Promoting Your Programs

Consider the following lists of promotional channels when sharing about your work. 

Web Pages

• County web page, Extension web page, your program website. To request changes to the Extension local webpages, reach out to your web editor.

• Community calendars and event listings (usually free), University Extension Calendar, Master Gardener Program Calendar

Email

• Community e-newsletter, direct email to interested persons

• Having community partners share your events or information through email

Social Media

• Facebook page, groups, or ads

• Twitter

• Instagram

• Event-planning websites

Media

• Press-release

• Monthly printed column or appearance on radio, in the newspaper, or on TV (media contacts here)

In-Person

• Phone-calls

• Signs and posters

• Tabling at community events

• Through networking and community events

• Mailing or post cards

• Bookmarks and giveaways

Print and Out of Home

• Handouts, posters, flyers, and posters

• Signs

• Mailings

Regional and local staff are encouraged to send regional and local news releases and columns to media outlets in their areas. 

• An Event Release alerts the audience to an upcoming event. Many releases like this go into a newspaper's calendar of events. Keep it very short and provide essential information; it may be edited significantly. Event releases should be sent one month in advance. 

• A News Release shares Extension knowledge. They are most likely to be published if they're timely or related to a current event. The word count should not be more than 400. 

• A "News You Can Use" Release is similar to a topical release but constructed differently. This kind of release is popular with the news media. It also helps the writer think about how to present information concisely. It's a good tool.

• Find media contacts here.

To help determine whether a regional or local news release should be written, at least two of the following three questions must be answered with a "yes":

• 1. Is the topic or event newsworthy (does it contain one or more news values: timeliness, proximity, impact, prominence, conflict, novelty, currency)?

  2. If yes, is one of the news values "currency," meaning it is a hot topic?

  3. Is the topic or event of interest to a majority of the region or local area?

To help determine whether a regional or local column (byline article) should be written, the following questions must be answered with a "yes":

• 1. Is the topic or issue of interest to a majority of the region or local area?

  2. Is it important to inform or educate the general public about this topic or issue?

Whether you're a seasoned Facebook user or new to social media, the Facebook Guide for Standards, Branding and Growth is intended to help you build the University of Minnesota Extension Master Gardeners brand. 

You can email mgweb@umn.edu or epromo@umn.edu to request a social media icon that meets University and Extension standards.