How Marketing Internships Can Help Your Small Business Advertise Better

Offering Marketing Internships and How They Can Benefit Your Small Business:

Several years ago, I knew I needed assistance with my small business marketing campaigns, but couldn't afford to hire an advertising firm for my startup business. Instead, I advertised and consulted with a local university and got help virtually free when I hired my first two marketing interns. In exchange for giving them real-world experience and educational insight, I had the extra brain and manpower I needed.

Why Offer Marketing Internships?

Some of the benefits of offering a marketing internship are very attractive to small business owners, such as:

1. They are more affordable than hiring a marketing/ad firm. For-credit internships in particular will offer small businesses the chance to get real marketing advice for a price they can afford.
2. You can establish a relationship with a college or university. Colleges and universities are amazing institutions with which to visibly link your products and services.
3. You can tap into students' resources. College interns have access to distinguished experts in the marketing field, as well as modern technology and fresh, new ideas.
4. You can get skilled expertise from trained individuals. Limit your internship to majors within academic disciplines that fit your industry, or choose marketing-majors only to help ramp up your advertising campaigns.
5. Interns can generate new ideas. There's nothing better than a third party or new face to help a small business owner think outside the box or step back and evaluate an advertising campaign.

What to Expect From a Marketing Internship You Offer:

When you offer an internship, most colleges, universities, or individuals will have certain expectations. Be prepared to meet the following standards before considering offering an internship of any type.

1. Set period of time. Since internships are temporary, interns will have a higher turnover rate, and you'll have to train new ones (or hire your outgoing ones to keep them on board).
2. Paperwork. Most for-credit or paid internships require that there be an educational component, and you might have to fill out evaluations, program outlines, or other paperwork in order for the intern to sign on.
3. You get what you pay for. Unpaid (volunteer) internships are the most beneficial in terms of cost, but relying too heavily on students who aren't paid can result in frustration. Few people take an unpaid internship as seriously as a paid job. Even a diligent intern will be inexperienced, or else they wouldn't be working for free.

A successful restaurant owner I know hires college interns to come up with all of her marketing strategies and ideas, and provides great recommendation letters and resume experience for the students who complete a volunteer internship. Not only does it save her money, but it often generates additional lifelong, loyal customers! If you live near a university or college, the student population near you is a great marketing resource.

Many of the small business owners I know could benefit from trained and skilled marketing majors, especially those willing to work for credit. If you're on a budget, a marketing internship is an excellent offering that can help you rethink your marketing strategies and actually give you another resource to help implement them.

 

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What's Next

Next In This Guide
Part 29:
Don't Turn Down the Press - Free press is usually the best press a small business can ask for.  Even if it's a 30-second TV segment, chances are you have more to gain than lose.

Previous In This guide
Part 27:
Writing a Press Release for Your Small Business - 11 tips for writing a press release that will draw attention to your small business. Use this page as a checklist when creating your next release.

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