Enrollment Strategy
Adult learners aren’t actually ghosting you; they’re avoiding friction. You think they bailed because they got cold feet, but the reality is your admissions process just couldn’t keep up.
Maybe they downloaded your program guide at 10:43 p.m., between putting kids to bed and clocking into their second job. They were ready to move, but you buried them in batch emails and radio silence. Then they bounced. But that’s not a ghost—it’s a missed opportunity.
You’re Not Getting Ignored. You’re Getting Outpaced.
Adult learners don’t have time for traditional drip campaigns or cookie-cutter communications. They have goals. They’re comparing ROI. And they’re deciding fast.
Here’s where you could be losing them:
- You’re faking personalization. Swapping in a first name isn’t personal, and these learners don’t care about your quad or your mascot. They want to know if this program gets them a promotion or a pay bump—and they want that answer now.
- You’re selling dreams instead of proof. “Student success” doesn’t cut it. Show them stats, job placements, and alumni who landed the job they want. No receipts = no enrollment.
- You’re monologuing. Drip campaigns talk at people. Adults want answers. A back-and-forth. A real conversation. If your follow-up is “We’ll get back to you during business hours,” you’ve already lost.
AI Is Your Best Shot at Keeping Up
Instead of seeing AI as a shiny object, think of it as your admissions team’s tactical advantage.
It knows who’s serious. Late-night clicks on the tuition page? That’s a signal. AI sees it and flags it instantly.
It adapts in real time. It speaks differently to a single mom switching industries than to a tech worker upskilling—because one-size-fits-all fits no one.
It never sleeps. When your team logs off, AI keeps the conversation going—text, voice, email. Seamless. Personal. Timely.
S.H.I.F.T.S: How You Fix the Funnel
Instead of sending more emails, focus on relevance. Halda’s S.H.I.F.T.S. framework helps you break through the noise and build trust fast.
- Survey: Ask smart questions early. Find out what prospective students want. Don’t guess, ask.
- Help: Lead with value. Salary calculator. Career path guide. Something they can use now, whether they apply or not.
- Individualize: Speak like you know them, because you should. Reference their goals and skip the fluff.
- Face: Show the human behind the screen. Video intros. Real counselors. Real alumni. Real connection.
- Trigger: Take action when they do. Behavior-based outreach beats campaign calendars every time.
- Speed: Fast matters. If you’re not the first to respond, you’re not in the conversation.
The Schools That Succeed Move First—and Smart.
Adult learners aren’t vanishing. They’re enrolling elsewhere, where they get answers faster, messages that matter, and proof the school understands their day-to-day realities.
Instead of looking for more tools, look for the right one. Halda connects every touchpoint in the funnel so you stop wasting leads and start enrolling adults who are ready to act.
Because if your funnel still looks like it did five years ago, you don’t have a ghosting problem, you have a strategy gap.
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