Publicity is the deliberate attempt to manage the public's perception of a subject. The subjects of publicity include people (for example, politicians and performing artists), goods and services, organizations of all kinds, and works of art or entertainment.
The following sections
list numerous means by which you can publicize
events. One of these ideas will be familiar to you while others will hopefully
provide you with insight into innovative and more creative ways of effectively
publicizing programs.
Inexpensive Publicity Techniques:
POSTERS: The essential
purpose of a poster is the rapid telling of a single simple message using a
limited number of elements. Posters are viewed more rapidly than other methods
of advertisement. Their message must be strong, simple, and brief.
TABLE TENTS: Table tents
should be made of thick or heavy grade of paper that will stand firm. Table
tents can be placed in visible locations including lounges, lobby, dining hall,
and on desk tops.
INVITATION: A personal touch
can be added to your publicity by distributing invitations for your program.
These can be placed in mailboxes or handed out or slipped under room doors.
CALENDAR: A large calendar of activities located
on your bulletin board or distributed individually is a particularly effective
technique. Students will have at least one consistently identifiable source for
information and activities. The smaller calendars of activities can be copied
and put into mailboxes or slid under doors.
BALLOONS: You can write
a message on the balloon or put the message on a piece of paper inside the
balloon. Balloons can be tied with string to student’s door knobs, handed out
at the entrance of the building or handed out in dining hall lines.
TICKETS: You can
purchase printed tickets or make your own. Free tickets, and invitations, can
be placed in mailboxes, handed out, or slipped under doors. A variation of the
ticket concept is to distribute coupons. The coupon might entitle the person to
a prize or free refreshment item. Coupons can be included on flyers or on
printed schedules and this may prevent your advertisement from falling victim
to the trashcan.
BILLBOARDS: Place a large
poster in the central lobby of Goodwin Hall. For a more unusual effect, make a
human billboard by hanging posters on the front and back of someone and have
them walk around.
BANNERS: A large
extension of the poster, these can be hung outside the hall or in the mailroom
or in a lobby. A bed sheet or old shower curtain will make a good size banner.
WORD OF MOUTH: And of course,
there is the time-honored word-of-mouth technique. This is perhaps the oldest,
yet most effective way to get the word out. Its effectiveness should not be
underestimated. Go door to door and personally inform people of the activity;
and remind them frequently, so that they don’t forget.
OTHER PUBLICITY TECHNIQUES:
1. Networking sites, 2. Mass e-mails,
2. 3. Bags, 4. Bookmarks
5. Bull Horns, 6. Bumper Stickers,
7. Computer Letters 8. Door Hanger
9. Door Prizes, 10. Footprints,
11.
Fortune Cookies, 12. Free
Tickets to events
13. Lawn Signs, 14.
Logos,
15.
Painted Windows, 16. Audix Message
17. Puzzle Pieces 18.
Sneak Previews,
19. Stickers, 20.
Teasers
21. Bathroom stalls, 22. T-shirts,
23.
Visors, 24.Sidewalk
Chalk Writing
25.
Mirror Signs, 26. Lollipops
with messages