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Stat of the Day
57% of teenagers 12-17 make their own content to post to the web.
-Pew Internet & American Life Project, November 2006
UGC Defined
User generated content defines itself; anything created and contributed by the user. It encompasses things like social networking sites, personal webpages, blogs, and photo and video sharing sites. This content is viral, giving internet users an additional form of expression and means to share experiences with others.
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Dear
Reader,
Last month, we discussed the ever-present MySpace Generation. Today, I’d like to introduce our MySpace Page for Colleges of Distinction, one of Student Horizons, Inc.'s major brands. Read on to learn how online communities can aid admissions departments in the recruitment process.
Best,
Kristin
Carpenter, editor of Enrollment Marketing Best Practices |
4 Reasons to Join Online Communities
It’s hard to ignore the growing buzz about social networking and online community sites. Internet users are spending almost three times as long on these sites than anywhere else on the web. Sites like MySpace and Facebook top the list. College admissions departments should tap into this growing trend if they haven’t already. Online communities are an additional way to attract prospective students to schools.
Utilize the Power of Buzz Marketing
Creating a "buzz" and generating good word-of-mouth are the most effective (and cheapest) ways to generate awareness. Extend your school's buzz to online communities. Social networking sites provide an excellent medium for eye-catching, entertaining recruitment campaigns. Create an interesting and informative profile to make a lasting impression on teens. Be creative – for example, Bradley University adopted the persona of the institutions founder (see the page). The interest generated from your profile may translate into prospective students.
Gain a Direct Channel to Your Target Audience
The proof is there. Millions of teens visit social networking sites like MySpace. They're online multiple times a day, checking profiles, messaging friends, searching, etc. Make your school available across multiple channels of communication. Social networking sites are a powerful channel for information that teens have already latched onto. |
Questions?
Things you would like to see in Enrollment Marketing Best Practices
newsletters? Please email Kristin Carpenter, editor of Enrollment
Marketing Best Practices, at kcarpenter@studenthorizons.com.
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