Post-bac (post-baccalaureat-completion) marketing is the life-cycle of a university degree that starts once you’ve graduated and continues online. This is a great opportunity to market your skills and knowledge to a potentially worldwide audience.
Here we’re going to run down the ins and outs of this fascinating sub-sector of marketing and how you can take full advantage of being a post-bac marketing specialist.
Key Facts About Post-Bac Marketing
The term ‘post-bac’ was initially used to describe the life-cycle of a university degree that began with graduation, continued online and involved a mixture of formal (classroom-based) learning and informal (self-guided) learning.
The name ‘bac’ comes from the French acronym for Bachelor of Arts, which in turn comes from the German Boden-Artschrift, meaning ‘literature, language and geography’ (bachelors used to be known as ‘bachelors in arts’).
Although post-bac marketing is commonly used to describe the work of graduates of arts degrees, it can also be used to describe the work of graduates of science degrees, with some adjustments to the definitions of ‘post’ and ‘bac.’
What Is Formal Learning And Why Do You Need It?
Formal learning is generally described as a class-based learning environment where you’re expected to follow a set of rules and procedures as you study. In a nutshell, that means you’re studying in a classroom with other students but you’re not completely ‘on your own.’
In a classroom-based learning environment, you’ll typically gain access to experienced teaching staff who can provide guidance on complex topics and offer help with assignments. This is often augmented with online content such as videos, podcasts or reading assignments that you can complete at your own pace.
Classrooms also offer the opportunity to make friends with people from all around the world. Being in a classroom of 100 people with 20 nationalities is a great way to learn about the world at large.
What Is Informal Learning And Why Do You Need It?
Informal learning is often described as self-guided or independent study and it requires less structure, less guidance and less homework than formal learning. In a nutshell, that means you’re studying on your own – albeit with the aid of a syllabus, an assignment schedule and perhaps a textbook or two (informal studies are often called ‘independent learning’).
One of the great things about informal learning is that you’re not bound to a set of rules and procedures as you go about your business. Essentially, you’re free to learn how you want and when you want. It’s a great fit for modern-day life and working life since it usually entails researching topics on the job, taking some time off to study or taking a vacation to improve skills and knowledge.
However, despite the appeal of informal learning, it doesn’t come without its challenges. Since you’re not really expected to follow a set of rules and procedures as you go about your studies, you’ve got to keep track of what you’ve learned and what you need to review. Without that element of structure, you’re always likely to get distracted by other things in life and forget important study details. Keeping track of all your assignments and projects can also be a big pain especially after a while. The constant referencing back to previous work can also be exhausting.
The Difference Between Post-Bac And Post-Graduate Marketing
If you’ve just graduated but you’ve already started your post-bac marketing journey, then congratulations! Your official starting point is the post-graduation market, also known as the job or professional market.
Post-graduation or post-bac marketing is the life-cycle of a university degree that begins once you graduate and continues online. This is a great opportunity to market your skills and knowledge to a potentially worldwide audience. However, to fully capitalize on this opportunity you need to understand the differences between post-bac and post-graduation marketing.
Post-bac Vs Post-Graduate Marketing
To begin with, post-bac and post-graduation are two very different things. Post-bac ends once you graduate, while post-graduation continues online. Hence, the name ‘post-bac’ – post-bac marks the end of your studies and the beginning of your job search.
Since your studies are now over, your attention should turn to the job market. This is where you’ll look for your first (formal) job after university and it’s also the place where you can continue (informal) learning. As a post-bac graduate, you’ll start your job search with several important considerations. First, ensure that your degree is suitable for the positions you’re seeking; second, establish yourself as an expert in your field by contributing to a specialist publication or blog; and third, build a powerful network of professional contacts.
Why Do You Need A Blog?
Establishing yourself as an expert in your field is a great way to make yourself known to potential employers. Building a reputation as a trustworthy advisor and a person who can offer unique expertise is an excellent way to differentiate yourself from other applicants. The best way to build your expertise is through high-quality content published regularly on a blog.
Blogs are a great way to establish yourself as an expert in your field. By regularly contributing to a blog, you’ll gain credibility with your existing audience who are already interested in your topic. Building a community of people who are interested in what you have to say is a great way to establish yourself as an expert in your field.
How To Get Started In Post-Bac Marketing
Now that you have some understanding of the differences between post-bac and post-graduation marketing, let’s get you started down the right path. After you graduate, the first thing you should do is seek out a reputable, educational-focused blog that fits within the sphere of your studies. Naturally, you’ll have to update your blog with new content regularly (at least weekly) to keep your audience interested.
Choose your blog topic carefully. If you chose a topic that is popular amongst your existing audience, then that’s a bonus. Having a regular flow of high-quality content will also enhance your reputation as a trustworthy advisor. Additionally, you’ll have the opportunity to build links to your website, social media accounts and important internal pages.
What Should Your Blog’s Content Include?
When establishing your blog, you’ll want to choose a niche. This is the branch of knowledge that you’ll be focusing on. For instance, if you’re a history buff, then you might want to choose British History as your niche. Your blog’s content should always be relevant to your target audience and it should be of a high quality. Ideally, each blog post should be no more than a few hundred words long and should include;
- A clear and concise introduction to the topic (also known as the thesis statement)
- Key facts
- One or two examples (counter-examples can be useful too)
- A conclusion
- Reflections
- Additional resources
- Contact information
As you write your thesis, bear in mind that the goal is to establish yourself as an expert in your field. Therefore, the content that you produce will reflect that goal. The best thing about establishing a blog is that you have complete control over the content that is published. Hence, you can ensure that each post is relevant to your target audience, has a clear objective and is of a consistently high quality.
How Can A Blog Help In Your Job Search?
A blog is a great way to establish yourself as an expert in your field. Naturally, you’ll want to update your blog with new content regularly (at least weekly) to keep your audience interested. Additionally, you’ll have the opportunity to build links to your website, social media accounts and important internal pages.
Blogs are a great way to establish yourself as an expert in your field. By regularly contributing to a blog, you’ll gain credibility with your existing audience who are already interested in your topic. Building a community of people who are interested in what you have to say is a great way to establish yourself as an expert in your field.