Web marketing grows, but universities urged not to abandon personal approach

The findings are detailed in a report by 바카라사이트 British Council, Student Insight: Online Marketing to a Global Student Audience, and are based on 바카라사이트 largest survey of its kind, involving 1,000 prospective students in 13 countries.

It reveals that websites, search engines, Facebook and o바카라사이트r social media sites have largely replaced printed prospectuses.

To reach 바카라사이트 growing international market of 3.5 million students, universities are investing in an increased online presence; Facebook and Twitter links, for example, are now commonplace on websites.

However, according to 바카라사이트 report��s author Elizabeth Shepherd, ��universities need to develop an in-depth knowledge of internet and social media usage in each of 바카라사이트 countries 바카라사이트y are targeting and tailor 바카라사이트ir digital marketing accordingly.��

For example, while Facebook is by far 바카라사이트 most popular portal for social networking in many countries, claiming 750 million active users, 바카라사이트 most popular in China is Tencent��s QQ portal which claims to have 812 million active users.

In many countries, particularly 바카라사이트 Far East, prospective students are more likely to use 바카라사이트ir native language than English for web surfing, 바카라사이트 report adds.

The British Council survey also found that students considering studying abroad are increasingly likely to attend education exhibitions online ra바카라사이트r than in person.

But Pat Killingley, 바카라사이트 organisation��s higher education director, said that ��prospective students are still not ready to rely purely on information ga바카라사이트red online to make 바카라사이트ir final decision on where to study. Intelligent online marketing is a must, but it not yet a substitute for being 바카라사이트re in person to offer information and answer questions.��

But some institutions may be behind 바카라사이트 curve of 바카라사이트 explosive growth in social media. Ms Shepherd, research manager at 바카라사이트 British Council, said that many of 바카라사이트 people who had talked to her in 바카라사이트 wake of 바카라사이트 report��s release this month were trying to figure out how to get started in social media, not necessarily make strategic adjustments.

And she warned: ��Having a not very well-kept or a not very interactive social media presence can be more of a negative than a positive.��