Pr

Nieng17 · #1 06-25-2005, 12:13 PM

I've never started a thread, so bare with me; I don't know if i'm doing this right or if the same thread is out there somewhere.

This is my dilemma. Our chapter does pretty well during formal recruitment, we achieved quota for the first time since recolonization, and it only took us four years. However, our main topic of conversation during round one with PNM’s is that they really haven’t heard about us. Our campus has 11 other NPC organizations, and competition is fierce during recruitment.

I was wondering if anyone had any “new” PR ideas? I really want PNM’s, freshman, to know about Phi Sig before they walk into our chapter house, and I have the fall semester to accomplish this.

LITP

MooseGirl · #2 06-25-2005, 10:00 PM

just to clarify - your formal recruitment is in Spring?

I guess the best way is to do a high profile event, something for charity. Just go crazy and ask the school paper to do a write-up or advertise it, same with the school radio station (if you have one).

Sorry, not much help - I'll keep trying to think stuff up.

Nieng17 · #3 06-26-2005, 08:21 AM

Our campus has deferred recruitment. Our administration thought is was best to give freshmen at least a semester to think and learn about the different greek organizations on campus. By spring semester many of the PNM's have heard the rumors and which houses have which reputation. This makes the two week recruitment process hard on chapters because we get all sorts of questions from PNM's we can't really answer about those rumors, etc...

However, there are a PNM's who because of the extra time to learn about chapters make a more informed decision on which chapter they would like to be a sister of.

Thanks for your advice.

LITPi

datoester · #4 07-18-2005, 05:09 PM

The chapters on our campus all do a big "lead-up to formal recruitment, big PR event" midway through fall semester (we have deferred recruitment). Most of the events involve boys, a downtown party, or some combination of both, and are PR-ed to hell by the organizing chapter. No freshmen women are allowed to these events due to Panhel rules, but when sororities descend en masse on the walk (our main campus thoroughfare) to advertise the event, it goes a long way to get the chapter's name out there. Some examples of these events are a Mr. Greek-type pageant, a joint charity bash (as in thrown by one fraternity and one sorority as a pair) at a club for a philanthropic cause, and "battle of the bands"- type things.

Hope that helps =)

LITP,

Leeann

Nieng17 · #5 07-18-2005, 06:19 PM

I know i started this thread but i thought i'd share an idea another member of my chapter gave me.

Chapter websites can be a great form of PR. We've seen a great numbers of PNM's using the internet and sites like Greekchat, facebook, and our panhellenic website, to gather research on recruitment and the chapters on their campus.

So I guess a good way to get your message and your chapter out there is to have a current and working websites which PNM's can easily navigate.

our "walk" here is known as marshall street.

thanks for your advice

datoester · #6 07-19-2005, 04:22 PM

I completely agree with you on the Website thing, it's a wonderful marketing tool and is pretty effective in shaping frosh impressions of the chapter long before they even set foot on campus (I know I was checking out my college's chapters online almost immediately after I received my acceptance letter).

My chapter just recolonized 2 years ago and the rush here (UPenn) is very competitive. There are 7 other NPC chapters and NM quotas tend to run around 40-50 per chapter. We've run into issues with rumors/reputations this past year with our first formal recruitment as a recolonized chapter. Hopefully, with the intense PR campaign (incl. our recently launched website at http://www.pennphisigs.com/ ) we're going to kick off in the fall, we'll be more successful next year at dealing with that.

Nieng17 -- are you going to LTS?

LITP,

Leeann

Nieng17 · #7 07-20-2005, 02:48 PM

I'm in Seattle, WA on military training!! I really wanted to go. Our archon, Vice archon, and Bursar are going this year.

I can't wait to hear all about it though.

LITP,
natalia

datoester · #8 08-02-2005, 03:29 AM

Natalia,

I just got back from LTS, and it was wonderful! I had a chance to meet Samantha, Heather, and Nori (they were in my Real Sisters Sorority Challenge team -- this year's theme was Reality TV PhiSig-style) from your chapter and they are amazing women!

Have a great summer!

-Leeann

whittleschmeg · #9 08-02-2005, 06:50 PM

The thing about PR is that if you do too much of the wrong stuff it can back fire.
1.Some simple things are wear your letters pick a day where lots of sisters are on campus and make it letter day
2. Eat lunch and dinner together again pick a day and where your letters to that too
3. Go and help the freshman during freshman move in and put letters on the shirts you are required to wear ( if your not required to wear a specfic shirt wear letters) All these things are very simple and do not require too much hard planning