I recently got an email from the SIFE (Students in Free Enterprise) group at a local college seeking ideas on promoting SIFE and acquiring new members.

Rather than create these in a vacuum, I'm posting these ideas here in case other colleges are searching for ideas on promoting SIFE within their schools.

1. Get a dedicated SIFE website where students can learn all about the organization
   and communicate with the organization leaders.


2. Have your college IT dept change all of the screen savers on campus computers
   to a SIFE screensaver. Point prospective members to the SIFE website


3. Add a weblog (similar to this one) to the site. Update it regularly with
   SIFE happenings, local business issues, topics for discussion, member bios,
   etc. Keep it fresh


4. Ask your business/communications/xyx dept. professors to speak in each of
   their classes and hand out some info on SIFE. Take signups on the spot. Develop
   your pitch, and go for it.


5. Develop a compelling value proposition/one page flyer for SIFE - Focus on
   features, advantages, and benefits of joining SIFE at your school. For example:
   1. Valuable projects to help global community, brilliant students to work
      with, sense of accomplishment
   
   
   2. Networking opps, expand opps. in local marketplace, real world experience
      through SIFE projects
   
   
   3. Enhance you public speaking skills, explore your passions, etc...you
      get the point.


6. Have one of your members (or several) write regular "SIFE issue focused"
   columns in the school newspaper, or local newspaper city paper if you are
   so inclined.


7. Publish press releases to the college paper, as well as to the local papers
   and business journals to get exposure for your organization and build your
   presence.


8. Try for a college TV station spot, or better yet, a community television
   spot to gain exposure and spread your message


9. Have a SIFE sidewalk chalk day. Get all of your current members to write
   'pro-SIFE' messages all over campuses. Leave the SIFE web address.


10. Start a series of discussions w/ local business leaders in the evenings
    to draw out potential members. Offer food - that will really get them out.
    Be sure to pitch membership during the sessions! Topics could include:
    1. Marketing yourself in a tough job market (doing something different
       to get the job).
    
    
    2. Staples of a successful business career. What to do, and not to do in
       your first job.
    
    
    3. Career 'Face-Off'. Invite someone from the financial sector, marketing/creative,
       or and a non-profit to debate the pros/cons of various career paths


11. Make a SIFE movie about the cause, the members, and how great it is to be
    in SIFE. Set it on your website, tell all your friends, and try to get it
    to 'go viral'.


12. Evangelize SIFE to everyone you know!

D
I spoke with Brad of SNC SIFE. I personally believe that the main issue currently is value. Many of the ideas you have written I spoke of to the group on Thursday at their meeting. Currently they do not have the value or have created a means of marketing value to attract new members, thus only have 8 members this current year till semester when attendace will drop to 6. As I was speaking about getting social groups to align and grow membership, I thought the reason the group does not have membership is not because of the value we generally think of, but that the group needs to be a group and interact outside of the group as a social being to create value. Value in terms from SIFE is easily attained by working in a team to complete worth while projects that can be spoken of to employers and members of the community. As you had the chance with the Packers project. That is what I believe the issue currently is (SOCIAL VALUE). There are slight delays in obtaining new worth while projects. I was thinking working with the Museum, GB Chamber to Find a new business in town and help promote it (this fits the Entrepreneurial category), or even possibly connecting SIFE with YPN or some other Professional Business group in the area. Give me feedback on this.