You come to me on the day of my daughter's wedding, asking for a way to improve your marketing outreach to prospective students? Well, Bonasera, let me give you some advice and I won't even ask you to call me Godfather.
Keep Your Friends Close, and Prospective Students Closer...
As tens of millions of high school seniors anxiously refresh student portals for an update, juniors globally are preparing for their moment in the sun. Likewise, as higher education professionals gear up for another round of application reviews, tours, and college fairs, it's never too early to consider new ways to improve outreach strategy. Yet despite the great minds that attempt to streamline this industry, students and parents still open their mailboxes weekly to enough paper and college brochures that could cumulatively save a rainforest. Then came AR business cards to save the day. An all-inclusive, simple way to condense and organize all the information one could want in a college brochure. At just a few cents a pop, a 2x3.5 inch business card could contain more information than Mario Puzo could put into a whole franchise, all of which can fit right in your pocket.
Long gone now are app store downloads that take up precious storage space or email signups that collect and distribute personal information to who knows where. In the case of AR business cards, there are no signups or necessary downloads. Upon receiving a physical card, you scan the QR code and wait for the magic to happen. Just like that, the viewer will see all of the provided information designed into the augmented experience via their camera application. One could tilt or turn their camera, in which case the projected image will follow accordingly. Unlike a physical piece of paper, the beauty of this technology is that the possibilities are truly endless. A highly customizable practice, AR business cards can feature videos, links to social media, campus tours, and more.
Just When I'm Out... They Pull Me Back In (with some facts about AR)
Augmented reality shows an increase in user engagement, attention, and memory recall by 70% versus other channels. Additionally, users who see or receive AR advertisements have a 61% likelihood of sharing that advertisement. The other issue with mailer marketing is that there are no analytics with printed brochures; thus, no way to improve ROI or user retention. Sending out brochures and mailers are a great way to end up in the recycle bin; alongside letters from Nigerian Princes that need your help moving money into a foreign checking account.
AR cards are perfect because they blend the physical personal touch of a paper card with the combined effects of an online interface. Analytics are always available and can integrate seamlessly with your own CMS. AR cards are highly customizable by design and instantaneously showcase valuable information about your school streamlined in the palm of your hand. Want your animated school mascot on the front page? You got it. A welcome video from the president? Do all that and whatever else your outreach-filled heart desires. AR business cards are an instantaneous showcase of your higher education institution.
Below is an example and demonstration of AR business cards used by Syracuse University's graduate business school.
An Offer You Can't Refuse
Get rid of Barzini and the printed paper mess. From the perspective of higher education institutions, this mass- send all approach is a significant financial commitment. At retail prices from high-distribution printing companies, a two-sided flier runs about 22 cents for an order of 2,500 fliers. Contrast that to just 5 cents per 1,000 business cards; the potential savings (environmentally as well) are like buying an electric car or installing solar panels for your house. Switching to AR cards would result in an instant reduction in shipping and printing costs, paper waste, and overall carbon footprint.
Let the Competition Sleep With the Fishes
Augmented reality is an exponentially growing industry estimated to exceed $50 billion by 2024. It's an innovative way of experiencing visual or auditory elements in our physical world. Adapting your institution to a business model that cosigns with the most up-to-date technology has been proven to be the best way to swim in a world that makes it all too easy to sink. AR business cards are a great transition to an ever-changing world. Keep your pitch in your pocket; let us take care of the rest. Now if only someone had told that to Luca Brasi...
