Welcome to the Toolbox

Welcome to Agricultural Communications Services Marketing Toolbox.  Here you will find tools to assist you in marketing yourself, and your office, to those you serve.  These tools will come in various shapes and sizes, but their main goal is to further the branding of Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service (OCES) and you, its employee.  In doing so you become more recognizable in your communities, which will lead to more contact, more requests for assistance and you will certainly become better identified with the state’s most prolific agricultural leader Oklahoma State University.

Branding and why you should work it

Originally branding was simply marking yourself with a personal, easily identifiable trademark or logo.  Today, in face of unrelenting marketing messages and literally hundreds of similar
products, branding has taken on a more complex context.  Instead of selecting a font and bright colors for your logo, then relying on this logo to solicit sales of your product or service, you
must now consider incorporating more strategies and plans.  What does the customer think, feel or suspect about you and your business?  Is there consistency in your message?  Do they have confidence in you?  The whole of this is your brand.  You must constantly nurture your brand as it’s the single most important task you will have as a business representative or service provider. 

While it’s necessary to promote our services, it’s much more important to maintain high
customer confidence with our clients.  Since we’re a service provider we must pay particularly close attention to our clients needs.  The cost to retrieve a lost client is five to ten-times more
than soliciting them the first time.  What good is a bright and colorful logo if clients won’t
call because of previous customer service failures?  That’s not to say we shouldn’t strive to
maintain a competitive edge with our brand, it only means we need to look at the big picture
to see if we’re doing everything we can to successfully increase our brand value, for Extension
as well as Oklahoma State University.

Labeling ourselves

To get started, let’s brand ourselves.  Here branding means labeling yourself; your office; your meetings; and even your automobile with the Extension logo.  This will allow those unfamiliar with you and your services to identify with OCES.  The more they identify with Extension, the more likely they are to interact with you on a personal basis; request information on Extension programs and services; and further spread that information by the most effective form of advertising – word-of-mouth. 

Each time an individual sees the Extension logo, an impression is made upon them.  As they accumulate impressions a form of trust, or bonding, begins to grow so it’s your job to make sure the impression is a positive one.  The more positive impressions they collect, the more the trust builds.   When you successfully answer their questions or present a program that satisfies them, they will pass their trust of you on to those they know, thus spreading the awareness of OSU and Extension.  Every single impression has value, and it’s this value you need to capitalize on.  Build on the impressions and you automatically build value.  Rest assured there is value in building trust and it can help you in your daily operations.  It will start slowly but will inevitably become your most prized asset.   It’s easy to do and in most cases very inexpensive.

Visit our name tag, business card & stationary and logos pages to learn more about labeling yourself.

Label your office and programs.

Signage is another valuable tool as it enjoys a wide range of applications to further the branding of Extension.  From posters and banners, to hand-outs and business cards; from postcards and stationery to tote bags and promotional items, signage will allow clients and attendees to connect with OCES and all it has to offer.  Signage is also very inexpensive, thus it can be changed out often making it a very versatile medium.  Again, every application of signage creates impressions and each impression has value.  Make your signage as attractive as possible and use it at every opportunity. 

The items shown here are available through OSU University Mailing at a very low cost.  Make a habit to incorporate these items in all your communications for an inexpensive way to build recognition throughout your service area. 

To request a printed item be added to this library, please send a request through your district
office.  An OCES branded materials order form can be found here or you can contact university
mailing at 405-744-9037.

Visit our printed materials page for more information

Label your vehicle

The transportation you use on a daily basis can be an effective advertising medium for the
Extension logo.  Extension county personnel can be the most traveled of any profession within their locales and to take advantage of this you simply brand your vehicle with an Extension tag.  The embossed Extension tag is aluminum thus making it a low-maintenance, long-life advertising item.  It’s a colorful, eye-catching billboard that can be affixed to the front bumper of any Oklahoma vehicle. Displaying the Extension logo equals a display of your confidence, and pride, in being part of one the best known and most respected professional fields, Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service.

Visit our promotional items page for more information

Labeled promotional items

The promotional items shown here are also available to you through OSU University Mailing.  You can find these items listed on the OCES Printed Materials Order Form.  All are high-quality, long-lasting, and inexpensive gifts for you to present to guest speakers, clients or perhaps as giveaways at your next meeting or show.  All are labeled with the Extension logo.  OSU
employees may also purchase these items at OSU University Mailing Services.

Visit our promotional items page for more information

Banners now available

Welcome banners were produced for DASNR Day at the Capitol and are now available for you to use as a public display.  The static, retractable banners are easy to transport and set up in less than two minutes.  They’re an impressive 8-feet tall, yet only 3-feet wide and will add a positive graphic element to any meeting, program or show.  Request them early for your event through your district office.  Display these six banners either individually as a stand-alone, or in a group to create a full backdrop.

Also available are banners for SUNUP that you may display to promote awareness of the television program.  One is retractable and another is vinyl with grommets suitable for outdoor use.

Visit our Extension signage page for more information