EV-GL-20

Symbiosis Centre for Distance Learning

Project Guidelines for

Post Graduate Certificate in Digital Marketing (PGCDM)

Understanding significance of Project Report

Many learners underestimate the significance of the project report and make the mistake of
thinking that good marks can be scored by simply producing a good lay-out. This is
fundamentally not the case as many projects are graded well below their potential because of an
indifferent or poor write-up. In order to acquire the right balance, learner should consider the aim
behind making the good project. It provides the opportunity for learner to demonstrate
independence and originality, to plan and organize the project work, and to put into practice.

Meaning of Project
The word project actually means something that comes before anything else is done. A project
can be defined as a temporary endeavor undertaken to achieve a particular aim or it is a study of
factual information for comprehending and applying the various concepts of the course into
practice.
Project is a supplement to learning. It is a technique of self-learning, of learning by doing. It has
a practical value. The purpose of the project is not to generalize but to study the situation with
practical orientation.

Application of Research Methodology to Project Work

SCDL allows learners to take up any topic of their interest and choice. However learners should
bear in mind that project topic should be relevant to digital marketing. Although an illustrative
list of the topics is being given at the end. Student should select any 1 (One) topic from any of
the 4 (Four) courses listed below. Learners are nevertheless advised not to restrict themselves
only to the topics mentioned over here for Project Work.

Steps in Research Process

Defining the problem and Project objectives

Designing Project Plan

Collecting Data

Analysis of Data

Interpretation and reporting the findings

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Project Guide
Projects can be guided by any Post Graduate degree holder with/without a Doctorate Degree
working in an academic institution (preferably teaching MBA /Management/ IT Courses) or
persons working in the managerial cadre in any industrial or business organization. Learners
must take time to time advice and suggestions from their guides.

Project Proposal
Once the learner decides the Project topic, afterwards he/she should prepare a Proposal as per
the format given below to SCDL for approval under the signature of his/her guide. A copy of
Proposal needs to be attached as ANNEXURE 1 in Project Report. The Proposal should not
be more than 5 to 6 pages. In other words, the project proposal needs not to be sent separately.

Format of Proposal

Name of the Learner……………………………………………

Registration No……………………………………………….
Address…………………………………………………
…………………………………………………
…………………………………………………

Proposal must carry the following information

1. Title of the Project
2. Objectives
3. Need for the topic
4. Methodology And Procedure Of Work
5. Statistical Techniques to be used (if any)
6. Chapterisation
7. Detailed Information of Guide: Name, Address, Qualification, Designation,
Special Field of Work, Experience, Any Other Important Information

Technical specifications of the project report

1. Paper : A4 size Bond Paper only(11”x 8.5”)

2. Fonts : Times New Roman , 12 font, ‘1.5’ spacing
3. Margin : Left 35 mm, Right 20 mm, Top 35 mm, Bottom 20mm
4. Binding : Rexin Black Bound or Plastic & spiral bound
5. Front and first page should have the following information:

 Top : The Title in BLOCK CAPITALS

 Center : Full name of the student in Capital letters and, Registration
Number
 Bottom : Name of the Student, Name of the Institute, Academic Year, in
Block Capitals

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Instructions for the preparation of hard copy of the project report:

Learners should note the following important points regarding project work:

1. The title of the project-report should not be the same as the objectives, as there can be
more than one objective for a particular study.
2. Each objective will have at least one or more findings and suggestions.
3. Each objective must have relevant questions in the questionnaires and/or interview
schedule.
4. Learner must ensure adequate coverage of the topic in general and objectives in
particular.
5. Colored figures/diagrams/graphs/tables will add value to the presentation of the report.
Every table and diagrammatic representation should have a serial number and a caption.
6. Learners should submit the draft of the project report to the guide before the final
submission and make necessary changes corrections suggested by the guide.
7. Project Report should be chapter wise. Each chapter to have the requisite number of
pages as specified in Chapterisation.
8. If survey is conducted for primary data. The sample size should be minimum 30
9. The questionnaire to contain objective questions with one and two open ended
questions by using relevant scales
10. The project Report should have minimum 50-60 pages excluding annexures.
11. Learners have to strictly follow the deadline for submission of the project report.

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No Objection Certificate

If the project is carried out in an organization, a certificate of the CEO of the organization or
equivalent is necessary, mentioning that the organization has no objection in publishing the
findings of the project study. The name of the authority with signature and company stamp
should be given at the end of the certificate. Alternatively, the certificate be given on the
company's letterhead and signed by the company's authorized person.

(FOR LEARNERS EMPLOYED)

SPECIMEN

NO OBJECTION CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that ……….. (Learner’s name) is an employee of our organization for past
…………

We have no objection for him/her to carry out a project work titled “…………………” in our
organization and submitting the project work and submitting it to the Director SCDL as a
partial fulfillment of the ……………..Programme

We wish him/her all the success.

Seal of the company Signature of the competent authority

of the institute / organisation

Place:

Date:

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(FOR LEARNERS NOT EMPLOYED)

SPECIMEN

NO OBJECTION CERTIFICATE

This is to certify that ………..(learner’s name) is permitted to use relevant data/information of

this organisation for his/her project as a partial fulfilment of the ……………..Programme

We wish him/her all the success.

Seal of the company Signature of the competent authority

of the institute / organisation

Place:
Date:

CERTIFICATES OF ORIGINALITY/DECLARATION

This is to be given by the learner and the guide indicating that this project work is original and
submitted for the first time.

SPECIMEN

DECLARATION OF LEARNER

This is to declare that I have carried out this project work myself in partial fulfillment of the
…………..Program of SCDL.

The work is original, has not been copied from anywhere else and not been submitted to any
other University/Institute for an award of any degree/diploma.

Date Signature

Place Name:

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SPECIMEN

DECLARATION OF GUIDE

Certified that the work incorporated in this Project Report……………………………………

(Title) submitted by ………………….. (Learner’s name) is his original work and completed
under my guidance. Material obtained from other sources has been duly acknowledged in the
Project Report

DATE

SIGNATURE OF GUIDE

PLACE

Chapterisation

Chapters

1. Introduction………………………………….
2. Organisation Profile ………………………
3. Objective……………………………………
4. Hypothesis…………………………………
5. Theoretical Perspective……………………
6. Methodology and Procedure of Work …….
7. Analysis / Interpretation of Data …………
8. Findings and Recommendations…………….
9. Conclusion………………………………
ANNEXURES
1. Reference
2. Bibliography
3. Questionnaire (if)
4. List of Figures, Charts, Diagrams
5. Sample formats (if)

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Scheme of Assessment and Evaluation of Project Report

Sr. Item of Assessment Rating

No.
0-2 3-5 6-8 9-10 Total
1 Area and topic selected for the
project work
2 Need of the project topic and
statement of objectives of the project
work
3 Methodology and procedure of the
project work
4 Tools of data collection, Final draft
of Questionnaire need to attach in
annexure
5 Presentation of collected data
tabulation, diagrams, graphs
6 Analysis of data
7 Findings, inferences, suggestions
and recommendations
8 Practical Application of the study
9 Preliminary pages of the project
report , typing, binding and get-up
of the report
10 Overall impression about the project
work and its presentation in the
report form
Total (Out of 100)

LIST OF TOPICS FOR

Student should select any 1 (One) topic from any of the 4 (Four) courses listed below.

Course 1: Search Engine Optimization (SEO)

Topic: - Project on Create Business Plan (B-Plan) for SEO for your company’s products or services
of any domains like retail, education, food industry, etc. or your own business website.

OR

Topic: - Actual implementation of SEO with a search engine, software tools and real website, in any
domain like retail, education, food industry, etc. any other or your own business website. It should be
done based on the SEO plan and implemented, measured appropriately with SEO strategies, methods

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implemented in real/learning based website of your product/services or an existing business

product’s website.

Ultimate goal is to have better ranking, good keywords and visibility of the website with optimized
SEO implementations, and SEO must contribute to the improved business values.

Project Guidelines:

1. Real postings of your products should not be done, only for academic purpose this project should be
carried out.
2. Use B-Plan template/standards available in public domain
3. References should be used with either IEEE format or Harvard APA referencing style. (Details can
be availed from public domain / Google.)
4. Write Objective of the project to be achieved, methods to be used for your selected project to achieve
your project goal.
5. Project Report – 50 to 60 Pages
6. Read SEO course pdf provided by SCDL prior to project beginning for clarity.

Course 2: Search Engine Marketing (SEM)

Topic: - Create a Search Engine Marketing Plan project based on below points with a case
study/project/product example in any domain of your choice other than retail, education, food
industry etc. or your own business products/services websites.

OR
Topic: - Actual implementation of Search Engine Marketing using software tools, techniques,
strategies, methods implemented and measured as per SEM plan.

Ultimate objective of SEM should be defined and achieved and displayed as effective SEM
which will improve and contribute to better business value.

Better software tools, techniques to be used to achieve better SEM, any domain can be selected
for SEM. It should be in synch with and relevant to solve business problems.

Project Guidelines:
1. Real postings of your products should not be done, only for academic purpose this project should be
carried out.
2. Use Business Plan (B-Plan) template/standards available in public domain.
3. References should be used with either IEEE format or Harvard APA referencing style. (Details can be
availed from public domain / Google).

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4. Write Objective of the project to be achieved, methods to be used for your selected project
topic to achieve your project goal.
5. Project Report – 50 to 60 Pages
6. Read SEM course pdf provided by SCDL prior to project beginning for clarity.

Course 3: Social Media Marketing (SMM)

Topic: - Create a Business Plan (B-Plan) for Social Media Marketing on Facebook / Twitter
/ LinkedIn / Google Plus / Pinterest for your company’s products / services as a project.

Project Objectives:
1. It must show that by using your Social Media Marketing on --------- for your company’s
products or services as a project, then the estimated sales, product brand, visitors, buyers,
consumer behaviour / feedback, offered service is improved.
2. Elaborate with reasons, which Social Media Marketing Strategies to be used?
3. USP of your product / services.
4. Brand Image improvement of your product / services.
5. Product / Services includes
a) Logo + Aim / objective of SMM of Product / Services
b) Domain of your product / service
c) Need or Gap finding for establishing your product / service
d) Categorisation of expected buyers (with specific parameters / characteristics) – why
will they buy product / service?
e) Market Positioning of your product / service.
f) Marketing Plan on social media platform chosen (Facebook, LinkedIn. etc.) Why
you have selected this platform?
g) Unique ideas which will enhance engagement and sales of your products.
h) Which Software tool you have selected for SMM?
i) Sales Expected Projections for next 1 to 5 years (justify with approx. Reasons)
j) Financials / Budget / cost, product pricing, profit and sale.

6. Give References in Harvard APA style.

Course 4: Email Marketing and Mobile SEO

Topic: - Create an Email Marketing and Mobile SEO Plan project based on any domain of
your choice like retail / education / food industry or your own business products / services
websites.
OR

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Topic: - Actual implementation of Email Marketing and Mobile SEO using software tools,
techniques, strategies, methods implemented and measured as per Email Marketing and
Mobile SEO plan.

Ultimate objective of Email Marketing should be defined and achieved and displayed as
effective Email Marketing which will improve and contribute to better business value.

Project Guidelines:
1. Real postings of your products should not be done, only for academic purpose this project should be
carried out.
2. Use Business Plan (B-Plan) template/standards available in public domain
3. References should be used with either IEEE format or Harvard APA referencing style.(details can be
availed from public domain / Google)
4. Write Objective of the project to be achieved, methods to be used to achieve your project
goal.
5. Project Report – 50 to 60 Pages
6. Read Email Marketing and Mobile SEO course pdf readings by SCDL prior to project beginning for
clarity.
Better software tools, techniques to be used to achieve better Email Marketing, any domain can be
selected for Email Marketing. It should be in sync with and relevant to solve business problems. Refer to
course Email Marketing and Mobile SEO Units for understanding the topics.

Important instructions

 For query on evaluation of research project the students are required to contact SCDL
within 8-10 working days after the submission / Project marks reflected in performance
sheet. The queries received after mentioned above said time will not be considered.

 Students must retain one copy of the Submissions/ Research Project for future
reference.

 No class improvement is allowed / permitted for the project report.

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 The fees can be paid through online payment link or by Demand Draft. The D/D should be
in favour of “The Director SCDL, Pune” payable at Pune and attached the D/D with duly
filled Service Request Form on following address.

Symbiosis Centre for Distance Learning

Symbiosis Bhavan,
1065 B, Gokhale Cross Road,
Model Colony,
Pune – 411 016

The online payment link is available under the project option in your student centre.

 Project report is to be typed and should not be handwritten. Handwritten Project

Report will not be considered for evaluation.

 The student are required to submit individual Project Report as per the guidelines
given. The preparation of Project Report as Group activity or copied shall be avoided
and found if any will not be considered for further evaluation which please may be
noted

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