Marketing

The SNAFU Con Marketing Department plays a vital role in promoting SNAFU Con. The department focuses on not only pursuing existing marketing avenues, but also developing innovative marketing strategies, establishing community partnerships, and engaging with various organizations and clubs to enhance event visibility and generate positive associations.

The Marketing department operates primarily pre-con, but also has an important role during the convention itself. The department exists to promote the convention and draw in attendees.

When small, the marketing department largely focuses on social media and flier distribution at local events and nearby conventions. When we have enough dedicated people, the department can be broken into:

• Social Media
• Press
• Con Outreach
• Club Outreach
• Philanthropy
• Sponsorship
• Community Outreach

Responsibilities

The Marketing Department is responsible for planning and executing effective marketing campaigns for SNAFU Con. Tasks include:

1. Promotional Strategies: Developing innovative ways to advertise the convention when traditional methods are restricted, such as by creating wearable buttons with the slogan "ASK ME ABOUT SNAFU CON" to replace fliers. This ensures a broader reach and easier engagement with potential attendees.
2. Community Engagement: Increasing the convention's active presence within the community by organizing social hangouts, partnering with local businesses, hosting events at popular venues like GameStop, and collaborating with charitable organizations such as Big Brothers Big Sisters. Leveraging the cosplay community for marketing purposes is also an effective strategy, given their large following.
3. Communication and Engagement: Establishing better communication and engagement with local schools and clubs. This includes outreach to anime clubs, offering them a table at the convention, and considering business license requirements for clubs advertising themselves, unless they are registered as not-for-profit organizations.
4. Marketing Collateral and Promotional Materials: Distributing flyers, organizing advertising efforts through local theaters, exploring billboard options, and ensuring the availability of promotional materials such as folders, CD sleeves, and labels.
5. Event Coordination: Coordinating with other conventions and events for cross-promotion and table swaps to increase visibility and attract a wider audience. This involves establishing agreements, managing logistics of tabling, and organizing meetings with partner organizations.

At-Con Responsibilities

1. Keeping social media active. Schedule posts to go out throughout the convention. Take pictures of people having fun or an interesting thing that happened and post to social media.
2. Answering messages on social media when applicable.
3. Coordinating with the Press, and ensuring people show up to interviews on time (usually part of the dedicated Press department)

Requirements

To become a member of the SNAFU Con Marketing Department, individuals should meet the following requirements:

1. Passion for the convention: Above all if you're excited about the con and want to spread that excitement, this is a great place for you. All the rest can be trained.
2. Marketing Knowledge and Skills: Familiarity with marketing concepts, strategies, and tools is essential. This includes understanding promotional techniques, communication channels, and social media platforms.
3. Creativity and Innovation: Team members should possess creative thinking skills to develop unique and engaging marketing ideas that stand out to our audience.
4. Communication and Collaboration: Effective communication skills and the ability to work collaboratively within a team are vital for successful execution of marketing campaigns.

Policies

• Collaboration: The team communicates and collaborates on sensitive issues before making any public statements to ensure we're sending the best message possible.
• In House production: The team handles the production of promotional materials in-house where reasonable. The con designs fliers and prints them through small print shops. We have our own tabling setup and other necessary materials for event promotion. When necessary for time or quality, we will use outside production resources.
• Budget considerations: The department emphasizes budget planning to ensure efficient resource allocation. Gathering pricing details, comparing advertising options, and exploring cost-effective alternatives are part of the team's approach.
• Networking: The department actively seeks collaborations and partnerships with local businesses, community organizations, and other conventions. Building strong relationships and leveraging the networks of these partners help increase event visibility and attract a wider audience.
• Improvement: The department emphasizes the importance of continuous improvement by evaluating marketing results, and seeking feedback from attendees and partners.
• Con-Wide collaboration: The department works with all the departments to advertise for those department events or staffing needs, and also to request those departments assist with marketing needs (such as flier distribution).

Resources

• Movie theater advertising prices for in and around Washoe County
• Local businesses that have hosted our flyers or helped in other ways
• Transit advertising prices
• Billboard advertising prices