Effective Marketing Strategies for Distance Education Programs

Distance education is undergoing a number of changes as a result of advancements in computer technology, growing competition from dot.com companies, and changes in the student profile. With a simple click of a button students are able to shop for courses and programs that best accommodate their schedules and learning styles. A number of institutions are reacting to these changes by implementing internet based mass marketing strategies to maintain and increase their market share of student enrollments. But students prefer institutions they trust, that are characterized by quality programs and a tradition of consistent quality service. This trust cannot be achieved by resorting to mass marketing strategies. Marketing online programs needs to be more than advertisements and promotion – there needs to be a link between marketing efforts and long-term payoffs. Student recruitment is just the first step in a long series of marketing processes. The ultimate objective of marketing strategy should be to attract, satisfy, and retain students. This session will discuss the limitations of mass marketing strategies for higher education and training and propose alternative approaches to marketing based on best practices from successful academic institutions and for-profit business.

A Live, Interactive Audio Conference for:

  • Administrators and marketing staff associated with marketing courses and programs

    • You'll Learn:

  • Know the forms of internet marketing and internet marketing metrics

  • Know the limitations of internet marketing

  • Use branding as a long-term marketing strategy

  • Understand the strategic role of the website

  • Understand the role of traditional (print, TV, and radio) one-way media and the digital interactive media in branding

  • Use e-marketing and relationship marketing as an alternative strategy to build competitive advantage

  • Be able to evaluate the roles and responsibilities of the marketing and non-marketing staff in implementing the relationship marketing strategy

  • Understand the difference between transaction marketing, relationship marketing, and student advocacy

  • Help marketing staff become student advocates

  • Derive actionable marketing strategies for student recruitment and retention from the highly successful University of Illinois online program

    • Meet the Presenter:
    Naj Shaik is a Research programmer with the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He has a PhD in Human Resource Education from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and a MS in Computer Science from Northern Illinois University. He has been active in online distance learning research especially in the development of a student relationship management (SRM) system and issues relating to marketing, and student retention. He has presented his research at a number of national and international conferences. He has also published in a number of peer reviewed international journals.

    This telephone-based program is moderated by iLinc Communications, a leading distance learning firm. The 90-minute program includes a presentation followed by a lively, interactive, real-time question-and-answer session. Three days prior to the seminar, you will receive a toll-free number and a personal identification number (PIN). When you call the toll-free number and enter your PIN, you will be connected to the seminar.

    We look forward to your participation on May 18th. Keep in mind that you pay the $189 registration fee only once but can invite as many people as you like to listen in on one phone line, making this an extremely cost-effective training resource.

    1:00 PM - 2:30 PM (Eastern Daylight Time)
    12:00 PM - 1:30 PM (Central Daylight Time)
    11:00 AM - 12:30 PM (Mountain Daylight Time)
    10:00 AM - 11:30 AM (Pacific Daylight Time)

    Phone: 800-433-0499
    Fax: 608-246-3597

    (registration fee after May 11, 2006 - $199)

    Audio Conference FAQ's (frequently asked questions)

    Date(s): 05/18/06
    Time: See time zones above -
    Cost: $199.00
    Phone: 800-433-0499
    Email: custserv@magnapubs.com