how to get publicity for your campus organization

Lycoming College

Sept. 8, 2007

Williamsport, PA

www.asgaonline.com

How to Get Publicity How to Get Publicity for Your Campus for Your Campus

OrganizationOrganizationPresented by Butch OxendinePresented by Butch Oxendine

Executive DirectorExecutive DirectorAmerican Student Government AssociationAmerican Student Government Association

How To Get Publicity

It is It is NOTNOTa a sinsin

to seek to seek presspress

& attention& attentionfor your for your group!group!


Get Get publicity for publicity for your your groupgroup

NOTNOT to to boostboostyouryourown egoown ego


CreatingCreatingA Good Image for A Good Image for Your Group Your Group Will Will

Take TimeTake Time


YouYou

WILLWILLGet Good Get Good PublicityPublicityIf You:If You:

• Understand and Understand and control control perceptions about perceptions about your organizationyour organization

• Develop a brandDevelop a brand

• Understand public Understand public opinionopinion

• Practice good Practice good media relationsmedia relations

• Create smart & Create smart & strategic strategic advertisingadvertising


What Is A Brand??What Is A Brand??


Rate Your SG’s “Brand Rate Your SG’s “Brand Perception” on Campus:Perception” on Campus:

1.1. ““SG is a superpower. Without them, the campus would SG is a superpower. Without them, the campus would not be half of what it is.”not be half of what it is.”

2.2. ““SG is well-regarded and does many great things.”SG is well-regarded and does many great things.”3.3. ““SG is a group of mostly smart and driven people who SG is a group of mostly smart and driven people who

do several good things for the campus.”do several good things for the campus.”4.4. ““SG has some good and some worthless members, SG has some good and some worthless members,

and every now and then they’ll get something done.”and every now and then they’ll get something done.”5.5. ““SG is okay. It’s better to have them than not.”SG is okay. It’s better to have them than not.”6.6. ““I think SG is OK, but I really don’t know what they do I think SG is OK, but I really don’t know what they do

or who’s a member.”or who’s a member.”7.7. ““SG… what’s that?”SG… what’s that?”8.8. ““SG doesn’t get anything done. They don’t matter.”SG doesn’t get anything done. They don’t matter.”9.9. ““SG wastes student money and impeaches each SG wastes student money and impeaches each

other.”other.”10.10. ““SG people are corrupt and evil. Their actions hurt this SG people are corrupt and evil. Their actions hurt this

campus.” campus.”


How Do How Do YouYou

WANTWANTTo Be To Be Seen?Seen?

• SERIOUS: SG doesn’t mess

around. Meetings aren’t playtime, and business gets done.

• DOWN TO EARTH: SG people are real people, like me. They’re students too, and represent what they think I want.

• FUNLOVING: SG meetings are

entertaining and enjoyable. There’s a good amount of laughter, too.

• OMNIPOTENT: SG is everywhere; its members are everywhere.

• DIVERSE AND PARTISAN: SG has all types of students involved, representing lots of different opinions and interests.

• UNIFIED: SG is a solid front. Decisions are institutional and supported by all members.


How Do How Do YouYou

WANTWANTTo Be To Be Seen?Seen?

• STRONG & POWERFUL: SG commands a lots of influence across campus, and various constituencies constantly vie for your support.

• ELITE: SG is made up of the best of the best.

• FEARED: Other students and even some administrators watch what they say and do in your presence.

• WISE AND RIGHTEOUS: SG makes smart decisions in the best interest of the campus.

• SWIFT AND THOROUGH: Legislation and executive orders come quickly and stimulate change immediately.

• LARGE: SG has many officers, senators, committee members, and divisions. It is an institution/bureaucracy.


What’s the What’s the NUMBER ONENUMBER ONEway toway toget more get more publicitypublicityfor your for your group?group?


Word of mouthWord of mouth and and personal personal

contactcontact have the most have the most

impact—impact—BYBY FARFAR——on getting goodon getting good

PR for your groupPR for your group


Be an Be an AMBASSADORAMBASSADORfor your groupfor your group


Personal Contact Is #1Personal Contact Is #1• Speak to other Speak to other

groupsgroups

• Speak to students in Speak to students in classesclasses

• Talk about SG with Talk about SG with your friends your friends

• Arrange meetings Arrange meetings with administrators, with administrators, faculty, and stafffaculty, and staff


#2 Best #2 Best Publicity Publicity Tool:Tool:

Effectively Effectively PlacedPlacedPosters & Posters & FlyersFlyers


Posters Posters WorkWorkBecause:Because:

• They’re cheapThey’re cheap• They’re easy to They’re easy to

change and change and updateupdate

• They’re free!They’re free!• Can be put up Can be put up

by you or by you or anyone in your anyone in your groupgroup

• Can be put up Can be put up quicklyquickly


Where’sWhere’sthe BEST placethe BEST placeto put posters?to put posters?


The Ultimate Poster The Ultimate Poster Location?Location?

Restrooms!Restrooms!


Send Your Own Send Your Own MailingMailing


Make Sure All of the Make Sure All of the Key Offices on Campus Key Offices on Campus

KNOW About YouKNOW About You


How Do You Find How Do You Find TimeTime to DO to DO

All of All of thisthis??


RecruitRecruitINTERNSINTERNS


TellTell your campus press your campus press

Don’t assumeDon’t assumethey know everything!they know everything!


Six facts you should know Six facts you should know about the “media”:about the “media”:

1. You really, really need them.2. They’re people, believe it or

not.3. They’re super skeptical.4. They’ll totally sell you out, if

you give them the opportunity.

5. They have a rulebook that you need to master.

6. They love drama.


How to Get AlongHow to Get AlongWith The Press:With The Press:

1. Provide press releases and press-packets

2. Ask for a “beat” reporter

3. Have lunch with the editor-in-chief monthly

4. Don’t ever let them “find out” something before you tell them

5. Learn about their “product”

6. Keep them close and far


Smart Advertising includes Smart Advertising includes Four Key things:Four Key things:

1. A thought-through target2. ONE key communication point3. An insight4. Creative execution


What Are the BestWays to Get Publicity:

1. Word of mouth

2. Well-designed flyersposted strategically

EVERYTHING elsewill be less effective


How to Contact Butch:How to Contact Butch:

• Call meCall me toll-free at toll-free at

1-877 ASK ASGA1-877 ASK ASGA(1-877-275-2742)(1-877-275-2742)

• E-mailE-mail me at me at [email protected]@studentleader.com

I promise to answer all callsI promise to answer all calls

and e-mails!and e-mails!

how to get publicity for your campus organization

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