Conservation District Promotion / Marketing Getting Your Local Conservation District Recognized in the Community

Physical Office Outdoor signage and indoor directional signs Welcoming entrance Guest sitting area Brochures and pamphlets displayed Answering machine for when office is closed

Office Operations Consistent way of answering the telephone. Consistent local soil conservation district letterheads for letters, fax cover sheets, envelopes, etc. Informational brochures & pamphlets Name tags for staff Shirts with local district name and/or logo Effective use of among staff and supervisors

Networking Booth Displays: 4-H Fair, Flower & Patio Show, field days, trade shows, Ag. Days, seed & fertilizer dealers, Farm Credit, Etc. Attend and/or serve on various community committees- river watch, community clean-up, etc. Offer to give presentations for service clubs and organizations Sponsor or co-sponsor events, seminars and training programs.

Direct Mail Newsletters, special promotions or tree sale, flyers, etc. Obtain information (name, address, phone, and ) from every person who attends any of your programs.

Web Site An effective site can help build awareness and credibility of your district. Keep it up-to-date and change information periodically. On home page include: office phone number, address, fax number, and addresses. Include links of other related agencies & organizations. Ask for them to also include a link to your site on their page. Page can be added on local government web page Keep it simple.

Social Media Facebook, Twitter, etc. Fast growing way to get information about your programs and opportunities to a wider audience. Announce program sign-ups, educational opportunities, cancelled or rescheduled meetings, links to articles or websites of interest to your landowners, etc. You can also include photos of successful practices, winning poster entries, or scenes from local events.

Media Newspaper An article and press release with a photograph gains more attention than a paid advertisement. Be sure to send the information to a specific person. Try to include something periodically (bi-weekly, monthly, etc.) Submit articles for other business and organization newsletters Give ACCURATE information and advice

Media Phone Book Work with county officials to try to get multiple listings. Road Signs Keep information as simple as possible Review all county signage policies

Give Away Advertising Everyone likes to receive free items Be sure to include the conservation district name, phone number, and/or web site. Examples of items: pencils, pens, refrigerator magnets, flyers, buttons, stickers, hats, shirts, mugs, date books, fly swatters, rulers, yard sticks, etc.

It takes time to develop name-recognition. It will not happen over night, so be patient.