Unt Launching "branding Initiative"

UNTflyer · February 24, 2011

It appears that the university is launching a new marketing and branding initiative.

**NOTE** They are NOT looking to change any logos, graphics, or colors.

http://pps.unt.edu/sites/default/files/BrandingInitiativeRFP.pdf

Here are some key quotes from the RFP:

Project 1: Brand Platform Development

"UNT seeks assistance in the development, implementation and launch of a distinctive and substantive brand platform to improve the university’s competitive position for mind and market share."

"development and launch of a distinctive brand platform and framework"

Project 2 - Football Stadium Promotions & Marketing

"UNT seeks assistance in creating ―must see‖ awareness of the university’s new football stadium"

"assistance in building and energizing a football season-ticket fan base that drives ticket sales; and counsel on building sponsor affinity"

"Counsel and possible assistance with sports news media, expanding UNT’s reach within the DFW region and beyond"

Project 3: Evaluation and Development of New and Social Media

"UNT seeks assistance in the development, implementation and launch of a comprehensive social media program to engage the university’s many constituents"

Project 4 – Evaluation and Plan Development of News Services

"UNT seeks assistance in the review of its established news service/media relations program"

"UNT seeks to strengthen its comprehensive news service program and processes to gain more visibility with its target audiences"

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PlummMeanGreen · February 24, 2011

"UNT seeks to strengthen its comprehensive news service program and processes to gain more visibility with its target audiences"

And that would be Denton, Ponder and Krum? Was at a Loves off I-20 in Weatherford and found a baseball cap from Northwestern St. (those Demons from the old Southland Conference) but you can already guess which school baseball cap I can't seem to recall ever seeing at this same Loves.

UNT can brand till all the steers start smelling the branding irons & run Westward, but until UNT gets someone on their staff who can find a map that gets them outside Denton County to get our product out to our masses, then they will be doing the same damn thing over and over again. (And no, we don't need volunteer teams of UNT alums to do their nicely paid jobs, either). :thumbsd:

GMG!

Edited February 24, 2011 by PlummMeanGreen

UNTflyer · February 24, 2011

Plumm, it appears this project is attempting to do just that.

PlummMeanGreen · February 24, 2011

Plumm, it appears this project is attempting to do just that.

And what degree of success do you expect this go around?

Seriously, the new stadium does give UNT a golden opp if they will only take advantage of that and get real proven marketing people on top of this and we'd know if that happens by where we see our new branding products being sold.

GMG!

Edited February 24, 2011 by PlummMeanGreen

UNTflyer · February 24, 2011

I think that given the progress we have seen over the last few years, getting some local and national TV broadcasts of basketball and football, the billboard and TV marketing campaigns, etc, we know that the university is serious about marketing.

Now it appears they are wanting to bring in a company with experience in national marketing, making it look more professional and less amateurish.

PerryG2480 · February 24, 2011

I like the billboards, but that Powerpoint style commercial I see every morning on the Channel 8 news is terrible. It looks like an ITT Tech commercial.

UNTflyer · February 24, 2011

"A zillion opporunities!"

:thumbsd:

drex · February 24, 2011

39 pages generated by some one who is paid to chase their tail. If the university is serious, give me a call.

SilverEagle · February 24, 2011

39 pages generated by some one who is paid to chase their tail. If the university is serious, give me a call.

And if anyone at the University had a brain in their collective heads, they would take drex up on his offer........... :thumbsu:

Stan R · February 24, 2011

"A zillion opporunities!"

So sorry Flyer I accidently gave you a -1 when I was trying to give you a +1, unfortunately there's no undo so I'm going to just give you a fake HIGH FIVE!

shutter · February 24, 2011

I complained to the Wal-Mart in Highland Village about the lack of NT gear. Wow, I was surprized to see that they stocked it. I bought 3 hoodies and 4 tee shirts. When they were gone, they never came back. I again pointed out to the mgnr about the lack of NT gear pointing to several costumers wearing NT shirts and saying this is Denton County, come on. I hope to see and new stock some time soon. How hard can it be to get the gear? I hope whatever they are doing will help in this matter.

greenminer · February 24, 2011

I just want a decent hat.

UNTFan23 · February 24, 2011

I complained to the Wal-Mart in Highland Village about the lack of NT gear. Wow, I was surprized to see that they stocked it. I bought 3 hoodies and 4 tee shirts. When they were gone, they never came back. I again pointed out to the mgnr about the lack of NT gear pointing to several costumers wearing NT shirts and saying this is Denton County, come on. I hope to see and new stock some time soon. How hard can it be to get the gear? I hope whatever they are doing will help in this matter.

The concept of "Store of the Community" (SOTC) within Walmart allows the store manager to go out and order what local people want to see carried in their stores. Keep talking to the store manager and asking for the product. Hopefully other people are asking for NT gear as well.

TheTastyGreek · February 24, 2011

This is going to be very interesting.

Maybe even more interesting than the Gas Prices thread.

good_ken · February 25, 2011

I wonder if this effort will be managed any better than last time? As that was epic fail.

TheTastyGreek · February 25, 2011

This is going to be great.

My hope is that everyone builds up insane standards for this initiative, takes out 50 years of rage and frustration on any effort that's a part of it, and whines and bitches about everything and anything they think might possibly be connected to the project.

If Dan McCarney won't take you out to lunch, blame this. If Wal Mart has any TCU shirts in stock, blame this. If UT-Arlington has a billboard along your route to work, blame this. If squirrels are getting into your bird feeder, blame this.

I want this to be like the men's basketball meltdown bitch-a-thon, only 100x more angry, intense, and mentally handicapped. Remember- Hayden Fry didn't need no PR assistance!

MORE POSTERS!!!!!

greenminer · February 25, 2011

All cynicism aside, it is a shame we can't find something and stick with it.

TheTastyGreek · February 25, 2011

All cynicism aside, it is a shame we can't find something and stick with it.

If I understand what this is correctly, it isn't a materials change. This is a request for proposals from 3rd party PR firms, brand management companies, etc., to have an outside firm with prior experience and expertise handle these things (to whatever extent the contract includes) for the school and the department.

Basically, we're going to finally get some resources behind making this stuff a priority, and we're not going to throw it on someone already in the department... An outside company with skins on the wall is going to handle this stuff now.

Quoner · February 25, 2011

If I understand what this is correctly, it isn't a materials change. This is a request for proposals from 3rd party PR firms, brand management companies, etc., to have an outside firm with prior experience and expertise handle these things (to whatever extent the contract includes) for the school and the department.

Basically, we're going to finally get some resources behind making this stuff a priority, and we're not going to throw it on someone already in the department... An outside company with skins on the wall is going to handle this stuff now.

If they were TRULY serious about this, they'd dig up Edward Bernays and call it a day.

In all seriousness, I think we still have a few posters with Blackie Sherrod, Joe Bob Briggs and Skip Bayless at the top of an old Rolodex. Maybe we could pull together a GMG-backed official response.

FirefightnRick · February 25, 2011

Nothing promotes and markets your university better than winning!

All these millions will be wasted as usual finding out what people want to see and hear but I'm willing to bet we still won't get three things we all have wanted for years that would cost the university very little at all.

1. A damn good collegiate helmet logo.

2. A signaled, unified chant that has a beginning and an end that does not require the band to be present to do.

3. And have the jersey number of our All Time Leading Scorer in Basketball, Kenny Lyons, retired.

Rick

Edited February 25, 2011 by FirefightnRick

Quoner · February 25, 2011

Nothing promotes and markets your university better than winning!

All these millions will be wasted as usual finding out what people want to see and hear but I'm willing to bet we still won't get three things we all have wanted for years that would cost the university very little at all.

1. A damn good collegiate helmet logo.
2. A signaled, unified chant that has a beginning and an end that does not require the band to be present to do.
3. And have the jersey number of our All Time Leading Scorer in Basketball, Kenny Lyons, retired.

Rick

I'll bet you a bizzilion dollars you're right, because none of those are part of the RFP. In fact, only 25% of that RFP is even about sports.

good_ken · February 25, 2011

If I understand what this is correctly, it isn't a materials change. This is a request for proposals from 3rd party PR firms, brand management companies, etc., to have an outside firm with prior experience and expertise handle these things (to whatever extent the contract includes) for the school and the department.

Basically, we're going to finally get some resources behind making this stuff a priority, and we're not going to throw it on someone already in the department... An outside company with skins on the wall is going to handle this stuff now.

That was part of the plan last time, until the university only sent the RFP to one firm; and sole sourced the effort (under a real flimsy sole source justification).

That is why I how this one is managed better, by those capable, and not micro-managed by the Chancellor.

TheTastyGreek · February 25, 2011

That was part of the plan last time, until the university only sent the RFP to one firm; and sole sourced the effort (under a real flimsy sole source justification).

That is why I how this one is managed better, by those capable, and not micro-managed by the Chancellor.

I am by no means a public relations/brand management expert. I had a cousin who thought about getting into the PR industry, but the family staged an intervention and convinced him to pick a more respectable career path. He gives handjobs in the parking lot behind New Fine Arts now.

But I do agree that if this gets contracted out, hopefully whatever collection of degenerates "earns" the job will put forth the effort and expertise necessary to get some traction and progress towards these goals.

PR firms are basically just offices that serve as holding pens for onanists, frotteurs, and drooling incompetents too feebleminded to even push a mop in any sort of organized and productive manner. Whoever we end up signing on for this project, I just hope they have some sort of track record and motivation to work for our school in particular.

All About UNT · February 25, 2011

I am by no means a public relations/brand management expert. I had a cousin who thought about getting into the PR industry, but the family staged an intervention and convinced him to pick a more respectable career path. He gives handjobs in the parking lot behind New Fine Arts now.

But I do agree that if this gets contracted out, hopefully whatever collection of degenerates "earns" the job will put forth the effort and expertise necessary to get some traction and progress towards these goals.

PR firms are basically just offices that serve as holding pens for onanists, frotteurs, and drooling incompetents too feebleminded to even push a mop in any sort of organized and productive manner. Whoever we end up signing on for this project, I just hope they have some sort of track record and motivation to work for our school in particular.

Is this your cousin Tasty?