veranstaltungen-ss11-smti-google.html

Modul 25011: Master - Selected Media and Technology Issues
'Google Online Marketing Challenge' (SS '12)

C. Loebbecke (with Assistants)

2 SWS, 6 LP

Participation in one of the kick-off meetings is mandatory.

1. Kick-off: January 20, 2012, 12:00 o'clock, in XXIII, WiSo-Build.
2. Kick-off: March 28, 2012, 11:30 o'clock, in XXIII, WiSo-Build.

Held in English

[Google Online Marketing Challenge '10: Two MTM-Teams as global Semi-Finalists]

Overview
This course focuses on participation in the Google Online Marketing Challenge, which provides a hands-on exercise for students participating in a global course initiative. All relevant information on the challenge can be found under the Google Competition Guidelines. On the Google websites students have access to ample basic material on AdWords and GoogleAnalytics. Related knowledge prior to the course is not necessary.
The course will be held in ENGLISH! Preparation is not necessary. But registration (see below) and GROUP WORK are mandatory. Students can choose groups with 3 to 6 members themselves. But, please note that all group members need to register for the this course (Module 25011). We will happily help with forming groups if wanted.

Dates and Location
The course is mainly online.You will have to participate in one of the kick-off meetings (dates and location see above).
Attending the kick-off meeting does not commit you to take the course, but only after the kick-off meeting you can register for the course!

Assignments
We require the 3 group assignments as described in the Google Online Marketing Challenge and one individual assignment. All assignments will be clearly described and discussed in the kick-off meeting.
(Please note: Running an AdWord campaign is mandatory, but all activities with respect to mainting a Google+ page are voluntary and will NOT be taken into account for grading!)

1) Company Recruitment & Registration (Group)
Each group needs to recruit a small-to-medium sized company (< 100 employees) that does not currently use AdWords in any capacity and does not have had an active account within the last 6 months! If you do not find any suitable business to work with, we will try to help. In either case you have to agree with us on who you will work with and that each group has to work with a different business.
Please eMail the company name, a contact person in the company and a letter signed by the company confirming the participating in the Google Challenge (see 'Letter to Businesses' provided within Google's Competition Guidelines). Student teams register on the Student Dashboard until May 11, 2012.

2) Pre-Campaign Strategy (Group)
Choose a date to run your campaign over any 3 consecutive weeks. Last ending date is June 8, 2012, LATEST start date then is May 18, 2012.
Get in contact with the small-to-medium sized company you chose. (1) Understand business and corresponding objectives of online marketing, (2) create AdWord text ads / keywords, and (3) plan an AdWords schedule for your campaign.
Set up and submit a pre-campaign strategy containing (1) client overview and (2) proposed AdWords campaign on criteria such as keywords, time of day and location to Google AND TO ALL group members and claudia.loebbecke<at>uni-koeln.de.
Deadline: One week prior to YOUR AdWords campaign.

3) Post-Campaign Summary (Group)
Submit a summary of your campaign containing (1) an executive summary, (2) an industry component, and (3) a learning component as word doc (no PDF!) to Google.
ALSO eMail the report to ALL group members and claudia.loebbecke <at>uni-koeln.de,
AND hand in three copies on paper to Prof. Claudia Loebbecke, Pohligstr. 1, 50969 Cologne.
To succeed in the Google Online Marketing Challenge, please pay special attention to the (1) account structure, (2) optimization techniques, (3) account activity and reporting, (4) performance and budget, and (5) relevance.
Deadline: No later than 3 weeks after YOUR campaign's end, latest on June 15, 2012.

4) Course Experience Report (Individual)
Submit a course experience report (max. 4 pages, 12-point Times font, 2.54 cm page margins, A4 paper, left-justification, 1.5 line spacing, A4) describing your activities throughout the course including your interaction with Google, with 'your' company, and - if applicable - with other groups etc.. Assess which parts of the course provided a good learning experience for you, what you would recommend to students participating in upcoming years.
Send this report as word doc (no pdf!) to claudia.loebbecke<at>uni-koeln.de and hand in three copies on paper to Prof. Claudia Loebbecke, Pohligstr. 1, 50969 Cologne.
Deadline: No later than 3 weeks after YOUR campaign's end, latest on June 15, 2012.

Grading / Credit Points
Grading will be based on:

First two group assignments during course (30%, group)
Post-campaign summary, the grade will combine the assessment of the campaign customized to your company needs and the group's position in the global Google ranking (40%, group)
Course experience report (30%, individual)

Students receiving a final grade of 4,0 or better will be awarded 6 Credit Points ('Leistungspunkte') in Module 25011 (Selected Media and Technology Issues).