A well-crafted prospectus sits at the heart of any successful student recruitment strategy. It is the main marketing asset through which you can showcase the vibrant culture, cutting-edge curriculum, and pioneering vision, of your University to prospective students and families.
To date, most university prospectuses take the form a printed brochure, distributed at open days or included as part of a welcome pack. While this approach will always bring significant benefits, creating a digital prospectus unlocks a new paradigm in student recruitment.
Going digital brings numerous enhancements like all new marketing channels, accessibility options, and the ability to create an interactive experiences in your University prospectus. All of which combines to create a lasting impression on prospective students and drive more applications.
But we're just scratching the surface, to give you a better understanding, here are 10 reasons for your university to create a digital prospectus.
A digital prospectus can be accessed anytime, anywhere, on any device with an internet connection. Meaning, prospective students will always have your University prospectus to hand, available within seconds. It's not something that can be lost, or left on a train, it is always there, ready to be viewed which is incredibly convenient.
Operating in the digital realm brings the added flexibility of real-time updates. Once your online prospectus is live, you can make updates to the content that is available instantly. Whether you want to include more open day dates, fix a typo, or add the latest campus tour video, a digital prospectus can always be edited, even after publishing.
A digital prospectus lets you bring the University experience to life through interactive content like virtual campus tours and live streams. Add hyperlinks that direct readers to additional resources, create lightboxes to add information and focus attention, and much more. Through interactivity you can deliver meaningful and immersive experiences that leave a lasting impression on prospective students.
By moving your University prospectus online, you can eliminate the printing and distribution costs associated with traditional printed materials. This isn't a suggestion to get rid of print, instead you can implement hybrid approach where students have the option of receiving a print prospectus or digital prospectus.
If only 25% of your audience opts for a digital prospectus, you can unlock significant cost savings that can then be reinvested in student recruitment strategies elsewhere.
Going digital opens up all new marketing channels to significantly increase the reach of your University prospectus. Here are just a few of options available:
Digital publishing platforms - like YUDU - allow your University to track user engagement and gather invaluable analytics data, such as which sections of the prospectus are most viewed or how long users spend on each page. All of this information can be used to optimise content and improve future marketing strategies for student recuritment.
A digital prospectus offers your University the power to drive directions direct from the digital prospectus itself. This can be achieved in a number of ways:
Accessibility is a critical element in the University space, and a digital prospectus created with the right publishing platform can help support you in meeting Government accessibility guidelines. This can include features in your digital prospectus such as:
A digital prospectus that supports User Generate Content (UGC) allows prospective students to personalise their copy and create a sense of ownership. They can bookmark their favourite pages, to quickly navigate back to content at a later date. Or include annotations to add notes that are relevant to them, all of which helps deliver a unique and personal experience.
By reducing or eliminating the need for printed materials, a digital prospectus helps your University reduce waste paper and the carbon footprint of distribution, supporting your environmental sustainability efforts. By going green, not only are you fulfilling your social responsibility, you are enhancing the image and position of your University as an eco-friendly advocate.