Google Seeks To Turn College Students Into Local SEMs
Dec 13, 2007 at 1:58pm ET by Greg Sterling
You’ve got to hand it to Google for creativity. It created the local business referral representative program to enlist stay-at-home moms, college students, and others to get better data about local businesses and build AdWords awareness. (I was told by Google that the response to the program had been strong.) Now Google has developed the “Google Online Marketing Challenge.” According to the site, “student groups will receive US$200 of free online advertising and then work with local businesses to devise effective online marketing campaigns.”
As a practical matter, it seeks to create a global pool of college students (or MBA students) and turn them temporarily into search engine marketers for local businesses. It will be interesting to see how big the response is and whether it helps build Google AdWords awareness among local businesses in those markets where the competition takes off. The competition begins in February.
The program will potentially also create a great group of local marketing case studies that Google can then use in myriad ways for education or sales or training.
Google also said that an even simpler version of AdWords is coming next year: SimpleAds. Aimed at local businesses and resellers, it will seek to radically simplify AdWords adoption.
Share, Bookmark & Discuss This Article
More:
Keep Updated: News Via Email | News Via RSS Feed | News Via Twitter
See more stories like this in the Members Library! Check out the Google: AdWords, Google: Maps & Local sections of the Members Library where this story is filed. Members also get access to exclusive video content, a members-only weekly & monthly newsletter, plus more. Check out all the benefits!
TOP STORIES
SEARCH NEWS BRIEFS
FEATURES & ANALYSIS
RECENT COMMENTS
- pete142 said " Very good bartender analogy gives the main point of the article instant clarity. Well done! I am env"
- webmarketingadvisor said " It would be interesting to know how the decisions about the logos are made - I've been keeping a blo"
- solarian said " Your article would be more consistent if you provide some links to not optimized for search engines "
FREE DAILY SEARCH NEWS RECAP!
Stay on top of all the search news with our daily summary, the SearchCap newsletter. View a sample ›
STAY CURRENT THROUGHOUT THE DAY
Search Engine Land produces SMX, the Search Marketing Expo conference series. SMX events deliver the most comprehensive educational and networking experiences - whether you're just starting in search marketing or you're a seasoned expert.
SMX Web Site » | SMX Difference » | SMX News »
Join us at an upcoming SMX event:
- SMX West - March 2-4, 2010
- SMX Munich - March 23-24, 2010
- SMX Toronto - April 8-9, 2010
- SMX Sydney - April 22-23, 2010
- SMX Advanced London - May 17-18, 2010
- SMX Advanced Seattle - June 8-9, 2010
- SMX East - October 4-6, 2010
- SMX Stockholm - October, 2010
Learn more about search marketing with our free online webcasts and webinars from our sister site, Search Marketing Now. Upcoming online events include:
- PPC Advertising & Geo-Targeting - November 12, 2009
- Making Online Marketing Relevant and Responsive: Tactics and A Tool for Success - November 17, 2009
- Ask the Search Engines: War Stories from the World Tour - December 1, 2009
TRACK US SOCIALLY
- Wall Street Journal Recommended Reading
- Ad Age Power 150 Blog
- Technorati Top 100 Blog
- Techmeme Leaderboard Source
- Best Search Engine Community/Forum
Featured sites from our Blogroll
Get Your Search Engine Land
Premium Membership!
Become a premium member today and receive:
- Express commenting privileges & photo.
- Exclusive videos & newsletters.
- Discounts to our SMX conferences.
- Access to "How To" & Other Archives.
© 2009 Third Door Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Google, Yahoo & Microsoft logos trademark respective companies and used with permission.
