Promote the Computer Science 50th Anniversary, dedication of a new building, and symposium?
With only two months lead time?
Impossible?
With only two months lead time?
Well almost.
That was the assignment and some of the challenges we faced but we also recognized that it was an opportunity to work with an outstanding university and an exciting program which included having Bill Gates at the dedication of the Bill and Melinda Gates Hall.
In that two-month period we developed a marketing communications and publicity plan with the following objectives:
Generate media coverage of the Gates Hall dedication and of the CS department’s 50th anniversary
Develop a social media program that included Facebook and Twitter (though the CS Department had no “friends” or “followers”)
Position CIS and its departments, of which Computer Science is one, to all those who come in contact with us during this time period and beyond including donors, alumni, faculty, and students
The Results
A fantastic three days were filled with media, alumni, donors, and Mr. Gates!
We created a Facebook events page on the Cornell Engineering Science page. We posted several times weekly prior to the event, created photo albums, and generated excitement during the 3-day Anniversary Celebration.
Over 17,000 impressions were made on Facebook and over 100 were posted on the page.
On Twitter, we live Tweeted from the Anniversary Celebration through to the day and half long Symposium. We started with a handful of followers and now have over 100.
Our public relations results included over 70 media outlets promoted the dedication and 50th Anniversary of Computer Science
We created a pocket program guide, walking tour brochure, emails, and a 50-year timeline of CS milestones.