Below is a basic outline for getting started with promotion of your event, followed by some specific tips on promoting programs and events successfully.
Planning
What are your organizational mission, values, and goals? What values are important to emphasize? Consider what makes your event unique from other organizations. This will aid you in your preparation for marketing your organization and events.
Who is your audience? Even if the event is open to all students, are there specific populations that you want to target? What is the best way to reach this audience?
Part of determining your target audience is thinking about making an attempt to involve everyone. Obviously not everyone in the campus community can attend your event and that should not be your goal, but would everyone be welcome at your event? Is your publicity gender neutral? Is your meeting accessible to people with physical disabilities? Would there be any type of race, ethnic, or sexual orientation prejudice? Being inclusive and sponsoring events that are open to the differences in others should be a goal of any RSO event/activity.
Publicity Materials
Publicity materials or methods need to grab your audience’s attention, interest them, provide them with information, and motivate them to attend your event. Not only should it answer the questions, who, what, where, and when, but also why? Why should I attend this event? What will I gain? What are the benefits?
When publicizing your event, plan on using at least three different methods of promotion. Publicity should be creative, attractive, and high quality. Information that should always be included:
- Day of the week and date
- Time
- Description of Activity/Event
- Location
- Rain Location (if applicable)
- Admission (Free or cost)
- Sponsor (with contact information for additional questions)
Distribute publicity in waves if possible. Using the backwards-planning calendar this makes it easier to organize. Make sure members of your organization are fully aware of the program and are prepared to make announcements, discuss it with friends and other people who may ask questions. Word of Mouth is still the number one way students find out about programs and events on campus.