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KEY STEPS TO INCREASE ADULT STUDENT RECRUITMENT RESULTS ©ROBERT E. JOHNSON, PH.D. 2013 Robert E. Johnson, Ph.D. President, Bob Johnson Consulting Eastern Michigan University July 19, 2013 Bob Johnson Consulting, LLC 1

Key Steps to Increase Adult Student Recruitment Results

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Affordability and career advancement content on your website is the key to successful initial contact with potential students. Rapid response to a prospect by phone and/or email is essential to increase application conversions. These points and more are covered here, with examples from universities that do these things well.

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Page 1: Key Steps to Increase Adult Student Recruitment Results

Bob Johnson Consulting, LLC 1

KEY STEPS TO INCREASE ADULT STUDENT RECRUITMENT

RESULTS©ROBERT E. JOHNSON, PH.D. 2013

Robert E. Johnson, Ph.D.President, Bob Johnson Consulting

Eastern Michigan University

July 19, 2013

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WILL PEOPLE FIND YOU?Many people start with an online search…

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“Online degree programs Michigan”

Google search results… First page Michigan schools…

• Michigan State• Central Michigan• UM-Dearborn• UM-Flint• Western Michigan• Oakland University• Baker College

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2 TOP FACTORS FOR ADULT STUDENTS…Career advancement…

Cost

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Why adults return to college…http://www.capella.edu/

Task #1: career advancement

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Cost, right from the start…http://www.strayer.edu/

Task #2: price information

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TALKING POINTS FOR POTENTIAL STUDENTS…Website or in person or in print…

How are you helping people?

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Future students top tasks at the start…

Most Important…

• Price information• Affordability• Investment return after

graduation• Academic programs• Time to earn the degree• Flexible scheduling

Not very important…

• Social media connections• Info about presidents,

deans, alumni• School news• Connecting with current

students

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Provide program specific info…http://management.bu.edu/graduate/graduate-admissions/profile/

Task #3: academic program information

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KEY ASSUMPTION… FUTURE STUDENTS START AT YOUR WEBSITEInitial marketing message delivered on the first visit…

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From a Google search… EMU

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At an entry page for adult students…

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“Online” link leads to this page…

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From a Google search… CMU

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At the CMU home page…

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At entry page for adult students…

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“Online” link leads to this page…

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PERSONAL CONTACT DURING A WEB VISIT…Chat feature builds a bridge…

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Good places for a chat feature…

EMU… CMU…

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GENERATE ONLINE INQUIRIES…Easy to complete…

Easy to find

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Inquiry form… convenient & quick

Task #4: inquiries

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Repeat the call to action…http://www.mbaregis.com/

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Repeat calls to action…http://www.mbaregis.com/

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ADVERTISING OPTIONS…

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The retargeting trail…http://area2oh3.com/have-you-been-retargeted/

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REJ on a automobile forum…

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Retargeting on Facebook…

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Direct response display ads…

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52 co-op choices… where will you be?http://www.elearners.com/online-degrees/master/finance.htm

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AFTER AN INQUIRY…Rapid response…

Continuing response

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Convert an inquiry to an application…

• First response by email or phone in <24 hours• Fast response = higher conversion• Anything after 24 hours guarantees wasted inquiries

• If an inquiry gives a phone number, use it• If an inquiry gives an email address, use it

• Email contact every two weeks

• Inquiry from a college fair• First response within 24 hours

• If staffing requires triage system, do that

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Pre-app transfer credit review…http://information.devry.edu/us/transfer-students?vc=167161

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SOCIAL MEDIA…Most people are “Spectators”…

Facebook, YouTube first

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Social media right after an inquiry…

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Prominent on the website…

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Especially for adults…

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After Facebook, YouTube…

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A note on posting frequency…

• Life of a post on Facebook and Twitter is short… just a few minutes

• If something is important, posting twice on the same day will increase visibility

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NOW AND IN THE FUTURE…More attention to ‘Mobile”…

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EMU page passes the mobile speed test… less than 5 seconds to open

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More points on mobile…

• Requires website revisions• Important for email reading…• Add text option in inquiry forms and use it

• People who give permission to text are deeper into a relationship than those who do not…

• People will expect to complete applications (and more) on smart phones and tablets

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THANKS FOR INVITING ME THIS MORNING!Bob Johnson, Ph.D. (248.766.6425)

[email protected]

www.bobjohnsonconsulting.com

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