Student Connect Series: Marketing + AI

Student Connect Series: Marketing + AI

Fresh Perspectives. Practical Ideas. Stronger Marketing.

The NJSBDC at The College of New Jersey (TCNJ) invites small business owners to participate in the Student Connect Series: Marketing + AI, a student-business engagement initiative designed to help businesses evaluate their current marketing, explore new opportunities, and learn how artificial intelligence (AI) can support their marketing efforts.

Through the program, participating businesses will be matched with TCNJ students who will evaluate selected areas of the business's marketing, identify strengths and opportunities, and develop practical recommendations and a Marketing Action Plan.

Participation is offered at no cost to small business owners.

How the Program Works

Participating businesses will be matched with TCNJ students based on the scope and needs of the business.
Students will learn about the business and review areas such as:
• Target customers and market positioning
• Brand messaging and value proposition
• Social media presence and content
• Website and digital presence
• Customer engagement
• Current promotional activities
• Opportunities to strengthen marketing efforts
• Appropriate ways to incorporate AI Tools into marketing activities

Based on their review, students will develop recommendations and suggested next steps for the business.

The NJSBDC at TCNJ will coordinate the program and help facilitate the connection between participating students and small business owners.

What Your Business Will Receive

At the conclusion of the project, participating businesses will receive:
• An assessment of selected current marketing activities
• Identification of marketing strengths, gaps, and opportunities
• Practical recommendations for improving marketing
• Ideas for how AI may help support marketing activities
• A basic Marketing Action Plan with priorities and suggested next steps
• Fresh perspectives from TCNJ students

Depending on the needs of the business, recommendations may include ways to use AI to help generate content ideas, better understand target customers, improve messaging, organize a content calendar, research competitors, or streamline selected marketing tasks.

Who Should Participate?

The Student Connect Series: Marketing may be a good fit for small businesses that:
• Are not sure where to focus their marketing efforts
• Want to improve their social media or digital presence
• Need a clearer marketing direction
• Want to better understand and reach their target customers
• Are interested in using AI but do not know where to start
• Have been marketing their business but are unsure what is working
• Would benefit from fresh ideas and an outside perspective

You do not need to have an established marketing plan to participate.

Interested in Participating?

We are currently inviting small business owners to express interest in the Student Connect Series: Marketing + AI
Participation is at no cost. Space may be limited, and businesses will be matched based on program and project fit.

Student Connect Series: Marketing is a student-led experiential learning initiative supported by the NJSBDC at The College of New Jersey. Recommendations are educational in nature and should be reviewed by the business owner before implementation.