College Students’ return to campus this fall will be different than any other time in history.  With many schools taking precautions, there are a variety of things to consider in order to effectively reach this demographic on-campus.

The recent Covid19 pandemic has changed life for millions of Americans in far more serious ways than advertising.  With that said, the trend so far this summer, leading into the Fall, is that many University are pushing for students to return in some capacity.

Many campuses are resuming classes with the full student body returning while keeping precautions in place such as testing, social distancing, etc. Other schools are implementing a hybrid model that will consist of some in-person classes and some classes done through virtual learning while maintaining a percentage of students on-campus (ie. 50% capacity; 25% capacity in some cases) and a third group of schools is implementing remote learning 100% with no students returning to campus this fall (this group is currently in the vast minority).

Before investing in reaching college students through different college campus advertising strategies, it’s critical to keep these thoughts in mind:

• Know Your Audience: Research which campuses fit within your target student demographic and have a full understanding of their student return policy.  This will help determine if a particular campus is viable to reach and/or if the strategy should be OOH or digital or what the right mix will be needed.
• Emphasis Digital Channels Early:  With heavy restrictions in place to ensure student safety, relying on college email digital marketing is a way to make that early impact with college students just as they return to campus
• OOH & Brand Ambassadors:  Once the dust settles after the initial move-in period, OOH advertising campaigns will be effective in reaching college students as student life returns to the ‘new normal’.  Students will continue to go to class and move about the campus where they will see traditional signage and engage with student brand ambassadors (their peers).

The Covid19 pandemic has changed a lot in the world including how the lives of college students will be affected on a daily basis.  With the right partner helping you navigate this new landscape while other marketers struggle, will set you apart in reaching the college student audience and make a lasting impact for your brand.