How can you use virtual events to attract prospective applicants for your Educational Leadership program?

1 Define your goals and audience

Before you plan any virtual event, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve and who you want to reach. Your goals and audience will determine the type, format, topic, and tone of your event. For example, if your goal is to generate awareness and interest in your program, you might want to host a webinar that showcases your curriculum, faculty, and alumni. If your goal is to nurture and persuade prospects who are already interested, you might want to host a workshop that demonstrates your teaching methods, learning outcomes, and career opportunities. Your audience will also influence your choice of platform, time, and language for your event.

2 Plan and promote your event

Once you have defined your goals and audience, you need to plan and promote your event. Planning involves choosing a suitable platform, setting a date and time, preparing the content and speakers, and testing the technology. You also need to create a registration page that captures the contact information and preferences of your attendees. Promoting involves spreading the word about your event through your website, social media, email, and other channels. You need to create a compelling title, description, and image for your event that highlights the benefits and value for your audience. You also need to send reminders and confirmations to your registrants before the event.

3 Deliver and engage your event

The most important part of your virtual event is the delivery and engagement. You need to make sure that your event is informative, interactive, and memorable for your audience. You need to start on time, introduce yourself and your program, and present your content clearly and concisely. You also need to encourage participation and feedback from your audience by asking questions, conducting polls, facilitating chats, and answering queries. You need to show your enthusiasm, passion, and expertise for your program and educational leadership. You also need to end on a positive note, thank your audience, and provide a clear call to action.

4 Follow up and measure your event

After your virtual event, you need to follow up and measure your event. Following up involves sending thank-you emails, surveys, and resources to your attendees and non-attendees. You need to provide them with more information and opportunities to connect with you and your program. You also need to segment and qualify your leads based on their level of interest, engagement, and fit for your program. Measuring involves tracking and analyzing the data and feedback from your event. You need to evaluate the attendance, retention, satisfaction, and conversion rates of your event. You also need to identify the strengths, weaknesses, and areas of improvement for your event.

5 Repeat and refine your event

Finally, you need to repeat and refine your event. Virtual events are not a one-time activity, but a continuous process of building and maintaining relationships with your prospects. You need to host regular and varied events that cater to different stages of the applicant journey and different segments of the audience. You also need to refine your events based on the data and feedback you collect. You need to test different elements of your events, such as the title, content, format, and timing, and see what works best for your audience and program. You also need to learn from other successful programs and best practices in the field of educational leadership.