The use of video has been proven to increase the engagement and response rates
A previous MA article blog looked at the digital journey for schools and it brought in the discussion of taking the Alumni through an on-going journey to help keep them engaged and updated with their old school.
It highlighted how video can be introduced in a creative and personalised way to help make the pupils from the past feel connected to its present and its future.
In this Part-2 piece we delve deeper into the use of video and why it is becoming an important part of the school communication process to increase Past pupil engagement rates and to encourage them to want to care now in 2020 and beyond. #SupportYourSchools.
The power of video
The use of video has been proven to increase the engagement, interest and donations from Alumni within High Education – the stats prove it.
• 57% of online viewers donate after watching an inspired video.
• Videos promoting crowdfunding pages raise 4 times as many donations.
Source – MobileCause
Schools can now achieve similar results through personalised video reach-out.
See our Personalised Video work and results with a UK Schools Trust.
Creating lasting feelings of engagement, emotion and positive recall, can lead to ex-pupils actively wanting to remain loyal and offer their support. The level of Alumni support can of course vary depending on both personal wealth but also the desire to want to help – how has the school supported, updated and involved them since they left?
‘Impact’ reports that merely mentioning the word ‘video’ in an email subject line, the click-through rate increases by 13%. Videos on Facebook Pages can increase end user engagement by 33% and the difference social video can make when sharing, compared to text and images, is astonishing – with an increase of 1200%.
Source – Impact (impactbnd.com)
We explore 5 reasons why video has a role to play to help engage Past Pupils:
1) Video Engages (no questions)
There’s a reason people adore video: it’s an incredibly engaging format.
Using it to communicate inside and outside a school just makes perfect sense.
Video is the format people desire (the stats show the results) and so it’s no surprise that it’s everywhere, from social networks to websites and now increasing in schools.
2) Video is Timely & Efficient
Recorded video is timely without demanding immediate attention or a specific time-bound chunk of the day. Video is fast and easy to consume. Not only is video flexible, it can also be a huge time saver. Powerful Alumni video messages might only need to be 1-2 minutes to convey the schools update message. Could a video update replace a newsletter? It’s almost always quicker to record a short video than to share the same information via text-based method.
3) Video is Clear
Video lets you quickly and easily deliver your message in your own words, without having to express in text form. It lets you provide important non-verbal communication cues (like body language and tone) that are absent from text-based communications.
It’s also a fantastic way to share your message and make it memorable — stats show that viewers actually retain 95% of a message when they watch it in a video (versus 10% if they read it as text).
4) Video is Secure
Video platforms designed for business typically offer video security options that make it easy for you to ensure your video is only seen by the right people.
Video intended for specific groups can be shared securely via the school’s unique online groups, such as Facebook or on LinkedIn Alumni sites.
Video is now critical component of remote working and communication — reaching out to Alumni can be a part of this future.
5) Video is Personal
And finally… Recorded video is one of the few digital communications options that lets viewers see your face and hear your voice.
This makes you and your message more human. Being able to deliver your carefully crafted message with personality helps foster connections with your customers (Alumni).
Give your Alumni journeys a ‘higher level’ personalised boost
The use of Personalised video has been proven to increase the engagement, interest, and loyalty of Alumni within other areas of education (High Education as an example).
Schools can now achieve similar results and build the support they deserve from their Alumni, through this personalised and targeted form of engaging communication.
#SupportYourSchools:
Calling out to Past Pupils and local school communities…
#SupportYourSchools, whatever type, size, gender group or religion affiliation it may be.
Your support might be time, know-how, sponsorship, a donation or may be just morale for the staff doing their courageous best. For parent funded schools, this support might make the difference for them at this Covid impacted time… Schools joined the “Support schools together” campaign back in 2020 (this was the link).
Missed Blog article Part-1? Read it here.
Rev DEC 2022.
If you need support now or in the future to engage your Past pupils (Alumni), discuss your Alumni groups and communication, or seek to review your current plans – please do contact us for advice.