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TargetX Helps Colleges Create their Own Social Networks for Student Recruiting

BRISTOL, Pa. — Interactive recruiting firm TargetX is making it possible for colleges to host social networks that resemble MySpace or Facebook so prospective students can come together online. The new eXpressNet from TargetX will allow students to share content and build community with their future classmates.

"Recruiting students today is all about making connections," said TargetX CEO Brian Wm. Niles in announcing the latest addition to the company's line of products and services. "One of the best ways to do that is through social networking, but not huge public sites like YouTube or Facebook. The trend is smaller, more intimate sites where members share specific interests. Colleges can now take advantage of that trend with eXpressNet."

TargetX will build a private, branded social network with many of the features of the most popular sites. Colleges can invite prospects, current students, faculty and others associated with the school to join the network, where they can blog, craft profiles, and upload photos and videos.

The site will be designed by TargetX to reflect the school's colors and graphics -- a kind of brand extension, says Niles -- but it will also have a unique appeal for today's social networking generation. The school can decide how it wants the site to work -- everything from whether members are able to post videos to what questions they get asked when setting up their profiles.

In addition to providing all setup and design, TargetX will offer training and support, including tips on best practices for communicating with college-bound students. "We offer the unique experience and expertise of a team that understands college recruiting and interactive marketing," said Niles, who is a pioneer in the use of online tools to attract and recruit students.

"Successful recruiting comes down to making strong connections with students," Niles added. "eXpressNet may be the most powerful online tool yet for helping prospects feel like they're part of the college community even before they attend."

For more information on eXpressNet, call 877-715-7474, ext. 106, or visit: www.targetx.com/network/index.html

About TargetX

Since 1998, TargetX has been higher education's most innovative recruiting company, continually developing new technologies and strategies to help colleges attract today's web-savvy students. The company is the leading provider of interactive recruiting solutions, helping over 450 schools communicate more effectively with prospective students -- online, in print and in person.

TargetX is also the leading authority on building campus visit experiences and solutions that meet the needs of today's Millennial generation. And it has recently introduced a revolutionary recruitment management suite that combines a powerful Student Recruitment Manager (SRM), a consumer-friendly student portal for applying online and scheduling campus visits, and the electronic communication tools for which TargetX has become known and respected throughout the industry.

TargetX has developed a reputation in higher education for objective and expert counsel. The company offers a popular series of workshops and seminars; speaks at dozens of conferences around the country; generates three different blogs for admissions officers; and produces the only podcast devoted to student recruiting and college marketing.