Master's certificate of internet marketing?

Discussion in 'General Marketing' started by Pixelrage, Apr 1, 2009.

  1. #1
    What are your thoughts on this 'degree', if you want to call it that? It looked like an interesting thing to try for. I think my company might pay a good chunk of the tuition. Is anyone currently going through the program? I only know of about 3 schools in the US that currently offer it.
     
    Pixelrage, Apr 1, 2009 IP
  2. Alex_K

    Alex_K Member

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    #2
    This cracked me up when I actually saw Universities offering a degree in Internet Marketing. Do you really think you can learn from the people behind school desks? Do you think Frank Kern is going to be your professor there? Hmmm....think about it.

    If you really want to learn about Inernet Marketing you should probably learn it from the millionaires who have made their money with it like Kyle & Carson of Wealthy Affiliate.
    Not from some theory pushers who sit on their butts preaching while taking your $6,000.

    I'm sure any serious marketer will agree with me on this...
     
    Alex_K, Apr 1, 2009 IP
  3. ploked

    ploked Peon

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    #3
    i wrote a blog about this a few days ago...http://www.ploked.com/social-media/really-a-college-degreein-social-media.html

    it will be interesting to see if the classroom can keep up with technology...
     
    ploked, Apr 1, 2009 IP
  4. terrymason

    terrymason Well-Known Member

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    #4
    If your company will pay for a master's degree then you'd be insane not to take them up on it.

    as to the comment "Do you really think you can learn from the people behind school desks?" my answer would be yes. How is learning internet marketing any different from other fast changing subjects like computer programming or computer science - they change quickly, but have been taught successfully for years.

    After all, internet marketing is just a different flavor of traditional marketing / advertising. If you understand traditional ideas of advertising, campaigns, demographics, etc then you've gone a long way.
     
    terrymason, Apr 1, 2009 IP
  5. Pixelrage

    Pixelrage Peon

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    #5
    This was my thinking, too. Honestly, it would just be another shiny thing to put on my resume, nothing more. Not only that, it should be a pretty easy course for me.
     
    Pixelrage, Apr 1, 2009 IP
  6. Alex_K

    Alex_K Member

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    #6
    I'm not saying you can't learn the "concepts" and "theories" and "models", after all that's what all universities are designed to do, is to teach you the bare basics....for a hefty price tag most people can't afford.
    If you're just doing it for a shiny piece of paper on the wall, that's probably fine. That's one expensive conversation piece though.


    Here is how it's different.

    Learning Internet Marketing from people who've done it VS Multiple Choice People who's only read and theorized about it.

    Over-Priced University Classroom: You're paying $600 a credit hour to memorize corporate-speak terms on marketing and doing simple exercises just to get a check mark from the professor.


    Real-World: You're investing that $600 into Pay Per Click Adwords campaign while learning from it in real-time while dealing with real competition who doesn't care about how well you know marketing terminology.

    If you'd take those marketing professors and throw them into the Pay Per Click game and tell them to double their profits, they wouldn't know where to start let alone make millions.(that's why they're happy teaching and getting paid their measly $60,000 a year)
     
    Alex_K, Apr 1, 2009 IP
  7. magda

    magda Notable Member

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    #7
    Entirely agree.
    Plus putting that you've got a masters degree on your Resume/CV is going to look a darn site more impressive than that you bought an ebook from someone with a flashy sales page :rolleyes:
     
    magda, Apr 1, 2009 IP
  8. jezzz

    jezzz Notable Member

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    #8
    I think! you can get techniques and better knowledge of Internet Marketing in masters but usage of this degree on internet vary with self abilities
     
    jezzz, Apr 1, 2009 IP
  9. Alex_K

    Alex_K Member

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    #9
    Somehow I doubt you can impress Google with Master Degree Certificates on your resume. :)
     
    Alex_K, Apr 1, 2009 IP
  10. Pixelrage

    Pixelrage Peon

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    #10
    It's more of a job thing. If an interview process is down to you and some other guy, and you both have MBAs, but you have a master's cert and he doesn't, it's definitely another point in your favor.
     
    Pixelrage, Apr 1, 2009 IP
  11. primeelite

    primeelite Peon

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    #11
    A masters certificate is not to be confused with a master's degree. If someone else is paying for it then I don't think it could hurt as long as the school has a good reputation. The thing is though most people who have made million's on the internet never got a degree in internet marketing. If you are paying for it yourself than it is a waste but if someone else is footing the bill then go for it.
     
    primeelite, Apr 1, 2009 IP
  12. seorulebook

    seorulebook Peon

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    #12
    Impossibility because IM is something you have to produce results with, its not pie in the sky, and that is all the schools can produce.
     
    seorulebook, Apr 1, 2009 IP
  13. Alex_K

    Alex_K Member

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    #13
    Exactly my point...
     
    Alex_K, Apr 2, 2009 IP
  14. Alex_K

    Alex_K Member

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    #14
    I keep seeing the USF ad every day and couldn't help to wonder how many people they actually draw into their program.
    Hey markn, since your job might cover the tuition and you do sign up with it, keep us updated and let us know how it goes (if you feel like it)
     
    Alex_K, Apr 6, 2009 IP
  15. BelissaC

    BelissaC Peon

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    #15
    A master's certificate sure looks good on paper. But I don't think I'll pay up for that certificate using my own money. No way. There's a wealth of information on internet marketing online and I don't have to shed a single cent just to learn the basics. On another note, if the company would pay for my education, I might as well go for it and see how well those professors teach IM.

    P.S. A master's certificate in IM is a rip-off.
     
    BelissaC, Apr 6, 2009 IP
  16. BlackhatVault

    BlackhatVault Banned

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    #16
    I do not see any cons on why one should not join this internet marketing master's degree course.

    I agree, it needs to be done and learnt practically by taking some actions. But having a master's degree is not going to hurt in any way rather it would be beneficial only..
     
    BlackhatVault, Apr 7, 2009 IP
  17. unclebuzz

    unclebuzz Peon

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    #17
    Im currently studying for to become a Certified Internet Web Professional.
    ciwcertified.com

    To be honest when I have gone for interviews, the fact I am studying for the CIW is sneered at.

    Most folk at the top in IM have got there by producing results, not because they have taken the time to understand and learn.

    Its a shame, but a fact.
     
    unclebuzz, Apr 7, 2009 IP
  18. Pixelrage

    Pixelrage Peon

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    #18
    I got a CIW and I-Net+ in the earlier part of the decade...it really didn't do much for me at all. I don't even think anyone in a non-CS industry even cares about CompTIA cert's.
     
    Pixelrage, Apr 7, 2009 IP
  19. flalax22

    flalax22 Peon

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    #19
    I think it all depends on what you're looking for...are you an internet entrepreneur trying to drive more traffic or are you a marketing professional looking to get a job/advance your career in interactive?

    AlexK- I looked into the program and they have real-world experts teaching the course that all do this everyday for major brands and companies-- they aren't some professor that read about this somewhere.

    I also agree with Magda that a credential from an accredited university looks way better on your resume to employers than telling them you went to joe's seo seminar or read/learned about it through google. The part that got me interested was that you learn about everything digital and not just one area (like you do when you go to a conference).
     
    flalax22, Sep 29, 2009 IP
  20. PHPGator

    PHPGator Banned

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    #20
    I definitely think you can learn internet marketing from others. I hadn o clue how to drive traffic to my website until I just started reading around here. Obviously, some stuff works and some stuff doesn't, but you can learn theory from anyone. And once you know the theory, you can put that into practice and be far more successful with what you do know versus someone who knows nothing.
     
    PHPGator, Sep 29, 2009 IP