Increasing visibility and generating support for Iowa State University and ISU Extension are the primary goals of the External Relations Unit. We are connectors - linking people, linking resources - who build and sustain relationships with key audiences. We often assume a behind the scenes role, yet are easily accessible to all staff.

Our website gives you easy access to organizational and relationship marketing materials, information and templates to help you promote ISU Extension. We hope you find this site useful, and we welcome your comments and suggestions. ER website feedback

New from External Relations

Legal Statement on County Program Materials

County programs that collect a registration fee need to include the following legal statement on accompanying program marketing and registration materials.

"The fees for service will be used to off-set direct expenses and to support the County Extension Program."

This does NOT apply to state programs that are not run through the county office.

Regional Resources

We have added a new Regional Resources page to the External Relations website.There is a quick link to it in the navigation bar that appears on every page. We'll post new items as they become available. Currently, you'll find the following:

Telling the Extension Story

Extension's new video site has some great features: an easy format to search and view videos, the ability to rate and/or comment on them, and the option to share them by embedding the video or copying the URL.

This site is the launch pad for a series of new videos featuring many of Extension's success stories from the past year. New content will be regularly added. Here are some videos featuring Extension at work in communities throughout Iowa that you'll want to check out!

Read more of our impact statements to learn about other ways Extension serves Iowa families, businesses and communities.

ER Quick Tip

Imagine practicing archery with your eyes closed or throwing a football with a blindfold on. In both cases, being prevented from seeing the target would make it nearly impossible to hit. The same concept applies to the business and professional world. Operating without a clear definition of who, or what, your target market is will hamper any attempts to increase brand awareness, develop market share or, ultimately, reach your goals. Where the blanket approach of mass marketing was widely touted in the past, today's experts advocate a more targeted effort. Consumers today are technologically savvier than ever before. With widespread, rapid access to virtually any piece of information, at any time, via the Internet, traditional information delivery systems may be fading fast. Without knowing who you're targeting, it's nearly impossible to devise a best delivery option.

Reality check #1: There is no such thing as the general public. The general public includes everyone, from children to seniors, rich and poor, incarcerated and homeless. No matter how hard we try, we will not reach everyone. In fact, if that's what we try to do, odds are good that we may, in fact, reach no one. Instead, we need to focus on specific groups of people and work toward communicating with them in ways that connect with their particular needs, values and schedules.

Reality check #2: Good nonprofit marketing takes more time than money. Because the Internet and cell phones have revolutionized the way people communicate, modern, effective marketing programs can often be implemented for pennies on the conventional advertising dollar. Engaging supporters in targeted conversations is more time-consuming than blasting out mass messages. Managing profiles on multiple social media sites may be more time-consuming than updating a single webpage once a month. Writing a blog with several posts per week is more time-consuming than sending out a print newsletter twice a year. But, while all of these tasks take more time, they require minimal out-of-pocket expense. Plus, they may be more effective at engaging customers and building a wider community of support.

Excerpted from Virtual Advisor® and nonprofitmarketingguide.com/

Cy available for public events

Don't forget Extension's very own Cy is available for rent to enhance your public events this fall and winter. Reservations are available on a first-come first-served basis. Costs range from $200-250 depending on if we provide someone to wear the costume or you do. Contact Natasha Forsythe, natashaf@iastate.edu, 515.294.7033 today to reserve Cy for your event!

Cy

Managing Tough Times Tool Kit

This tool kit includes templates, expert lists, talking points, and links to other resources for staff use in promoting the Managing Tough Times initiative.

Managing Tough Times