Strategies to Boost Enrollment

A couple of key digital strategies you can use to boost enrollment numbers:

1. Provide accessible information
While you might assume that millennials and Gen Z revert to social media for all their college research, official websites of educational institutions are actually the driving force, beaten only by direct emails.

Therefore, institutions should ensure they have an updated, optimized website that makes it easy and enjoyable for site visitors to browse, find informative materials, and read relevant content. This includes:

• A dedicated webpage for international admissions so information that is particularly pertinent to international students is clearly visible and easy to access.
• A mobile-friendly site is important for two reasons: 1) to make prospective students stick around your site long enough to gain an interest in your institution and 2) for ranking on search engines.
• Links to key pages of interest, such as scholarships, financial aid, and visa application information.
• Key contact details so students from abroad can get in touch with an international admission counselor.

2. Use testimonials from your current and past students

• Harness the power of student testimonials — testimonials are your way of letting your students do the talking for you. A third-party recommendation or positive statement about your school brand has a much more clout than merely stating the same information yourself. Use the power of the video testimonial — video content is exceptionally effective, delivers the message quickly, and allows for a more personal and direct approach. Solid social proof is powerful nowadays from student TikTok videos, to Snapchat, and Instagram tagging. So, let’s say you want to grow your Chinese student population, and you currently have 20 Chinese students currently enrolled in your institution, offer them a gift card to Amazon or a free meal from the school cafeteria in return for tagging and talking about your institution on their WeChat or Weibo.
• Having current students or alumni come forward to act as advocates for your brand is excellent. With the technology and popular mediums of today, you can leverage that for maximum effect.
• Share success stories from current students and alumni on their experience for prospects to read and learn from.