Publicity and Promotions
Whether it is for an open meeting, a small event or a campus-wide program, there is a need to let people know about it. How you inform people is usually determined by the size and scope of your event, your budget, and in some cases by the amount of time that you have. Try to develop a promotional plan that fits the audience you are trying to reach.
Following are some promotional methods to consider.
Free Publicity!
Contact Bernadette Norden in the Center for Student Enrichment (bnorden@nmu.edu) and ask to have your event included in the Activity and Program Update. This e-mail update of campus programs and activities reaches close to 3,000 students and other members of the campus community. The update is sent out on Monday and Thursday mornings. In order to have your event included, please contact Bernadette at least two working days in advance of the day you would like it to go out. NOTE: The Activity and Program Update is intended for those events and activities that would be of interest to the general student body.
- Contact the student newspaper, The North Wind (editor@thenorthwind.org, 227-2545, 2310 University Center) and ask to have your event or activity placed in the “What’s Happening” section. This should be done by Monday at 5 p.m. in order to have it printed in the following Thursday’s edition.
- Contact The North Wind (editor@thenorthwind.org, 227-2545, 2310 University Center) and ask if your event or activity is of sufficient interest for a story to be done on it. The earlier you contact them, the better!
Contact WUPX, the student radio station, at (wupx@nmu.edu, 227-2348, 1204 University Center) and ask to have a public service announcement made about your event.
- Consider reserving a display board in the Starbucks area of the Learning Resources Center with Bernadette in the Center for Student Enrichment (bnorden@nmu.edu, 227-2439, 1205 University Center) and put up a display. Note: Display boards can be reserved for one month.
- Request that your event be promoted on the scoreboard and with public address announcements at Wildcat football and hockey games. Contact the Athletic Department at 227-1193.
- Promote your event with a slide at Campus Cinema films screenings. Send a slide to jkubis@nmu.edu
- If your event is primarily for students in a particular academic department ask the departmental faculty to mention it in class.
- Consider starting a facebook group for your event or activity.
- Sidewalks can be chalked to promote an event or activity. Chalking has to be at least 20 feet from building entrances!
- If your event might have some appeal in the community, ask the Communications Office (607 Cohodas, 227-2720) to send out a press release to all local media. Do this well in advance!
NOTE: For all of these forms of promotion you will need to provide basic information that includes the name of the program, a short description, date, time, location, ticket information (if applicable), sponsor and who can be contacted for more information.
Publicity for a Price
- Have a poster and/or a table announcement designed and printed. These items can be designed by your members or, for a nominal charge, by Promotional Service (1206 University Center, 227-1623, promosrv@nmu.edu). Printing can be done by Printing Services (Services Building, 227-2454). It takes 180 posters to cover the entire campus, and you may want to consider placing some in the community. Please reference the posting policy. Posting locations are listed here.
- Table announcements are placed for you in the Wildcat Den and The Marketplace. It takes 260 table announcements to cover both areas. Table announcements can be up from Monday – Thursday or Friday – Sunday. To reserve a spot, please contact Bernadette Norden in the Center for Student Enrichment (bnorden@nmu.edu, 227-2439, 1205 University Center).
- North Wind ads. Contact the North Wind at 227-2545 for current rates. Ad space must be reserved by 4 p.m. on the Monday of the week when you want the ad to appear. Ads can be designed by your members, the North Wind, or by Promotional Services (227-1623, 1206 University Center, promosrv@nmu.edu).
As always try to think of a unique or innovative way of promoting your event or activity. Things that are new and different stand out!
