BY Anthony Campisi | May 30th, 2024

Virtual College Tours: Reimagine Student Engagement

In a post-Covid world, prospective students are no longer limited by their physical proximity to campus. Virtual college tours have become the norm, offering prospective students an opportunity to “visit” an institution and imagine themselves on campus from the comfort of their homes. Even though this modern phenomenon opens a world of opportunities for busy prospects, the demand for engaging virtual campus tours has created an increasingly tricky challenge for admissions offices to navigate.

Consider these innovative approaches to virtual events to help you create authentic, memorable, and engaging virtual experiences that ensure your institution will stay top-of-mind for your most desirable prospects.

Highlight Student Experiences and User-Generated Content

Campus virtual tours present a unique opportunity to harness the power of user-generated content (UGC) to highlight authentic student outcomes, create a memorable experience for the visitor, and help prospective students see themselves joining your program. Student and graduate testimonials, social media posts and reviews, and live Q and A sessions with admissions counselors, faculty members, and alumni provide an unfiltered glimpse into campus life, program experiences, and graduate outcomes. This candid approach adds a layer of authenticity and relatability that prospects may not find during other institution’s virtual events.

Embedding curated social media feeds into virtual tour platforms can show real-time updates and organic experiences from campus events and hands-on classroom experiences. Student-led video testimonials and live streaming Q and A sessions allow prospective students to hear directly from outstanding students and alumnae about their academic journeys and success stories while encouraging engagement and participation from both parties. Programs can even host photo or video challenges to encourage students to share their experiences with a specific audience. Leveraging these types of UGC fosters a sense of community, cultivates an authentic and immersive online event experience for prospects, and highlights the diversity and spirit of your institution.

Embrace Virtual Reality Experiences

Virtual reality (VR) experiences have emerged as a powerful tool in creating an immersive virtual event experience. Through VR headsets and interactive online platforms, prospects can visit classrooms, labs, and campus landmarks on their own time and according to their unique interests. VR experiences can also be tailored to the specific interests of individual prospects while allowing them to visualize themselves as a part of the community.

VR also provides increased accessibility to those who may be unable to visit campus because of physical limitations or socioeconomic barriers. By leveraging VR technology, institutions can ensure that everyone, despite their background or circumstances, has access to an immersive college virtual tour.

Stand Out with 360-Degree Virtual College Tours

Virtual tours and events of all kinds have become commonplace. For your institution to stand out in the crowd, the experience must move beyond simple static images or pre-recorded videos. Utilizing 360-degree virtual campus tours allows you to incorporate interactive elements like clickable hotspots, videos, virtual guides, live chatbots, and “raise your hand” features that foster a sense of curiosity, increase engagement, and allow prospects to build their own visit experience. Immersing visitors in a VR experience that simulates realistic scenarios like being in a classroom or working in a lab creates a memorable experience and showcases campus facilities.

Embracing UGC, VR, and 360 virtual college tours prioritizes a wide variety of prospect experiences and allows them to engage with your brand on a deeper, more authentic level. By harnessing the power of technology, institutions can forge meaningful connections with prospects, share student stories that encompass the campus experience, and get closer to reaching their enrollment goals.

BY Anthony Campisi | May 16th, 2024

Enrollment Marketing Personalization: Tailoring Experiences for Success

Having real, candid conversations with prospective students keeps them engaged and puts your program top-of-mind. With an increasingly online enrollment experience, thousands of candidates, and only so many hours in the day for personal conversations with your staff, it is almost impossible to foster individual relationships with prospects that yield the desired results for both parties. That’s why a range of enrollment marketing personalization techniques should become the next tried-and-true tool in your marketing strategy toolbelt.

As digital natives, your prospective students almost always know when any “personalized” email or postcard is mass-produced with only a few “Dear First Name” touchpoints. When it comes to truly tailoring both your digital and print channels to meet individual student needs, interests, and goals in a way that fosters a feeling of belonging and inclusivity, you must employ a more strategic, tech-powered approach.

Leverage surveys and data analytics

To tailor your messaging to the personal preferences of your audience, you must understand their buying behaviors, where they “shop” for other programs, and what your competition provides that you might not. Investing in market surveys and data analytics tools can help you create more personalized content that nurtures meaningful relationships throughout the buying journey.

Invest in technology

Using CRM (Customer Relationship Management) systems and automation platforms intentionally and strategically can help you streamline your enrollment marketing personalization efforts, deliver targeted communications efficiently, engage your prospects more consistently, and save your budget in the long run.

Segment your audience

Identifying key segments within your prospect pool and tailoring your content to their specific needs and interests can help you reach your enrollment goals consistently and efficiently. Segmenting your prospects into stages of the enrollment cycle – whether they haven’t yet applied or have been accepted and have selected your program as a top choice – can help you create impactful lifecycle and content marketing materials that hit home and drive them to the next stage of their buying journey. The more you can divide your pool into specific segments, the more you can create personalized messaging that truly engages people and produces results.

Create a responsive web experience

Prospects visit your website for a wide variety of reasons, from exploring academic offerings to career development support to financial aid inquiries. Ensuring you have a user-friendly, inclusive, and responsive website that reduces frustration maximizes engagement, increases the likelihood that they’ll revisit your site, and helps them navigate the complexities of admissions and financial aid. Using tools like PURLs, AI, and chatbots to field prospect questions and connect them directly to your staff builds trust, differentiates your level of customer service from your competition, and supports your prospects throughout their enrollment journey.

Tech-powered personalization throughout your communications, content, and online or in-person services captures the attention of prospective students far more effectively than generic messaging and demonstrates your commitment to the diverse needs of your prospect pool. Whether it’s through tailored emails, virtual campus tours, or direct mail, personalized interactions build trust with your candidates, simplify their decision-making process, and help you achieve higher conversion and enrollment yields.

Let us help you with enrollment marketing personalization

Ready to talk about the personalization tools that can help you reach your goals in 2024 and beyond? Contact GPRS today so we can discuss your individual needs and walk you through a plan.