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NC State Extension

Downloads and Templates

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Introduction

Read through the entire brand site to make sure you understand our standards, guidelines and how everything works in unison before creating Extension communication pieces with these assets.

If you have questions or issues, or if you’d like to suggest additional resources, contact our Marketing and Communications team.

Check back often as this toolkit will continually evolve with new assets and examples.

Brand Assets

Consistency is Key

Consistency is a basic and critical marketing concept that is often neglected. Consistency helps audiences know the materials are ours and attach that trust and value to Extension.

In print, this means consistent color schemes and the same logo, font and design elements. Electronic and broadcast media use consistent audio (theme music), video (opening montages) and design elements; and print media use very consistent design marks.

Being a single entity within a group, such as a county center in a statewide network, can present a tug-of-war between consistency and customization. Creating your own ad formats and communications look is like starting at ground zero and building a brand from scratch.

……………

CALS 101 Communication Planning Resources

The CALS Communications team developed resources in an effort to make your life easier while making sure your department’s amazing stories get the coverage they deserve. The best way to save time is to be strategic, plan ahead and know our message – these will help get you started.

While these resources are geared toward a college-level approach, they are still valuable tools that can be adapted to support your Extension-related efforts, which helps drive the overall college and university mission.

Review the NC State Extension Brand Platform for a better understanding of our Extension-specific messaging.

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Digital Billboards

You can use these templates (PowerPoint files) to create an event or program announcement slide for Billboard, the central system for displaying digital signs across campus.

To customize a template, choose a background color from NC State’s core color palette.

The expanded palette colors are also available in swatches within the template, but do not use these against Wolfpack Red.

Adjust the elements to best fit your content, write short copy that can be read quickly at a distance and then save the finished slide as a JPG or PNG of 1920×1080 pixels.

Related: Extension Impact Graphics (PDF sample)

NC State Extension Digital Billboard slide example

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Email Signature

All Extension employees should include a logo image as part of your email signature. When used this way, the logo should appear at the bottom of the email signature, below all of your contact information.

See the guidelines and images below for examples of suggested signature layouts — you can choose to omit some contact details.

Adding the Logo to Your Email Signature in Gmail

  1. Download a pre-sized Extension logo to your computer (right-click the logo and select “Save Image As”).
  2. Go to your email settings, then scroll down to the “Signature” section to enter your info in the text field. If you already have an email signature, verify that everything is correct.
  3. To insert the logo, position your blinking cursor two lines below the last line of contact info in your signature. Click the “Insert Image” icon (next to the “Link” icon) to upload and insert the logo image file from your computer.
  4. Don’t resize the logo image, and keep it on a line by itself without any other text or graphics on the same line.
  5. Click “Save Changes” at the bottom of the page.

NC State Extension employee email signature long example NC State Extension employee email signature short example

Download Logo for Email Signature (.JPG)

Guidelines for Email Signatures

  • We highly encourage everyone to include the name of their university (NC State University or N.C. A&T State University) in text.
  • Note that a public-disclosure statement is the last element in the signature:
     
    All electronic mail messages in connection with state business that are sent to or received by this account are subject to the North Carolina public records law and may be disclosed to third parties.
  • To properly format your signature text, make sure you’re using the “Sans Serif” font at normal size.
    • Do not use embellishments like italics or cursive in any part of your signature (only the “Sans Serif” font at normal size in Gmail settings).
  • You can add additional contact info, such as a fax line or mobile phone, if necessary for clients.
    • Remember that some email clients don’t display images; your contact information should always be in the form of text, not images.
  • As a best practice, try to refrain from adding additional graphics/images under your signature. See below for guidance on social media icons.

Go to your email settings.

Social Media Icons in Email Signatures

You can include approved social media icons that link to official university / Extension social media channels in your email signature. When used this way, the icons should appear at the bottom of the email signature, below all other elements including the Extension logo. Don’t resize the icons, and keep them on a single line together, without any other text or graphics on that line.

To include the social media icons as part of your email signature:

  1. Download Social Media Icons for Email Signature
  2. Go to your email settings and scroll down to the “Signature” section. To insert an icon, position your blinking cursor two lines below the logo in your signature. Click the “Insert Image” icon to upload and insert an icon image file from your computer.
  3. After inserting the icon(s), click on an icon to select it, then click the “Link” button and paste the URL for the channel the icon represents into the “Web address” field.
  4. Do this with each icon in turn, until each icon links to its respective channel. Don’t include the icon(s) in your signature without linking in this way!
  5. Once you have added the icon(s) to your signature and clicked “Save Changes,” send a test email to ensure that everything looks and links correctly.

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Email Templates (ActiveCampaign)

Use our custom ActiveCampaign email templates to facilitate impactful, on-brand digital communications with your clients, partners and target audiences. ActiveCampaign is a Customer Relationship Management platform (CRM) that replaces Constant Contact as Extension’s email marketing tool for counties and campus.

In addition to email campaigns, ActiveCampaign offers enhanced functionality for managing all digital communication and interactions with your audiences.

Getting Started

    REMINDER: Campus employees should use the NC State Extension versions as their default templates.

Sample Template for NC State Extension:
NC State Extension_Constant Contact email template_Event Example

Have Questions About Your ActiveCampaign Account?

If you’ere unsure of how to access or use your ActiveCampaign account, or need help with other questions, contact the Extension Information Technology (EIT) Help Desk at eithelpdesk@ncsu.edu.

We strongly encourage you to take advantage of EIT’s ActiveCampaign training before diving in. Find training information, step-by-step guidance and FAQs at Using ActiveCampaign.

Email Marketing Tips

Be mindful of how frequently you send emails to your audiences. Excessive contact will cause fatigue, leading recipients to ignore your messages. Find additional tools and guidance below:

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History and Milestones Materials

We’ve created a collection of resources to help celebrate Extension’s history and inform stakeholders about our indelible impact across the state. The materials below are available to all Extension personnel and can be used in a variety of ways throughout the year.

The digital billboards, for example, can be displayed on county center / campus screens or inserted into presentations. The handout is a great leave-behind piece for events or meetings with new partners. The video clip can boost engagement with newsletters, webpages or social channels (along with the social graphics).

More Extension History

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Icons

NC State University graphic icons set displayed against a white background
Use the university’s set of on-brand icons to add visual interest and illustrate important facts and figures within your web and print content. If using other icons, make sure they are clean and simple with a singular focus and color.

Icons can be changed to any color in NC State’s color palette. Either place a white icon on a field of color, or convert an icon’s color for use on a white background. Only use one color per icon. Icons should not be altered or combined.

For print projects, use the EPS/PDF files (called “vector” files) to ensure that icons print clearly at any size. PNG/JPG files should only be used on the web or in Microsoft Office programs like PowerPoint. Note that EPS files can be used in PowerPoint as well.

Print and Web files are available as .zip folders. Note that these folders are housed on Google Drive due to the file size – you will need to be logged in with your Unity ID to access the files.

Extension Core Program Area Icons

NC State Extension's core program area icons for agriculture, food and nutrition, and 4-H youth development.

Extension created unique icons to visually represent each of its three core program areas: Agriculture, Food and Nutrition, and 4-H Youth Development.

Use these icons as needed when developing materials – both web (PNG) and print (EPS) files are available via Google Drive.

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Impact Resources

In order for Extension to remain relevant and successful for years to come, it’s important that our stakeholders recognize the value of our programming across the state. Whatever the challenge, we never stop delivering on our promise to improve lives and grow North Carolina.

Ideally, your team will have drafted a local marketing plan to guide your efforts (we can’t overstate how important this is to optimizing your resources and maximizing your marketing impact), at which point the resources below can help you promote your programs and grow awareness of Extension’s impact.

Extension Stats and Strengths

Our primary impacts webpage features a variety of annual impact resources that offer the latest details and data regarding our statewide efforts.

Find more resources at Extension Stats + Strengths.

More Local Impact Tools

*To download resources from Google Drive, right-click the file and select “Download.” These are .DOTX files, which are Microsoft Word templates. When opened, it creates a new Word doc (.docx) so you can save files without altering the original template.

For additional guidance, refer to Tools for Communicating Local Impacts.

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Jobs and Careers (Recruitment Resources)

Find materials below to help recruit for local job openings and promote Extension as an exciting career choice. Graphics are formatted for specific social platforms, but can also be printed as handouts, posted to websites, added to newsletters, etc.

For those with Adobe Acrobat, you can customize the PDF social media graphics — i.e. replace the URL with a local job posting link or edit some of the language. This is optional, as all graphics point to Extension Jobs with all current openings.

Banner-Ups (33.5×85)

Billboard Graphics / Slides (16×9)

Handouts

Social Media Graphics

Table Displays (11×19)

Extension Careers Video



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You can download NC State Extension logos all at once (organized by print and web/digital uses) or individually as needed.

The “Print” folder contains EPS and PDF files, which are the only logos that should be used for print. As vector files (more info), they print at any size without loss of quality.

The “Web” folder includes JPG and PNG logos that can be used for Microsoft Office documents like Word and PowerPoint, or on websites.

Visit the Visual Identity section for NC State Extension for logo usage guidelines.
 
Stacked Logos

NC State Extension Logo_Color stacked NC State Extension Logo_Black stacked NC State Extension Logo_Black text stacked

Horizontal Logos

NC State Extension Logo_Horizontal color NC State Extension Logo_Horizontal black NC State Extension Logo_Horizontal black text

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Marketing Handouts | General Overview

Download plug-and-play resources that provide an overview of Extension without the need for adding or editing content. Quick and simple tools to share at events, field days, meetings or wherever needed.

Find customizable handouts and other related resources in the Impacts section.

Media Resources

Templates and Helpful Handouts

Training Slides

Media Relations 101: Working with the Media


News Releases 101: Tips and Alternative Strategies

Interview Tips

If the opportunity arises to serve as a source for a media outlet (whether it’s a local newspaper or a national trade publication), take time to review these tips before providing an interview.

  • Know who the reporter is and what organization they represent.
  • Ask what the story will be about and when their deadline is.
  • Determine whether you are knowledgeable to do the interview or if you need to refer to someone else.
  • Develop three key messages and supporting points for these messages.
  • Anticipate tough questions and practice answering them with your key messages.
  • Don’t assume reporter knowledge; consider providing key points in writing.
  • If a reporter asks a question that you don’t want to answer, bridge to a response that gets across one of your key messages.
  • Be prepared. Stick to key messages, talk slowly and lead with the bottom line.
  • Avoid “no comment.”
  • Tell the truth.

CALS Communications Materials

Media Contacts

We are also available to assist with media relations and story development. Contact us or our team to learn more or discuss a media opportunity.

Justin Moore
Director of Marketing and Communications | NC State Extension
justin_moore@ncsu.edu

Julie Hayworth-Perman
Marketing and Communications Specialist | NC State Extension
jhaywor@ncsu.edu

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Online Store

Visit our official NC State Extension store to find branded apparel. More details are available at Extension Online Store. *You’ll need to login with your Unity ID.

Apparel and promotional items may be purchased from other sources, but university employees should make every effort to work with NC State’s licensed vendors.

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Photos and Images

Utilize our photo galleries and always follow the style guidelines when creating marketing materials. Our images are copyright-protected, on-brand and should not be used for personal purposes.

Copyright

Copyright is a legal right to control the use of certain types of works, including text, graphics / photos, video, audio and many other forms of expression. Faculty and staff are expected to respect the intellectual property rights of others and refrain from copyright infringement.

Image Galleries

Images in these university and Extension galleries do not require attribution when used by employees. If sharing with an external entity like a media outlet, they can source images as, “Courtesy of NC State Extension,” or something similar.

Photo Release Form

Royalty-Free Sites

When needed, you can also consider exploring royalty-free image sites. These sites offer freely-licensed visual media content, though fees may apply in some situations.

Image File Types

When it comes to photos and images, it’s important to use the appropriate file type for any given situation. Follow the general guidelines below to help you determine which image file type is best for various resources.

  • Web / Digital: JPG, PNG or GIF
    Includes websites, Office programs, social media, etc.
  • Print Items: EPS or PDF
    Includes apparel, promos / swag, publications, signage or displays, etc.
  • Video: JPG or PNG
    Export the final video as MP4

Review our Overview of Common Image File Types for a summary of the differences between image file types and how best to use them.

The file type, size and resolution each affect overall image quality. Learn more about Image Size and Quality and how each factor impacts image quality.

Alternative Text (“Alt Text”)

Alternative text – also called “alt tags,” “alt descriptions” and “alt text” – is the written copy that appears in place of an image on a webpage if the image fails to load. This text helps screen-reading tools describe images to visually-impaired readers, and also allows search engines like Google to better crawl and rank websites.

Review guidance from NC State regarding alt text and how to utilize it effectively and responsibly on your websites:

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PowerPoint Templates

View all PowerPoint presentation templates in Google Drive.

*NOTE: You will need to save the files (including Google Slides) to your computer or Google Drive before editing.

Extension Overview Slides + Templates

Download slides with general Extension information to insert into presentations as needed. Slides include basic overview details, Extension history, impacts and organizational metrics, as well as slide templates that can be customized.

NC State employees can also access tools and templates for Google Slides as part of the university’s G Suite services. Create, edit and collaborate with others on presentations from any device for free.

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Research Poster

You can create research posters in two sizes using these PowerPoint templates. To create a custom size, first remove the header by selecting and cutting it, and then resize the slide. Once resized, paste the header back into the slide.

You may also create your own header using the NC State brick logo and the Arial typeface.

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Social Media Assets

Best Practices and Guidelines for Social Media
Review NC State social media guidelines and best practices for managing a social media account. This valuable resource will help you utilize social media more responsibly, strategically and successfully.

Refer to the NC State Social Media Site for the university’s social media policy, how to officially register your account with the university, and other tips and tools.

Social Media Contact

Connect with Caro Metzler, social media specialist for Extension and CALS, for more information and guidance.

Caro Metzler (they/them)
CALS + Extension Social Media Specialist
cmetzle2@ncsu.edu
919-532-9472

Training Tools

Find guidance on strategic planning and content development – understanding your goals, using appropriate social channels and creating content that is targeted to your audiences. This training will help you plan and coordinate your local social media efforts more effectively.

Graphic Design for Extension Social Media
Discover the basic design principles of our brand, tips for maximizing your impact and useful tools to assist with your local social media efforts.

Social Media Channels Overview

Extension Social Media Messaging Themes

Extension’s social media content should reinforce and fall within one or more of the following messaging buckets, which align with our brand drivers and provide optimal support for Extension’s marketing goals and brand identity:

  • Best People (= Expertise, Profiles)
    • Highlight our topical expertise and employees: we have the best people and customer service (e.g. employee stories/profiles, some Homegrown videos, etc.)
  • Research-based Programs (= Content, Tools/Services)
    • Spotlight key programs and their impacts: trusted, research-based efforts driving growth and prosperity across the state
    • “Programs” = what Extension provides (tools, services, knowledge, etc.)
  • Extensive Partnerships (= Outreach, Network)
    • Tout our partnerships and vast statewide network: we’re in every community working with stakeholders to address timely issues that others aren’t equipped to manage
  • Leader in Experiential Education (= Delivery/How, Helping clients transfer research into everyday application)
    • Focus on the “how” / delivery aspect of our work: Extension provides individualized solutions (tools, resources, guides, events, etc.) that exemplify high-tech / high-touch, innovation, customer-oriented, localized

Social Post Checklist

  • Does the post support how we’re growing the state / improving the lives of North Carolinians?
  • Does it appeal to and/or is it timely or relevant to our audiences?
  • Does it support one or more of our four strategic messaging themes?
  • Could it cause negative impacts for partners or stakeholders (is there a chance it could deter consumers from engaging with certain products, activities, etc.)?

Image Tools

Always use appropriately sized images / videos for individual social platforms. Utilize the free tools below from Sprout Social to quickly and easily confirm image specs for various social applications. You can also resize images.

Review up-to-date image size guidelines for individual social media platforms below:

Find more imagery and photo resources.

More Graphics Tools

Review the following graphic elements for branding your social media channels. You are not required to use one of these specific images, but you should model your social media account imagery after these examples and guidelines. All images are pre-sized and upload-ready for your accounts.

Facebook Cover Image (820×312)

X – Formerly Twitter – Cover Image (1500×500)

Profile Image
Download a Photoshop file (.PSD) below to create a profile image for your Extension social account. Profile pics always require a square image, which is sometimes placed within a circular frame once loaded, depending on the platform.

It is not necessary to feature the logo in your profile image — that’s more appropriate as a cover image option. Instead use an eye-catching image with a clear focus that is relevant to your channel’s subject matter. It should visually reinforce your identity.

Social Media Analytics Tools

How can you track your Facebook and Twitter posts to see how they are performing? Learn how to capture useful analytics for your outreach on two popular social media channels:

Facebook Analytics

X (Formerly Twitter) Analytics

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Stationery

Business Cards

NC State Extension business cards are available through Wolf Xpress at any time. Extension administration will cover the cost of a new employee’s first order of business cards; our vendor has the account information to invoice the cards appropriately, but you can contact Justin Moore with any issues.

The following examples are for NC State Extension campus employees (click to view):

NC State Extension_Business Card sample_1 column

1-Column Sample
NC State Extension_Business Card sample_2 columns

2-Column Sample

How to Order

Wolf Xpress Contact
Teri Hellmann
tbhellma@ncsu.edu
919-515-2131

*Allow at least 2-3 weeks for delivery. Note that ongoing staffing and supply issues may lead to longer shipping times – we recommend ordering as far in advance as possible.

Letterhead

We highly encourage employees to print letterhead in your office as needed, or utilize our digital communication resources. For those who still wish to purchase bulk quantities of letterhead, you may place orders through Wolf Xpress.

Wolf Xpress Contact
Teri Hellmann
tbhellma@ncsu.edu
919-515-2131

Name Badges

NC State Extension Name Badge sample
Employees may submit new or replacement badge requests any time using the online order form below. NC State Extension administration will fund the initial name badge for all Extension personnel.

Contact the vendor directly if you have questions or issues regarding your order:

The Roberts Group Contact
Cody Williams
cody@robertsgrouponline.com
919-300-7640

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Storytelling Resources

Visit our Extension Storytelling page for guidance and resources to help you develop effective stories and deliver more meaningful impacts.

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Training Opportunities

Our departments have great stories. Working together, we can make sure the world hears them.

Once a month, the CALS Communications team hosts a workshop for all CALS departmental communicators and communications enthusiasts. These sessions focus on best practices, tips and tools to help ensure we’re elevating our impacts and growing our brand. We also provide a space for networking and discussion between communicators who might not otherwise come in contact.

NC State Extension Marketing and Communications also offers trainings related to our Extension brand, how it pertains to everyone’s efforts across the state, and how employees can utilize our marketing resources to connect with your audiences, promote your impacts and tell the story of your programs.

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Video Assets

Video Editing Resources

The assets below will help you create consistent, professional NC State Extension videos that build our brand identity across the state. Before getting started, you should review some key information regarding videos:

Lower Third Generator

This tool will help you generate an image file (JPG) that can be downloaded and used in your video as a text box for names/titles (i.e. a lower third).

Opening / Closing Video Clips (Bumpers)

These clips should be used as the intro and closing frames for all NC State Extension videos. Alternatively, the transparent intro logo files provided may be superimposed over video as the video begins.

Editorial Calendar / Seasonal Topics Planner

Download a sample template to use as a seasonal video topics planner and editorial calendar. Note there are two tabs at the bottom of the sheet. Consider loading your calendar on Google Drive to collaborate with team members and keep things on schedule.

Closed Captions & Transcription Services

We receive many questions about captioning, and the short answer is, “yes,” you must caption ALL public videos regardless of where they’re posted (YouTube, Facebook, website, etc.), per federal accessibility regulations. View Tips for Creating Closed Captions for more guidance.

The service we use in the state office is Rev.com, which is a reliable service that charges $1.50/minute to transcribe videos.

Alternatively, YouTube offers a tool for transcribing your own videos within the site after they’ve been loaded to YouTube. This is a free, but more tedious, process that works best for shorter videos or situations where you already have a script.

How to Caption Music and Sounds

Need help creating or editing a video?
Submit a CALS Communications project request to get started. Or contact Ben Farmer to learn more about EIT’s video education training program.

NC State Extension Overview Videos

These and other videos are housed on our NC State Extension YouTube channel for easier embedding on sites and sharing with audiences through presentations, events or digital marketing efforts that showcase Extension.

Contact us if you need original video files (.mp4).

We Are NC State Extension

Extension Is Everywhere for North Carolina

Find N.C. Cooperative Extension partnership videos.

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Zoom Tools

Download / Create Virtual Backgrounds

Download Zoom Virtual Background Graphics
Images available for N.C. Cooperative Extension and NC State Extension

NC State Virtual Background Generator
Create a virtual background image for use with web conferencing tools

How to Use Zoom Virtual Backgrounds

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Comments or Questions

This site will be updated on a consistent basis to provide you with the most relevant and useful tools and information.

If you have suggestions for other resources or questions about using the current materials, please contact our team.

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