The end of high school is an emotional time for graduates and their families. They are proud of their accomplishments, and eager to start the next phase of their lives. In order to successfully convert recent graduates into loyal alumni, communication needs to start early. How exactly are schools supposed to reach their new graduates and keep them engaged during these busy months as they prepare for their post-graduation journey?
Let’s explore 3 strategies to convert recent graduates into loyal alumni who will stay involved in your school community.
1. Establish a Mentorship Program
The best way to keep alumni engaged is by increasing their responsibility as community members within your school. This responsibility should be more fulfilling than any ordinary chore or donation. Instead, your school should focus on establishing a mentorship program where recent graduates help students entering their junior and senior years. Current students will gain the added wellness support and new alumni will feel they are adding value to the school without draining their (poor college student with no income) wallets. Additionally, old alumni can become mentors for those recent graduates – guiding them through college years and their early careers.
The mission of your mentorship program should be to make alumni – new and old – feel as though they are bringing value to the school community without being asked to donate money each and every time. If everyone from the current students to recent graduates and older alumni feels as though they are contributing to the community, and are receiving something in return, they will all be more likely to make a donation when it’s needed.
2. Ask for Video Testimonials
Video should play a huge role in your school’s marketing and communications strategy. A real-life story from a recent graduate can be a crucial tool when communicating with prospective families. Video testimonials help build authentic relationships through credible sources who can speak directly and openly about their recent experiences at your school.
When schools think about video production, they automatically assume there are huge production costs. However, the goal of video testimonials is to feel authentic and true, not over-produced and scripted. A simple, quick video shot on your smartphone would be an even more powerful tool to be shared across social media, your website and emails.
3. Promote Their First Alumni Weekend Early
No matter what path your recent graduates take this Fall, one thing is guaranteed: their schedules will be busy. There is no campus event more exciting than a recent graduate’s first alumni weekend. Your school’s communication calendar should include promoting alumni weekend early to ensure alumni of all ages are able to accommodate their plans around attending. The messaging you use should be different for first-timers – building excitement for their first ever alumni weekend by sharing what they can expect at their first alumni weekend.
With over 20 years of combined experience in admissions and marketing, Katava Marketing can build your school a website paired with a data-driven marketing strategy that will have a positive impact on your school’s enrollment. Contact Us to get started!
