Texting Potential Prospects
A phone call has always been the professional way to communicate with a customer or business associate but now most people prefer to discuss certain matters through text. Is it professional to give out your personal number as an agent to potential students?
Brittany,
You are correct in that not everyone can talk on the phone. Providing an opportunity for us to keep in contact texting or email keeps the communication lines open.
Patty Aronoff
Sometimes there are prospect students that do not have the ability to talk on the phone during business hours and actually prefer to text or email. Emailing can be beneficial if they have a lot of questions, that way they have record of the conversation and won't forget what we talked about or a set appointment.
Shawn,
There are many people today that will not respond to a phone call but will quickly respond,with a text. We need to find out from the prospective student what is the best way to connect with you.
Patty Aronoff
The school I am with has chosen to use texts for something more like courteous reminders for appointments and such, but we choose to stay more with the personal touch of phone calls when communicating anything else. Even with the changes in technology, I'd think that conversing with a potential student about something as personal and important as their education would be prohibited to discuss via text, even if for no other reason than we can't truly be sure who we are talking with. Has there been any rulings on that as of yet?
Lisa,
As admissions professionals, we need to understand our client and find the best way to communicate. Texting can be the ideal way for some and be offensive to others.
Patty Aronoff
I agree with the professionalism but I prefer to reach perspective students, or currently enrolled students via text for a few reasons. First of all, it is a way to display our personal commitment to the student. Second, it respects the time of the student or perspective student by providing a non-evasive method to talk about their goals.
Keli,
Very cool! Technology has brought us new ways to communicate.
Patty Aronoff
I use google voice as a way to communicate with my students via text. I find it to be one of the easiest ways to communicate.
Erin,
There is a way. Set up a list serve where you can hit one button and send it all out. If you use campus view you should have the feature where you can do that as well
Patty Aronoff
Nelson,
Great! Making it personal makes sure that you have made an individual effort. Many times blasts out to many people have no impact, just like junk mail. You make meaning with personalized texts.
Patty Aronoff
I would agree that a phone call is still the best way. However with changing technology I would think that there would be a way to set up a texting server. A way to text and receive texts through you computer so as to not have to give out your personal number.
Great point Francia. I've also seen places that do web text so that you do not need a return number. Especially if you are just relaying quick information.
Coming from a background that has used text to reach out to students, I find that if done personally, there are many benefits to the student and the personal touch is there as well.
When working with adult students who work, a phone call or sometimes even an email can be instrusive. What if they place of business does not allow phone calls or personal emails to be used. A quick text to touch base and have a prospective student reaching out to you can lend to a prospective student feeling like their advisor respects their time and their lives enough to go the extra mile. At least in my humble opinion.
maricelly,
It does! The business number should always be used. It gives the credibility that you were actually working for the business.
Patty Aronoff
Francia,
Agreed! Business should be conducted on a business phones. If you tend to leave your employment then they have your personal numbers.
Patty Aronoff
Andrea,
It goes back to that personal touch. Being able to engage in a conversation and answer questions is so important.
Patty Aronoff
I believe that under any circunstances a Professional should give a personal number or email to a prospect student. If the phone number is a business number then that will make a huge difference.
I think texting a prospecting students should be done from a cell that belong to the institution not personal cell. It will be only to add to a phone call.
I am in agreement that the phone call is still tried and true. This conveys a personal touch allowing the student to feel comfortable with you. This way you develope a good repore to work together to get them enrolled. I then think emails are a good follow up to the phone call.
