Advertising Resources

The following advertising list can be used to help spread the word about your club or advertise an event or program you are hosting. There are many FREE ways to advertise, so keep in mind your budget and timeline. Please refer to the Event Planning Guide as well. Remember that advertising should be out AT LEAST 2 weeks before your event! Don’t forget the power of word-of-mouth. Tell your friends and everyone you know about your upcoming event or club.

On-Campus Advertising:

• Posters
  • Posters are by far the most popular way to market an event, but they can also be expensive. It helps to know where you are planning to disperse your posters, so you can plan accordingly.
  • The following information should be included on the poster:
    • Name of event, brief description if necessary
    • Sponsors—be sure YOUR club name is listed somewhere
    • Date, time and location of event
    • Contact information for questions (phone, email, website, etc.).
• ASMSU hires a student graphic designer to produce graphics for RSO events and programs. Registered student organizations can utilize the ASMSU graphic designer to create club graphics during the fall and spring semesters, depending on availability. This program will give student organizations the opportunity to better their clubs and help promote their activities and missions throughout campus and the community. Please note that they request at least 3 weeks notice on all projects.
  • The graphic designer books up quickly and cannot honor last minute requests. If it is a last minute request, you may be able to find a graphic design student who can help out your group! Offering a little compensation can entice students to expand their portfolios and get your group a great design. If you email the School of Art with a request for designs or design help, generally they will distribute the request to Art students via email.
• The most convenient place to get posters printed is through Blank Canvas Creative in the Strand Union Building. Another option for printing is University Printing in Culbertson Hall. See last page for Black Canvas Services and University Printing prices.
  
  

Banner Spaces

• Banners are a great way to advertise but are more expensive to print or time-consuming to hand make. It may make sense to invest in a banner that can be re-used from year-to-year.
• SUB
  • There are 2 spots on the railing above the stairs leading down to the bookstore.
  • Must be reserved through Conference Services at subscheduling@montana.edu or SUB 211
  • Cannot be larger than 6’x3’
  • Note: Cannot tape to the railing, must use string.
• Wilson Hall
  • Goes on second level of Wilson Hall on the front of the building facing south (walkway).
  • To reserve, fill out the form.
  • Secure with string, NOT tape.
  • Must take down immediately after event.

• Display Case
  • 4-sided pillar near Ask-Us in SUB, glass case.
  • Reserve through Conference Services, subscheduling@montana.edu or SUB 211. You have to get a key from them when you plan to put up your advertising to open the case.
  • Posters CANNOT EXCEED 27.5” wide and 43” high.
  • Sponsoring groups name MUST BE clearly visible
• Exponent
  • You can purchase ads and they can sometimes even design one for you: http://msuexponent.com/. Discounts are given to registered student organizations.
  • They also have an event calendar you can submit things to. Email exponententertainment@ montana.edu with the event title, date, time, location, sponsoring group and contact information.
• MSU Online Calendar
  • MSU has an online calendar and announcements that are easy to use, and help get your message out to many students, faculty and staff.
  • Submit: http://calendar.msu.montana.edu/ using your student credentials.
  • If you categorize your event as an “Activity” it will automatically go on the Activities Calendar. http://www.montana.edu/engagement/activitiescalendar/
  • Events and announcements submitted will go in a thrice-weekly email to all faculty, staff and students (students have to opt-in to this).
• MSU Announcements
  • Similar to submitting an event, you can also submit an announcement online. This is more for general announcements and things that are not tied to a specific event.
  • Submit: http://www.montana.edu/msutoday/

Digital Signage

• ASMSU SUB TVs

           The ASMSU office in the SUB has TVs outside the office that are reserved             for registered student organizations. Email the pdf file of your poster to               asmsu@montana.edu to have your posters electronic posted to our TVs.

OSE SUB TV

Only registered MSU student organizations or candidates for MSU elected office, and MSU Offices and Departments may submit graphics for the digital displays at the Dining Commons SUB Display. Advertisements will be reviewed by Office of Student Engagement to assure it complies with University policies, and reserves the right to deny any graphics that do not comply. 

• Please email your submission as a JPEG (1920 x 1080px) @72dpi to Clara Commons.
• Must submit advertisements at least five (5) working days prior to advertised event.
• Advertisements making any mention of alcohol, drugs, or tobacco either implied or explicit will not be permitted or approved.
• Advertisements will remain on the digital displays for a maximum of fourteen (14) days. MSU Departments may request an exception.

 

• Residence Hall TV’s and Dining Halls
  • Visit Residence Life website for rules: https://www.montana.edu/reslife/solicitation.html
  • You can submit a .jpg of a flyer to be displayed on the TV’s in the main levels of the Residence Halls. Please note the digital flyer must uphold the same policies as the hard copy flyers.
  • Images must be 1920x1080px jpeg and will only run for one week.
  • Email jpg to: housing@montana.edu
• Ask-Us Desk TV
  • Email askus@montana.edu with subject: Poster
  • Portrait orientation preferred
• Info Tables
  • Tabling is a great way to have visibility during peak hours (such as the lunch hour).
  • SUB
    • Reserve through Conference Services
    • They are free unless your group is selling something ($5/day). Must get prior approval.
    • No food or drink (even packaged candy) is to be given out at the tables.
    • Approaching or calling out to passersby’s is PROHIBITED.
• Residence Halls
  • Visit the Residence Life website on rules and how to reserve space: https://www.montana.edu/reslife/solicitation.html

Sandwich Board

• The Office of Student Engagement has a limited number of sandwich boards to be used to advertise outside on campus sidewalks. You can email engagement@montana.edu to request with the dates you want to use. First come, first-served.

Club News

• Club News is a weekly email put out by the Office of Student Engagement to club leaders and advisors. If you have an event or program coming up, email the information or press release at studentorgs@montana.edu.

KGLT

• They will let you record your own Public Service Announcement (PSA) or you can write one up for them to announce for you.
• Contact: Craig Clark, clark@montana.edu or 994-3001

Procrastinator Theater

• They show slides before films (like previews). Send a horizontal jpeg to asmsufilms@montana.edu the Thursday before you want your graphic shown.

Social Media/Web

• Facebook/Instagram
  • Make sure you club has a page. If it doesn’t, make one!
  • Get your club leaders and members invested in sharing posts on their own pages to make the information get even further.
  • “Follow” the Office of Student Engagement on Instagram: @msu.ose and tag us in your posts. We will share as much as we can.

Website

• If your club has a website or blog, make sure you have information about your event or program posted in a very visible spot so people can get more information about it if they wish. We know most people go to the web for information, so make sure you have accurate and up to date information!
• Post pictures from past events and don’t forget to take pictures to post later.
• If you have sponsors for the event, ask that they also include on their website or online calendars.

Department publications

• If your club is associated with an academic department, contact your Dean’s Office or Department Head to inquire if they have any regular print or online publications you can add your program, event or club information to.

Strand Union TV

ASMSU secured space in the SUB Union Marketplace for digital signage (TV). This space will be reserved for ASMSU events/programs and REGISTERED Student Organizations.  Keep in mind the following policies:

• JPEG or PNG only files will be accepted. Landscape ONLY!
• Minimum dimensions:  1600 x 725 px
• Submissions can be submitted by filling out the SUB Digital Signage Submission Form.
• Submission does not guarantee approval.  Approval is at the sole discretion of ASMSU.
• If approved, please allow 3 working days for the ASMSU to include the submission in the signage rotation.
• Submissions making any mention of, or inference to alcohol, drugs, or tobacco either implied or explicit, will not be approved.
• Posters which contain nudity, foul language, or a message degrading to others, either implicitly or explicitly, based on race, gender, religion, disability, gender identity or sexual orientation or otherwise in violation of the University non-discrimination policies will not be approved.
• Submissions will remain on the digital display for a maximum of 7 days or 1 day after the event.
• Submissions for reoccurring events and meetings can only be submitted once a semester.
• If your club sponsoring an event, please make sure the logo and contact information is on the graphic.

ASMSU TVS (outside SUB 221)

This space will be reserved for advertising events/programs.  Keep in mind the following policies:

• JPEG or PNG only files will be accepted. Portrait ONLY!
• Max. dimensions:  11x17 inches
• Submissions can be submitted by filling out the ASMSU Digital Signage Submission Form.
• Submission does not guarantee approval.  Approval is at the sole discretion of ASMSU.
• If approved, please allow three working days for ASMSU to include the submission in the signage rotation.
• Submissions making any mention of, or inference to alcohol, drugs, or tobacco either implied or explicit, will not be approved.
• Posters which contain nudity, foul language, or a message degrading to others, either implicitly or explicitly, based on race, gender, religion, disability, gender identity or sexual orientation or otherwise in violation of the University non-discrimination policies will not be approved.
• Submissions will remain on the digital display for a maximum of 7 days or 1 day after the event.
• Submissions for reoccurring events and meetings can only be submitted once a semester.

Please visit the Residence Halls website and scroll down to the Solicitation Policy sectionfor more information on soliciting and advertising in the residence halls.

Graphics for the Miller and Rendezvous Dining Halls must be 1920px x 1080px to properly fit the TVs. For more information on their instructions and policy, please follow this link  and scrolldown to the Marketing and Solicitation section.

All registered student organizations (RSO) must follow the university policy on the use of the MSU Name and logo.  Students can show their support for MSU by using the university name and logo in accordance with the policy.

Find guidelines for registered student organizations here.

 

Montana State recognizes and supports the rights of free expression and free speech. Our campus remains a place for the open exchange of ideas and the broadest expression of views.

The First Amendment protects and guarantees most forms of expression and speech — though it does not protect speech that, for example, presents a clear and present danger or is an imminent, "true" threat. The freedom of speech also does not allow us to silence those with whom we disagree. One person’s speech does not enjoy greater weight than another’s such that it may consume or silence the opposing view.

Use your voice wisely and be aware of the ground rules.