[cldellow]

Hey everyone... I'm new here.

I just launched a service targeted towards university aged students (http://coughup.ca/ - check it out), but am not sure how to market the service.

It's a very viral concept -- to use the system, you must introduce it to other people. I figure once I get some certain number of people using the system, it should grow by itself.

To get that number, I've so far only come up with blanketing the two university campuses near me with flyers.

What do you guys do to create buzz?

[akula]

Originally Posted by cldellow

What do you guys do to create buzz?

one word- remarkable!

the product has to be remarkable enough for people to tell others about it.

Seth Godin's books will tell what to do.

you know...it's like this....i don't find coughup that interesting at the momemnt....but I've got this feeling that there is something I am not seeing. if you can figure something out and make the concept remarkable I am sure you'll get all the buzz you need.

good luck

[aquanova27]

Advertise it through campus' newspaper? or put an eye-catching poster on bulletin board...

[TryingHard]

Not sure how much advertising capital you have, but you can reach entire universities through facebook announcements. Facebook boasts a membership of 80% of the student body at nearly every university they offer their site to, and everyone logs on at least once a week. The announcement itself is just plain text in the left margin, and can include links. Prices are reasonable its something like $20 a day for a text announcement per university. You could try a small sample first and see if it catches on.

Might I make a small suggestion? Spend a little more time/money on making the design more attractive.

Hope this helps!

[Bored]

Other than facebooking you should try this:

Hire some big buff guy to work out in the cafateria (borrow some weights from the gym). Have a sign that says, "Your friend forgot to pay you back? Let this guy deal with it. Just log on to www.lskdjfs;dlfkj.com." That should attract people.

Btw how do you intend to make money off of this? Commission?

Your name should be changed to "Cough It Up."

[nado]

Do you actually assist in getting the money back? Or is it just an online tracking thing?

I'd say that most university students are de-sensitised to regular advertising. Do something new, fresh, crazy, weird, funny etc and viral marketing will follow.

[Franakapan]

Yaro Starak has a good article on postering campaigns aimed at university students http://www.entrepreneurs-journey.com...siness/page/6/

You will have to scroll down a little to find it - 'Marketing Students: Poster Advertising 101'

Cheers,

Sam

[herbie]

Definitely poster advertising as well targeting "college" sites.

Herbie