Aerial view of the Madison isthmus with Lake Mendota on the left
Human Resources
Erin Hillson, Human Resources Director

Marketing Your Course

Welcome to Organizational Development's course marketing hub! 

Marketing is a key piece of the puzzle in preparation for hosting a course. Yes, OD sends out weekly e-Blasts to all City Email users, but this alone doesn't cut it! We expect Learning Partners to market their own courses alongside these e-Blasts.   

WHY Do I Need to Market My Course?

Marketing your course effectively is crucial for its success! By reaching a broader audience and showcasing the value of your offering, you increase the likelihood of attracting enough participants to run the course smoothly. 

We aim for a minimum of 10 registrants to ensure a dynamic and engaging experience for all. If a course falls short of this number, we may have to consider cancellation - see cancellation policies. 

Invest in promoting your course to help it thrive and reach its full potential!

WHO to Market Your Course To

Choose your target market: a group of people who would benefit from attending your course. 

For example:

  • Supervisors
  • Managers
  • New Employees
  • Specific Departments
  • Field Staff
  • All City Email Users (Everyone)

HOW to Market Your Course
  • Forward OD Weekly "Upcoming Courses" e-Blasts to targeted groups.
  • Course Highlight Email - For you to send out via email to targeted groups.
  • Course Banner for your Webpages - For you to post to your webpage(s) with similar topics to your upcoming course.
  • Course Flyer (see samples below)
    • Hang these around City Facilities - pro-tip, you can send this via Inter-D to the various City facilities with a kind ask for them to post these in their workspaces!
    • Send out via email to targeted groups
    • Post on your webpage(s) with similar topics
  • Word of mouth - hype your course!
    • Think about the spaces you're in to cross-reference and highlight your course(s).
  • Include a link to your course in your email signature.

Targeted Email Marketing and Course Flyers

To help get you started, we've put together a few samples and templates to choose from. Sort through the options below, select the one you like best, download the editable version and make it your own! If you have access to a Canva account, this is a great tool to use as well. 

Flyer Formatting

Remember to include...

  • Your Department Name
  • The Course Name
  • Date, Time, and Location (Zoom)
  • QR Code for easy access on printed flyer - the QR code in all templates will direct folks to access all courses on the City's website. If you want one that will direct them to your specific course, you'll need to replace this.

Hot Tip: Use the image you selected during the course planning phase in the flyer to help maintain consistency. Can't remember what image you selected? Check out your course's Eventbrite page or email OrganizationalDevelopment@cityofmadison.com to help find this.

Email Marketing Samples

Remember to include a note to share with folks who do not have access to a City-issued email account. 

Have another idea in mind but unsure how to make it work? Or need some help with putting your flyer together? Reach out to OrganizationalDevelopment@cityofmadison.com with any ideas or questions! 

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Organizational Development