If You Build It, Will They Come?The Case for Online Communities

June 24, 2014

TM

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N4Pho3lRnyk

TM

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Engagement Highlight:Show Us The Love!

Santa Barbara City College

Welcome

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Change Is Coming

Changes prompted by the nexus (mobile, cloud, social & data)

are setting the stage for transforming the education

environment from a 20th-century mindset to a 21st-century

paradigm.

Predicts 2014: Technology Drives Education Toward Transformation

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Getting Started

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@360Alumni

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About Me

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Megan ReileClient Services

360Alumni

The Engagement Gap

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The Engagement GapA chalkboard explanation

Alumni Needs

Engagement Gap

Institutional Goals

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Audience Preferences Changed

% of alumni that never visit their website

360Alumni Primary Research Survey, June 2013

vs

% of alumni that would visittheir website

if it were more like a social network

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Thought Leadership

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What Alumni Want

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Graditude

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GraditudeGlad You Chose Us; Washington College

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-y8beRv1OI

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Alumni-Driven Engagement

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Online Communities:

- Jenny PreeceDean of IT

University of Maryland

4 Parts:People, a shared purpose, policies & computer systems

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Alumni Communities Make Sense

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New Business Models

“With the traditional funding streams withering away at

such great speed, academic institutions have to think about

not only how to cut cost, but, preferably, how to create new

revenue … they have to think about their business model.”

Gartner - Business Model Innovation Examples In Education, Jan 2013

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Sources:

MailingJet

Gloccal

InspiredM.com

Average Cost Per Alumnus

Telemarketing

Direct Mail

Traditional Website

Online Community

$ .64

$.53

$.19

$.14

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Average Time to Get Up and Running

Telemarketing

Direct Mail

Traditional Website

Online Community

12 weeks

4 weeks

2 weeks

12 weeks

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Millennials & Giving

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Constituent Pyramid

Top Donors;Very Engaged

Sweet Spot

Avg gift of $1,206

Increase frequency to 2x / yr:Additional $150,000

Increase percentage

to 15%:Additional

$75K

Average gift of $50.

30,000 Alumni, 10%

giving

-or-

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Connectivity Multipliers

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What About Social Networks?Social Media Explained

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Online Communities

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Social Network Drawbacks

● Different objectives● Too much noise● Data is not yours● Not a hub● Won’t build your brand● No integrated

fundraising

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No More “Various Vague Things”

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Benefits of Online Communities

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Online Communities Bridge the Engagement Gap

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Examples

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TM

Thank you for attending!

Q&AMegan ReileClient Servicesmreile@360alumni.com716-239-1554

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Take Away

Case Study:

360Alumni is a great solution. It has added an important networking piece that we didn’t have before. Alumni have responded very well to the new community, saving my department time and development effort, and allowing for a smooth method of encouraging and incurring donations online.

“

“Pitt Community College Ashley Dews Smith, Director of Alumni Relations

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