Most small business on the web acknowledge that creating fresh content that is engaging, informative and appears on a regular basis is important. While important, they would also acknowledge it is not urgent and too often just doesn’t happen
We’ve been leveraging our strengths by offering a college student some real world experience while making compelling content to better tell our story online. Our Journalism intern gains experience interviewing our current customers and sharing their stories in blog articles.
You too can benefit from such a strategy if you first understand the basics:
What is an Intern?
Most colleges now require that students get documented on the job training as a requirement to graduate. Internships are structured programs that usually last a single semester. The student (intern) is required to log anywhere from 10 to 20 hours of work weekly in their field. This work is reviewed and graded by their college professor.
Why a Journalism Intern?
Journalism students are trained in interviewing and telling stories. They are also desperate to find internship opportunities. The number of traditional journalism jobs has plummeted with the decline of printed media like newspapers and magazines. This is especially true in smaller communities like ours.
The Investment
Once referred to as unpaid “slave labor”, the labor laws have changed and may require the intern be paid. The true cost is not in the wage paid but in the time commitment to mentor and direct the intern. It’s not realistic to expect to show them a desk and expect them to be immediately productive. They will require guidance and feedback, but what they lack in work experience can be more than offset with fresh ideas and enthusiasm.
Define the Program
To have the internship approved by the college we had to define in writing the duties and expectations. Our Journalism intern is assigned leads based upon customers who have given us positive feedback through our ongoing customer nurturing programs. He contacts them to set up a convenient interview time, conducts the phone interview, and writes a blog post, being sure to include targeted key words. While we edit his work for such things as tone, he also edits all of our correspondence for grammar and spelling.
What We Have Gained
The tangibles are easily quantified: doubling of our published blogs, increased organic traffic, and a deeper customer engagement with those we featured. Beyond that it has given us a fresh voice, a new way to tell our story through our customers.
With the constraints every entrepreneur faces, college internships are a way to share what you’ve learned while gaining fresh insight, enthusiasm and labor. The risk is low with a minimal impact on cash flow, yet the return on investments can be huge. You owe it to yourself to check with local colleges to find how you might benefit from internship programs.
About Tom
Tom Schwab is owner and founder of Goodbye Crutches, an e-commerce business focused on serving those recovering on one foot after injury or surgery. Originally started in Kalamazoo, MI they now are the largest US distributor to those you can’t bear weight and can’t bear crutches.
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