Once you’ve got your team together, now’s the time to kick start your campaign. Remember to keep your goals for your campaign in mind at all times, as this will keep you on track and focusing on your mission statement. Having said that, a successful campaign isn’t just about achieving the goals you’ve set for yourself. It’s also about having fun, doing something different, and involving and interacting a wide range of students.
If you’re planning a main campaigning activity such as an event, make sure this is well-promoted so that students know how to get involved, and where and when they can find you. Anything public that you do for your campaign should be instantly understood in terms of how it relates to your overall campaign, so if you decide to do something unique and unexpected for your campaign, make sure the message is clear to anyone that engages with you.
If you’re looking for inspiration, we also have a Surrey Skills course on event planning – check it out here.
Social Media
Social media is a fantastic tool to help engage students in your campaign. Developing a strong presence on social media can help you raise awareness, promote events, and share relevant videos or photos to increase engagement. If your campaign is supported by the Union, you may also see us share some of your posts too!
When advertising on social media, think about things like your tone of voice and how your campaign may appear to others. A good way of thinking about this is to ask ‘if my campaign was a person, what sort of person would they be?’ and then try to reflect those values in the way you communicate online. Imagery can also help to professionalise your campaign’s image and capture people’s attention. You can get great results using tools such as Powerpoint (available to all students at Surrey) or Canva (which has a free membership option).
However, social media isn’t everything. Often, lasting engagement comes from conversations and in-person interactions you’ve had with students. Get out and about, walk and talk, and make personal connections. Try and ensure every interaction you have with a fellow student is a positive one; even if someone isn’t interested in talking to you, stay positive and wish them a great day, then move on.
Remember that the Union is here to support you. We want your campaigns to be as successful as you want them to be, so if you have any concerns or questions during your time campaigning, make use of the contacts list at the end of this course to get in touch with Union staff who can help.
