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How AI Can Transform Marketing for Community Colleges

Marketing has always been about connecting with your audience at the right time and place. Today, that means meeting them where they spend most of their time: online. In line with this, the recent advancements in AI have transformed how we approach marketing. AI is not just a buzzword—it’s a game-changer, especially for community colleges looking to engage prospective students more efficiently and effectively.

The Markets Are Changing

Community colleges serve a diverse demographic, not limited to any one age group. However, it is Gen Z, born between 1997 and 2012, who are currently experiencing the most significant impact of our ever-evolving tech-centric world. As true digital natives, Gen Z’s interaction with content is distinct—they typically have an attention span of 8 to 12 seconds and are accustomed to multitasking. This generation favors visual and personalized content, making them much more responsive to marketing strategies that are customized to their preferences, from tailored emails to individualized course suggestions. This is why it’s more important than ever to begin harnessing powerful AI tools that can help you stay ahead of the changing markets and better serve the demands of your audiences, who expect personalization at every turn.

How AI Can Help

AI is a powerful ally in understanding and better serving your audience. Here are a few examples of how AI tools are already enhancing marketing efforts in significant ways:

  • Automated Content Creation: AI can help create compelling content quickly. It can draft initial text, edit for clarity, and ensure the tone matches what your students relate to.
  • Optimizing Campaigns: AI can analyze large amounts of marketing data to see what’s working and what’s not.
  • Predicting Trends: AI can look at past data and predict future trends, like which programs might see a spike in interest.
  • Engaging with Students 24/7: AI-powered chatbots can provide real-time answers to prospective students’ frequently asked questions, day or night. This round-the-clock availability helps in building a stronger connection with potential applicants.

AI Tools You Can Start Using Today

To help you get started, here are a few examples of AI tools you can begin using today to enhance your marketing efforts:

  • Copywriting: Need help getting past a blank page? OpenAI can help you create copy for emails, social media posts, and promotional materials quickly.
  • Grammar, Tone, and Style: Grammarly checks your writing to make sure it has no mistakes and sounds clear. WordTune gives you tips to make your writing easier to read and sound better, helping you show off your school’s unique style.
  • Landing Pages: Mixo and Archer make creating web pages that attract and engage potential students faster and less labor-intensive. These tools can help you test different layouts and content to see what performs best, making sure the first point of contact is impactful.

Challenges AI Can Help Overcome

Many community colleges face similar challenges: limited budgets, understaffing, and the need to adapt to rapidly changing technology. AI can alleviate some of these pressures by automating routine tasks, helping your staff focus on more strategic activities like relationship building and student services.

Ready to Take Your Marketing Efforts to the Next Level?

You’ve seen how AI can enhance your marketing efforts by allowing for greater personalization and efficiency. Now, imagine taking those capabilities even further with our tailored digital marketing and predictive modeling services. Our services fine-tune your marketing efforts to ensure you’re reaching the right students—those most likely to apply and thrive at your institution—with personalized messaging that resonates with them.

Contact us today to learn more about how our tailored solutions can help you harness the full potential of AI-driven marketing.

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Driving Enrollment in the Digital Age: The Power of Paid Search for Community Colleges

Gone are the days of traditional student recruitment methods where prospective students contacted admissions offices requesting printed viewbooks. Most research and decision-making processes are now done online, rendering tactics that may have worked in the past ineffective in today’s digital landscape.

The Power of Paid Search

One tactic that has proven to be effective in driving leads and enrollment for community colleges is Paid Search. Utilizing Google Ads PPC (pay-per-click) advertising ensures that your institution appears at the forefront when a prospective student searches for content related to your offerings. The immediate display of tailored ad copy precisely when it matters most maximizes the chances of capturing high-intent prospects who are ready to engage further. This strategy not only boosts lead generation but also encourages prospective students to take action, such as applying or enrolling.

Customizing Campaigns for Targeted Messaging

Paid Search campaigns also offer the flexibility to customize your ad copy to highlight the messaging you want to focus on at that particular moment. For example, if you are looking to boost spring enrollment, you can leverage Sitelink Extensions to direct users straight to the registration page for spring classes. Special programs like “College in High School” and “Early College” can also be promoted effectively through these extensions, highlighting unique opportunities available at your community college.

Efficient Marketing with Limited Resources

Community colleges face unique challenges in executing an effective SEO strategy. For one, the variety of programs they offer requires ranking for a wide range of keywords. Additionally, we understand that in-house marketing teams at community colleges are often operating with limited staff, with individuals wearing many hats. This is where a well-planned PPC strategy can be really beneficial! For example, if your school has a welding program and you’re not ranking high on SERP (search engine results page) for the term “how to become a welder,” you can add that keyword to your PPC strategy to drive immediate traffic to your program pages, resulting in increased interest and leads. This strategy also ensures you’re not solely reliant on organic visits.

Cost-Efficiency of PPC Advertising

PPC advertising is not only effective but also cost-efficient. You only pay when a prospective student clicks on your ad, which then leads them to a specifically targeted landing page. In fact, the average cost per click for our community college clients in March was a mere $0.67. Although community colleges typically have much smaller marketing budgets than four-year institutions, with effective campaign management, they can be a very impactful way of driving leads from prospective students who will apply and enroll at your school.

Why Choose Carnegie as Your Google Premier Partner

As a Google Premier Partner, we’re among the top 3% of Google Partners participants in the U.S. We’re held to the highest standards of excellence, which translates into the most strategic and effective campaigns, ensuring that your community college attracts and enrolls more students.

Ready to Boost Your Enrollment?

Are you ready to transform your community college’s digital marketing strategy and see real results in enrollment and engagement? Contact us today to learn how our tailored digital advertising solutions can help you achieve your recruitment goals. Let’s make your institution the top choice for prospective students!

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