You might not be aware of Discord. Or you may know about it, and you’re wondering what it has to do with marketers. After all, isn’t it for gamers? That was once the case, but not anymore. Discord is a popular online chat platform that is used by millions of people around the world. It is especially popular among GenZ, making it a great opportunity for brand managers to reach a wider audience.

This article focuses on the Ed-Tech Industry and intends to highlight how Discord has been used by various brand managers as an advantage to create an edge for various brands.

• Creating a Discord server for your brand. 

This is a great way to create a community of people who are interested in your brand. You can use the server to share news and updates about the brand, host contests, and giveaways, and answer questions from students. For example, Khan Academy has a Discord server with over 100,000 members. The server is used to connect with students, answer questions, and provide support. Students can ask questions about specific topics, get help with their assignments, or just chat with other students. The server also has a dedicated channel for teachers, where they can share resources and collaborate with each other. Khan Academy has found that their Discord server has helped them to improve their communication with students and teachers, and has also helped to create a more positive and supportive learning environment.

• Run AMAs (Ask Me Anything) sessions. 

AMAs is a great way to get engage with your audience and to understand them better. You can answer questions about your products, your company culture, and anything else that your audience is curious about. For example, Udemy has hosted several AMAs on Discord with their instructors. These AMAs have given students a chance to learn more about the instructors and their courses. Udemy has found that their AMAs have helped them to build trust and rapport with their students, and has also helped to promote their courses.

• Host study groups and other events. 

This is a fun and engaging way to connect with the audience. You can host study groups, workshops, or even just have casual conversations. Coursera is one of the great example where they has hosted several study groups on Discord for their students. These study groups have helped students stay motivated and on track with their studies. Coursera has found that their study groups have helped them to create a more collaborative and supportive learning environment, and has also helped to improve student outcomes.

• Partner with other Discord servers. 

Partnerships are great initiatives to reach a wider audience. You can partner with other brands, influencers, or even just other Discord servers that have a similar audience but not a competitor. For example, Khan Academy has partnered with several other Discord servers, such as the National Geographic Society and the United Nations. These partnerships have helped Khan Academy reach a wider audience and promote their educational resources. Khan Academy has found that their partnerships have helped them to build relationships with other organizations, and has also helped to promote their brand.

When using Discord, it is important to be mindful of the regulatory issues that may apply. For example, in India, the Information Technology (Intermediary Guidelines and Digital Media Ethics Code) Rules, 2021 require intermediaries (such as Discord) to take certain steps to protect users from harmful content. Despite these regulatory issues, Discord is a valuable tool that ed-tech brand managers can use to engage with a younger audience. The platform is growing rapidly, and it is already being used by many successful ed-tech brands around the world.

To sum up, Discord is a powerful tool that Ed-Tech brand managers can use to connect with the younger generation. By establishing brand-specific servers, engaging in AMAs, facilitating study groups, and forging strategic partnerships, educators and brands alike can tap into the vibrant Gen Z community and create an enriched and collaborative learning ecosystem that resonates with the needs and preferences of today's students.

To know more about how to use Discord for your brand engagement, visit us on GroCurv.com