About the Episode
About the Episode: In this episode, Carrie Pitts-Densmore, Senior Director of Marketing and Communications at Johnston Community College shares how JCC significantly increased student enrollment through innovative strategies and technology adoption. Carrie delves into the role of centralized communications, process simplification, and the impact of a new CRM system. Notably, how the introduction of 'Ask Jagger,' a chatbot named after their mascot, underscores the importance of automation in enhancing the student experience and operational efficiency.
Key Takeaways:
- Innovative Enrollment Strategies: Carrie outlines the shift to centralized communications and the use of Element451 to streamline student interactions, contributing to double-digit enrollment increases.
- Technology's Role: The introduction of 'Ask Jagger' chatbot and a CRM system has significantly reduced administrative burdens and personalized student communications.
- Data-Driven Decisions: Using Element451 for targeted campaigns and analyzing engagement to refine outreach strategies.
- Future Focus: Carrie highlights the potential of AI in creating dynamic and engaging content, pointing to a future where technology further personalizes the student journey.
How Did Centralized Communications Boost Johnston’s Enrollment?
Carrie explains how shifting to centralized communications with Element451 transformed Johnston’s student engagement strategy. Before Element451, communications were fragmented, limiting the college’s ability to track interactions with prospective students. Now, thanks to Element451, Johnston can target messages to specific student segments, ensuring that each communication is relevant and personalized. This centralized approach contributed to double-digit enrollment growth, allowing them to better guide students through the enrollment journey and keep them engaged throughout.
What Role Does Element451’s BoltBot Play in Improving Student Engagement?
One of the most impactful tools Johnston implemented is the “BoltBot,” a chatbot named Jagger, which handles common student inquiries and frees up the admissions team for higher-level engagements. Jagger’s automation has saved the team approximately 7,600 minutes, which would have otherwise been spent answering routine questions. With Jagger’s help, the team now has more capacity to focus on personalized outreach, like guiding students through specific admissions processes or following up on their documents. This increased efficiency empowers the staff to create more meaningful connections with students.
How Has Data from Element451 Enhanced Event Planning and Follow-up?
Johnston’s first open house in years proved a massive success, drawing 450 attendees despite rainy weather. Thanks to Element451’s event registration tools, Johnston was able to gather data on all attendees, track who engaged with follow-up content, and understand which events resonated most with prospective students. This data has since informed their outreach strategy, allowing the team to tailor future events to better align with student interests and needs.
What Was the Strategy Behind Hiring a CRM Manager with a Sales Background?
Recognizing the importance of a cohesive enrollment journey, Carrie led the decision to hire a CRM manager with a sales-oriented skill set. This individual is responsible for overseeing Element451’s implementation and optimizing the student communication funnel. Carrie emphasized that this role requires a strong understanding of sales processes—particularly the ability to nurture leads and guide students through each enrollment stage. With this approach, Johnston ensures that their CRM initiatives are not only operational but also strategically focused on maximizing student engagement and success.
How Is Johnston Embracing AI to Streamline Operations?
Johnston’s team is eager to explore Element451’s new AI-driven tools. By leveraging AI in areas like content creation and workflow management, the team can generate personalized email campaigns at scale and implement workflows without extensive manual input. Carrie highlighted how AI, specifically through Element451’s Copilot feature, helps her team quickly generate multiple email variations, saving hours each week. This strategic use of AI allows Johnston to stay agile, enhance outreach effectiveness, and adapt to the growing demands of modern enrollment management.
What’s Next for Johnston Community College?
Looking to the future, Johnston is planning to build on their recent successes by further integrating Element451’s tools across departments. They aim to create a seamless, one-stop shop for students by linking admissions, financial aid, and other support services into a unified CRM platform. Carrie is excited about how AI tools will support this goal, streamlining tasks for her team while enhancing the personalization of each student interaction. With plans to continue refining and centralizing their student engagement processes, Johnston is on a clear path to sustain and grow their enrollment numbers.
Calls to Action
- Subscribe to stay ahead with insights from higher education leaders.
- Explore how your institution can leverage technology to enhance student engagement and enrollment.
- Consider the impact of centralized communication strategies and AI in your outreach efforts.
- Engage with Daniella and Brendan at our annual Engage Summit conference in Raleigh, NC June 25-26. Use the code Enrollify50 for $50 off.
- Join the Enrollify community for more resources and discussions on innovative higher education marketing strategies.
Connect With Our Co-Hosts:
Daniella Nordin
https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniellanordin/
Brendan Henkel
https://www.linkedin.com/in/bkhenkel/
About The Enrollify Podcast Network: In Your Element 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 Visionary Voices: The College President’s Playbook and Higher Ed Pulse.
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.
Connect with Us at the Engage Summit: Exciting news — Daniella and Brendan will be at the 2024 Engage Summit in Raleigh, NC, on June 25 and 26, and we’d love to meet you there! Sessions will focus on cutting-edge AI applications that are reshaping student outreach, enhancing staff productivity, and offering deep insights into ROI.
Use the discount code Enrollify50 at checkout, and you can register for just $200.
Learn more and register at engage.element451.com — we can’t wait to see you there!
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