Publicity & Marketing

Use of news media, blogs & web sites as a conduit to reach your target audience(s).

• trade/industry/scientific news outlets
• high-profile business/financial media
• local newspapers, radio and TV stations
• social media
• advertising (can be considered an element of publicity)

It's important not to confuse news with advertising. News is “free” – editors do not charge for writing about your conference; however, you cannot control what they write.

Advertising is paid – a publication or a website charges a specific amount for a specified ad size. You have 100% control of the message.

Consider advertising your conference, or working with journalists to gain news coverage, in the following types of media outlets:

• society & other professional magazines
• geographic & technical newsletters
• national press (newspapers, engineering society magazines, technical society publications, etc.)
• newspapers
• radio
• television
• promotions at related conferences
• arrange
  • mailing of the call for papers
  • publicity mailing lists
  • local publicity of the advanced program

Publicity will

• help build awareness and interest in a news conference;
• help maintain the stature and prestige of an existing conference;
• increase paid attendance; 
• generate interest in presenting and exhibiting; 
• promote a wider exchange of significant technical information; 
• recognize the contributions of individuals and organizations.

The Conference Organizer staff greatly appreciates Chris Burke, President, BtB Marketing Communications and Gary Dagastine, Dagastine & Co. Public Relations for presenting a portion of this material as part of their presentation Publicizing Your Conference (PDF, 1471 KB) at the 2008 Panel of Conference Organizers.

Get more information about POCO and view past presentations.