Distance education providers entertaining the possibility of investing in a search engine marketing program or Web-based advertising program that targets prospective enlisted-military or veteran-military students should consider calling Military.com.

This site provides numerous services to the military community, including an education section that has a well-designed "Find the Right School" search-engine directory.

"We develop customized, measurable military affinity marketing programs to meet client objectives," said Anne Dwane, senior vice president of marketing.

Military.com offers a variety of marketing and advertising programs that generate qualified leads. Dwane said the cost to participate in Military.com’ s lead-generation marketing programs "varies" and is "at the range that is normal for the industry. We really try to be a military-marketing partner. If they want students with GI-Bill and tuition assistance, we talk to them and try to understand their objectives and come up with a program." Dwane added that institutions that enter into lead-generation programs with Military.com have garnered anywhere from 500 to an astounding 10,000 qualified leads per month.

In addition to lead-generation programs, Military.com offers institutions the option to invest in targeted online and eNewsletter advertising. Their education-oriented newsletter, for instance, has a whopping 560,000 opt-in subscribers. They also have a careers-oriented newsletter with
a respectable 190,000 opt-in
subscribers.

Also worth noting is that Military.com has 3 million registered users and attracts more than 250,000 unique visitors per month to its careers and education resources.

Duwane added that Institutions can obtain a free listing inside Military.com’s directory by clicking on a somewhat obscure e-mail link labeled "Are you a School," located at the bottom of the site’s Education section, located at www.military.com/Careers/Education.