Whether we are working or playing, at home or on the go, one thing is certain: We’ll be checking our email.
At least 91% of users check email daily, according to one study, and we average six hours per day. So how can you best reach your prospective students and alumni? By getting in their inbox.
Of course, it’s not just getting into their inbox. You have to create compelling emails that ensure they’ll be read in their sea of emails. In 2020, the average email open rate was just 21.3% – that’s why your institution has to stand out from the start. Here’s how:
Create compelling subject lines
If you don’t have an attention-grabbing subject line, you’ll sink before you get a chance to swim. Make it enticing, personal and, most importantly, 50 characters or less (they should be able to read it on their phone screen).
Define your target audience
Chances are your institution has a huge roster of emails. Breaking these up into segments (enrollment status, department, graduation year, etc.) increases the likelihood your emails will land in the inboxes of those most likely to read them.
Utilize Marketing Automation
Our powerful platform simplifies email campaigns by automatically scheduling email blasts (for newsletters, campus news, alumni updates, etc.), helping you earn trust while making marketing easy.
Educate recipients
Sending out electronic publications that provide campus updates, upcoming events and program offerings shows your reliability – and helps them remember your educational institution.
Don’t clutter their inbox
The fastest way to annoy a person and make them click “unsubscribe” is by sending too many emails too often. Retain a stable email list by choosing a reasonable timeframe (perhaps weekly, monthly or quarterly) and informing subscribers of this when they sign up. Be sure to keep this list updated and remove email addresses that bounce.
You might be thinking, “I already offer quality services and/or do plenty of other marketing. I don’t need email.” Perhaps, but a truly effective marketing campaign is diverse, and email is not to be overlooked in that mix.
According to a study by VentureBeat, email generates better return on investment than any other channel surveyed; it’s even 40 times more effective than social.
At image.works, we can easily convert your newsletters, fundraising campaigns and other print materials into a digital version, giving them new – and wider – potential.
Reaching your prospective students and alumni by providing quality information through email is a vital marketing strategy and one that your devoted image.works team can easily put together for you.
Contact us to see how we can help improve your email marketing campaigns today!
Sources:
https://www.superoffice.com/blog/email-open-rates/
https://www.campaignmonitor.com/resources/guides/modern-guidebook-email-marketing/#two
https://www.pacific54.com/blog/8-key-tactics-for-successful-higher-education-email-marketing/