England’s universities have been affected the most by the £9000 annual increase in fees, with a drop of 9.9% in the number of applications received. This dip was however said to be far less than many were predicting at the start. In Scotland, where there are no fees for Scottish students, there was a decrease of 1.5%.

David Willetts, Universities Minister, stated that applications from school-leavers residing in the most disadvantaged areas had not been excessively affected by the rise in fees, with a drop of just 0.2%, and it was a good sign that applications from these sectors of people had remained strong.

In contrast, Sally Hunt, general secretary of the UCU lecturers’ union, stated that the figures were of great concern and that raising tuition fees to £9000 a year was another foolish act carried out by the government. Sally Hunt also stated that applications in England have dropped by 50% more than in any other parts of the UK due to the government having made England the most costly country in the world in which you could gain a public degree. Figures also showed a 4% drop in applications in Northern Ireland and 1.9% in Wales.

Wendy Piatt, director general of the Russell Group of leading universities, stated that fee reforms are unlikely to cause a long-term drop in the number of applications, and that in previous times a drop in applications in the first year of increased fees has been followed by increases in applications in the following years.

Application figures have shown a bigger drop among men than women, and findings in Northern Ireland showed that women in this location are over twice more likely to apply than men in Wales.

The 1994 Group of research intensive universities stated that figures demonstrated that some UK students had clearly been wary of applying this year. Nick Davy, higher education policy manager at the Association of Colleges, stated that they are concerned by the decrease in the number of student applications, particularly at a time when there are record levels of unemployment among young people.

Network Intellect helps Education establishments such as Universities and Colleges with their student acquistion. We have many years experience in this sector. To find out how we can help improve the effectiveness and ROI of your student acquistion strategy please feel contact us to speak with a digital specialists.

The survey views; of more than 1,350 students and graduates; were presented to delegates from more than 60 companies at Dexter House in London, followed by an awards evening on Thursday, January 12th 2012. For more details about the Survey please contact Milkround.

The most popular social media tools were found to be Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube, Twitter and Google+.

The key findings of the survey have been outlined below:

• 83% use Facebook daily with YouTube being viewed most days.
• Keeping in touch with friends is the prime reason students and graduates used their favourite social media site, but a third also used it to develop their career.
• Almost 30% use Facebook to monitor graduate recruiter pages.
• Nearly three quarters of those who follow a company on Facebook want them to present hints and tips to their social network, followed closely by news updates from the company.

• More than 45% of students and graduates have a LinkedIn profile.
• 76% say access to job information is a motivation to follow companies and recruiters onLinkedIn
• Nearly half of all respondents had never heard of LinkedIn Student Jobs.

• Less than half of the respondents use Twitter.
• Of those who do, 60% tweet while the remaining 40% just follow.
• 57% of Twitter users follow companies including graduate recruiters.

• Half of all respondents would use a mobile device to register for more details about a job, but less than a quarter would apply for a job via a mobile device.
• While over 70% are aware that graduate recruiters use social media to promote their jobs, only 27% of the respondents feel confident of how they use social media in a job hunt. Over 51% would like more guidance and knowledge in this area.

We hope you find this insightful and if you would like to discuss how to maximise the effectiveness of your social presence, then please give us a call at Network Intellect and speak to one of our digital specialists.

With the fairly recent introduction of Google+ brand pages, many people may be asking themselves why they should go to the trouble of using another social media channel if they are already active on Facebook and Twitter, for example.

While this is a valid question due to the amount of time and resources that are needed in order for someone to effectively manage a social media channel, here are some unique reasons which should be considered before writing off the thought of Google+:

1. Smaller User Base

Despite Google+ having a far smaller user base than Facebook, this does not necessarily mean you should ignore this social media channel and focus just on Facebook.

With fewer users comes less focus in the space. Facebook is crammed full of updates from various services, as well as pictures, games, and much much more. Google+, in contrast, appears to be driven more by content of an informative, industry-type manner. For this reason, brands may be able to develop a far more direct and personal relationship with their audiences.

2. Exclusive Functionality

Google+ offers a unique service with its ability to host a function named “Hangouts”. This enables live video/audio chats between itself and its audience. This service provides an opportunity for direct engagement in discussions, an option of providing exclusive content, and getting instant feedback.

3. Integration With Other Google Offerings

As Google continues unifying its products and offerings, Google+ is ready for further integration with other services. Google has already made a start on this process in many ways, with one of its fairly recent integrations being the addition of Google +1s into Image Search.

This could be very advantageous to increasing the visibility of a brand, e.g. when a brand regularly posts images to their Google+ brand page, and have an audience that is likely to share this content.

If you would like some information on how to maximise the effectiveness of your social presence, or help with your exposure on Google then why not give us a call at Network Intellect.

1. Facebook For Profit

Facebook is now heading toward a billion users, so for marketers it is time to get serious. In previous years, businesses focused a great deal on the large number of Facebook fans without taking into consideration the quality of each of these fans they had gained. This year, advertisers and brands will concentrate more on profitability and on ROI in reference to Facebook ads, promotions and contests etc., and start to measure their Facebook ad campaigns based on profitability.

2. New Features On Google+

Google will roll out new features to Google+ and make Google+ pages more business-friendly. The biggest advantage that Google has is its integration with other Google properties, such as its search engine results pages, in paid search ads, YouTube, etc.

Google put great emphasis on social in 2011, by restructuring its employee bonus scheme and salary structure based on how successful Google was on social. This internal focus will mean that people inside of Google will be thinking about social all the time, and this suggests that 2012 may be the year of Google+.

3. Quality Content

We all place high value on quality content that is relevant, engaging and unique to the user. In 2012 we will see a more structured approach by businesses to create content that focuses on and provides value to readers. This will result in higher levels of engagement with the members of their community.

4. Community Building

Once businesses begin to get sophisticated with planning and measuring their campaigns, we will notice that businesses start paying close attention to their community members. A greater level of emphasis will be placed on developing an engaged community rather than just paying attention to increasing numbers.

Community managers need to keep members engaged through various means such as discounts and product development etc.  This needs to be a consistent tactic, which focuses on people and content, and is likely to be a tactic that will be widely adopted in the course of this year.

Having a strong social media strategy can help make a vast difference to the success of your campaigns. With this in mind, if you would like some information on how to maximise the effectiveness of your social presence, then please give us a call at Network Intellect.

Facebook and LinkedIn are two popular social networking sites. Both of these sites are designed to link up people online, but yet the two sites have very different features and options. In addition, the two sites symbolise very different kinds of connections.

Facebook:

The social media giant, Facebook, is used mainly just to make connections with a wide range of people, including friends, family, work colleagues etc.

When you join Facebook and create a profile, you will be asked to enter in key information which can help other people find you on Facebook. The sort of information you will be asked to enter includes name, hometown, birthday, contact information, relationship details, and much more.

When searching for someone on Facebook, you can search by details such as hometown, employer etc. When you find someone of interest to you and add a Facebook connection with them, it is referred to as a ‘friend’.

Facebook offers a number of tools and features to its users. These include options such as Facebook Applications, which users can install on their profile, and can be games, instant messaging etc, Facebook Photos, where users can create photo albums to show to their friends on their profile, and Facebook Videos, where users can do the same, but with videos instead.

LinkedIn:

In contrast to Facebook, LinkedIn is a social networking site that is professional and targets businesses.  On this site, users can create a profile that is like a CV. Your LinkedIn profile summarises your current position and professional experience, your company, industry, education background etc.

By providing this type of information, you can then connect with colleagues and clients etc. On the site you can build up a network that consists of “connections”. Connections on LinkedIn refer to the people you know, and connections expand to include the people they know and have connected with on the social networking site.

There are various types of tools and features that are available on LinkedIn. These include options such as LinkedIn Jobs, where you can search for jobs and make contact with people who have posted job listings etc, Contacts, where you can search for and add contacts individually, or import them from your Outlook or Webmail contacts etc, and LinkedIn Search, which enables you to search for people by name, company, or industry etc.

Overall, LinkedIn is designed mainly to connect business professionals, unlike Facebook which is just designed to connect everyday people.

The Biggest Difference Between Facebook And LinkedIn

LinkedIn is mainly designed for business and professional networking and offers a profile and options that enable you to network in a business sense. Facebook, alternatively, is designed more in a way that enables the user to connect with family and friends.

If you would like some help with how to achieve an effective Facebook or LinkedIn presence, then why not give us a call at Network Intellect, where we will be happy to assist you.

With this in mind, here are five tips to help you grow your base of Twitter followers:

1. Listen And Follow

Find out who is talking about your brand and listen to them to find out what they are saying about you. You should also follow them in order to keep the dialogue going. In most cases they will usually follow you back.

2. Partnerships

Cross-promote key partnerships. Mention them, retweet, and build a dialogue with them, while becoming a resource for their followers as well.

3. Search Bio/Backgrounds

Make yourself easy to find. Create a bio with a clear description of your brand and the kind of content that you intend to post. If you have various Twitter accounts that serve different purposes, ensure you make it easy for users to find those as well by listing them or creating a custom background with the address.

4. Unique Content

Offer content to followers that is exclusive and they cannot find anywhere else. Statuses that provide breaking news, for example, will keep the users engaged. If possible, reward users by offering them chances to win prizes or gain points etc.

5. Engaging Conversation

The fact is, the best way to increase your number of followers is to to engage your audience with valuable or entertaining content.

Ensure you ask and answer questions and encourage people to tweet about their thoughts and opinions on important topics. Address their concerns and ask them for feedback, while remembering to thank those that mention your brand, if appropriate.

If you would like some help with your exposure on Twitter then why not give us a call at Network Intellect.

By the development of a landing page that is easier for brands to customise, Twitter has increased the likeliness of users staying on their platform for longer, instead of leaving the site to look for more information about a particular brand.

With this in mind, here are three ways in which a business can leverage Twitter’s new brand pages:

1. Improved Customisation

Businesses are now able to put brand messaging front and centre. It is easier to promote Twitter chats, hashtags and special promotions that are specific to the brand.

2. Better Paid Apps

On-site ads and paid tweets will become more common as businesses will be able to develop richer destinations for users on the brand pages.

3. More Robust Content

Twitter has released embeddable tweets, which allow brands to use source code in posts. The social media site now gives companies the opportunity to share richer content on their pages. However, brands that want the option of posting long-form content, e.g. albums, may choose to stick to Facebook as Twitter still lacks the ability to house this type of content.

If you would like some information on how to maximise the effectiveness of your social presence, or help with your exposure on Twitter then why not give us a call at Network Intellect.

By using social media in the correct way you can connect with your existing audience in new ways, and develop new connections etc. However, many people are unclear about where they should start and how they should develop a plan. With this in mind, here are four steps to consider when it comes to developing a social media strategy:

1. Listen

Get online and listen to what is being said about your brand. Find out what people think about it, who the key people who influence others are, whether the tone of the conversation is calm or heated, etc.

Establish your audience and where they are online. Blogs are a very good place to begin looking. Once you have identified where your audience is, then make sure you listen to what they are saying with regards to matters such as their needs and issues. Understanding this information is very important in terms of helping you to determine how you can best contribute to the conversation. Pay particular attention to finding people who influence your industry or niche and listen what they are talking about.

2. Establish Your Goals And Objectives

Once you have spent some time listening to your audience you should find yourself in a better position to establish your goals, such as driving traffic to you website, increasing your number of followers etc.

Consider not just your company goals but also your audience’s goals and needs etc. You will have a better chance with social media marketing if you offer something of value. Many brands make the mistake of simply promoting themselves all of the time with the hope of attracting new customers or site traffic. This is not a technique that works well with regards to social media.

3. Develop Your Content

You need to start building your content by considering what you really need in order to satisfy your audience. You need to be creative and bear in mind that what you say within social media channels should sound like your brand.

Optimise your content with your targeted keywords. Carry out intensive keyword research to enable yourself to draw some great ideas for relevant content that will work well with your audience. This content can come in many forms, for example tips, promotions, news, interviews etc.

4. Engage

Once you have established your objectives, quality content, and chosen which social media sites to use, you are now ready to post your content.

Engage in conversations and express your point of view. It is important to remember to post consistently and keep to your schedule. Ensure you respond to feedback and comments in order to maintain the conversation.

Having a strong social media strategy can help make a big difference to the success of your campaigns. If you would like some information on how to maximise the effectiveness of your social presence, then why not give us a call and have a discussion with one of our digital strategists.

1. QR Codes Are Barcodes

QR codes are encoded barcode images that look like a square maze. 2-dimensional barcodes store data in both directions and can be scanned vertically or horizontally to be decoded.

2. 2D Barcodes Can Store A Variety of Data

2D barcodes (QR) can store up to 7089 numbers, whereas traditional 1D barcodes can only store up to 30 numbers. This additional storage capacity allows for a variety of data that goes beyond numbers. The types of data this include are hyperlinks, text, contact entries etc.

Hyperlinks are useful as they present many possibilities other than simply loading a web page, such as updating a Twitter status, displaying map directions, playing a video etc.

3. Read/Decode A 2D Barcode With A Smartphone

Once you have gained access to a 2D barcode reader app, you can scan the QR code with a smartphone. You will need this reader in order to decode the encoded data.

4. Quality Of Smartphone Cameras Is Important For Small Or Complex Codes

Small or complex QR codes cannot be scanned by smartphones that have poorer quality cameras. These types of 2D barcodes that have a lot going on are more time consuming and challenging to scan. More stored content means a larger code size. It is therefore best to minimise data that is stored in 2D barcodes. Ensure you always use a URL-shortener to shrink the hyperlinks.

Small, complex QR codes are the worst error currently being made by marketers, particularly due to the fact that smartphone cameras with a resolution lower than 4 megapixels cannot scan a code smaller than approximately 1”x 1.”

Make sure you always offer a back-up option for users to obtain the information within the code, by means of text message or a hyperlink etc. This will give non-smartphone users the option to participate too.

5. Mobile Barcode Scanning Is On The Increase

QR codes can be used for nearly any function, whether it be customer service, advertising etc., and across a variety of industries:

Findings from trend reports have shown that in the first part of 2011, 2D barcode scans outnumbered 1D scans, and in late 2010 QR code scanning was said to have increased by 1200%.

6. 2D Barcodes Can Be Placed Nearly Anywhere

Once the barcode image has been created, it can be printed on nearly any surface and location, whether it be newspapers, TV ads, billboards, product packaging, clothing labels, etc. This allows you to drive traffic, interaction, and conversion from anywhere.

Bear in mind however, that the location must be easily scannable. For example, plastic frames and packaging can reflect light.

7. Barcode Content Should Provide Special Customer Value

When a user scans a barcode they will have high expectations as to what they will find. You should reward the user with exclusive content, discounts, tips etc.

Think of scenarios that make use of smartphone features, i.e. email, video, map, apps, etc. that will save the user time, for example including a QR code on a business card. Remember if you link to a web page, that you make sure that it’s mobile-friendly.

8. Consumers Need Guidance To Scan 2D Barcodes

The wide range of readers and code types etc. can be confusing to customers. It is therefore wise to include a brief step-by-step guide with the context of your code. Tell the user to get the reader app and then scan the code with their mobile device. Include a URL link or SMS shortcut to a reader app download to speed up the process.

If you want to know how QR codes can benefit your business please enquire about Network Intellect’s QR Code Service.

Some of the major changes included embeddable tweets and new brand pages. The new version of Twitter enhances the way in which we use the site and could possibly encourage users back to the platform. All the information you want to see quickly and easily are provided across four tabs.

Here are some of the significant changes that you will notice on the site;

1. Homepage Redesign

As a Twitter user navigating round the Twitter platform when being followed by a vast number of users is very difficult. Users will now see an easier design which enables you to quickly see Twitter trending topics, stats, suggested users to follow etc.

Tweets now expand to show more information and you can preview embedded photos and play videos directly in Twitter streams. These changes should help to keep more users on your Twitter profile and stop them bouncing off your site regularly in order to view photos or videos.

2. Profile Pages

The new profile pages now consist of a more streamlined design. The pages have reorganised the usual information you would see, such as tweets, followers, recent images etc.

3. Discover

The Discover tab enables you to find other people who are talking about topics that are of interest to you. You can personalise your Discover tab based on who you are following and your current location etc. You can also browse categories of interest, find friends, and more.

4. Brand Pages

The most significant changes to have been implemented on Twitter are the brand pages, which are a much-anticipated addition to the site. The new pages have many improvements over standard profiles or verified accounts, such as the addition of customisable header images.

If you have ever previously attempted to customise a Twitter background you will know that it can be difficult to make all information visible in such a small area. The availability of more space means more opportunities to brand your business.

Embeddable tweets are others change that have been made. Tweets can be embedded in blog posts and on web pages. This enables automatic links back to your Twitter profile whenever someone embeds your tweets. You can now also feature a particular tweet at the top of your brand’s Twitter page.

If you would like some help with how to achieve an effective Twitter and social presence, then why not give us a call at Network Intellect.