The Signpost from Ogden, Utah • 6

Wednesday, September 29, 1999 Page 6 THE SIGNPOST "QT A fttffl target audience That group that composes the present and potential prospects for a product or service, kfr Everyday people are inundated with advertising. Students at Weber State University are affected by these same influences in a much more concentrated atmosphere. The target audience of many companies and agencies, students can be reached in masses on campus through fliers, bulletin boards, and the student-run radio and newspaper. Advertisements for ads Campus serves as ad forum By Troy Wood features writer -The Signpost Everyday a person is subjected to hundreds of advertisements. Many of these advertisements are very subtle such as a brand name on a shirt someone in class may be wearing, or more noticeable, like the annoying jingle that stays in a person's head all day.

These are nothing new to the world of advertising. However, many college campuses are seeing some new advertising that is targeted especially at college students. It's the selling of advertising posters. The posters are sold in a magazine called "Beyond The Wall," which sells full picture posters of anything from cars to Dr. Martens ads.

The product is shown with something students find "cool." Or at that's what WSU student Patrick Lundin thought. After thumbing through the magazine, Lundin said, "I think it's a good way to advertise." Guys will like the sexy women portrayed in many of the ads, and many of the women love the hunks in other posters. If that doesn't appeal to one's taste, how about a poster of a sports car or something different like a giant Snapple bottle made out of sand on the beach. WSU advertising student Dax Bambrough saw the magazine and commented on the advertising idea. "I thought it was more attention-grabbing to look at the ads, than to buy the posters.

The poster order form almost gets lost in the magazine." However, Bambrough commented further that the magazine has gotten a lot of attention around campus. He has seen many people looking through it in class or just find it lying around somewhere on campus. Senior Vice President of Youth Stream, Brian Gordon created the magazine about six years ago. He said they go to the individual clients and ask them if they would like to sell an ad as a poster in their magazine. "It's doing very well and college students love it," Gordon said.

He said some think that the posters would not sell very well to college students because the stereotypical college student would view advertising negatively. His comment to that is, "College students are not stupid. They know it's straight advertising. They look at a poster and think it's cool." College students' rooms are often littered with posters and pictures. So the idea is to get some cool pictures in the rooms that also advertise a product.

WSU student Melissa Fulkerson agrees. "You walk into dorm rooms and you see posters. It's a good idea to advertise like this." Anyone interested in seeing sample posters or ordering some can call Youth Stream at 2 12-622-7300 or can visit their webpage at www.beyondthewall.com. are aimed at people from ages 12 to 25, which is the general age of KWCR listeners. The World Wide Web has become a haven for those targeting college students.

These are usually advertised by fliers or posters around campus for services such as cheap books, posters, jobs, banking, and travel information. "I don't like windshield or newspaper fliers. I don't look at them," said Aaron Drake, a senior studying Spanish. He said he tried to use the Internet to buy textbooks, but they didn't have what he needed. "If I want to find something on the Internet, I will use a search engine to trade stocks, or buy books and CDs," Drake said.

Cole Wilkes, a junior majoring in communication, said, "It's good to know what's out there. I've actually used the job sites to see what qualifications are needed." Students can find fliers for CD clubs everywhere they turn. These are usually popular with poor college students. "I like them," said Dan Camp, junior in communication. "It gives me something to look at in das." Camp said that it is effective for companies to advertise on a university campus because "college students are into buying things." several ads are for products such as spruce siding, decking, railing and post from Satterwhite Log Homes.

Sales Manager Mark Engberson said they advertise in most small newspapers in Utah because "you never know where the reach is, even in small town papers," adding that he has taken calls for sales in other states from people who used to live in Utah and saw the advertisement in a small paper. "It's not just for home owners." Engberson said, "students can't beat the price of our firewood." Other distant cities may also aim their advertising at WSU students. One ad for the Delta car show in Delta, Utah, ran in The Signpost "This is the biggest show we've ever had. We had excellent feedback from the ad," said Sharry Harper, co-director of the show. "We put the ad in several small papers, and we will definitely run the ad again next year." Not only are students pumped with advertisements in The Signpost, but also on the WSU radio station KWCR, The Edge." "Because we are nonprofit, we have extremely cheap advertising which attracts businesses." said Stacey Cragun, general manager.

She said that most of the advertisements are successful because they By Gaylene Rowe features writer -The Signpost Businesses constantly aim their advertising arrows at the college population. Sometimes they hit a bull's eye, sometimes they miss completely. At Weber State University most of the advertisements are in the form of fliers, and newspaper or radio ads. Dick Simon trucking company advertised in The Signpost for people interested in making $30,000 a year with on-the-job training. Mark Espenschied, director of marketing, said that WSU is an excellent place to advertise because they only hire people who are 2 1 and older.

"Lots of people work for us with four year degrees," Espenschied said. "They feel like their own boss." He also said that some students may feel frustrated in their school programs and are attracted to this company because "some truckers can earn $90,000 per year." Victor Ethridge, a senior in the information and technology program, said, "Maybe they are targeting those who are disaffected with school. "An artist or a writer may want a trucking job that would allow them time to be able to write," he said. Aimed at nontradiMonal students, professors and alumni who own homes,.