How to take advantage of being at University?

[willyboy104]

For the past several weeks I have been wondering how I can use my online marketing skills as a way of making money through being at University.

I am thinking of ways to make money from University students since I have 20,000 students at my University.

Can anyone think of anyways to do this? I am hoping to make this in to a group discussion to help others and myself find some inspiration and creative spur to figure out how we can make more money whilst at University.

Thanks

[misterwrecker]

You could try advertising on the bulletin boards in your school.

Make a website if you don't already have one that you think will relate to your audience and post a short advertisement with your url on the bottom.

You could also direct link some CPA offers with a redirect link.

[Kevingators]

It looks like your are promoting some offers already in your signature box. How have those worked out for you?

Kevin

[um1001]

Be sure and try to get your .edu backlinks ;-)

[Steve Powers]

Maybe you can provider some prctical and useful online training course for them.But make sure you have a specific investigation first.If you want to benefit from them,you have to satisfy their demands first.

[Alexa Smith]

I'm in kind of the same position as you. But in my case it's my writing skills, not my online marketing skills, that find me work through the university.

Originally Posted by willyboy104

I am thinking of ways to make money from University students since I have 20,000 students at my University.

I don't know ... these tiny little universities!!

The things that spring to mind are:-

(i) You could possibly offer to design web sites for anyone who wants one

(ii) You could try promoting an introductory kind of "Getting started in making money online, very part-time" product (but find a good one!), and put up a special pre-selling page explaining specifically how very suitable it is for students, get some brochures, flyers, drop-cards and so on printed free (from VistaPrint, you just pay the shipping cost), and try to promote the site within the university - student union notice-boards and so on ... "Hey, you could be earning some real money while you're studying here!!" or something?

(iii) Chat up the nurses in the student health centre and offer them commission on the migraine product?

[4success53]

I know that you are in internet marketing.
But, maybe make a website listing pizza shops,sports clothing,etc and get a commission for them ordering through your website.
(an affiliate program with businesses in your area that may deliver to your university)

Maybe teach other students how to start affiliate programs,etc..A job posting board.

There are many things that you could do.

Hope it helps.

[Matt.Lake]

As an 18 year old myself, I have thought about targeting that audience or similar, but one obvious problem comes to mind... most of them are flat out broke!

All I would really suggest is to find a product that they actually want or would make their life easier... such as speed reading or how to be more productive or how to get cheap booze.

The same as with any market... find out what they want.

Hope this helps, but in my opinion it's not the best audience to go after.

[willyboy104]

Thanks everyone so far, some really great ideas here I especially like the idea about promoting businesses in this area through a student related website and gaining commission as well as Alexa's idea about promoting an introductory product or perhaps making my own product.

Some really good ideas here thanks everyone so far, very interested to see how far we can go with this. I shall contribute more later, off to pub quiz.

As for students being broke, I don't seem to find this problem much not sure if its because I am in London or what...strange.

[kf]

Rather than try to sell them something, why not offer them a way to make income?

Gather a group of talented designers, webmasters, coders, writers ... and start bidding on jobs for them. You just project manage, do quality control and take a cut off the top.

Win-win-win.

[francof]

Interesting thread I really like Matt.Lake's and 4success53's ideas, they all seem like things that would make you money. I especially like the speed reading, seems that every university student could use that.

[Raydal]

One of the big benefits of being in school is the special
pricing you can get on popular software packages at
'educational' pricing. That's how I got my first copy
of Dreamweaver, for example.

-Ray Edwards

[4success53]

Here is an idea.

Although, I hate to suggest it. But, I will. (I would not be happy if my college kid had one.)

Sign them up for credit cards.

Just an idea.