Project Workflow

Marketing Illinois Extension’s vast portfolio of programs requires a collaborative effort between program staff and communicators at all levels of the organization. The transition from geographic-based programming to virtual opportunities prompted new strategies for statewide sharing of events and resources. Download the complete guide.

To support the expanded program reach, this project workflow guides development of marketing and communications assets. Two critical aspects of the workflow are: (1) content creation, and (2) content distribution. Four scenarios capture the most common creation and distribution pairings.

  1. Statewide content with statewide distribution
  2. Regional content with statewide distribution
  3. Statewide content with local distribution
  4. Local content with local distribution

Statewide Content, Statewide Distribution

Subject matter content developed by state-level program teams for which statewide marketing distribution and implementation is the goal.

ASSET DEVELOPMENT PROCESS: Asset development begins with the state marketing team.

  1. Program staff submit a marketing request at go.illinois.edu/marketingrequest with as much advance notice as possible.
  2. State communications manager reviews request and assigns communicators  to the project. An expected completion date is provided to the program team.
  3. Events and press releases are created on the global website and shared to unit websites.
  4. Drafts are provided to the program staff for review.
  5. All marketing assets related to the project are included in the weekly state marketing update each Friday.

Regional Content, Statewide Distribution

Subject matter content coordinated by regional teams for which statewide marketing distribution of more than 5 units is appropriate.

ASSET DEVELOPMENT PROCESS: Asset development begins with the state marketing team.

  1. Program staff submit a marketing request at go.illinois.edu/marketingrequest with as much advance notice as possible.
  2. State communications manager reviews request and assigns communicators to the project. An expected completion date is provided to the program team.
  3. Events and press releases are created on the global website and shared to unit websites.
  4. Drafts are provided to the program area staff for review.
  5. All marketing assets related to the project are included in the weekly state marketing update.

Statewide Content, Local Distribution

Event or program based on a statewide program that is delivered locally for a specific unit at a time separate from statewide presentations. Branding for these events must align with state marketing.

ASSET DEVELOPMENT PROCESS:

  1. The local program staff or unit communicator submit a marketing request at go.illinois.edu/marketingrequest to request the specific graphic design files or request the state marketing team to make the needed local customizations.
  2. Marketing is local. Units may share with up to four additional units.

Local Content, Local Distribution

Event or program of local interest and local distribution; not part of statewide branded programming.

ASSET DEVELOPMENT PROCESS:

  1. The local program staff initiate discussion with the local communicator (if applicable) as early as possible to determine marketing assets needed.
  2. Creation of events, press releases, and social media is completed at the unit level following all Extension brand standards.
  3. Units may share with up to four additional units.