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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.
Become Part of the Dialogue
Networking. Building relationships. The more prospective students "know" your institution, the higher yield you'll generate. Social networks give you access to prospective students based on age and other demographics, such as gender and location. Position your school favorably on these sites and open up the dialogue.
Build Your Prospect and Inquiry Pools
Whether prospective students specifically search for you or stumble on your school while perusing an online community, something drove them to add you as a “friend”. As a result, you automatically have a data set of interested students. Add them to your ongoing marketing programs!
Quote of the Day
“User generated content sites, platforms for photo sharing, video sharing and blogging, compromised five of the top 10 fastest growing Web brands in July 2006… With MySpace being the fastest growing among top web brands (16.2 million to 46 million users from July 2005 to July 2006.”
-Nielson//NetRatings
Additional Articles:
Teens Still Gaga over Social Networking
Advertising & Social Networks-- MySpace, LinkedIn & Beyond
User-Generated Content is This Year's Product Placement
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.
INTRODUCING Colleges of Distinction’s Myspace page! |
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