets them asking the question: “What’s this Seaside place all about?”
The Seaside Times
But wait. There’s more. If you thought Seaside’s website could not get any better, then you probably scrolled even farther to see a delightful surprise. Seaside has its own newspaper, The Seaside Times.
This publication gives Seaside a creative way to promote its restaurants, businesses, events and lifestyle through owned media; it is meant to uplift the town and bring the beach community together.
Public relations professionals everywhere can learn something from Seaside’s website. The content represents the essence of this magical town — “a simple, beautiful life.”
