Advertising Collegiate Programs

Date: July 15, 2010

We are in the process of revising/developing our marketing plan for the music department. Obviously, we all want the most bang for our buck. What has your department found to be beneficial means of advertising. Do adds in Choral Journal, MENC, etc. pay off. What about displays at conventions. Other online marketing/social networking ads. I would love to hear from those that have experience with these issues.

Dr. Kevin D. Smith

Crown College (MN)

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John Howell on July 15, 2010 2:48pm

Hi, Kevin. You're actually asking what potential students consult, and only secondarily what their families might consult, if I guess right.

I don't necessarily recommend this, but our department recently set up a FaceBook page, on the theory that "all high school students are on Facebook," I guess. I am NOT on FaceBook, and probably never will be, but the object isn't to attract ME! We were also one of the first departments on campus to have an internet Home Page, thanks to a department head who was heavily into computers, and I KNOW that's paid off.

Flyers to every high school in your state are also good, and tend to be put up on bulletin boards where students will see them over a period of time. MENC and Choral Journal and so on, who you're really contacting are the teachers, not the kids, and you'll have to judge whether the teachers are really sending them to you.

I'll send you the contact information for our staff member who set the FaceBook thing up, in case you'd like to consult with her. She is a musician, and a good one, even though she's working in a staff position (and happy to have a job, for which she happens to be very well qualified).

All the best,

John

Chris Fields on July 15, 2010 3:50pm

Dr. Smith,

May I suggest that you take advantage of technology that is available to students these days. By technology I mean, Facebook, Myspace and more so, you might want to consider Youtube. I have seen many colleges and universities of various sizes put videos about a program or even an entire institution on there. It is also a nice thing to say to prospective students that “yes you can check us out on Youtube” and even add prospective students on a facebook page that you create for your department. It makes them feel connected. Let’s face it, with this current economy college students have to shop around for a college they can afford and they may be willing to overlook a price if they feel a special connection to the department. Anyway, this is just my opinion and others may disagree with me on this matter. I wish you the best of luck!

Chris

Kentaro (Ken-P) Sato on July 15, 2010 10:50pm

Because of my background, I have received many e-mails about school choices and etc... It seems that schools that are successful at recruiting have some similarities.

1) There are opportunities for high school students and teachers to learn about the existence of the school.

The great performances at conventions

News of award wining or recognizable achievements by students or professors at the school

The invitational performances of high school students at the campus of the school

The listing on the third party ranking

2) Helpful and important information is easily available on the web, and responsible people or professors are kindly available for e-mail responses or phone calls.

School and department website is organized well, information about the audition, tuition and scholarship is clear.

Students can look at achievement of the professors and students at website.

Musical opportunities and facility information at the school are well presented.

A lot of pictures and videos are available.

There are very clear instruction for INTERNATIONAL students.

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