Then I would meet with the on campus television professionals. Every school has closed circuit televisions that run looped information from slides. Who among us hasn't sat in front of one of these sets mindlessly watching the words and pictures go by? Someone would need to take responsibility for maintaining the free advertising on campus. Once a week or once a month a student should do a physical walk through to ensure that signs displaying the web address for the site look fresh and new and that the television advertising is up-to-date. This job would need to be passed on as students graduate out of the program and move into the real world of employment.
Strategy three -- participate in university events
Certainly the incorporation of these first two strategies -- using university faculty to support the site and taking advantage of free, passive advertising opportunities -- is guaranteed to increase web traffic exponentially. The next strategy would be to develop and implement a "Join the Club" marketing plan. Begin with a calendar and a core group of students who are willing to create a full campaign aimed at increasing traffic to the website. The goal is to create a slate of activities -- perhaps as much as one a week -- that get marketing students to take notice of the fact that there is a new social network just for them.
For example, each semester the university has a 'club' day. At that time all organizations on campus set up a booth at the Student Center. Pamphlets, key chains, magnets and other trinkets are spread out and several people who support MarketNet man the booth in two or three hour shifts. As students walk through they stop to get more information about the organizations they find of interest. This is a perfect way to advertise the existence of the social network page. A well organized and decorative booth will be eye-catching and should result in greater traffic to the site.
The drawback to this strategy is it will require a small budget to design and print the pamphlets as well as to have key chains and magnets made. However, when these items are purchased in bulk they cost mere pennies to produce. Their value goes beyond cost but realistically money must be found. There are several answers for this. First, the website can ask for donations, students may hold a fund raiser or a representative of the organization can lobby the school to provide nominal funding. Another great passive advertising tool is a t-shirt emblazoned with the URL on a cutting edge design. Sell these for ten or twenty dollars and the profits can be used for site related materials.
Strategy four -- hold a contest!
In conjunction with the club booth a special contest should be devised with a give-away that would get marketing students excited. For example, there could be a contest to name a mascot for the group or the person who could get the most friends to visit the site would be declared the winner and be rewarded. Part of the reward would be recognition on the website -- somehow naming and honoring that student for their efforts. But a real reward would be necessary to garner estimable participation and authentic enthusiasm. It should be something of special meaning to a marketing student -- perhaps all-expenses paid trip to a marketing convention somewhere outside of Queensland. Perhaps the winner would have their marketing textbooks paid for during the following term.
Again, this plan will require some capital and I return to the original suggestion for raising funds to support this component of the web traffic plan. Fundraisers, grants and donations are the most obvious and often utilized sources of getting money. Perhaps now is the time to mention that, frankly, no organization will survive if it has NO outside funds for advertising. They must be found somewhere because advertising and internet marketing costs money. While a Facebook social network may not be as expensive as a campaign for Nikes or Coke - it will require access to a minimum of funds.
Strategy five -- keep evolving
Before moving on to the next section of this essay in which I will be sharing three websites that are relevant and would enhance the value of MarketNet, it is my opinion that there are several components that could make the site more interesting for everyone, thereby increasing web traffic. First, in an effort to keep the site progressive and fresh I believe the addition of a blog would be a draw for many users. The reader must ask him or herself how often they peruse blogs on a myriad of topics related to their own interests. Internet marketing is evolving daily and a blog would be a valuable communal tool to keep all up-to-date.
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