You only get one chance at a first impression — and for higher ed institutions, that initial assessment often comes in the form of student communications. When institutions take the time to deliver personalized and welcoming communications, students feel comfortable; and from there, they’re positioned to excel in their new environment.

However, all too often, inconsistent outreach standards between departments can lead to massive variations in the frequency, consistency, and tone of their messaging. Emails from recruitment may be warm and welcoming, but once a student is admitted, those messages may become stilted and brusque. If institutions want to maintain relationships with students long after they become alumni, they need to deliver consistent, personalized communication throughout the entire student journey.

In this episode of Transformation @ Work, we explore how institutions can develop better end-to-end communication strategies — and how those strategies translate to deeper long-term relationships with students.

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Key Insights

03:34: How an institution’s communications strategy can impact its relationship with students at every stage of their journey

06:50: The importance of personalization in an institution’s student communications

09:22: Major considerations for institutions as they develop an end-to-end student communication strategy

10:40: First steps for institutions as they begin to implement their communications strategy (e.g., how do I get started?)

12:56: Leveraging automation and marketing templates to take student communications from “good” to “great”

15:43: How well-designed, automated communications can unlock internal teams’ productivity and efficiency