Marketing Suggestions from POD - That anyone in education could use!

I had the pleasure of attending my first POD (Professional and Organizational Development). It was a GREAT experience and I enjoyed meeting others who work with faculty to assist them with common problems and issues.

One common thread between all the attendees was how to market services offered. Even though not everyone reading this Blog will have a need to market CETL much of the discussion would benefit any individual marketing any educational programs for faculty or students.

Marketing Strategies Utilized by Other Centers:

• Faculty E-mails
• Department Chair Involvement – design a program for the Department Chairs. If the Chair backs the program will gain more support.
• Liaison/Advisory Committee
• Save the Date Sections – send an e-mail out to advice to save the date.
• Go to all Faculty Events – make sure that you are seen at campus wide and other faculty events. If Faculty know you they are more likely to seek your services. Visibility is everything.
• Logo – Have one - Good way to involve students.
• Slogan – Develop a slogan that can be utilized. One center using the slogan “For faculty – By faculty” - Good way to involve students.
• Attend and participate in Campus marketing events.
• Survey – Have individual interviews with faculty
• Information gathering is marketing
• Send personal invitations - Target groups: 1st year faculty and 1 year veterans
• Newsletters – Monthly advising of CETL events
• Sponsor Faculty Groups outside of Teaching and Learning. This helps develop communities which will help develop support for the center. i.e. Faculty Women, Faculty Moms , Faculty Dinner or Breakfast Club, Community Groups off campus. i.e. Faculty may live in an area and not know that they live close to each other. Target those groups.
• Offer 1 on 1 session for faculty that cannot attend regularly scheduled events.
• Use Outlook E-vits. When you use Outlook e-vits individuals have to decline the invitation!
• Pipeline – Develop a pipeline of information.
• Market to Alumni for funding for the Center
• Market to Administration - Invite Provost to come to an event to speak.
  If you invite Administration to come to an event have them come at the end of the event verses coming to the beginning. If they are there at the end they are more likely to talk with satisfied customers and learn about the value of the program.
• Databases – start a database of individuals who have attended, not attended, responded etc.
• Put an easel out in front of the door when hosting an event. That way others will see the event whether they attend or not.
• Pair Disciplines together for events and projects.
• Look at areas of high tutoring request as a possible target group for services.
• “Think Tanks” – Get students involved by discussing their learning concerns.
• Legacy Program – Ask faculty to develop their “last” lecture. What would they want to say if they knew it would be their last lecture? Helps them focus on what they might want to improve.

If you are marketing to students you can easily replace "faculty" with "student".

POD Website; (http://www.podnetwork.org/)