The higher education market has become increasingly competitive as schools vie for a shrinking pool of prospective students. Print plays a big role in today’s higher education marketing campaigns because it works. It remains the foundation upon which multi-generational marketing is built.
The audience is larger than you think
Prospective and enrolled students aren’t the only audience that higher ed institutions must reach. Community members, businesses, parents, alumni, donors, faculty and staff comprise a school’s broader support network. Colleges and universities have a unique challenge when it comes to developing a brand that appeals to a wide-ranging network of audiences and generations: to reach many and to resonate deeply. Whether it is promoting online education programs, increasing application and enrollment rates, engaging non-traditional learners, informing accepted students, promoting campus events, motivating current students, or engaging with alumni, strategic and integrated solutions are the right answer.
Cross-channel marketing
Not only is print a tactile and personal experience, but its message to a specific audience also can be amplified through digital media. And in higher education marketing, it’s more powerful than ever. Colleges and universities have been harnessing this power of print in reaching new students, their parents and other audiences for as long as they’ve been around. Utilizing tactics like personalized direct mail, marketing materials, fundraising campaigns and signage, higher ed institutions are well-versed at connecting and engaging with their extensive network. And with “digital fatigue” becoming a major concern, audiences appreciate the lasting tactile experience that a quality print piece delivers.
Anyone doing it on their own?
While some colleges and universities have on-site print shops, they’re often not the best fit for large-scale print campaigns. The vast array of print products used in higher education marketing makes it difficult for in-house shops to handle both the volume and the varied/complex processes required. Some of the more complex or long-run products that need an experienced partner often include:
- Variable Data Postcards
- Envelopes
- Folders
- Booklets
- Calendars
- Badges
- Architectural Signage
- Window, Wall and Floor Decals
- Large Format Signage
- Awards and Gifts
- Promotional Products
- Labels and Packaging
Having a trusted resource that helps plan, execute and deliver multiple elements within the marketing program saves the day. From prepress through digital and offset printing, finishing, kitting and shipping, a trusted partner helps take the complexity out of the print experience and delivers quality results.
The bottom line
Higher education marketing influences audiences at every level, from attracting prospective students to enhancing the enrolled student’s experience while on campus and encouraging alumni engagement. It can also be instrumental in drawing top-tier staff and donors. Print marketing is vital in order to make the greatest impact. Education institutions need marketing support from vendor partners that not only offer expansive print marketing capabilities but also provide personalized service, integrated solutions, and quick turns, all competitively priced.
To learn more about how Navitor can help you, we’ve compiled support materials like our Education Sale Sheet, Product Images, and Education Social Toolkit content that you can use to go to market today. Check out all the material on Education and more on our Content Calendar page here.
Speak Your Mind