How to Personalize Outreach at Scale

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About the Episode:

Welcome to AI for Yield Season, a special mini-series of The Application! Each episode is short (less than 10 minutes!) and packed with actionable insights to help enrollment professionals use AI effectively during one of the busiest times of the year.

In this episode of AI for Yield Season, Allison explores how AI can help higher ed marketers personalize student outreach—at scale. Yield season is crunch time, and students want to feel valued. But when managing communication with hundreds or thousands of admitted students, true personalization can feel impossible. That’s where AI comes in.

Allison walks through four powerful ways AI can help personalize communication efficiently, including a surprising insight into handwritten notes. You’ll also hear how AI can tailor content for different student groups, match students with the right resources, and refine ad campaigns to maximize engagement.

This episode is packed with actionable AI tactics to help enrollment teams work smarter, not harder, while delivering personalized experiences to prospective students.

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Key "How-Tos" You'll Learn:

✅ Using AI to create handwritten-style notes at scale – Learn why photocopied handwritten notes are just as effective and how AI can generate unique, warm messages for each student.

✅ Generating tailored content ideas for different student segments – Use AI to quickly brainstorm blog posts, emails, and social media content that resonate with groups like first-gen students, STEM students, and student-athletes.

✅ Matching students with the right content – Organize your university’s content library and leverage AI to surface the most relevant resources based on a student’s interests.

✅ Customizing ad campaigns for better engagement – Transform generic messaging into targeted digital ads for specific student groups to drive deposits.

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🎧 Next Episode Preview: In Part 3 of AI for Yield Season, we’ll cover how to create better content, faster—so you can spend more time on the students who need it most. Make sure to subscribe so you don’t miss it!

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Using AI for Handwritten Notes (Yes, It Works!)

The idea of AI assisting with handwritten notes might sound contradictory, but research shows that a personal touch—rather than the handwriting itself—is what resonates with recipients. For example, a South Korean beauty retailer found that customers who received a handwritten thank-you note spent 100% more on future purchases than those who didn’t. Interestingly, photocopied notes had the same impact as original handwriting.

So how does AI fit in? Let’s say you want to send 50 thank-you notes to students who attended an admitted student event. Instead of writing each one from scratch, you can use AI to generate unique, warm messages based on student interests. For example, you might prompt ChatGPT with:

"Write a short thank-you note for an admitted student interested in nursing, highlighting their potential to be a great nurse and inviting them to reach out with questions."

AI-generated messages can be printed and hand-signed, or even transcribed by student interns, giving each student a meaningful personal touch without the workload.

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AI-Generated Content Ideas for Targeted Outreach

Creating content that resonates with different student groups is essential—but it can also be time-consuming. Instead of starting from scratch, AI can generate tailored content ideas based on your key student segments. For example, if you need topics for first-generation students, STEM students, and student-athletes, AI might suggest:

• “Five Things I Wish I Knew as a First-Gen College Student”
• “How Our Engineering Students Land Internships at NASA”
• “Balancing Sports and Academics: Tips from Our College Athletes”

Rather than spending hours brainstorming, AI streamlines the process, providing relevant, targeted content ideas that can be used for blogs, social media, or emails. However, the human element remains crucial—you decide which ideas work best for your audience and refine them accordingly.Matching Students with the Right Content AutomaticallyHigher ed institutions generate a ton of valuable content—blog posts, videos, emails, newsletters—but finding the right piece for an individual student can be a manual and time-consuming process. AI can help bridge that gap by acting as a recommendation engine.For instance, if a student inquires about business internships, instead of manually searching through the university website or Career Center resources, you could:

1. Compile a database of all relevant content—internship lists, student success stories, videos, and blog posts.
2. Use AI to match the student’s interest with the most relevant content from your library.
3. Send a personalized response with the right resources, making the outreach both efficient and meaningful.

This approach saves time while ensuring students receive high-quality, relevant information, reinforcing their connection with your institution.Customizing Digital Ads and Email CampaignsOne-size-fits-all marketing doesn’t work—especially when it comes to engaging admitted students. AI can help refine messaging for different student groups, making email campaigns and digital ads more compelling.Imagine running an ad campaign targeting admitted students who haven’t yet deposited. Instead of a generic message like:"Time is running out! Secure your spot at [University Name] today."AI can generate tailored versions for different audiences:

• First-Generation Students: “You're making history—be the first in your family to go to college at [University Name]!”
• STEM Students: “Future scientists, engineers, and innovators—your journey starts here. Submit your deposit today!”

By customizing content for different student groups, you increase engagement without requiring additional writing from your team. The same strategy can be applied across email marketing, social media, and other outreach channels, ensuring each student feels seen and valued.AI: A Tool to Enhance, Not Replace, Your ExpertiseThe key takeaway from this episode? AI isn’t here to replace human connection—it’s here to amplify it. By leveraging AI tools for personalization, you can spend less time on repetitive tasks and more time engaging meaningfully with students.

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Connect With Our Host:

Allison Turcio

https://www.linkedin.com/in/allisonturcio/

https://twitter.com/allisonturcio

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About The Enrollify Podcast Network: The Application with Allison Turcio is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows, too!  

Some of our favorites include Mission Admissions and Visionary Voices: The College President’s Playbook.

Enrollify is made possible by Element451 —  the next-generation AI student engagement platform helping institutions create meaningful and personalized interactions with students. Learn more at element451.com.

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Explore the strategies and tools to step into the next generation of student engagement, supercharged by AI. You'll leave ready to deliver the most personalized digital engagement experience every step of the way.

👉🏻 Register now to secure your spot in Charlotte, NC, on June 24-25, 2025!