Tips for Attracting More Students
Anyone in the higher education industry knows that the critical key to ongoing success is attracting and retaining a consistent flow of quality students. In such a competitive field, standing out and becoming the education provider of choice for your prospects isn’t easy. It takes creativity, determination and a lot of hard work. That said, let’s take a look at a few strategies you may be able to leverage that will help draw more interest to your school.
Invest in Online Marketing – The more exposure your target audience has to your brand, the more likely they’ll be to consider you as their higher education provider. In addition to traditional marketing methods, like ads and mailings, make sure you’re reaching your prospects where they’re most like to be – on social media and other areas of the web. Invest time, money and effort into marketing to these key areas and you’ll have much more success.
Understand Your Audience – What does your ideal student look like? What pain points does he or she experience? How can your university better meet those needs and wants, above and beyond what other schools are offering? Understanding what your target audience values most can help you hone your marketing to position your brand as the best solution.
Provide Valuable Content – It’s not just about getting the attention of your prospects, rather, it’s about capturing and holding their attention beyond the first glimpse of your university. Colleges that offer valuable content on their websites, blogs and via social media channels are much more likely to attract and engage their target audience. Invest in the right content management system and make content creation/sharing a priority.
Stay Relevant – The college student of today and tomorrow is very different from those of the past. These days, it’s about flexibility and mobility, which is why online learning is becoming so popular. Stay abreast of changes in trends and technology, and keep your school up to date so that you can continuously adapt to meet these changing needs. This will make your higher education institution much more marketable
Offer Perks – Beyond a well-stocked cafeteria and top-notch technology, offering other less-traditional perks may be just what places your school at the top of your prospects’ lists. It’s ok to think outside the box and be creative with this. You may even start by polling your existing student base on what amenities they’d like to see implemented. Whether it’s tuition breaks, allowing pets on campus or in dorms, offering outdoor activities or providing other entertainment, the more you put into your perks package, the better response you’ll get.
Attracting quality students is one of the greatest challenges that professionals in higher education face today. By employing the tips provided above, you can position your institution to remain a step ahead of the competition and gain the brand exposure you need to land those prospects the first time, every time.