If you want to communicate, connect and engage with customers, your organisation has to be effective at digital marketing. It is not a ‘nice to have’ or a strategy for the future - if it isn’t online it doesn’t exist! This is particularly true for the education sector, where the vast majority of university students are using multiple social networks all the time.
In fact, 75% of 16-24 year olds say they couldn’t live without the internet! We know this might be a bit of an exaggeration, but according to a recent QS Global Survey of Students’ Online Usage, the main reasons why students use social media are i) to keep up to date ii) because it is interesting and iii) useful for making connections. Worldwide, the top platforms are Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, LinkedIn and Pinterest. Talk about perfect alignment.
Universities have the opportunity to engage in authentic and meaningful ways with students, help them achieve their goals and deliver services in real time. Not only that, but universities can measure the effectiveness of each digital strategy. The platforms are cost effective, make it easy to act on feedback and use engagement to build reputation. If you haven’t yet fully embraced digital marketing, now is the perfect time.
Brooke Young
Vice-President
(Marketing & Advancement)