50 Flyerless Ways to Advertise

Okay, okay. So if you must…

I know what I just said.

Flyers don’t work.

But sometimes, you may need to design something for an event that goes on paper.

This section is dedicated to making sure you don’t waste your time or money doing so.

#41: Get it Approved!The fastest way to waste time on a flyer is to fail to get it approved. Because then they all have to come down. Bring a copy by Student Activities, we can stamp it, and then you’re free to make copies and distribute as you see fit. (IMAGE CREDIT: Transas City)

#42: Spell everything correctly.Amma, who approves flyers, spelled competitively in middle school and went to two regional bees. She’s picky. So if it’s wrong, she won’t approve it. Take a moment to check for spelling and grammar, day/date agreement, and the year listed. (IMAGE CREDIT: The Atlantic)

#43: Make it Interesting. PleaseMost printed advertisements fail because they’re boring. Repeat after me: Clip art inspires no one. If you’d walk right past it if it were hanging on a wall, what makes you think anyone else will look? (IMAGE CREDIT: Goanvoice.ca)

NO NO NO NO NO

#44: Mimic something recognizable.Think about something people stop to look at. Model your flyer or printed advertisement after those things. (IMAGE CREDIT: Business Insider)

#45: Hang It Where It GoesIf you’re going to hang up a flyer, you should hang it where it won’t get taken down. As such, please don’t hang flyers on entry and exit doors, on glass, walls that do not have bulletin boards, or on dedicated bulletin boards. (IMAGE CREDIT: World of Stock)

#46: “Dorm Storm” ResponsiblyOur dear friends in ResLife don’t like the “dorm storm” principle. Papers slipped under doors eventually waft back into the hall, creating a fire hazard. Alternatives? Use masking tape to tape them to doors, create door hangers designed to stay on a doorknob, or bypass paper altogether and use whiteboard markers to share a message. (IMAGE CREDIT: Bits and Pieces of Me in College)

#47 (or 46b): Don’t Forget Commuters!If you’re going to flyer in residence halls, remember that about 20% of our student population doesn’t live here. How will they find out? Consider slips in the commuter lockers (contact Amma for permission) or submitting the event to Commuter Connection (see #9).(IMAGE CREDIT: RealSimple/Getty Images)

#48: Shape UpDoes a flyer have to be a rectangle? The answer is no. No, it does not. It takes a little more work, but create eye-catching paper ads by making them look different from the ones around them. Look at using origami or patterns to help items become “3D” on a flyer too. (IMAGE CREDIT: Southampton Printers)

#49: Use Them Sparingly.You will be asked on a more consistent basis how you’re planning on advertising. “We made a flyer” should not be your default response. You’re putting money and time into making these events happen, so have a plan- a real plan- to make them successful. (IMAGE CREDIT: Cognizant Ventures)

#50: Ask for Help!If you just don’t know how to advertise an event, that’s what the staff of Student Activities are here for (well, among other things). We’ve given forty ideas here, and that’s basically off the tops of our heads and the heads of other students. Ask for help. You might be surprised at what your peers and advisors can come up with. (IMAGE CREDIT: Amazon-hk.com)

Any Questions?Email Amma Marfo, Assistant Director of Student Activities, at:marfoa@emmanuel.edu