The graduation and commencement time frame is a high profile event on campus attended by parents, friends and family members.  It’s also a time where smart marketers looking to reach this demographic can make a big impact.

The graduation and commencement ceremony on every college campus is one of the most high profile events of the year from a marketing standpoint.  Aside from the ‘Back-to-School’/Orientation period, this is the only other event where students, their parents, and extended friends and family will be on hand and looking to celebrate the occasion.  Given the nature of this time-frame, smart  marketers, companies and business located around the college campuses, or ones just looking to reach this demographic as a whole, can successfully invest in key college advertising solutions to boost ROI.

Maximizing any investment in reaching this demographic during this time is key, here are a few things to consider when putting together a marketing plan:

• Reach the Parents of Graduating Students before the Day of the Commencement: Since typically parents of the students graduating will have the disposable income to spend, reaching them directly before arriving to campus for the event would be ideal.  Direct email is an excellent way to achieve this and we have the ability, through our 100% opt-in email lists, to accomplish this goal for you.

• Student Ambassadors working the Crowd: Our networks at UMP consist of students mainly for their ability, not only to get on campus within the rules and regulations of campus protocol, but also because of their first-hand knowledge of the campus and knowing where the best spots to engage parents and students are located.  This approach is a highly effective way to hand out coupons and other collateral to drive in foot traffic.

• OOH Placements: Having signage on campus, prior to the event, located in high traffic areas such as Student Unions, Dorms, Greek Life areas, student common areas, academic buildings, classrooms and many other locations is another effective way to get your message out in front of this audience.  Using OOH placements around the graduation ceremony location (whether it’s on or off campus), via transit advertising, mobile billboards , street blimps and through many other solutions we offer, will allow your brand to be front in center.

If you’re a brand looking to get exposure to the 18-22 demographic, college campuses are a prime venue to accomplish this goal.  The Commencement time frame is a highly populated event with a lot of disposable income on campus and given the occasion, friends and family are highly inclined to spend.  Let us give you and your team some in-depth experience and ideas of ways your business can benefit through highly targeted college advertising solutions.