ESM Uses Texting to Connect with and Engage More Prospective Students Than Ever

Schools Are Contacting Students in a Way That Fits Their Next-Gen Lifestyles

Highlands Ranch, CO – June 9, 2010 – ESM, a provider of student lifecycle solutions to help schools enroll, graduate and place more students, is seeing a jump in the number of text messages being used to connect with prospective students.  ESM’s digital contact approach has resulted in an increase in contact rates by as much as 11 percent and an increase in conversion rates by 17 percent.

“ESM is constantly innovating. Finding new ways to reach out to prospects serves not only the student interest, but also the College’s interest,” said Marc Konesco, vice president of operations and COO at Harrison College.  “ESM’s communication strategy enables us to deliver a higher level of student support starting with the initial contact, and it has proven to drive greater recruiting and enrollment results.”

According to a study conducted by the National Center for Healthcare Statistics, cell phone usage is on the rise, with nearly 50 percent of 25-year-olds not even living in a household with a landline.  More people than ever are using cell phones as their primary means of communication.

ESM’s communication approach leverages the technology students are using today. The company uses texting to let prospective students know who is calling them on their cell phone, ultimately ensuring that fewer admissions calls go unanswered and improving the odds that a student will respond to a school’s outreach. The end goal still is to get a prospect on the phone with a qualified admissions advisor to engage in the crucial, early stage dialogue that results in lead conversion and enrollment.

“Texting presents yet another way to connect with students – a way that fits their lifestyles today,” said Rick Fort, CEO and founder of ESM.  “By embracing digital communication strategies, we can help schools more efficiently and effectively reach potential students to initiate the admissions process. This is an important precursor to what is to come in terms of student communication throughout the entire student lifecycle.”