Event Promotion

This page provides resources to help you promote your departmental event to the audiences you want to reach. You'll find tools, channels, and best practices to help share your event with the Dedman College and 51³Ô¹ÏÍøcommunities.

These recommendations are most effective once you have defined the basics of your event—what it is, who it’s for, and key logistical details. Having a clear understanding of your audience and goals will make promotion more focused and effective.

Whenever possible, begin promoting your event several weeks in advance to build awareness and encourage attendance. If your timeline is shorter, you’ll also find guidance here on how to share your event quickly and effectively.

Best practices for promoting your event

  • To add your event, go to the  and click "Sign In" in the top right corner to log in. If you do not yet have access, check with your department administrator, they might have access already. If you prefer, you can submit your event using and our team will add it for you.
  • Once you submit your event, it will auto-populate on the 51³Ô¹ÏÍøEvents calendar, your website’s events list, and the Dedman College event feed.
  • If details for your event change, update the listing instead of creating a new one.
  • Make sure to tag "Dedman College" and your department before publishing the event.

Digital Signage Overview

The Marketing and Communications team manages six television screens powered by Appspace, SMU’s enterprise digital signage platform. Screens are located in:

  • Hyer Hall
  • Heroy Hall (x2)
  • Fondren Science Building
  • Dedman Life Sciences Building
  • Dallas Hall
  • Clements Hall

How to Submit Content

  • Create your digital sign using the specifications below
  • Submit your content through your building’s designated signage manager
  • Most departments, centers, and institutes have an assigned contact
  • If you are unsure who to contact, email dedmanmarketing@smu.edu

For authorized users, additional documentation is available to learn more about using the signage service.


Design Requirements

All digital signage content must meet the following standards:

  • Dimensions: 1920 × 1080 pixels (16:9 aspect ratio) 
  • Follow 51³Ô¹ÏÍøbrand guidelines (typography, color, imagery)
  • Avoid overcrowding and prioritize readability at a distance
  • Ensure accessibility (high contrast, legible font sizes)

  • Is this an event faculty and staff would be interested in? Have you reached out to them? Email them or tell them in faculty and staff meetings.
  • Is this an event for students? Can faculty and instructors share the event with their students via email or through and encourage them to attend? Have you considered asking faculty to provide an incentive for students to attend, such as extra credit or a related assignment if the event is relevant to the class? The earlier you coordinate this the more likely students would attend.

  • Select the social media platform that best aligns with your audience. Facebook can be a good channel for reaching faculty and staff, while Instagram is typically more effective for student audiences.
  • Consider posting about your event one to two weeks in advance, with a follow-up reminder during the week of the event. This gives your audience time to plan ahead.
  • Last-minute posts are less likely to generate strong engagement, so early promotion is encouraged whenever possible.