We're always looking for more prospects - anyone that may be a good fit for our program. Sometimes, we're looking so hard for new sources and targeted groups, we fail to maximize the sources we already have.
How much time do you put into your automated communication with prospective students? What about email newsletters, and other messages we send?
Now, how much time do you put into creating and sending messages to your best sources of students? I'm referring to the counselors, principals, advisors and faculty at the institutions that help drive prospects your way?
I know we have admissions representatives in touch with this group, but are we missing an on-going opportunity to keep that engagement going?
If you're using advanced engagement techniques like student personae, then you may also consider adding a persona type for the various types of counselors, faculty and advisors with whom you (or your staff) work closely.
Having persona developed for this target group will help you identify what types of content you want to send; what types of questions you want to answer - as well as when and how you address each.
As I've said in many previous posts, just like this one, the key to effectively using content is making it relevant.
There are higher education enrollment strategies that require investments in money, and some that require investments in time. Using student personas falls in that latter category, but they also can help you convert prospects at a much higher rate. If you've taken the time to create them for prospective students, it won't take much more to create personas for this target market that is so often overlooked - at least when it comes to our automated communication efforts.
Are you using personas? Do you know how to create them? Have you used this checklist as a tool to help you engage your target groups?