Everyone has heard of the “Silicon Valley”. Those who live and breathe technology know what it is. Those who don’t may have heard of it. The name “Silicon Valley” might not mean much to you. Maybe you’ve heard of “Silicon Beach” or “Silicon Prairie”. Well, the name “Silicon Valley” actually applies to many places around the world. It is an urban area that is surrounded by technology companies, innovative startups, and aggressive venture capitalists. (Wikipedia)

What might surprise you is that much of “Silicon Valley” does not actually involve technology at all. The area is actually a nexus of business, innovation, and culture. Just like any other place, there is a lot of competition in the marketplace and a lot of demand for your product or service. (HubSpot)

But what sets the Valley apart is that you can’t live or work there without being aware of technology. A huge portion of the population works for a living, breathing reminder of the importance technology holds in today’s world. (Apple Store, Google Play, and Microsoft Store)

The “Other” Silicon Valley

If you’re reading this, I assume you’re either a student or employee in one of the Bay Area’s many well-known tech companies. These companies might not seem like they have much in common with other Bay Area businesses, but they do. The entrepreneurs who start these companies often come from similar backgrounds and have similar attitudes towards working hard, taking risks, and being innovative. (Wikipedia)

These are the same ideals that define the Valley, but sometimes it takes a bit of a diversion to realize them. For example, look into the history of Paypal. It was started in 1994 by two brothers, Elon and Blakely Mueller. (Paypal.com)

Prior to creating Paypal, the brothers Mueller worked for A.C. Moore and MCI. When they set out to create their own company, they decided to name it after one of their previous employers, since they still worked for MCI at the time. So, even though they worked in a different industry, they still wanted to give MCI some credit for helping them get where they were. (Mueller Brothers)

Also, take a look at how Dropbox began. It was started by two guys, Arash and Nosheen in 2007. (Dropbox.com)

The company’s name comes from the idea that people will keep files on Dropbox because they know they can always access them when they need them. So, even though the service was originally focused on files and storage, the name “Dropbox” indicates that the startup was thinking about how to make their service more social. (Business Insider)

Where Do You Fit In?

Looking for a place to study or work? There are a lot of options. Udemy is the largest online learning platform, with over 100 million users. (Udemy)

In addition to being a digital learning platform, they also run a lot of online communities and forums. For example, one of their tech hubs is a place for students and professors to congregate and discuss current topics in technology. (Udemy Tech Hub)

Marketing Channels To Target Students And Professors

With over 100 million users, Udemy has a very large audience. However, not all of those users are studying or working in technology. In fact, a significant portion of them use the platform to learn something completely different. (Wikipedia)

In order to reach this audience, you need to consider using other marketing channels. For example, you could try using social media to broadcast your news articles or blog posts to this audience. (Twitter)

You could also advertise on forums that are relevant to your target audience. For instance, if you’re trying to sell medical technology, you could advertise on a forum for computer scientists or doctors. (Ask a Physicist)

Or, if you’re just getting started, you could initially focus on educating existing customers about your product and how it can benefit them. (Udemy Learn)

Final Takeaway

If you’re in the higher education industry and you’re looking to increase your reach to potential customers, consider using online resources and platforms to do so. These are simply some channels you can use to get the word out about your product or service. (LinkedIn)