Four NDSU student teams received outstanding rankings in the fifth Google Online Marketing Challenge. The four teams were among 46 U.S. teams that received a “strong” rating in the competition.

The students were part of a marketing strategy class taught by Mike Krush, assistant professor of management and marketing, during spring 2012 semester. Student teams that placed in the strong category were part of the top 15 percent of teams globally. In addition, two NDSU teams placed in the “good” category and four other teams placed in the “fair” category.

“We are exceptionally pleased with the student performance,” Krush said. “The teams that received a strong rating demonstrated their ability to understand and apply marketing strategy to an actual client and develop an effective online marketing strategy.”

The following NDSU students placed in the strong category:

• Randa Dufault, Eagan, Minn.; Nicole Petersen, Fargo; and Thomas Uhlir, Fargo; who worked with Hannaher’s Inc. as their client.
• Isaac Schmidt, Bismarck, N.D.; Tiffany Schulstad-Peterson, Frazee, Minn.; and Delinda Mueller, Minneapolis. The students worked with First Choice Apparel and Embroidery.
• Davis Beattie, Bismarck; Erik Furness, Rochester, Minn.; and Ryan King, Bismarck. The students worked with the Fargo Force hockey team.
• Nicole Burner, Minot, N.D.; Aaron Haugen, Alexandria, Minn.; Hyein Namgung, Korea. The students worked with Serenity Assisted Living.

More than 8,000 students from 86 countries and territories applied for the international marketing competition. The ratings for the competition are based on a Google algorithm that examines more than 35 different variables within each team’s AdWords account to determine the top 15 teams in each of the four regions (the Americas, Europe, Asia/Pacific and Middle East/Africa).

The ratings for the teams (outside of the top 15 in each region) include:

• Strong Campaign – The top 15 percent of teams globally
• Good Campaign – Teams in the 70th to 89th percentile
• Fair Campaign – Teams in the 40th to 69th percentile
• Campaign Needs Improvement – The bottom 39 percent of teams

To accomplish the Google challenge, students needed an understanding of marketing strategy, ability to develop and execute a marketing strategy for a business, learn a new technology (Google AdWords) and apply their understanding of marketing strategy within the context of the technology.

This was the first time the class participated in the event. For more information about the competition, see www.google.com/onlinechallenge/results.html.

NDSU is recognized as one of the nation's top 108 public and private universities by the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education.