How to Advertise an Event in College

College campuses are legendary for the high number of programs that take place on campus every day. Whether its an internationally acclaimed speaker or a local film screening, theres nearly always something happening on campus. If youre the one planning an event, however, you know that getting people to come can be as much of a challenge as coordinating the program itself. So just how can you advertise your event in a way that inspires people to attend? Answer the Basics: Who, What, When, Where, and Why You could spend hours painting a poster advertising your event ... but if you forget to write down what date the program is, youll feel like a chump. Consequently, make sure the basic information is available on each and every piece of advertising you put out. Who is going to be at the event, and who is sponsoring it (or otherwise putting it on)? What will happen at the event, and what can attendees expect? When is the event? (Side note: Its helpful to write both the day and the date. Writing Tuesday, October 6th can make sure everyone is clear about when the event is happening.) How long will it last? Where is the event? Do people need to RSVP or buy tickets in advance? If so, how and where? And most important, why will people want to attend? What will they learn/experience/take away/gain from going? What will they miss out on if they dont go? Know the Best Places to Advertise Is social media big on your campus? Do people read emails announcing events -- or just delete them? Is the newspaper a good place to put an ad? Will a poster in the quad catch peoples attention, or will it just get lost amidst a sea of butcher paper? Know what will stand out on your campus and get creative. Know Your Audience If youre advertising something thats, for example, political in nature, make sure you reach out to people on campus who are more likely to be politically involved or interested. When youre planning a political event, posting a flyer in the politics department might be a particularly smart idea -- even if youre not posting flyers in any other academic department. Go to meetings of student clubs and talk to other student leaders to promote your program, too, so that you can personally get the word out and answer any questions people might have. Advertise Food if Youre Going to Have it Available Its no secret that providing food at a college event can drastically increase attendance. Having food, of course, can be a definite draw -- but it isnt an absolute necessity. If you are providing food, make sure its done in a way that encourages people to stay for the whole event and not just sneak in and grab a slice of pizza from the back of the room. You want event attendees, after all, not just moochers. Find Other Student Groups to Cosponsor Your Event Theres a pretty direct correlation between the number of people who know about your program and the number of people who show up. Consequently, if you can work with other student groups in the planning, you can outreach directly to each groups members. On many campuses, too, cosponsorship can lead to increased funding opportunities -- meaning youll have more resources to promote and advertise your event. Let Your Professors Know While it can be scary to figure out how to talk to your professors, its usually just fine once you try it. Remember: Faculty members were college students at one point, too! Theyll likely find your program interesting and may even advertise it in their other classes. They can also mention it to other professors and help get the word around. Let Administrators Know The hall director in your residence hall may know you by name, but she may not know that youre super involved in a certain club -- and planning a major event next week. Drop by and let her know whats going on so she can let other residents know when she interacts with them, too. You likely interact with lots of administrators throughout the day; feel free to promote your program to them (and anyone else who will listen) as much as possible!