Publicize, Promote and Plug Your Programs

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(10/3/2011) –Are you ready to ratchet up the way you publicize your program, communicating the right offerings to the right people at the right time? Whether you’re trying to increase workshop attendance, sign more customers up for a newsletter or advertise a new set of educational materials, here’s your opportunity to learn how to craft the right promotions mix. In this session, discover new ways you can use news media outlets, social media channels and marketing materials to get the word out about your programs. You will learn best practices for publicizing your programs using Extension tools that will help you get the job done faster and more effectively.

Transcript of Publicize, Promote and Plug Your Programs

Publicize, Promoteand Plug Your Program

Julie ChristensenAimee Viniard-Weideman

Program Conference, Oct. 3-5, 2011

It’s about influence

Awareness Attitude Action

Communications continuum

What’s in your promotions mix?

• News media• Social media• Marketing and education materials

Today’s changing landscape

Traditional distribution model

pr with press release

journalistbroadcast and print

consumers

Source: Pitchengine.com

Modern model

pr with social media release and rich social

content

journalists

consumers

bloggers

influencers

shared to more

influencers: friends, fans,

followers

Source: Pitchengine.com

Fundamentals remain same

• Who’s your audience?• What’s your message? • What are you asking them to do?

News media: 3 things you can do

1. Write a news release

2. Conduct an interview

3. Pitch a success latest story

It’s not just a news release

It’s a chance to position your program!• Tie it back• Include a call to action• Insert boilerplate language

News release: Call to action

News release: Boilerplate language

Interviews are publicity opps.

Interviews: What can you do?

1. Make yourself available

2. Provide your Extension title + website

3. Find out topics they cover

Pitch a story: Find the influencers

www.Google.com/NewsClick on “Advanced news search”

Pitching: Google News search

Pitching: Search results example

Pitch a story: What can you do?

1. Find the influencers

2. Send a short, compelling message

3. Follow up in 4-5 days

News media summary

1. Write a news release

2. Conduct an interview

3. Pitch a success latest story

Social media use

• Facebook has > 800 million active users• Average Facebook user has 130 “Friends”• 8% of Americans use Twitter

Social media: 3 main stages

• Listen first, and never stop listening• Engage with purpose• Lead

Social media: How can you listen?

1. Be authentic

2. Find the right conversations

3. Find the influencers

Listen: Be authentic

Listen: Be authentic

Listen: Find right conversations

• RSS-based monitoring dashboards• Twitter key-word searches• Blog search tools

Listen: RSS-based monitoring

www.Google.com/Reader

Listen: Twitter key-word search

TweetDeck search,“farm to school Minnesota”

www.TweetDeck.com

Listen: Blog search example

www.Blogsearch.Google.com

Listen: Identify the influencers

Listen: Quantify influencers

Score or rank

Review criteria

www.PeerIndex.com

SM engagement numbers!

• It’s not about who has the most followers, fans, likes or check-ins!

• “… the real question is about figuring out what we’re trying to accomplish.” –Brian Solis

How can you engage?

1. Join conversations

2. Share your expertise—for free!

3. Ask for input

Engage: Share your expertise

Engage: Join conversations

“The task of simply showing up to the table is honestly, child’s play…” –Brian Solis

Engage: Ask for input

Engage: Ask for input

Engagement best practices

1. Devote time to individual relationships

2. Celebrate those who celebrate you

3. Strike a balance: 80% conversational + 20% promotional

Social media leaders

• They actively participate• They offer many ways to connect• They deliver excitement

Sources: Dave Kerpen, Likable Social Media; Patricia Redsicker, Social Media Examiner; Brian Solis, Engage

Leaders actively participate

Leaders offer ways to connect

Leaders deliver excitement

Social media summary

• Listen first, and never stop listening• Engage with purpose• Lead

What’s in your promotions mix?

• News media• Social media• Marketing and education materials

Isn’t print dead?

NO

And … so much more• Print• Electronic• Online

Fundamentals remain same

• Who’s your audience?• What’s your message? • What are you asking them to do?

Communications Continuum

Awareness Attitude Action

Communications Continuum

Awareness Attitude Action

You exist• Education• Research• University• Extension

Communications Continuum

Awareness Attitude Action

Positive• Trustworthy• Useful• Accessible

Communications Continuum

Awareness Attitude Action

What do you want them to do?• Register for class• Newsletter signup• Volunteer• Visit website

Convey the Brand…. …. it’s more than a logo

• Perception– Their perception, not ours– Extension: Trustworthy and Useful

• Experience– Easy to read and understand– Quality design and writing – Valuable information

What makes it effective?

Good Design• Communicates the Brand• Functional for the User• Prioritizes Information• Delivers Messages

What makes it effective?

Good Content• Headlines that attract attention• Photos that reinforce the message• Writing that is concise and editted• Call to Action that is clear

Extension Tools to Help You

• Power Point• Fact Sheets• Brochures• Post Cards• Curriculum• Reports• E-newsletters

Extension Templates

• Power Point• Fact Sheets• Brochures• Post Cards• Curriculum• Reports• E-newsletters

Checklist

University identityExtension identityRelevant infoQuality designCall to ActionContact InfoCopyright

Extension Fact Sheet Templates

Power Point Templates

Extension Email BannersThin Banner Versions

Thick Banner Versions

Two-Line Versions

Tri-fold Brochure

Quad-foldBrochure

Newsletter

Postcards

Bookmarks

Websites

What makes it effective?

Good Design• Communicates the Brand• Functional for the User• Prioritizes Information• Delivers Messages

What makes it effective?

Good Content• Headlines that attract attention• Photos that reinforce the message• Writing that is concise and editted• Call to Action that is clear

What can you do?

Checklist

Know your audienceKnow your purposeUse the templatesEdit, Edit, EditAsk for feedback

Ask yourself … … or better yet, ask someone else

• What is it?• Who is the audience?• What is the value to the audience?• Who is it from?• What do they do now?• Who can they contact?

Publicize, Promoteand Plug Your Program• Julie Christensen, Extension Public Relations Manager

email: reuve007@umn.edu

twitter.com/jrchris

• Aimee Viniard-Weideman, Extension Assistant Dean for Communicationsemail: vinia001@umn.edu

• Extension organizational social media accountstwitter.com/UMNExt

facebook.com/UofMNExt

Youtube.com/UofMNExt