Informing the public of club activities is a crucial piece of the puzzle in gaining respect and interest around the campus in an organization, obtaining new members and in building morale among the membership.
Despite what many students perceive, getting the word out is relatively easy and straight forward. On-campus services for alerting students, staff and faculty are readily available with staff willing to aid student organizations who want to publicize their events. There are many outlets for information to reach the campus population:
Banners and flyers
Banners and flyers can be posted across the entire campus and they make a sure and direct form of communication. Students can make their own banners for posting or can have them made by the on-campus banner service for a small fee. See Banner Policy.
Bulletin Boards
The campus has bulletin boards positioned throughout the campus for fliers of all types and intents. Students wishing to have their fliers posted free of charge must take them to the Student Union for distribution (up to 30 fliers or posters). See Posting Policy.
Posting Party
Have a posting party. Have members go out and distribute fliers or posters in the community, at businesses or on telephone poles. Regroup afterwards for pizza.
Campus Calendar
To have your event posted on the SSU Campus Calendar on the Web, you can either send email to campus.calendar@sonoma.edu or call 664-2057.
The Star
The Star , the campus newspaper (Nichols Hall, 664-2713), publishes weekly throughout the semester and is an excellent avenue for reaching the public. Student organizations are a prime source of news and feature articles, calendar listings and action oriented photos for the newspaper. Send The Star your press information at least two weeks in advance of your event. Your club can also buy advertising or an insert in the paper. Call The Star's business manager for details
KSUN
KSUN, SSU's student run radio station (Ives Hall, 664-2149), gives student clubs and organizations the opportunity to air their upcoming special events through daily community service announcements. With music directly aimed at the college music scene, KSUN has been building up a steady core of listeners both on- and off-campus. Plan a lead time of one-two weeks for a public service announcement.
Off Campus Sources
In attempting to market upcoming special events, student organizations often forget to make use of off-campus news sources. Several local radio stations have a tremendous number of student listeners. By using the community service bulletins offered by those stations, student organizations can effectively reach a large student audience and enhance their appearance by making the local air waves. Further opportunities lie in contacting local newspapers and enticing them to cover unique student events, as most newspapers are looking for interesting photos for their readers.
Finally, Santa Rosa boasts its very own television station, TV50, which makes a point to cover news involving Sonoma State. Television coverage of your truly special events is a great way to reach the public and a sure morale booster for any organization. Before heading to an off-campus news source, students should consider visiting the University Affairs Office located in Stevenson 1064 for useful contacts or tips in contacting local media.
In contacting both on- and off-campus media it is important that your organization provides them with a press release containing the Five W's and an H (who, what, where, when, why and how). A press release need not be longer than a page and should include a timeline for release to the public and a contact person with a phone number for further questions. It is critical, whatever the media outlet you wish to use, your organization contact them with the appropriate lead time.
Ideas for Getting the Word Out
- Develop a logo or trademark for your club or event.
- Develop a mailing list of interested people for specific events.
- Agencies will provide press kits including photos and materials.
- Use teasers (short one or two word signs) to build curiosity.
- Buttons, everywhere on everything.
- Silkscreen T-shirts, boxer shorts, anything to get attention.
- Create a core group of individuals who can promote the event or gather volunteers. Have open information sessions and attend other club meetings.
- Print up colorful bookmarks.
- Bumper stickers (see buttons).
- Set up information tables or hold bake sales while advertising your group.
- Put your message on classroom chalkboards.
- Make use of the media, both on- and off-campus.
- Hang banners and distribute balloons.
- Put group members in costumes and have them hand out flyers.
- Use a sandwich board on campus.
- Give out free tickets or discount tickets on campus.
- Develop a large living scrapbook (use people, not pictures) to be displayed in a public area.
- Have special fortune cookies made (have them distributed at the Residence Halls dining room).
- Co-sponsor your event with another group.
- Ask the food service to sponsor a special food item related to the event.
- Have pocket calendars made up on events to come.
- Place inserts in the campus and local newspapers.
- For the last minute emergency, set up a publicity phone-a-thon.
- Perform skits in public areas like dining halls and the Quad to draw attention to an event.
- Push the word of mouth, use the grapevine.
- Get local businesses to publicize or subsidize your program.
- Get faculty support.
- Put publicity where the people are.
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