Yes. We use social networking as a means for students to meet as well as for prospective students to learn about the institution. We can be found on Twitter & Facebook, and instructors, counselors, and agents can be found on Linkdin.
I hear we do alot of networking this way. I think it has become popular in all aspects of our life.
jon,
This is a good reminder that there could be negatives and positives to using social networking sites.
Kimberly Stein
Elizabeth,
It is great to hear that a school has found a way to use social networking to the benefit of the students.
Kimberly Stein
we actually do utilize social networking sites. I can see how this is effective and simple. However, I don't like the idea of depending on these networking sites. What if a person changes their account info and doesn't say anything? What if a person interprets a message incorrectly? There is too much that can go wrong when you rely on social network.
The popularity of social networking sites has created an easier access for students to form a "community". Where one may have insecurity regarding asking questions in person, or by phone, more are comfortable posting question in an online forum format. The school that I work for is using social networking on all accounts, which is shocking...but in a good way!
Yes, our school uses social networking to network and reach out to prospective and current students. I feel that in the communication age that we are in, it is a most effective form of communication.
Iv believe that social network assisting along the lines of personally developed referrals. Due to these sites it allows you to be able to reach to the masses at the click of button. In turn, we are able to get the word out.
Social Networking is amazing! More and more people are desiring to be more effcient with their time in every area. People are more inclinded to check out a school by visiting it's social networking site and asking questions while they're waiting at the doctor's office, in the drive-thru, in the long checkout lines, etc.. That's how this generation communicates. I think offering a social networking site is one of the most beneficial things a school could do to improve communications with prospetive students. Yes, our school does have a social networking site. our networking site contains pictures of recent events held at the school, upcoming events, news, and celebrations of acheivement. Social networking = amazing invention!
Social networking sites now plays a huge role in marketing to prospective students. This is a little or no cost marketing strategy that can reach reach out to a large audience. It allows not only institutions to market their product but also feedback from other students or fans of your product. GOing forward, social media is going to continue to grow and be a major marketing tool to communicate with prospective students.
I think socail networks have had a great impact on communication with prospective students. It gives us the opportunity to reach out to more students and great for networking.
It is necessary for all businesses to advertise on social marketing sites because that is where the people are. The first rule of marketing is being seen. If you want to be seen you have to go where the people are, and the people are on social networking sites. Yes, our school advertises on these.
Social Networking sites are almost a direct connection to potential students, esp if your directly targeting H.S. Sr's. It is a main source of communication for these students, but it also allows then the opportunity to be apart of a community...potenially your school's community.
I believe that the use of social networks are wonderful, people are now getting to the point where social media is a norm so marketing is very effective and easy to spread.
On one hand in my opinion I believe this sites give us an upper hand as far as prospective students are concerned. Many of the students are on these sites and utilize them for various reasons giving us major access where in the past we didnt have access. However these various sites can also get sticky. While the intent of facebook//twitter ect is to provide people with a means of easy communication, things can be easily misinterpreted and can ultimately (if used incorrectly) cost companies and individuals a most unwelcome expense. In short if used properly these tools can ultimately provide prospective students with a wealth of information however is it worth the risk that could be assumed? My school does not permit us to contact students/prospective students using these tools.
Personally, I check Facebook at least once a day. Most people I know have a Facebook account, and some are on there for literally hours a day. Facebook, Twitter, and other forms of social networking have had a huge impact on prospective students simply because millions of Americans use these accounts daily. In other words, Americans are constantly exposed to social media, thus making advertising and promoting on these sites effective. Since this is my third day of training, I have not been advised yet if the Art Institute uses Twitter or others to communicate with students. I am assuming they do.
Our school does have social media sites that are mainly there to attract new students. Not much communication is done via facebook or twitter with out currents student. Most communication is by phone or email.
We will most likely use Facebook to advertise, as many people use the website to do just that, search for possible leads on schools. By providing another way to reach someone interested in heading back to school, Facebook is just another channel to attract interest to our school.
I think social networks are important once you already have a student/customer, but not necessarily to reach them in the first place. I look at social networking sites as a way to keep current students informed on the happenings of the school. Yes, you will reach more people as friends of friends also view your page and interact with your content which will raise brand awareness, but ultimately most people do not use social networking sites to gather information (that's Google). That said, I think it's important to have an online presence so that you have a better chance of being mentioned in someone else's post or of a prospectice student stumbling onto your page.
I was surprised to find last night that my school does not have a Facebook page.
I don't think that our school has a formal plan with social networking sites, but I do think it is a way to generate interest as long as you are compliant.
