DIGITAL STRATEGY BLOG

As we look forward to a new academic year, we are all beginning to think about all that the next year could bring. For schools and education organizations, that means improved student recruitment through more effective education marketing. With more competition, an industry that hasn't really had to focus on marketing in the past, and an increase in the number of schools and districts throughout the US, schools are struggling to effectively recruit and retain students. Let's take a look at five ways to improve your student recruitment with effective education marketing in the new year.

Higher education has pivoted, or at least created additional peripheral degree offerings, based on the digitally advanced mindset of today's students. Just like the publishing industry or marketing industry has seen in the past decade, students are demanding new, advanced options in both course and delivery options. What we are really talking about is user experience. But not only does higher education need to rethink their offerings, they also need to rethink how they market those offerings.

With student retention declining and enrolled students demanding new course delivery options, marketers are under an increasing amount of pressure to attract prospective students. But as we know, doing the same things as before will not get new results. Here is a great example to inspire rethinking and repositioning your university to be seen differently in the marketplace.

A good education is one of the most sought-after aspects of American child rearing. This year, we even saw parents indicted for the desire to get their children into the best schools. So, what about your school -- how do parents and students find your school and learn how it will provide the best education for their children? Well, via the internet of course! But how can you ensure they find you in the huge world wide web? 

Well friends, that's what we are talking about today.

Education has been around a long time -- many centuries! For most of those centuries providers of education did little to no marketing of their school because there was no perceived need. People needed education, they had education, end of marketing plan. Ok, ok I realize it wasn't THAT simple. But compared to now it sure does seem like it was an easy scenario. Most schools only competed with other schools in their caliber or other schools in their region. With the dawn of digital marketing, educators now compete with schools across the world, with different delivery mediums, and vocational schools are even now competing with traditional schools. The competition pool extends far beyond other educators though. Now, the competition is simply everyone and everything.

The education industry has fallen fallen behind in the marketing world and they don't even realize it. Go to any school or university website -- what are the ONLY calls-to-action that you're guaranteed to see? Apply Now or Register Now.

Whether you work for a charter school, university, or even a specific program within a larger school, one thing remains true in almost every single situation - you don't have the resources to keep up with all of your school marketing for student recruitment. Resources are at a premium and in order to scale and increase the number of enrolled students, the primary focus has to be on eliminating time intensive manual processes within your marketing and student recruitment campaigns.