By Jeremy Tiers, Director of Admissions Services
Happy Tuesday. It’s crazy to think we’re in the final days of June already!
Last week my article focused on the first communication piece that you send to prospective students…what kind, who should it come from, etc. If you missed it, click this link and get caught up, because quite honestly it might be the most important article I write this summer. Plus, it ties in with what I’m going to share with you today.
Remember, the first thing you need to focus on as you start to reach out to this next class of students is, how are you going to get their attention? Then, once you have their attention, how are you going to get them to consistently engage with you?
In addition to employing the strategy I outlined last week, here are two more communication tips that will help you increase your early response rates.
- Don’t give them everything all at once. When a topic is completely defined right away for the reader, many don’t see any reason to engage with the sender. So, instead of telling them everything all at once, (which usually results in a message that’s way too long) I want you to create a little mystery in your messaging. Hold back a little. Don’t tell them everything in one letter, a single email, or even during a phone call about why your school’s location is unbeatable, or how your academic/learning environment is different than your competitors. Instead, hint at things to come in the future that you want to talk with them about. You’ll create curiosity, and you’ll give them a reason to engage with you the next time you reach out. And believe it or not, over time, that approach will actually result in some of your prospects reaching out to you on their own for more information.
- Ask them for their opinion on something. I alluded to this in last week’s article when I talked about your call to action. Instead of pushing them to visit or apply right out of the gate, ask a specific question that asks for their opinion on something. I want you to do that so that your prospect understands you’re actually talking with them, not just at them. It makes a big difference! You’re personalizing the process and making it clear that their opinion is important to you. Furthermore, the information you get back from them can help you in future conversations.
Got a question about this? Something else I can help you with? Reply back and ask away. Or if you happen to be reading this article on our website or because someone forwarded it to you, you can email me: jeremy@dantudor.com