scheduling the appointment
Do you have any tips on getting the student to commit to their scheduled appointment to come in for an interview and tour?
Deborah,
Building rapport with the lead is the beginning of a relationship with your school. The confidence and information that you portray is what will take that lead to an enrollment.
Patty Aronoff
I believe building a rapport with the lead is important. Also emailing or a phone call always helps.
David,
That is an excellent practice! Confirming appointments is keeping contact with your prospective student to make sure that you avoid no-shows.
Patty Aronoff
Confirming appointments is a great way to keep in contact with prospective students days before the meeting. I personally like to confirm my appointments 24-72 hours before the scheduled meeting. Confirming appointments allow you to manage your time efficiently, and it also gives the student the opportunity to reschedule in case an unforseen circumstance arises.
Quintana,
That is excellent. You are establishing a relationship with the student to help them with their transition back into school.
Patty Aronoff
Quintana,
That's a great tip for keeping the communication lines open. Sometimes just a simple reminder makes all the difference in the world.
Patty Aronoff
While a meeting with a student I like to make an extra effort to spend more time talking about the things that they mentioned are important to them. Example, if they are concerned about tutoring and support then I like to show them where they can go for tutoring and how the process works and who would be there to assist them.
I like to call the day before to confirm my appointments. If I do not speak with the prospective student, I leave a message and then send them an email to confirm. Many people have their email right on their phones so it's a good way to still get your reminder to them.
Phillip,
We all want to feel we are important when we are the customer. No one wants to feel they are just another number.
Patty Aronoff
The personal attention is what works best for me. I like to listen to the customers needs and concerns and let them feel we care. I also call the night before to confirm the appt.
Rita,
Excellent point! They hear your sincerity and also expect it.
Patty Aronoff
Build a raport with your prospects and truely care for them. They can hear the sincerity in your voice.
Lesley,
Prospective students never want to think that they are just another number coming through the door. They build relationships with admissions personnel that will last them throughout their education.
Patty Aronoff
I think it's very important to make a connection with the prospect. Calling a person by the name makes them feel comfortable and shows you care.
Kasandra,
Students don't want to feel that they are just another number. They are building a relationship starting with a admissions representative.
Patty Aronoff
Building the relationship from the beginning and then following up and staying in constant contact, as many of you have said, proves to be the most successful for me.
susana,
Your use of the term personalized really brings it home. Students want to feel that they are individuals just not a number.
Patty Aronoff
Dana,
Great tip! It is important to keep constant contact with the student to make sure that any fears are allayed.
Patty Aronoff
I agree. Although the terms persolnalization and customization are more of an internet marketing term, most people today are familiar with these terms and they are starting to be more widely utilized in other contents and environments. Because their connotation basically mean: "just for me" they are very poweful words in the world of marketing today. Mentioning a personalized tour will make prospect students more interested in coming in and keeping the appointment. It will make them feel special and show them that you are truly there to help them by listening to their personal interest and guide them in their path to reach their individual goals. In a world of cookie cutter advertisement and products made for the masses, personalization and customization are key. Most of the big players today have a deep understanding of this concept in their respective industries. Education is no exception, or should I say: Specially Not Education. :)
