Covering all outlets

Call in logistics:– Dial: 866.363.6079– Conference code: 531.570.1192– Press *6 or #6 to mute your line– Press *6 or #6 again to unmute

Introductions

Jessica Oxley– VISTA in the

NeighborWorks America DC office

Agenda

• Introduce scenario• Present necessary outreach steps

– Press release– Flyers– Social media

• Review strategy timeline• Questions?

ScenarioYour boss sends you the following email request:

Good afternoon, VISTA.Our organization has a Housing Expo next month, and I’d like you to be responsible for the marketing and outreach for the event.The expo will be held April 25 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the convention center downtown. Our partners for the event are the City of Middletown and Middletown Home Bank.We’ll have vendors from the city, the housing community, Middletown State University, as well as others.The goal of the expo is to expose Middletown’s community to the wide range of available housing options, regardless of income.Mindy Waters is the project manager, so any other questions can be directed to her.

Thanks,Anne RegalExecutive DirectorMiddletown Housing Partnership

What now?

• First, let’s identify the important information in the email.

Good afternoon, VISTA.Our organization has a Housing Expo next month, and I’d like you to be responsible for the marketing and outreach for the event.The expo will be held April 25 from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. at the convention center downtown. Our partners for the event are the City of Middletown and Middletown Home Bank.We’ll have vendors from the city, the housing community, Middletown State University, as well as others.The goal of the expo is to expose Middletown’s community to the wide range of available housing options, regardless of income.Mindy Waters is the project manager, so any other questions can be directed to her.

Thanks,Anne RegalExecutive DirectorMiddletown Housing Partnership

Apply the information

• First, we’ll create the press release• Keep it short: don’t surpass 500 words• Every press release should have:

– A headline– The 5Ws– A contact person– An about us section for your organization

• Where to distribute:– Local radio and TV stations, business journals, newspapers and

magazines– Don’t forget student media outlets at local university

Apply the information

• Next is a flyer• Things to keep in mind:

– Use logos for your company and the event’s cosponsors

– Keep it short and catchy– Don’t use too many different colors or font types– Remember your audience

• If you serve a multilingual community, be sure to create multilingual flyers or flyers in different languages

Apply the information

• Using new media to promote your event– Make sure the event is posted to your organization’s

website– For Facebook

• Create an event page, invite all members/fans of your organization’s page

• Post flyer, press release and any media coverage

– For Twitter• Send short, catchy messages that include a link – either to

your org’s website or facebook event

Let’s talk timeline

Four weeks before event

Create flyer and distributePost event to company websiteCreate Facebook event

Two weeks prior

Write and send press release

Week of

Flyer againBegin tweetsUpdate Facebook event

Day of

Send tweets prior to and during eventSend Facebook message reminder to event attendees

Questions?

Thanks for joining today!Resources from today’s webinar will be posted on

VISTALand: www.vistaland.yolasite.com