This document discusses how an interactive campus map is an essential recruitment tool for colleges and universities. It provides 5 key reasons: 1) It is vital for recruitment as prospective students use virtual tours to help narrow down college choices. 2) It is one of the most important web features according to research. 3) It provides a tangible return on investment if it drives more student visits and applications. 4) It is important for engaging external audiences like alumni and fans. 5) Developing an interactive map is essential to stay competitive as most other schools already have them. The document provides examples and ROI calculations to demonstrate the recruitment and financial value of an interactive campus map.
An Interactive Campus Map is Essential for Recruitment
1. The Interactive Campus Map
An Essential Recruitment Tool
Kyle James
@KyleJames
CEO @nuCloud
Founder @eduGuru
2. Interactive Map vs Virtual Tour
Virtual Tour
• Creating a virtual experience without
actually being there
• Picture, video, audio
Interactive Map
• Interacting with a user
• Providing a means to give input and
get results
3. So an interactive map is
always a virtual tour, but a
virtual tour isn’t always an
interactive map.
6. It’s All About Recruitment!
• USA Today - instructs prospective students
to take virtual tours as the #1 step before
actually visiting a college.
• Open up the top of your
recruitment funnel with a
virtual tour of your campus
http://www.usatoday.com/money/perfi/college/2008-08-13-control-costs-of-college-visits_N.htm
17. How Important is a Virtual Tour?
• A tour is “singlehandedly
the most important element” of a college
website.
--Ron Reis, Co-founder YOUniversity
• Students will “get frustrated very quickly if
they can’t get the 10,000-foot view.”
--Chris Carson, President CampusTours
*Quote from - http://www.universitybusiness.com/viewarticle.aspx?articleid=1122
18. Suite of Killer Web Apps
Interactive Tours
Course Catalogs
Common App
Net Price Calculator
Event Calendar
Online Videos
Blogs
20. Establishing ROI
If we can work backwards from the value
of a student we can establish the value
of an Interactive Campus Map.
*All numbers are created as examples
21. Let’s Do Some Math
• Average Years = 3
• Cost Per Year = $20,000
• Average Yearly Discount = $10,000
• Student Value = 3 * ($20,000 - $10,000)
• So a Student is worth
$30,000!
22. Let’s Do Some Math
• Student Value = $30,000
• Conversion Rate in Applicant = 20%
• App Value = $30,000 * .2
• So an Applicant is worth
$6,000!
24. Let’s Do Some Math
• Application Value = $6,000
• Conversion Rate of Visits to Applicant = 20%
• Value of Visit = $6,000 * .2
• So Each Student Visit is Worth
$1,200!
42. Things Not To Do With A Map
• Use Flash – it’s inaccessible and creates a
maintenance nightmare
• Only images – Include more content than just
a map with some photo galleries. Tours need
context.
• Ignore updates – Keep building information
and imagery fresh. You virtual tour needs the
power to entice real visits.
43. Where Do I Start?
http://www.uky.edu/CampusGuide/
47. Questions?
Kyle James
@KyleJames
kyle@nucloud.com
Notas do Editor
http://www.flickr.com/photos/judybaxter/2317301258/Student does a bunch of reading, talking to friends and family and probably spends some time online. So this process might not start as early as this guy but it’s always around.
List of School LogosIf you are in Texas your list probably looks something like this and that is ONLY if you are looking at the larger state schools around. How do you narrrow that down?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/nathanbaker/479278585/The real value of a Campus Tour is it’s ability to get individuals to want to apply to your school. It can be one of the single most influential things in the decision process for a prospective student. So how much is it worth and how do we get prospective students to want to apply to our school?