Want to communicate to Iowa State Ron Paul kids? Let's run a newspaper ad!

[D.A.S.]

It comes down to business now.

Iowa State is a major constituency for Ron Paul, as we know, and there is a real chance the caucuses will be held on January 3, although that isn't formalized yet. So, if we want to communicate a message to those Iowa State kids about getting out there, registering, and supporting Ron Paul in the caucuses, we need to do it NOW.

I just got off the phone with the Iowa State Daily newspaper regarding an ad in PRINT paper (not online):

• A black-n-white ad that is 2 columns wide (just over 3" wide) and 3" tall is ~$65/day
  
• Same ad as above but RUNS 15 CONSECUTIVE DAYS is ~$472 (substantial discount)
  
• A front-page banner (placed at the bottom of front page, color only, full page width, 3" tall) is ~$250/day
  

My personal preference is option 2 - 15 consecutive days. That will reach the largest number of students obviously and gets us our moneys' worth.

So, let's discuss. Good investment? Bad investment? Which option to choose? What kind of ad to run?

 

[SchleckBros]

great idea. I also think it would be helpful to write to college newspapers and try to get the pro-Paul message in the opinions section.

 

[bluesc]

Great investment

I'm glad you followed through with the idea. I'll repost the post from a writer with the newspaper that had circulation info, ect. Hopefully we can start working on the ad. I'll chipin.

 

[bluesc]

...

How about Iowa State Daily?

Some info from a writer for them posted in another thread here:

For the record, the Iowa State Daily has the readership of Iowa State University, which has an attendance of approximately 30,000 students. On top of that is the thousands of employees (administrators, professors, grounds keepers, janitors, etc), many of whom also read the paper. The ISU Daily also has a subscription service that serves oodles more people with print copies all across the state and nation. Furthermore, the ISU Daily is on racks all across the city of Ames, where Iowa State University is located. God knows how many residents of our host town read the paper. Our readership very well could be 50,000 people in print, and as pointed out, gazillions online now, haha.

In short, the Daily reaches far, far more readers than the average small town paper. Furthermore, it services a predominately young demographic who appear to be very receptive to libertarian philosophy. I'm not saying the Iowa State Daily is important (that's for you to judge). I'm only saying that it's not exactly unimportant.

I'm not even sure if they run ads, but if the caucus date is set to a date while college is out of session, it may be a good way to remind them to register to vote. Can't imagine it would be that expensive either. Btw, they are writing an excellent series of articles on Ron. First part here.

 

[harikaried]

Would it also make sense in putting up radio ads?

WOI FM "The radio station's estimated ad rate is $31.00." They're also based out of Iowa State.
http://www.gaebler.com/WOI-FM-IA-Radio-Advertising-Costs++23006

WHO 1040 AM seems to be the largest in that area:
http://www.whoradio.com/cc-common/YourAdHere/

 

[realtonygoodwin]

So, what message do we need to get across?

 

[harikaried]

I'm not familiar with advertising, but this FAQ seems to have some interesting content about audio, video, print advertising:

http://www.miamiradioadvertising.com/faq.html

Where print can be more informational whereas radio is motivational.

 

[D.A.S.]

Would it also make sense in putting up radio ads?

WOI FM "The radio station's estimated ad rate is $31.00." They're also based out of Iowa State.
http://www.gaebler.com/WOI-FM-IA-Radio-Advertising-Costs++23006

WHO 1040 AM seems to be the largest in that area:
http://www.whoradio.com/cc-common/YourAdHere/

I'm not dealing with radio - I believe the Campaign and RevPAC may have some reach into radio, but there seems to be no reach into print ads, which is why we're trying to reconcile that shortcoming. This is strictly for print paper only.

 

[trey4sports]

I don't think kids read the newspaper.

 

[D.A.S.]

So, what message do we need to get across?

The message: Iowa Caucus may be as early as January 3. In order for Ron Paul to win Iowa, record turn-out by young voters is a MUST. You must be registered republican to vote for Ron Paul in Iowa caucuses, and the deadline for registering republican is ____________. Talk to your families, talk to your friends, get them to come out and support Ron Paul in the Iowa caususes in 2012!

 

[D.A.S.]

To gauge financial support for this, I put up a poll. The poll is public. Please vote - I need to have an idea if we can finance this and if there is a desire to do so.

 

[D.A.S.]

I don't think kids read the newspaper.

I just don't believe that's true. University kids LOVE school newspapers!

See quote about circulation:

or the record, the Iowa State Daily has the readership of Iowa State University, which has an attendance of approximately 30,000 students. On top of that is the thousands of employees (administrators, professors, grounds keepers, janitors, etc), many of whom also read the paper. The ISU Daily also has a subscription service that serves oodles more people with print copies all across the state and nation. Furthermore, the ISU Daily is on racks all across the city of Ames, where Iowa State University is located. God knows how many residents of our host town read the paper. Our readership very well could be 50,000 people in print, and as pointed out, gazillions online now, haha.

In short, the Daily reaches far, far more readers than the average small town paper. Furthermore, it services a predominately young demographic who appear to be very receptive to libertarian philosophy. I'm not saying the Iowa State Daily is important (that's for you to judge). I'm only saying that it's not exactly unimportant.

 

[parocks]

You'll want to determine what the final, unchanging date of the Iowa Caucus is. We don't know that yet.

When we know what the Iowa Caucus date is, we can determine how to move forward in Ames, Iowa City and Cedar Falls.

If schools are in session in Ames, Iowa City and Cedar Falls, we're going to want to build a massive ground operation in those cities for those
schools.

If the kids who are going to those schools are going to be home when the caucus is, we really don't have the huge potential upside.

I'm not sure newspaper ads are the 100% best way to go, but those prices are cheap.

If the caucuses are at the wrong time, the ads should tell the kids to register where their parents live.

If the caucuses are at the right time, the ads should tell the kids to register at the dorms or where they live in Ames, Iowa City, Cedar Falls.

The kids like Ron Paul. We don't need to tell the kids to like Ron Paul.

The kids aren't good at voting. Not like the old people are, so if the caucus is at the right time, we really do want a massive effort there. Put lots and lots of money
in the hands of the Youth for Ron Paul groups on those 3 campuses and the meetup groups in those cities.

It's good that we know how much these ads cost.

Ads are good for things like announcing Ron Paul events that are taking place on those campuses.

When there's any Ron Paul event that we want people to go to - a voter registration drive, a Meetup group, an "adopt a cyclone" program, etc., we can put it in there.

We do not need to really spend any money telling these kids that Ron Paul is better than Rick Perry. They already know this.

 

[orenbus]

I don't think kids read the newspaper.

The ones that vote do.

 

[D.A.S.]

Here are some statistics for Iowa State from 2010-2011 enrollment, so we know how many students are actually residents of Iowa:

Undergraduates: 16,080 (about 15,276 full-time, others could be part-time)
Graduate Students: 2,100 (about 1,100 full-time, others could be part-time)
1st Professional: 264 (about 261 full-time)

Iowa State enrollment increased for this academic year. So, we're looking at at LEAST 16,500 full-time students at Iowa State who are Iowa Residents. Add to that staff and profs, who are probably Iowa residents also.

Not bad constituency, I'd say!

 

[parocks]

The message: Iowa Caucus may be as early as January 3. In order for Ron Paul to win Iowa, record turn-out by young voters is a MUST. You must be registered republican to vote for Ron Paul in Iowa caucuses, and the deadline for registering republican is ____________. Talk to your families, talk to your friends, get them to come out and support Ron Paul in the Iowa caususes in 2012!

The Message: Iowa Caucus IS on ???. We should wait until we know with 100% uncertainty when the caucus is. New Hampshire is talking about December. Iowa might be December, before New Hampshire.

 

[parocks]

Here are some statistics for Iowa State from 2010-2011 enrollment, so we know how many students are actually residents of Iowa:

Undergraduates: 16,080 (about 15,276 full-time, others could be part-time)
Graduate Students: 2,100 (about 1,100 full-time, others could be part-time)
1st Professional: 264 (about 261 full-time)

Iowa State enrollment increased for this academic year. So, we're looking at at LEAST 16,500 full-time students at Iowa State who are Iowa Residents. Add to that staff and profs, who are probably Iowa residents also.

Not bad constituency, I'd say!

Where are you getting your data from?

According to Wikipedia (which could be wrong) There are a lot more students than that.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iowa_State_University

Students 29,887 (Fall 2011)[2]
Undergraduates 24,343 (Fall 2011)[3]
Postgraduates 4,958 (Fall 2011)[4]
586 veterinary[5]
Location Ames, Iowa, United States
Campus Urban, 1,984 acres (8.0 km2)

 

[parocks]

http://www.news.iastate.edu/news/2011/sep/fallenrollment

Another record: Iowa State University fall enrollment nears 30,000

AMES, Iowa - Iowa State University's record fall enrollment of 29,887 marks five consecutive years of growth, and includes all-time high numbers of new (direct from high school) and transfer students.

Overall enrollment is up 4.2 percent (1,205 students) over the previous record of 28,682 in fall 2010. The student body represents every Iowa county and 106 countries.

Iowa State has attracted its largest freshman class ever - 5,048 - and 61.5 percent of them (3,105) are Iowans. And ISU this fall has enrolled a record number of new transfer students (1,781); 1,050 of them are from Iowa's community colleges, also a record.

Total Iowa resident enrollment is 18,526, of which 16,552 are undergraduates.

 

[D.A.S.]

Where are you getting your data from?

According to Wikipedia (which could be wrong) There are a lot more students than that.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Iowa_State_University

Students 29,887 (Fall 2011)[2]
Undergraduates 24,343 (Fall 2011)[3]
Postgraduates 4,958 (Fall 2011)[4]
586 veterinary[5]
Location Ames, Iowa, United States
Campus Urban, 1,984 acres (8.0 km2)

That's total student body. They are not all Iowa residents.

Look here for 2010-2011 student profile to determine percentages of in-state residents:
http://www.ir.iastate.edu/PDFfiles/2010-2011 Student Profile.pdf

 

[D.A.S.]

Total Iowa resident enrollment is 18,526, of which 16,552 are undergraduates.

Yes, and you also need to take into account that some of the students are part-time. So my estimate of 16,500 full-time students who are Iowa residents is very much spot-on. ;-)