If you’ve been experiencing low voter turnout during alumni board elections, your association is not alone. Alumni, like everyone else, are busy with their work and personal lives. Sometimes, it can be tricky to keep them engaged and connected to the association.
One of the best ways to engage alumni is by conducting virtual board elections. Unlike in-person elections, online elections are hassle-free and allow alumni to vote and participate from anywhere in the world.
If elections don’t cut it, here are more strategies for improving alumni engagement:
Alumni engagement is about consistent, meaningful, and timely involvement all year long. Therefore, a consistent strategy is required for long-term success. Create a plan, implement it consistently, and ensure the organization is dedicated to long-term results.
Offers of professional and personal support should be part of an efficient alumni outreach strategy. It’s important to invest in technology, directories, and reunions to effectively engage alumni.
Alumni feedback and suggestions are important and should be gathered as part of alumni engagement efforts. A free trial, test drives, and beta programs are ways to advertise programs, provide alumni with something helpful, and solicit their input.
Holding a gathering every year to honor their service to the organization is another element of alumni engagement. It doesn’t have to be fancy; you can simply put up a few tables and invite alumni staff members to stop by for free coffee and snacks every once in a while.
Now that you understand the core elements of engaging alumni, here are four inexpensive ideas that you can use:
The yearbook can be used to engage not only current students but also alumni. For example, you can post a compelling photo from an old yearbook on social media. You can turn it into a contest to see which graduation year can produce the most reposts or re-shares of an image.
Handwritten letters are cheaper and more personalized than printed letters or emails, and they will make a lasting impression on alumni. When writing a handwritten letter to an alum, start by expressing your gratitude for their past support and involvement with your organization. Be specific about the impact their contributions have had and let them know that their efforts made a difference.
It may take more time and effort than sending an email or social media message, but the personal touch of a letter can make all the difference.
Another effective option is to create coupons or discounts on specific products. Offering engaging, pertinent, and substantial discounts is a terrific approach for attracting alumni and a straightforward way to show your appreciation.
Developing a communication plan that targets specific alumni groups via social media, email, and newsletters can help keep them informed and involved. You want to regularly update alumni about current events and future opportunities, such as upcoming networking events and volunteer opportunities, and make sure they know what the benefit of being an alumni is.
People develop emotional ties to the places they have been to. Playing to these emotions is a great way to engage alumni. For example, nostalgia, especially in the form of old photographs and stories from the past, is a powerful tool for engaging alumni.
You can also have current students share their experiences and give testimonials on how much they appreciate alumni efforts. It’s also important to emphasize the importance of alumni’s role in the life of the institution, as people are more likely to invest their time and money if they have a sense of ownership and feel that they are making a difference.
There are plenty of ways to use social media to boost alumni engagement. For starters, social media channels such as Facebook and LinkedIn, allow you to quickly reach out to a large number of alumni. You can use these platforms to post updates about alumni events, job and internship opportunities, and news from the college or university.
Social media also allows alumni to share their stories, experiences, and ideas with other alumni and students. This helps build a sense of community and boosts engagement levels.
Lastly, you can use social media to solicit feedback from alumni on the current state of your association and ways to improve it.
Keeping alumni engaged can be difficult, especially when it comes to less-exciting events like board elections. Nonetheless, by staying consistent, investing in alumni engagement, collecting feedback, and promoting in-campus interaction, you can build a successful alumni association and ensure that it remains active, vibrant, and united.
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