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If you’re someone who scratches their head and looks bewildered when students talk about MySpace, Facebook, YouTube, Blogger, Twitter, texting and the rest, this article is for you.
To help you out, I’ve put together a list of the most popular student online destinations, showing what they do at these sites, and another list that gives you the mobile technologies students use when they’re on the go.
All the major Internet technologies — such as Google, MySpace, YouTube, etc. — are now cell phone friendly and accessible on cell phones, and the rest are adapting quickly. These companies have created mobile equivalents of their Web sites, which lets people with a data plan to use their cell phones to reach social networking sites, search the Web, and check e-mail, among other activities. People who have a compliant video phone can also watch YouTube videos on it.
If you’re just getting acquainted with these popular student-centric technologies, consider these lists “must-reads.” Try out and experience the various technologies your students are using every day and see why they’re so popular.
But just trying out Internet and mobile technologies isn’t enough. After you’ve sampled them, evaluate their uses and analyze how you might use them in your marketing mix to connect with the prospective students you want to reach.
Top Internet Technologies that Students Use:
- Search Engines
Google, Yahoo, MSN, Ask, AOL
Students use these to find information online. They type in what they’re searching for and get a list of relevant Web pages containing the information they’re seeking. - Social Networking Communities
MySpace, Facebook, Hi5, Orkut, Friendster
Students use sites like these to communicate with friends and family online — and to stay connected. At each site, users can create a place of their own, where they can post pictures of themselves and their friends, share stories and messages, and exchange photos, videos, music and more. - Video Sharing Communities
YouTube, MySpaceTV, Google Videos, Yahoo Videos, AOL Videos
On these sites students upload and share videos with others and post their opinions and comments about videos, telling people why a particular video means something special to them, for example. They also rate videos at these sites. - Blogging Communities
Blogger, WordPress, LiveJournal
A blog, short for “Web log,” is a Web site that contains a chronological listing of thoughts, like a diary. Students post a topic and share ideas online by allowing others to post comments to their blog, as well as by posting their own comments on other people’s blogs. - Microblogging Communities
Twitter, Jaiku, Spoink, Plurk
These online communities give students a chance to know what their friends are doing right now and telling their friends what they’re doing just then. Students write brief text messages periodically throughout the day and share them with their friends and family. It’s constant communication online. - Your School’s .edu Web site
www.yourschool.edu
Your school’s Web site is a critical online destination where students and their parents learn about your school, form impressions and make decisions about enrollment. Make sure it’s easy to use and communicates your message clearly.
Top Mobile Technologies Students Use:
- Cell Phones and Text Messaging
AT&T, Verizon, Sprint, T-Mobile
Each of these companies provides one-on-one text communications via cell phone, letting students reach their friends and family quickly, silently and frequently. - iPods and Podcasts
iPod, Podcast, Podcasting, Podcasters
The Apple iPod is the most popular brand of portable media player, and students use it to hear music they’ve selected and to listen to other audio content. Podcasts are digital media files that provide on-demand broadcasting. Students can subscribe to a podcast and automatically download it to their iPod. A podcast can be a classroom discussion, lecture or special presentation that’s available as a digital media file. - iTunes University and Mobile Learning
iTunes, iTunes University
iTunes is a digital media library and store created by Apple, Inc. Using iTunes, students can purchase digital media, such as songs, to organize and play on their iPods. iTunes University lets users search for, download and play educational course content on their iPods, which leads to on-the-go learning.
What About Your School?
Which of these technologies are you currently leveraging? Can you reach your on-the-go prospects?
If you want to connect with students, learn to speak their language and reach them on their own turf — via the Internet and their cell phones.
What do you think? Feel free to comment on this post.
