YouthNoise | Get the Word Out

Get the Word Out: It Pays to Advertise

If you're creating your own volunteer activity, make sure everyone knows about your project and what you want to accomplish. Invite your neighborhood, campus, sports team and other networks to help out. It pays to advertise, so get ready to sell your idea.

Talk the Talk: Let Everyone Know

Send an email letter inviting everyone you know to get involved in your project.
Use YN, Facebook and MySpace to your advantage. Read the Recruit People Online toolkit for more ideas.
Place announcements in your local school and community newspapers.
Start a club on campus for your activity. Learn how to run a meeting like a future CEO.
Create a press kit with a short write-up about who you are and what you are doing. Include your contact information and any promotional materials.
Set up information tables in student centers, shopping centers and other busy public places (ask permission first). Create a table display to take with you with information on how to get involved.
Call everyone...family, friends, school groups, businesses, special interest groups and community officials.
Publicize everywhere, with anyone you think may help. Get in the habit of carrying around handouts or business cards wherever you go.

source: National Youth Service Day Tool Kit April 14 & 15, 2000, pg. 37

Walk the Walk: Implement Your Plan

Send out a press release to newsletters, churches, synagogues and other organizations that have weekly or monthly mailings.
Contact local radio and television stations for spots in their volunteer sections. Take your press kits with you.
Distribute flyers. Everywhere.
Put together a recruitment committee to help you do the work. Remember: many hands make light work.

The level of your volunteering success may be huge, it may be small-- either way, you are a volunteering rock star. Be sure to share what you've learned from your experiences.