OUR VIEW: Chalk it up to good advertising

USU is awesome.

One of the many things that makes going to school here so great is that there is almost always something going on. A lot of these activities are school sponsored with the big (at least comparatively) budgets that come with such association.

Other events are entirely student funded. These budgets are usually, well, smaller.

Regardless of whose idea the activity is, a party is only as cool as the people who show up, and getting the word out is key for the success of any event.

There’s been a recent trend in advertising on campus. A childhood favorite has been storming back in popularity: sidewalk chalk. It’s all over the place. It seems to be the advertising method of choice for events of all sizes.

There’s nothing wrong with using chalk in principle. It’s cheap, it’s fun and it seems to be working. There are just a few things we recommend people keep in mind when using it.

1) Make it make sense: no vague statements please. Everything you write, make sure you have a meaning. Writing a mysterious statement like “Popcorn makes you fat” on the sidewalk two months before the event even happens isn’t effective.

2) Details: you need them. Don’t just write “Party Friday!” Tell us where and when. It doesn’t matter if you also have flyers up, people may not see those. Treat each piece of advertising as the only one people see.

3) Don’t keep all your eggs in the chalk basket: if at all possible, have another way to get the word out. You never know when it could rain buckets and ruin all your chalky plans.

4) Don’t try to be street: if you’re a big company holding a recruitment meeting or trying to get students to sign up for credit cards, don’t use chalk. We can tell what you’re doing. You’re not cool.

Beyond that, keep it clear, keep it cool and keep it colorful.