Are you involved in a community drama group or have you been tasked with getting greater exposure for the school’s bake sale? Being a parent often means getting involved in community fund-raising efforts. It can actually be good fun and it’s a great way to make new friends if you are feeling a bit isolated at home with your kids.
However, unless you are a former marketing executive with a marketing degree from New England College, you may not have a clue what to do when the committee asks you to help promote the Amateur Dramatics Society’s production of Jesus Christ Superstar.
Luckily, you don’t need a New England College online degree to do an awesome job. Here are some quick and easy tips to market a community group or fund-raising event.
Social Media
Social media is one the best ways to promote anything local. Since most people have a Facebook profile at the very least, start with Facebook. If your group doesn’t already have a Facebook page, create one. Then, share it on your own Facebook feed and encourage everyone involved in the project to do the same. Post regular updates and encourage people to get involved. If the project is fun and for a good cause, people will happily share updates and news.
Word of Mouth
Word of mouth advertising is a powerful tool, especially in smaller, close-knit communities. Start with your friends and neighbors. Tell them about the event and encourage them to get involved or help out in some way. Ask them to tell their friends and work colleagues and remind them it’s for a good cause. If you have tickets to sell, ask everyone you know to take a book of tickets and try to sell at least two.
Put up Posters
Use a computer to create posters to advertise your event. If this is a production involving kids, ask the kids to design some posters. Parents will be keen to promote their own child’s work, so use this as a good opportunity to gain some free publicity. Stick posters up in high traffic community locations, such as the local school, community center, in shop windows, etc.
Local Press
Ask the local newspaper or radio station to run an article or give you a five-minute slot on the breakfast show. Most local media outlets are more than happy to market community groups and worthwhile fund-raising efforts. In both cases, have a press release prepared and ready to send, and if you get a radio slot, make sure you have all the facts, so you can give the listeners the right information.
Email Bulletins
Emails often end up in the recipient’s junk folder, so be careful not to spam your email list with endless updates. Make sure people are happy to give you their email address. Only send out pertinent emails at appropriate intervals. Anything more than that will cause irritation.
Take the time to create a sensible marketing plan and stick to it. Lastly, share this plan with the rest of the group and be open to new ideas. Good luck!
