The 5 Rules for College Ministry Promotional Materials

Yes, I have already seen my first promotion materials for college ministry events for freshmen next fall.  One of the crazy things we all know in college ministry is that there are Freshmen Orientation events happening in the midst of "Senior Goodbye Events".  In many situations many college ministries are able to be present and hand out materials at Orientation events.  And, a surprising number are still able to mail to a religious preference list.  Fortunately, with the advent of lots of great on-line services, it is possible for all of us to now design materials without going to a high dollar print shop.  But, we still need it to be high quality.

Here are my 5 Rules for College Ministry Promotional Materials:

1.  The quality of the publicity or promotion piece says something about the quality of your ministry.  A poor piece does not say this is a high quality event or ministry.  Look at other materials that are being sent to students.  How does yours compare?

2.  Pictures say more than lots of words.  It is possible to have a very nice piece that has a great design without a picture or multiple picture.  But, pictures answer lots of questions about the ministry.  It often answer questions you might not even think to answer and would not have the space to answer.  Make lots and lots of pictures at your ministry and then choose wisely a few to use.  A "Picture Board" at a Freshmen Orientation event is always a plus!

3.  The promotional piece must clearly answer the questions "When and Where???".  If it is promotion of a special start of school event, is it clear when and where it will happen?  If it is promoting the ministry's regular weekly events, is it clear when and where they happen?  Don't assume!

4.  WHY?  This may sound a bit strange, but I have seen promotional pieces that are about a ministry, but it does not in any way tell me why I should attend.  Is it assumed I am looking for a college ministry?  Is it assumed I will go to a freshmen event?  What at that event will happen that is worthy of my attending?  What happens at "Big Weekly Lunch"?  What happens at "Tuesday Night Live"?  It is possible that we are assuming that all the students who will see this are looking for a Christian event to attend.  More and more that is a very bad assumption.

5.  Show a variety of students.  This is tough to address.  But, if you are hoping to reach students of different races, if there are pictures, do they show students of different races?  One of the questions students looking at your materials will ask in their heart is, "Is there anybody there who looks like me?".

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6.  Students must receive and or see the material MORE THAN ONCE!  One "expert" has ventured to say that students must see something at least five (5) times for it to register.  If you mail, I likely would not mail five times, HOWEVER, I would mail more than once, if it is affordable at all!  Some mail earlier in the summer and then mail again just before school starts in August.  Or, the same materials that have been mailed or handed out can be posted and handed out again when students arrive. We have also found when handing out materials at Orientation events, It is wise to hand materials to parents also.

Coming in May:  "FIXING A BROKEN COLLEGE MINISTRY"