Comprehensive advertising campaign takes flight

York U "This Is My Time" advertisement

“2028: My research team is the first to create stem cell based organs.” Anuj Arora, Biology, Faculty of Science, 2013.

York U "This Is My Time" advertisement

“2019: My books help children around the world develop a love of reading.” Victoria Shearham, Faculty of Education, 2014.

York U "This Is My Time" advertisement

“2034: I run one of the most successful and ethical hedge funds in Canada.” – David Marrello, Finance, Schulich School of Business, 2015.

York U "This Is My Time" advertisement

Three more inspiring visions that are part of the University’s “this is my time” awareness and marketing campaign will join the visions of other exceptional York students in an integrated marketing campaign that begins Sept. 24 and runs until Nov. 2.

Cinema spot, display advertising on the exterior of buses shelters, positions in upcoming university ranking publications, digital mall posters, online and social media advertisements and a powerful and inspiring booth at the Ontario Universities Fair later this month have been carefully planned to maximize York’s presence during the key recruitment time for Ontario universities to attract prospective students.

The Ontario Universities Fair booth

The target audiences for the ‘this is my time’ campaign are students aged 16 to 20 years old, their parents and teachers who are investigating postsecondary education.

The campaign is designed to improve the reputation of York University with the goal of making York a first choice when high school students apply for postsecondary education.

 Focused on the 416-905 regions, measures of success for the campaign include an increase in the number and quality of students who choose York as their first choice. The campaign will also include an internal campaign focused on current students, faculty and staff to instill pride in York University.

 A microsite, yorku.ca/mytime, which launched yesterday, provides an online forum for current students to voice their own visions by entering their vision and the date they want to achieve it by. All visions will be displayed on a vision exchange wall within the microsite and students will automatically be entered into a contest to win a year’s tuition. A selection committee will review all submissions and vote on the best entry after the close of the contest, Oct 26.  The winner will be announced in November.

In addition to the microsite, plans are underway to develop signage for Vari Hall, the Campus Walk, the Bennett Student Centre and the Scott Library, signage in the Student Centre, York lanes and flags at the York Boulevard. “This is my time” branding is prominent on all of York’s social media channels including the York University’s home page, Twitter news page, Facebook cover photos, and a YouTube channel.

Augmenting the entire campaign is an enthusiastic crew of Red Zone ambassadors who participated in the “Something’s coming” teaser campaign that led up to yesterday’s enthusiastic launch of the new brand.  The Red Zone team will keep the contest interesting with free T-shirt giveaways to the first person to the Red Zone kiosk with the correct answer to questions pride building questions about York.