According to Violet Herzfeld, \u201cThe best way to learn about an advertising campaign is to develop one in NSAC.\u201d<\/p>\n
The National Student Advertising Competition, better known as NSAC, is an annual advertising competition that challenges college students around the nation to develop an integrated advertising campaign for a corporate sponsor of its choosing.<\/p>\n
This year\u2019s sponsor is Wienerschnitzel. While the World\u2019s Largest Hot Dog Chain was recently ranked the No. 1 quick service restaurant on Entrepreneur\u2019s Franchise 500 list, it has also experienced backlash from consumers interested in organic, hormone-free meat products.<\/p>\n
Now, students at the collegiate level have devised advertising strategies and tactics that will (hopefully) change opinions about the brand and its products.<\/p>\n
Before the creative genius began, however, Herzfeld, says students embarked on an extensive interviewing process, lengthy training sessions, and a campaign \u201ccrash course\u201d to prepare for the road ahead.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe started preparing for NSAC months before the competition started,\u201d Herzfeld said. Her advisor, Antonio Banos, required students to finish a series of assigned readings, including Hey Whipple, Squeeze This <\/em>by Luke Sullivan, apply for preferred team positions, and develop peer relationships with perspective NSAC members.<\/p>\n But Herzfeld claims \u201creal work\u201d began in the spring when students were officially accepted on the campaign team. The team had designated meeting times twice per week, running at an hour and a half each, but Herzfeld says she worked on the project all day, every day, including weekends.<\/p>\n \u201cI have so much more respect for advertising professionals now,\u201d Herzfeld admits. \u201cThe sensation of watching a \u2018really good\u2019 ad is no longer met with laughter or emotion, but the dull realization that it takes an army to execute a single idea.\u201d<\/p>\n Herzfeld did emphasize that her work was worth it. When describing the development of the campaign, she says, \u201cManifesting an idea is the single most rewarding experience I have made at TCU.\u201d Unlike many projects, the NSAC Competition requires students to create their campaign idea as well as relevant strategies and tactics completely from scratch.<\/p>\n \u201cThe hardest part was picking one idea,\u201d Herzfeld said. \u201cWith a team of 20 people, competing thoughts made it difficult to reach unanimous decisions and proceed in the design process.\u201d\u00a0While tensions were often high at work, Herzfeld was happy to say, \u201cI feel like I have 20 new friends now.\u201d Team relationships ultimately fortified platonic relationships that have now resulted in more friendly faces on campus.<\/p>\n Most of all, Herzfeld says, \u201cBecause of the Schieffer College, because of this opportunity, I feel confident in my ability to work at an agency.\u201d Before the NSAC Competition began, Herzfeld described her professional aspirations as unknown and her capabilities as a work in progress. Now, she has what it takes to be successful in \u201cthe real world.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":823,"template":"","class_list":["post-822","student_work","type-student_work","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","sw_category-strategic-communication"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n