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Discover How 360 SMS Transformed Student Engagement in Higher Education

The presence of multiple channels in today’s world has scattered the presence of students over multiple communication channels. It takes a lot of effort to drive engagement and responses from students. This is why it is a continuous struggle for educational institutions. This also hampers their educational operations, communications, and enrollment rates.

Educational institutions continue to look forward to improving their educational workflows and overcoming various challenges that restrict their growth.

If we talk about the young and busy student population, they tend to avoid calls and emails. That’s where using Salesforce to send text messages is the most productive approach to connecting with a young and vibrant student community. 

To back this statement, we have a real-life success story of an educational Institution to share with you.

In this blog, we will discuss how a higher education institution transformed its student engagement using 360 SMS.

About the Educational Institution

A prominent higher education institution in Florida, this establishment holds a notable position, ranking 9th among both public and private colleges within the state. Its academic offerings span a diverse array of undergraduate, graduate, and certification programs accessible through various campuses. 

With a rich history of serving the educational needs of the community, it boasts an impressive track record of accommodating over half a million students. Furthermore, its ongoing enrollment surpasses 35,000 new students annually, highlighting its pivotal role in shaping the educational landscape of Florida.

Pre-existing Solutions and Problems Faced Before Using Salesforce to Send Text Messages

The educational institution relied on email and phone calls as primary channels to convey crucial information to students. However, students frequently showed a lack of responsiveness, leaving many of the college’s emails and phone calls unanswered. 

This indicated a clear disinterest among students regarding the college’s communication methods. Consequently, the institution encountered numerous challenges as a result of this communication gap.

• Ensuring students received vital information via email posed a challenge due to unchecked emails, complicating effective communication.
• Engaging new students with welcome messages and promptly addressing their queries proved to be a demanding task requiring efficient communication strategies.
• Effectively monitoring and pursuing prospective students demanded streamlined tracking methods and consistent follow-up procedures.
• Ensuring both current and former students stay informed about the institution’s programs and events requires effective communication strategies and regular updates.
• Responding promptly to the increasing volume of student inquiries presents a challenge, necessitating efficient management and streamlined communication channels.

Requirements

The institution encountered the challenge of engaging students who showed little inclination toward communicating via email or phone calls. They sought a reliable communication channel to foster stronger student relationships and sought attention-grabbing solutions to encourage proactive student engagement. Given the preference for texting among today’s students, finding a dependable texting solution emerged as the clear choice.

Solution Implemented

The educational institution collaborated with 360 SMS to send text messages from Salesforce and revamp its communication strategy, integrating SMS texting to make it more accessible for both administration and students.

What Changed for Students After Using Salesforce to Send Text Messages

• Students could conveniently send program queries via text, receiving prompt responses from the institution, streamlining communication and enhancing their overall experience.
• Students can utilize a communication method they prefer, enhancing comfort and ease of use while interacting with the institution and fostering a more enjoyable and efficient communication experience. College students typically spend an average of 94 minutes per day engaging in text messaging activities.

What Changed for the Educational Institution After Using Salesforce to Send Text Messages

Streamlined Outreach Communication for Improved Efficiency

The educational institution’s outreach communication plan has undergone a transformative shift, significantly expediting processes and optimizing efficiency. This streamlined approach facilitates the swift dissemination of information, ensuring that updates and responses to student inquiries are delivered promptly.

This streamlined communication strategy enhances overall operational effectiveness by minimizing delays and improving responsiveness, fostering a more dynamic and agile institutional environment.

Enhanced Communication with Automated Messaging

Automated messages serve as a cornerstone in ensuring timely communication, bolstering the institution’s reliability and professionalism. This is what 360 SMS is great at, as it offers powerful automation features to send text messages from Salesforce. 

This helped the institution to guarantee consistent and punctual delivery of messages and instill trust among students and stakeholders, thereby solidifying the institution’s reputation for effective communication management. This seamless flow of information not only enhanced operational efficiency but also fostered stronger connections within the campus community, ultimately contributing to the institution’s overall success and standing.

Maximized Student Engagement and Event Registrations

Utilizing 360 SMS to send SMS from Salesforce for event registration notifications ensures that students promptly receive relevant information about upcoming events. This streamlined communication process not only enhances the visibility of these events but also encourages students to register promptly due to the immediacy and convenience of receiving notifications via text.

As a result, the institution experiences increased attendance rates, fostering a vibrant campus community and enriching the overall student experience. Additionally, the ability to efficiently manage event registrations through text messaging facilitates better planning and organization, ensuring that events run smoothly and successfully.

Improved Student Communication and Follow-ups

The educational institution harnesses the power of 360 SMS to send SMS from Salesforce and effectively communicate with students through text reminders, announcements, and follow-up messages. This comprehensive approach ensures that students remain informed about important updates and deadlines, even amidst the deluge of emails and phone calls.

By integrating SMS into their communication strategy, the institution enhances engagement and responsiveness, ultimately fostering stronger connections with students and improving overall communication effectiveness.

Higher Student Engagement through 360 SMS

The institution’s utilization of 360 SMS to send SMS from Salesforce has yielded a remarkable outcome: a high response rate from students. By leveraging this communication platform, students have demonstrated increased engagement with the institution’s messages, leading to more active participation and involvement. This heightened level of responsiveness signifies the effectiveness of the SMS-based communication strategy in capturing students’ attention and fostering meaningful interactions. As a result, the institution enjoys enhanced communication efficacy and a stronger connection with its student body. This contributes to a more vibrant and engaged campus community.

Conclusion

The integration of 360 SMS has revolutionized student engagement in higher education. By leveraging this innovative communication platform, institutions have experienced heightened responsiveness and active participation from students. From streamlined event registrations to timely updates and announcements, 360 SMS has facilitated more effective communication by allowing them to send text messages from Salesforce, fostering stronger connections between institutions and their student communities. As a result, higher education institutions have been able to cultivate vibrant and engaged campus environments. This ultimately enhances the overall student experience. 

Ready to transform your educational operations? Reach out to our experts at care@360smsapp.com or click here to contact us.

Siddharth Sehgal

CEO

Siddharth Sehgal is CEO & Salesforce Communication Guru. He helps businesses grow exponentially by putting their Salesforce CRM on steroids with his unique techniques. He is on a mission to help businesses build deeper relationships with their customers.