For more information, contact Cindy Young, (937) 775-3232.

September 15, 1998

WRIGHT STATE TO OFFER NEW
CLASS ON INTERNET MARKETING

The growth of the World Wide Web as a marketing tool means that business webmasters must not only possess technical skills, but also understand how companies market themselves on the web. Internet Marketing, a new course developed by the Department of Marketing at Wright State University, offers theoretical instruction in the still-new field of Internet marketing and gives students hands-on experience designing web pages for local businesses and organizations.

More companies have realized that an Internet presence is a key component to their marketing efforts. Smaller firms can project a professional image through their web site and effectively compete with larger companies.

"When you look at a web page, there's no real indication of the resources behind that firm," says Frank J. Carmone, Jr., Ph.D., Rike Professor of Marketing, who teaches the course. "It levels the playing field a little bit."

Carmone believes students today with Internet marketing skills will have the same edge as the handful of students 25 years ago who had computer knowledge. Students who can set up web pages, design web surveys and understand Internet marketing will have an edge in the job market.

"If they go into an interview with a good background in the Internet, that's going to be a big plus," Carmone believes. "It's more than just knowing tricks with graphics. It's that balance of being very creative with being creative in such a way that is sensitive to the user."

Rebecca Koop, Ph.D., assistant professor of management information systems, will be working with Carmone on the technical aspects of web site design. The class will evaluate various web sites from both a graphics and user perspective. At the end of the course, a jury of academics and practitioners will evaluate student web sites.

Guest speakers will include local experts in various areas of Internet marketing. Industry representatives will include webmasters, Internet service providers and advertising firms. Students will then apply what they have learned to web sites they will design for area organizations.

"The way to implement that theory is to develop web sites for organizations or small businesses," Carmone says. "That will be the major project for students. We can offer these kinds of services to companies and organizations that wouldn't normally have the resources to do this."

The Fall Quarter Internet Marketing class quickly filled with 30 students enrolled, but if there is sufficient demand the class will be offered again in the spring or summer. For more information on the course, or to offer your business or organization as a student web site project, contact Carmone at (937) 775-4579, or by e-mail at fcarmone@wright.edu.

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