How-To: Keeping 'em Talking
5 Tips from NOLS' Bruce Palmer
For any educational institution, one way to keep enrollment up is by transforming it into a cause and something worth talking about. 80 percent of students at the National Outdoor Leadership School, for example, found the school through word of mouth -- usually from graduates of the school.
"Our students leave their courses psyched to talk," says Bruce Palmer, Director of Admission and Marketing for NOLS. Here, Bruce shares his tips on how he has kept people engaged and ready to talk about the school.
Tip #1. Give them the tools
All of the school's graduates continue to receive the NOLS catalog in order to encourage pass-along. Plus, a select group also gets posters to hang on campus, a promotional DVD, stickers and other paraphernalia.
Tip #2. Keep them in the loop
NOLS e-News, the "What's the Buzz" blog, and an alumni newspaper keep the school's grads up-to-date on the latest news and happenings. When stories are in the news -- NOLS Olympians or leadership training for astronauts and the U.S. Naval Academy, for example -- make sure people know. It's fresh fodder, keeping the buzz building.
Tip #3. Keep them engaged
NOLS offers shorter alumni trips and seminars that allow grads to get another "taste" of NOLS and keep their relationship with the school alive.
Tip #4. Come to them
The NOLS recycled vegetable oil powered bus has been traveling the country for 18 months bringing NOLS to grads and prospects. Grads get free stuff at the bus, chalk campus and "hike for their outdoor alma mater".
Tip #5. Hook 'em up
Through email discussion lists, Yahoo groups, Flickr and reunions, NOLS helps graduates stay in touch with one another, communicating, swapping photos and "re-living" the most impactful educational experience of their lives.
More about Bruce:
Read Bruce's WOMBAT presentation (PDF download)
