It baffles me how old and antiquated marketing courses at our local colleges are. In fact, this problem isn’t just for marketing majors but represents a major lag in a world of rapidly expanding technology.
Not one of our three local major colleges have a marketing program that focuses on online or Internet marketing.
Google has a market cap that is larger than the entire auto and airline industry combined. Yet most of our higher education treats Internet marketing as though it doesn’t exist. I can recall a conversation I had with a senior marketing major that went like this:
Josh: That’s great you are doing marketing, do they teach you any online marketing?
Marketing Major: Umm, yeah I think they do some online classes.
Josh: No, I mean do they offer any classes that talk about online marketing?
Marketing Major: I am pretty sure they let people take some marketing classes online.
Josh: Yeah, but in your marketing classes do they teach anything about online marketing?
Marketing Major: Um … (Long pause and blank stare)
Josh: hmmm….
The Internet has reduced all barriers to making money anywhere you live, Google sells 17 character ads and makes billions every month, more people than ever are online and broadband Internet connection is reaching 50% of the country, yet nobody is teaching Internet marketing!
I think something is seriously wrong here.
Could the bigger problem be that nobody teaching these classes even knows what PPC or PPM is? It’s true there is a world that exists outside of the confines of the Internet, but when will the two meet in higher education?
I hear that Stanford offers a class on Facebook. Funny how it’s possible to make inroads in the college just a few miles away from the Internet epicenter in Silicon Valley.
The truth is that the Internet and technology move quicker than school curriculum, and the only way to learn Internet marketing is to jump in and start.
More and more marketing will be geared to the Internet and especially mobile technology. As more Americans are packing more powerful communication devices, marketing will evidently follow. Soon we will all be carrying our very own billboard everywhere we go.
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Where does the future of marketing lay?: It baffles me how old and antiquated marketing courses at our .. http://tinyurl.com/4tn8wl
That conversation makes me laugh. I am going to probably be the first mother on earth who will be horrified if my children decide to get a college education! Yes, it is important to learn stuff before jumping into your own business or whatever – but you can learn that stuff without the $45,000 price tag – and learn more!
<abbr>Chelles last blog post..And They Lived Happily Ever After</abbr>
@Chelle, I wouldn't trade my college education for anything. But I sure would trade the price tag that came with it. I know college isn't right for everyone, but now more than ever is the worst time to get massively in debt. I know people who are going to school and paying for it with profits from Internet Marketing, now is that great or what?
<abbr>Joshs last blog post..Where does the future of marketing lay?</abbr>
YEP, it's sad to see how real world application and experience trumps higher education almost everytime. There are a few exceptions, medicine, law, accounting and a few others. But marketing and business administration, forget about it.
I think it is safe to say that you know more about marketing than most professors that teach marketing.
<abbr>BigPappas last blog post.."What I Found In My Email" Mondays. Vol.2 – Issue 27</abbr>
Im in college right now and have settled on obtaining a web design degree because ti is my weak point. None of the business programs in my site seriously focus on internet related market. I wish colleges would catch up and start offering programs that focus on topics like online marketing, PPC, SEO, Affiliates, etc.
<abbr>Justins last blog post..Should You Submit Articles?</abbr>
@Justin, Education is totally invaluable and should never be underestimated. I agree with the want of more online trade skills, huge market.
<abbr>Joshs last blog post..Marketing: Do you see a common theme here?</abbr>
Very good point, I had not even thought about this, these courses are not even in uni. Its something to perhaps set your mind to and get a high paid job in a school if you know a lot about it or possibly evening classes!
Oh my.. whoever doesn't know about online marketing must be from Mars or other planet
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