by Kendra Zager

Created on: March 17, 2010

Successful College Entrepreneurs Utilize Social Media - College students are becoming successful entrepreneurs by identifying students’ needs, creating products and services to fulfill those needs, and then utilizing online social marketing to spread awareness of their brands.  The popularity of social networking Web sites, such as Facebook and Twitter, and the increasing education on digital technology- enables students to create their own businesses and become successful through affordable online marketing.

At the University of Madison- Wisconsin, a few students created Badger Trips LLC.  According to the Badger Trips Web site, “Badger Trips can provide students with affordable and convenient travel options.”  The creators saw a demand for affordable lodging and transportation to away-football games, and capitalized on it.  They developed a Web site for their cause and used Facebook to spread the awareness to college students on campus. 

Marketing an online business comes naturally to college students growing up in a digital era.  A majority of college students are on Facebook, Linked-in, Twitter, and a variety of other social networking sites.  With upwards of 500 “friends” linked to students on these social media sites, it has never been cheaper to market and create awareness for their brands or services.  On Facebook, Badger Trips has 614 “friends” or people that they are linked to. 

Another entrepreneurial business that stemmed from Madison, WI college students is CampusDrank, “CampusDrank is a campus based delivery service supplying beverages at low costs direct to students doors.”  The students behind CampusDrank saw a need for beverage delivery and created their own business to support that need.  They promoted their business for free on Facebook (as all business outlets can) and have obtained 1,091 “friends.”  Facebook is a free outlet where they can communicate their information and discounts with consumers.

The increase in submissions to colleges, and the shortage in the job market, encourages competition among late teens and young adults.  The competition fosters an entrepreneurial mentality.  When students see a need for a business, they jump at the chance. CampusDrank even offers Franchising opportunities on their Web site. Increased access to technological and marketing resources helps support students’ budding businesses. 

BadgerBites.com was created to be competitive with other restaurant delivery sites. It delivers food from local restaurants.  According to BadgerBites.com, “BadgerBites.com is founded on the principal that users shouldn't have to pay a service charge to order their food online.”  Other food ordering Web sites have a service fee for the Web site attached to any fees from the restaurant.   Offering free delivery and no service charges on behalf of BadgerBites.com, gives this ordering Web site the competitive advantage. 

Graduate and undergraduate college students profit from starting fashion lines, service Web sites, or creating products by utilizing social media.  Marketing on social media networks is free and entrepreneurs can take advantage of their existing social media contacts to create awareness for their brand or service.  With the increase of digital knowledge and popularity of social media Web sites, starting a business generates profits for innovative college students.

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