Utilizing direct email to reach college students is an extremely effective way to reach students throughout the semester, especially during the Covid era where many students are attending class remotely. Understanding a few tricks to better hone in on your desired demographic can make a big difference in determining your success.

Direct email is an extremely effective medium in reaching students on campus. I would advise including a digital component of a campaign to compliment an OOH or experiential aspect as well. No matter who you work with or which list you decide to utilize, pricing does add up so the question is how to make your email campaign, and the ad dollars behind, go as far and be as effective as possible. Here are a few things to consider when drafting up your email component:

1. Know Your Student Demographic: My first suggestion is to always try and narrow down your desired student demographic as much as possible.  We can produce a list based on year of graduation, major, geographic year, and many other fields.  This will allow you to use your resources as much on potential candidates as possible.
2. Incoming Freshman: Working with a partner who can provide lists of graduating high school seniors who are college bound, such as University Marketing & Promotions, is the way to reach incoming freshman BEFORE they reach campus.  This would give you an advantage over the competition.
3. Parents of Students: Much like incoming freshman, reaching the parents of students already enrolled is an excellent way to tap a revenue supply of parents wanting to send the kids to school with a care package or something waiting for them in their dorm room.

Utilizing direct email to reach college students, incoming freshman and parents of college students is an excellent component of any college marketing strategy.  With so many options and so many companies, including your competitors most likely, will be using this medium as well.  It takes a few tricks to get the inside edge and working with University Marketing and Promotions will get you that edge.