What's the best way to advertise to students

ally_1988 · Apr 14, 2010

I have just set up a new company which is mainly targeted at students.

I am still in the very early stages and am currently sorting our the company branding and identity along with getting a web designer on board.

The success of the company is dependant on making the brand become widely recognisable in the student environment (particularly universities). I was just wondering if anyone could suggest the best/good ways of marketing to them?

I intend to stand at the fresher's fair at local universities but not sure what's the best way to grab attention.

Any advice would be welcomed (except from citizen_erased)

Sublime Decor · Apr 14, 2010

Check out foob co uk. Its a friend of mines business, sounds like it'll be just up your street

WJP · Apr 14, 2010

Ally, if you PM me with further details I may be able to help. This is closely linked to some of the work we are currently doing and it could be beneficial for both us to explore this further.
All the best. Will

ally_1988 · Apr 14, 2010

Yea that looks pretty useful...depending on price of course. Any other ideas anyone?

the king · Apr 14, 2010

write your message in -reverse form- on the bottom of beer glasses

- but you'd better get in quick while the UK still offers an higher edumifcashun

Otherwise social networking - but see does anyone else hate twitter?

ally_1988 · Apr 14, 2010

the king said:
write your message in -reverse form- on the bottom of beer glasses

- but you'd better get in quick while the UK still offers an higher edumifcashun

Otherwise social networking - but see does anyone else hate twitter?

love it! lol.... I had thought about beer mats too in the student unions.

Yea I was just reading the Twitter haters thread. I don't currently use it, but when I launch the site I will definitely be making use of it, regardless of what the oldies say (maybe I'm making assumptions there lol)

sanjiv · Apr 14, 2010

Hand out flyers near/on campuses.

WJP · Apr 14, 2010

Careful there Sanjiv, some universities actually impose fines on people doing so.

Liybpg · Apr 14, 2010

In our uni we have loads of people giving out flyers, but I guess they have some sort of permission from uni.

You can get students at their accommodation (halls, rented places). And don't forget, students love free stuff

ally_1988 · Apr 14, 2010

Liybpg said:
In our uni we have loads of people giving out flyers, but I guess they have some sort of permission from uni.

You can get students at their accommodation (halls, rented places). And don't forget, students love free stuff

As a student myself...I know we love free stuff...but I didn't look at half the stuff I picked up.

I was more wondering what is more likely to get people to actually visit the website.

sanjiv · Apr 14, 2010

Will Pritchard said:
Careful there Sanjiv, some universities actually impose fines on people doing so.

Will probably need to get permission first though...

ally_1988 · Apr 14, 2010

sanjiv said:
Will probably need to get permission first though...

lol...thanks for spelling that out for me!

Will defo look into getting permission first, although the company is run by 2 of us and between us are studying at both the universities we are targeting initially, so hopefully getting permission won't be a problem.

mrRed · Apr 14, 2010

If you're looking to get people to visit your website, then Facebook might be good for this.

Join student/uni groups, fan pages, networks etc and post info about your service/product or whatever it is that will get them interested along with a link to your website.

There's loads of student forums on the net where you could do this aswell. Not sure if the mods of the student forums will be too impressed with the 'blatant' advertising, but as long the info along with the link explains how it could be beneficial to students then they may not mind.

Also, if you're worried about flyering on your own campus, find out what pubs/bars the students drink in (you must know already!!) and as long as it's not a SU bar on campus, there's nothing stopping you discreetly flyering in these other bars/pubs/clubs etc.

ally_1988 · Apr 14, 2010

mrRed said:
If you're looking to get people to visit your website, then Facebook might be good for this.

Join student/uni groups, fan pages, networks etc and post info about your service/product or whatever it is that will get them interested along with a link to your website.

There's loads of student forums on the net where you could do this aswell. Not sure if the mods of the student forums will be too impressed with the 'blatant' advertising, but as long the info along with the link explains how it could be beneficial to students then they may not mind.

Yea good idea, we definitely want to make the most of social networking (i.e Facebook and Twitter) and raiding a few groups etc might be a good idea. I definitely think students will be interested once they know what it offers

Jon236 · Apr 15, 2010

The best way to market to students is first of all to remember that they are not one generic group and that the student body needs segmenting to avoid wasting your time putting your brand infront of the wrong people. For example if you're after drinkers then port of call number one is always the sports teams!

However, if you want to target all the students in one go, my advice is don't give them anything paper based as it'll be ignored/thrown away. Ideally you want your branding attached to an every day item every student will always use. The best peice of marketing I got in 4 years at Uni, was when the local taxi company paid to have their keyrings attached to all the keys in halls of residence. This worked as everyone always had their keys on them whenever they needed a taxi, and eventually it built up a brand loyalty which stayed with the students even after they moved into private digs.

pf62 · Apr 16, 2010

Hello
As a MSc Business student I have started my own marketing consulting, with a strong focus/experience in marketing to the student population.

I am able to help a lot with targeted, cost efficient facebook promotion which has a proven track record amongst my clients... I am also able to offer a lot of offline which also can work if done correctly!

Let me know if you want more details and or my website.
I look forward to hearing from you.

Blue Rose Bowl · Apr 16, 2010

Go to thestudentroom.co.uk it is a very active student forum, you could possibly advertise on there? Or just post and advertise the link in your signature.

JasonH · Apr 16, 2010

Anything to do with student promotions and website design is right up my street. I run student night events in my area as well as build websites for student entrepreneurs just coming out of university. Being students the prices are also cheaper for them. I can build a site for you with a registered .co.uk or .com domain for £149. I also advertise my student club events through facebook as well as my company so have the target market your looking for. If you need some help just PM me.

ally_1988 · Apr 16, 2010

Thanks for the offer, I may get in touch when we are further down the line and looking to market the company. Until then I am just trying to get ideas on what sort of thing might drive interest to the site and build a recognisable brand

NetwiseHosting · Apr 16, 2010

The Pay-Per-Click scheme on Facebook allows you to tailor your advert exposure to the demographic you are wanting to target. Give it a look.

Downside is it could prove expensive in the fact that very few clicks will convert into a purchase. This is where you will have to have an excellent landing page.

sangajala · Apr 14, 2011

Will Pritchard said:
Ally, if you PM me with further details I may be able to help. This is closely linked to some of the work we are currently doing and it could be beneficial for both us to explore this further.
All the best. Will

Hi I am planning for a business targetted to students in UK. So can we help among ourselves and have a combined work . Please let me kow how can we communicate

WJP · Apr 14, 2011

If it's genuine, PM me. If it's not, don't waste my time.

sangajala · Apr 14, 2011

Hi, Yes I am geninue and I would like to show my live ads in websites like yell.com to prove it, if you require.

Any way I am not able to understand what PM(you asked to PM) me?

So please reply and thanks for fast reply

I can share my business if i can contact you

WJP · Apr 14, 2011

Click on my name, and it says "send a private message to will pritchard". Click that.

Working First Aid · Apr 14, 2011

My lass is the marketing manager of a university student union.

Her advice is to approach student unions directly get their advice, as each Uni will have different methods of getting messages out there.

Good luck!

Shaun
Working First Aid

jules12345 · Apr 14, 2011

ally_1988 said:
I have just set up a new company which is mainly targeted at students.

I am still in the very early stages and am currently sorting our the company branding and identity along with getting a web designer on board.

The success of the company is dependant on making the brand become widely recognisable in the student environment (particularly universities). I was just wondering if anyone could suggest the best/good ways of marketing to them?

I intend to stand at the fresher's fair at local universities but not sure what's the best way to grab attention.

Any advice would be welcomed (except from citizen_erased)

Use and offer free sex - alcohol or fast food tickets. Secondarily, consider gender, tuition fees and general weirdness.

hmmm · Apr 14, 2011

sponsor a gig night .im sure plenty of bands that play at uni,s would love the little extra beer money..

if you go for it and it works dont forget my fee in the post.im unemployed you know

JennyHazan · Jul 5, 2011

In order to best capture the attention of the student market, you must be clever and targeted in your approach. I work for a student marketing company and many businesses come to us with myths about the student market, such as;

- Students love wacky campaigns
- Offering students multiple offers will increase sales
- Using one media will capture all the students
(taken from the website of BAM Student Marketing)

The reality is that you need to think about your product/service and about how you can best communicate your brand to students. Students do not want to be passive viewers of your brand, they want to engage with you. However, it is YOUR responsibility as a business to design a campaign that encourages students to engage with you and your brand. This should concentrate on a variety of different media, from social media campaigns (using twitter and facebook), online (solus e-mails and website adverts), on-site (Freshers' Fairs, on-site stalls at student orgs) and perhaps even print (each student organisation has publications written for students by the students). If you can utilise a variety of channels to engage with students you will be on to a winner.

Getting to the heart of the student hub is simple...go to the Universities and Colleges. Student organisations have a range of media opportunities available to best target their students. However, make sure you do go through the official channels otherwise you could be fined and also you will be taking important advertising revenue away from the students' union that is given back to students.

Hope this helps anyone who is trying to target the student market.

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hmmm

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