Join us on December 12 at 1pm ET for our webinar, Balancing Bytes and Bonds

Register Today
EP
4
May 2, 2024
Episode 4: From No CRM to 1st in Class: Johnston Community College’s Story

Episode 4: From No CRM to 1st in Class: Johnston Community College’s Story

Or listen on:

About the Episode

About the Episode: In this episode, Carrie Pitts-Densmore, Senior Director of Marketing and Communications at Johnston Community College shares how JCC significantly increased student enrollment through innovative strategies and technology adoption. Carrie delves into the role of centralized communications, process simplification, and the impact of a new CRM system. Notably, how the introduction of 'Ask Jagger,' a chatbot named after their mascot, underscores the importance of automation in enhancing the student experience and operational efficiency. 

Key Takeaways:

  • Innovative Enrollment Strategies: Carrie outlines the shift to centralized communications and the use of Element451 to streamline student interactions, contributing to double-digit enrollment increases.
  • Technology's Role: The introduction of 'Ask Jagger' chatbot and a CRM system has significantly reduced administrative burdens and personalized student communications.
  • Data-Driven Decisions: Using Element451 for targeted campaigns and analyzing engagement to refine outreach strategies.
  • Future Focus: Carrie highlights the potential of AI in creating dynamic and engaging content, pointing to a future where technology further personalizes the student journey.

How Did Centralized Communications Boost Johnston’s Enrollment?

Carrie explains how shifting to centralized communications with Element451 transformed Johnston’s student engagement strategy. Before Element451, communications were fragmented, limiting the college’s ability to track interactions with prospective students. Now, thanks to Element451, Johnston can target messages to specific student segments, ensuring that each communication is relevant and personalized. This centralized approach contributed to double-digit enrollment growth, allowing them to better guide students through the enrollment journey and keep them engaged throughout.

What Role Does Element451’s BoltBot Play in Improving Student Engagement?

One of the most impactful tools Johnston implemented is the “BoltBot,” a chatbot named Jagger, which handles common student inquiries and frees up the admissions team for higher-level engagements. Jagger’s automation has saved the team approximately 7,600 minutes, which would have otherwise been spent answering routine questions. With Jagger’s help, the team now has more capacity to focus on personalized outreach, like guiding students through specific admissions processes or following up on their documents. This increased efficiency empowers the staff to create more meaningful connections with students.

How Has Data from Element451 Enhanced Event Planning and Follow-up?

Johnston’s first open house in years proved a massive success, drawing 450 attendees despite rainy weather. Thanks to Element451’s event registration tools, Johnston was able to gather data on all attendees, track who engaged with follow-up content, and understand which events resonated most with prospective students. This data has since informed their outreach strategy, allowing the team to tailor future events to better align with student interests and needs.

What Was the Strategy Behind Hiring a CRM Manager with a Sales Background?

Recognizing the importance of a cohesive enrollment journey, Carrie led the decision to hire a CRM manager with a sales-oriented skill set. This individual is responsible for overseeing Element451’s implementation and optimizing the student communication funnel. Carrie emphasized that this role requires a strong understanding of sales processes—particularly the ability to nurture leads and guide students through each enrollment stage. With this approach, Johnston ensures that their CRM initiatives are not only operational but also strategically focused on maximizing student engagement and success.

How Is Johnston Embracing AI to Streamline Operations?

Johnston’s team is eager to explore Element451’s new AI-driven tools. By leveraging AI in areas like content creation and workflow management, the team can generate personalized email campaigns at scale and implement workflows without extensive manual input. Carrie highlighted how AI, specifically through Element451’s Copilot feature, helps her team quickly generate multiple email variations, saving hours each week. This strategic use of AI allows Johnston to stay agile, enhance outreach effectiveness, and adapt to the growing demands of modern enrollment management.

What’s Next for Johnston Community College?

Looking to the future, Johnston is planning to build on their recent successes by further integrating Element451’s tools across departments. They aim to create a seamless, one-stop shop for students by linking admissions, financial aid, and other support services into a unified CRM platform. Carrie is excited about how AI tools will support this goal, streamlining tasks for her team while enhancing the personalization of each student interaction. With plans to continue refining and centralizing their student engagement processes, Johnston is on a clear path to sustain and grow their enrollment numbers.

Calls to Action

  • Subscribe to stay ahead with insights from higher education leaders.
  • Explore how your institution can leverage technology to enhance student engagement and enrollment.
  • Consider the impact of centralized communication strategies and AI in your outreach efforts.
  • Engage with Daniella and Brendan at our annual Engage Summit conference in Raleigh, NC June 25-26. Use the code Enrollify50 for $50 off. 
  • Join the Enrollify community for more resources and discussions on innovative higher education marketing strategies.

Connect With Our Co-Hosts:

Daniella Nordin
https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniellanordin/

Brendan Henkel
https://www.linkedin.com/in/bkhenkel/

About The Enrollify Podcast Network: In Your Element is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you’ll like other Enrollify shows too!  

Some of our favorites include Visionary Voices: The College President’s Playbook and Higher Ed Pulse

Enrollify is made possible by Element451 —  the next-generation AI student engagement platform helping institutions create meaningful and personalized interactions with students. Learn more at element451.com

Connect with Us at the Engage Summit: Exciting news —  Daniella and Brendan will be at the 2024 Engage Summit in Raleigh, NC, on June 25 and 26, and we’d love to meet you there! Sessions will focus on cutting-edge AI applications that are reshaping student outreach, enhancing staff productivity, and offering deep insights into ROI. 

Use the discount code Enrollify50 at checkout, and you can register for just $200. 

Learn more and register at engage.element451.com — we can’t wait to see you there!

People in this episode

Host

Daniella Nordin is the Director of Customer Success and Engagement at Element451 and the host of In Your Element.

Brendan Henkel is the Manager of Solutions Engineering at Element451 and host of In Your Element.

Interviewee

Carrie Pitts-Densmore

Carrie Pitts-Densmore has 25 years of communications experience. She began her career as a television news journalist, where she won a national award for a documentary on domestic violence and covered major news stories in Myrtle Beach, Buffalo, and Raleigh.

Other episodes

Episode #258: Unlocking Seamless Student Experiences with Digital IDsPlay Button
Episode #258: Unlocking Seamless Student Experiences with Digital IDs

Dustin chats with Rasheed Behrooznia, Senior Vice President and General Manager at Transact, who discusses the game-changing role of digital student IDs in higher education.

Ep. 20: How Good Web (Re) Design Breaks SilosPlay Button
Ep. 20: How Good Web (Re) Design Breaks Silos

Shane sits down with Joel Goodman, Principal and CEO of Bravery Media, to talk about how campuses can use their website and a website redesign to break down silos.

Live at AMA: Tackling Higher Ed’s Perception ProblemPlay Button
Live at AMA: Tackling Higher Ed’s Perception Problem

Tune in for a compelling conversation between Mallory and Tam Powell, Senior Vice President of Higher Education at BVK, recorded live at the AMA conference.

Ep. 53: Creating Memorable And Immersive College Visit ExperiencesPlay Button
Ep. 53: Creating Memorable And Immersive College Visit Experiences

Jeremy and Dr. Matt McLendon from the University of Alabama discuss their new welcome center and how they strive to create unforgettable visits for prospective students and families.

Episode 56: How Personalized Video Drives Engagement Across the Enrollment FunnelPlay Button
Episode 56: How Personalized Video Drives Engagement Across the Enrollment Funnel

In this forward-thinking episode, Allison speaks with Tom Mikowski, VP of Business Development and Higher Education Partnerships at Allied Pixel. Tom shares insights from his 30-year career in enrollment and discusses how data-driven personalized video can dramatically elevate student engagement and drive conversions.

Weekly ideas that make you smarter

Thank you! Your submission has been received!
Oops! Something went wrong while submitting the form.
Subscribe
cancel

Search podcasts, blog posts, people