Shelton State Community College: Campaign Promoting Access to Affordable Education

shelton state community college

Brand Overview

Shelton State Community College (SSCC) is dedicated to providing accessible and affordable educational opportunities for residents across West Alabama. Offering a comprehensive range of programs, from associate degrees and technical certifications to robust workforce development training, SSCC empowers students with the skills and knowledge needed to thrive in today’s competitive job market. With a strong emphasis on workforce training and flexible learning options, SSCC is committed to meeting the diverse needs of both traditional and non-traditional students.

shelton state service area

Service Area

Key Campaign Objectives

  • Increase Brand Awareness: Ensure that our target audience clearly understands the diverse programs and opportunities available at SSCC.

  • Generate Qualified Leads: Attract prospective students and their influencers (parents, guidance counselors, etc.) to request information, schedule campus visits, and engage with the college.

  • Promote Specific Academic Programs: Highlight in-demand programs such as nursing, welding, automotive technology, and dual enrollment options.

  • Boost Retargeting: Re-engage prospective students who have previously interacted with SSCC’s online platforms.

  • Increase Engagement: Drive meaningful interactions on digital platforms like Facebook and Instagram, and encourage active participation on the college’s website.

SOLUTIONS

A multi-channel digital marketing strategy was implemented to achieve these goals, encompassing:

  • Targeted Digital Display: Compelling display ads were strategically placed across a network of websites frequented by prospective students and their parents in the target counties.
  • Extended Reach Display: SSCC’s commitment to quality education and workforce development was showcased through visually engaging ads on a broader network, maximizing visibility and reach.
  • Strategic Social Media Marketing: Dynamic content across Snapchat, Facebook, and Instagram highlighted the college’s vibrant campus life, academic programs, and student success stories.
  • Precision Paid Search (SEM): Highly targeted search engine marketing campaigns on Google and Bing connected individuals actively seeking information about specific programs with relevant SSCC offerings.

RESULTS

Through constant monitoring, ongoing campaign optimization, and regular face-to-face meetings to discuss campaign performance and evolving short-term and long-term goals, the campaign was able to achieve the following:

  • Extensive Reach: Over 5.9 million impressions were delivered, ensuring widespread visibility and atmosphere across the target counties in SSCC’s service area.

  • High Engagement: The campaign generated more than 67,000 clicks, demonstrating strong interest in SSCC’s programs and driving qualified traffic to the college’s website.

  • Click through rate of display campaigns (0.22%, 0.47%) performed higher than the industry benchmarks of 0.07% and 0.08% respectively.

  • Enrollment Growth: SSCC has experienced a 6% increase in enrollment, a testament to the campaign’s effectiveness in reaching and motivating prospective students.

Key Takeaways

This case study illustrates the power of a holistic digital marketing strategy that integrates display, social media, and search engine marketing to achieve significant results. By strategically combining these channels, SSCC successfully expanded its reach, engaged prospective students, and ultimately drove enrollment growth.

This approach underscores the importance of a thoughtful, multi-channel strategy in effectively connecting with target audiences and achieving institutional goals.

“In addition to consistent and creative messaging, our team at Advance Education brings stellar insight to communication at Shelton State. They are committed not only to our institutional goals, but also to personal connection and a unique plan for optimizing our budget. We are incredibly grateful for their expertise.”

Lisa Waldrop, Shelton State Community College

If you’d like to learn more about how we can help you adapt to the evolving education marketing landscape and ramp up your efforts, please contact us today.

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