Ok, so it's clear that MY idea of timely is um...well...NON-EXISTANT!! There has GOT to be a better way to get this blogging done. Yeah...a direct link to my brain maybe? More hours in the day?
sigh...
Oh well. So it's time to look at some more books. I've got to figure out what to use for my Exploring Marketing class next Fall. This is a GREAT class where I bring together all the marketing majors into ONE room...and we do marketing stuff. Another one of those classes where the traditional textbook just does NOT work. Here's what I'm trying to decide between:
So the focus of the course is to have students fully explore the marketing field, so the Vault Career Guide makes a lot of sense. At the same time, I want to shake them up. Get them thinking. Make them take a look at this potential career choice and understand what it means and what it really is. Most students just think that Marketing = Advertising. It doesn't. We have to teach them that...what better way then some great case studies, or a book that basically shows that if you don't focus your efforts your marketing will suck? Stay-tuned to find out what I decided!
Switching the subject DRASTICALLY...
Social Networking. You already know how I feel about it. I really believe that it is going to be a big part of marketing -- of connecting with your customer and getting to know them...of building relationships. It's a wave that is only now just getting off the ground. I have both a Facebook and a MySpace page and I use them to connect with students.
And now I'm using Facebook to connect with recently ACCEPTED students, who, if all goes well, will decide that CHAMPLAIN COLLEGE is the place to come to in the Fall. And, of course, that the MARKETING or the E-BUSINESS MANAGEMENT programs are exactly what they want to be a part of.
What's particularly interesting is that current students and accepted students are using Facebook to connect with one another and to ask questions about the campus. Some current students are jumping in to provide info -- both positive and negative -- and the accepted students are eating it up.
And where is the College's ADMISSIONS department in all of this? Where is the MARKETING department? hmmm...
Actually...I wonder how the Admissions professionals are using social networking?
Rule #1 -- go where where your customers are and communicate with them the way they communicate. Snail mail and e-mail aren't working as much anymore with younger individuals who have found a way to by pass the marketing and get to what is real. Anyway...I'm connecting...so come on by and I'll see you on Facebook!
