Low engagement is often the cause of a failed alumni network. Address this issue, and your alumni will want to renew the connection. Our strategies will help you to reignite alumni engagement and get your alumni program back on track.

Why dormant alumni are an untapped asset

Perhaps your newsletters suffered a sharp decline in open and click-through rates. Maybe your alumni website or social media pages have experienced a major drop in traffic. Or you’ve noticed a lack of interest in alumni events, volunteering, and networking. What does this all mean?

These are all signs of disengagement and a dormant alumni network. They are also clues as to what you need to do to re-engage them. With the right strategies, you can reignite alumni engagement, rebuild your alumni relations, and experience greater success than ever before. 

The issue of dormant alumni can understandably be very frustrating. But your dormant alumni are, in fact, an untapped asset. 

Barriers to alumni engagement

Navigating alumni engagement is not always easy. Here are the most common barriers you’ll face as you try to reignite alumni engagement.

Ineffective tools

Your choice of alumni community platform and online tools are central to your alumni engagement efforts. Get it wrong, and you will find it very difficult to engage or re-engage your alumni. They will probably just stop using the platform altogether. 

The current alumni engagement platforms you’re using may not be the right ones for your alumni community. Alumni platforms and alumni management software are not all equal. If yours are outdated or have a high learning curve or cluttered user interface, your alumni will not want to use them.

Non-inclusive program

The more alumni participate in the program, the higher their levels of engagement will be. And vice versa. However, alumni participation (and engagement) decline when alumni feel they aren’t recognized and valued by the alumni association they are a part of.  

Your current alumni relations program might not be inclusive enough, leaving members from minority groups disengaged. Alumni networks also often have large generational gaps. This can present problems for senior alumni who are not tech-savvy or may be unfamiliar with modern social networking techniques.

Inaccurate data

Alumni engagement requires consistent interaction. Your failing alumni relations could be due to limited communication. This is rarely deliberate. The reason is often as simple as incomplete or inaccurate contact information. 

Some of your alumni may have changed their phone numbers. Others may have switched to new email addresses for their new jobs. Your alumni engagement efforts can only be successful if you have up-to-date contact information for all your alumni network members. 

The role of technology in alumni reactivation

There are many ways to use technology to build stronger alumni relations and reignite alumni engagement. This is a good place to start, as ineffective alumni management software and alumni engagement platforms are often the biggest barriers to alumni engagement.

Fortunately, you can overcome the obstacles to reignite alumni engagement, with the Aluminati platform. We offer customizable solutions that get results, specifically designed for both academic and corporate alumni communities. 

For enterprises

Aluminate for Enterprise is designed for use in the corporate environment. Benefits include increased employer appeal, internal hiring, and an enhanced company culture.

For educational institutions

Aluminate for Education is designed for use in the academic environment. Benefits include a boost in alumni volunteerism, donations, mentoring, and community involvement.  

Strategies to reignite alumni engagement

Leveraging digital platforms

Get the right digital platform and tools, and half the battle against alumni dormancy is won. The Aluminati platform is user-friendly, dynamic, and engaging. It is also highly customizable to meet your specific alumni network’s needs. And its easy learning curve makes it ideal for everyone. 

Are you actively trying to engage alumni across generations? Our guide to inclusive programming will help. 

Social media storytelling

Social media is a valuable resource for fostering alumni engagement. You can use your alumni network’s social media pages to get your alumni interested in the program again. 

Acknowledge alumni achievements and announce upcoming events. Post-industry-specific news for your corporate alumni, and academic-centered news for academic alumni. And encourage members to share their stories with their peers. 

Social media also offers opportunities for social networking and marketing, but Aluminate can help with this, too. 

It is ideal for use as an enterprise social network that members can use for networking and collaboration in the alumni community. It is also a cost-effective social networking option for marketing your alumni events.

Offering value

The key to maintaining alumni engagement is to offer your alumni value for their membership and participation. 

One of the ways Aluminate addresses this need is with an algorithm called the Intelligent Matching Engine. This helps to match users to other users for mentorship, and to valuable content like job postings, groups, events, news, and courses. 

Your specific alumni network may have different expectations than others. However, there are usually some common needs running through corporate and academic circles. 

For enterprises

Corporate alumni need to know that you value their participation in your company’s alumni program. 

Show them this with networking opportunities, meetups, and career advancement opportunities. Do you want to know more about what your alumni expect from the program? Read the 9 expectations corporate alumni have. 

For educational institutions

Academic alumni need to know that their contributions to the alumni associations at their educational institutions are appreciated. Opportunities for networking, continuous learning, and mentorship will strike the right cord. 

Personalized outreach and segmentation

If you are familiar with marketing techniques, you’ll know about audience segmentation and personalization. These techniques are crucial for boosting customer engagement and are just as useful for reviving alumni engagement.

Segmentation is the dividing of an audience or target market into smaller groups, based on shared demographics, interests, history, and more. Our Groups module allows you to segment your alumni community into smaller groups based on interests, qualifications, skills, or other criteria. 

Personalized outreach entails connecting with members of your audience in a way that feels tailored just for them. With Aluminate, each member also sees news that is relevant to them on the digital dashboard when they log in.

Aluminate also offers personalization across the platform. Every element (photos, discussions, documents, event invitations, and more) can be personalized. Only those who the content is intended for, can view it.  

Keeping data accurate

Your alumni are constantly updating their social media data but often forget to let you know. With our social data sync (SDS) feature, your alumni data stays accurate and up-to-date. 

SDS works with any modern database but is also fully approved by LinkedIn. Once your members give their consent to share their social data, SDS will automatically check their profile data for relevant changes.

Measuring the success of your alumni engagement strategies

Track and monitor your alumni engagement strategies to measure their success. 

Our analytics and Insights will show you what your alumni interact with most. This will allow you to refine your engagement strategies and reignite alumni engagement. 

Watch your alumni engagement skyrocket with Aluminate

Alumni dormancy is most often due to a lack of engagement, and several factors can reduce engagement in your alumni network. If your engagement efforts have not produced the results you’d hoped for, don’t despair. Reviving alumni engagement is easy with Aluminati. 

You can use Aluminate for Enterprise or Aluminate for Education to build a strong alumni network from scratch, or reignite alumni engagement. It offers the user-friendliness your alumni need, with the versatility your organization needs. Request your demo today. 

The post Reactivating Dormant Alumni: Strategies to Reignite Alumni Engagement appeared first on Aluminati Network Group.

Leading enterprises use exit surveys to gain valuable feedback from departing employees, helping them understand their experiences and identify areas for improvement. This feedback is crucial for refining company policies, improving workplace culture, and addressing employee needs. But there’s so much more to gain from these surveys.

We’ll show you how exit surveys provide the insights necessary for lasting and impactful change. Learn how to go beyond the exit using survey responses and Aluminate for Enterprise to create stronger, more engaged relationships with former employees and enhance your company’s long-term success.

What is an alumni exit survey?

An exit survey for enterprises gathers important information from departing employees. As they leave the company and transition to new opportunities, their survey responses provide firsthand insights into their past experiences and future expectations.
An exit survey can be conducted telephonically, online, or by mail. Most enterprises find online surveys more convenient for all parties. Many organizations leverage online survey templates. If you choose, customize it to suit your company and its objectives.

Exit survey question examples

The way enterprises structure their exit surveys may differ. However, the purpose remains the same.

You want to understand employees’ experiences and determine how they view their time with your company, as well as how you can foster ongoing engagement after they leave. Structure the questions to align with your company’s objectives and its policies on gathering employee feedback.

Employment preparedness

These questions about employment prospects help identify the roles or experiences that left employees ill-prepared for their next steps. This feedback offers an opportunity to support employees during their transition and helps pinpoint alumni with higher earning potential, which can also inform your fundraising efforts fundraising.

• Are you currently employed, or do you have confirmation of employment within the next year?
• How long did it take for you to secure formal employment after leaving the company?
• How prepared do you feel for your new role? Rate your answer on a scale of 1-10, with 1 being wholly unprepared and 10 being fully prepared. Please explain your rating.
• What was your role with the company, and was it instrumental in securing your next employment? What skills or knowledge would have better prepared you for your next opportunity?

Interests and aspirations

Follow up with questions about employees’ personal goals and aspirations. Responses to these types of questions provide insights into how your enterprise can improve employee experiences and ongoing relations.

This feedback helps you build a reputation as a supportive, employee-focused organization.

• Did you participate in any company programs or initiatives, and did they enhance your overall experience?
• Did you feel supported by your managers, colleagues, and the company as a whole? If yes, tell us why. If not, what could have been done differently?
• Would you recommend the company to others seeking employment? If yes, tell us why. If not, tell us what we can do to improve.
• Do you consider your next job as the realization of your career goals or merely a stepping stone toward further career fulfillment?

Alumni network participation

As former employees of your enterprise, the respondents are already part of your extended network. Your goal is to encourage them to stay connected and actively participate in your alumni program. Answers to questions like these help identify potential candidates for future involvement in your network.

• Are you aware of our company’s alumni network and interested in staying connected?
• Would you be willing to participate in alumni events and activities or fundraising campaigns?

Turning data into actionable insights

Once you have collected all the data from your exit surveys, it is time to interpret the results and take meaningful action.

• Interpreting Exit Survey Data: Analyze the responses carefully. Is there a common theme between the answers to specific questions? Can you identify any recurring patterns or trends? This analysis will help you pinpoint the most urgent issues affecting your employees.
• Implementing Changes Based on Feedback: The feedback you receive in your exit survey provides valuable insights that can help you refine company processes, improve workplace culture, and enhance employee retention strategies. Address the most common complaints or concerns raised by departing employees. Use this feedback to inform changes in HR policies, management practices, and internal communications, and refer improvement suggestions to the relevant departments for follow-up.

The benefits of conducting an alumni exit survey

When you ask employees to complete an exit survey, your company can enjoy these benefits:

Enhanced reputation

Survey results enable you to make data-driven improvements that can enhance your company’s image, improve employee satisfaction, and attract top talent. You can also use the insights from the survey data to refine your alumni network program and increase engagement with former employees.

If you want to build a strong and reputable alumni network, you need the right platform. You need Aluminate for Enterprise, brought to you by Aluminati, the world’s most customizable alumni engagement software.

Strengthening your employee alumni network

Gathering feedback about former employees’ interests will show you how to strengthen post-employment relationships and increase engagement within your company’s alumni network.

Aluminate offers a range of dynamic features that boost employee engagement and strengthen connections. Our groups module allows you to segment your growing alumni network into sub-communities, with dedicated spaces tailored to their interests.

Institutional improvement

Exit survey responses can highlight areas in need of improvement within your company’s policies, programs, and support structures. This drives company-wide improvement, ensuring a better experience for future employees.

Departing employees can be approached to take on mentoring roles within your alumni network.

Aluminate can support this process. Our e-mentoring module is a fully scalable, peer-to-peer system that connects employees with mentoring opportunities. We have also developed a Matching Engine algorithm that matches suitable users for such programs within your network.

Boosting your alumni exit survey response rate

Is your exit survey response rate falling short? Boost it with these simple strategies.

Incentives and ease of access

What can you offer respondents in return for their time and participation? An exit survey is more likely to attract interest when there’s an incentive attached, such as exclusive offers or discounts on company services.

Personalized follow-up

Follow-up questions provide deeper insights into the initial responses given in the survey. While your exit survey may include standard questions, make sure your follow-up is more personalized. This shows respondents that you value their opinions and are genuinely interested in their feedback.

Measuring success

Your exit survey data will reveal areas for improvement within your company’s operations, culture, and employee support programs. It will also highlight which questions received detailed responses and which did not.

Revise your survey structure and questions to ensure you receive more useful feedback in the future.

Choose the Aluminate for Enterprise platform to post updates about surveys and follow-up surveys. With our Insights feature, you’ll be able to easily track how much engagement your surveys attract.

The future of alumni engagement: beyond the exit

An exit survey helps you discover what matters most to departing employees. You’ll learn what they valued about their time with your company, where they felt improvements could have been made, and what they expect from their future careers. This required feedback will give you insights into how to build a more engaged and connected alumni network.

That’s where Aluminate for Enterprise can help, guiding you and your employees toward a future of lasting engagement. Are you ready to go beyond the exit and create a thriving alumni network that strengthens your company’s long-term success? Request your demo and start building that future today.

The post Beyond the Exit: Using Surveys to Maintain Strong Alumni Relationships appeared first on Aluminati Network Group.

If not, it may be time to start. By providing alumni career services, you’ll meet alumni expectations, raise engagement, and build stronger alumni relations. And with the right strategies and tools, you can meet the needs of a multi-generational workforce.

Learn how to support your multi-generational alumni network with the career services they all want.

What are alumni career services?

Alumni career services are any services offered to help alumni with their career development.

This is common in academic alumni associations, where graduates receive support and resources to help them pursue their career goals or make career changes. But it’s gaining popularity with corporate alumni programs, too.

How will my organization benefit from offering these services?

Let’s address ‌why employees leave in the first place. Life circumstances, changes in the job market, and personal reasons are sometimes behind the decision to leave. However, when good employees leave, it’s often to pursue growth opportunities or seek better compensation for their work.

Reasons like these give you clues as to how to help their future careers. Employers often miss the mark and don’t give employees what they’re looking for in a work environment or job role. But it’s never too late for your business to build stronger connections with your former employees.

Alumni career services are a great way to do this. By offering alumni these services, you’ll benefit in the following ways:

Higher alumni engagement

By offering alumni services that help with their career goals, you boost engagement with your alumni program.

Mentorship opportunities

Career support services include mentorship opportunities, where senior alumni can mentor junior alumni. But with a good mentorship program in place, your current employees can also benefit from your alumni’s experience and expertise.

Better odds of securing boomerang employees

When your alumni see that you’re invested in helping their future growth, they may wish to return to the company. If you post information about job vacancies in your alumni program, they will feel confident enough to apply.

Boomerang employees can save you thousands on recruiting to fill important positions like succession posts.

Understanding the multigenerational workforce

To offer the best alumni career help and guidance, you need to understand the multigenerational workforce. Your alumni network will usually include up to four generations, specifically Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z. However, most of your alumni will likely come from the Gen X and Millennial generations.

These generations all have different needs from the alumni program. Do you want to create a more inclusive alumni network where every generation feels valued? Our guide to engaging alumni across generations with tips for inclusive programming will help.

Boomers & Gen X

The Boomers are the generation born between 1946 and 1964. Your senior alumni will have been born in the later years of this generation. These are typically your employees who have retired.

Gen X, the generation that followed the Boomers, are people who were born between 1965 and 1980.

Compared to your other alumni, these two generations are the best qualified to provide career resources, such as mentorship. They have many years of experience to draw on when helping their peers reach their career goals.

What to offer them

Your older alumni may be looking for more flexible retirement options. Keep them active within your organization through leadership and mentorship opportunities.

They could help manage the alumni program or related programs at your organization, or they can fulfill other roles at the company. An example is appointing a senior alum as in-house counsel for your law firm. Read our guide to the benefits of law firm alumni networks to learn more.

Millennials & Gen Z

Millennials are the generation born between 1981 and 1996, while Gen Z are those born between 1997 and 2012. You might not have many Gen Z alumni, and if you do, they will be from the earliest years of that generation.

Of all your alumni, these two generations, and especially Gen Z, are the most likely to need a career boost with mentorship.

What to offer them

Your younger alumni will appreciate uplifting opportunities such as upskilling, continuous learning, purpose-driven career-growth opportunities, and networking. They can benefit the most from the knowledge and expertise of the older generations.

Career development initiatives for multi-generational alumni

Alumni career services are among the top expectations corporate alumni have for their membership benefits.

But is it really possible to provide career development to multi-generational alumni without separate platforms for each? Yes, it is.

By following our guidelines for the different generations listed above, you’ll target the needs of each generation. But by combining them on one platform, you can meet all their needs at once. And Aluminate for Enterprise, the world’s most customizable corporate community platform, is the obvious choice.

A platform for career service awareness

The digital dashboard is the core of the Aluminate community builder. It’s what every alum will see first, and it’s the perfect place to post career growth information and any job postings they may be interested in within your organization.

Here they can explore what’s on offer with ease, and every generation will enjoy the user-friendly interface.

A digital library of continuous learning and career growth resources

Every member will see the news, career resources, and support most relevant to them when they log into the digital dashboard. From here, job seekers can navigate to the resources they need the most.

Allow your multigenerational alumni to assist each other in their future career journeys with our Groups module. This lets you segment your alumni community into sub-communities.

By creating groups according to interests and goals, you’ll enable the different generations to interact naturally.

A convenient meeting place for mentors and mentees

Our mentor-mentee matching feature lets you match up the best mentors with mentees without the hassle. They can reach out to each other and take advantage of your learning materials and other online resources, all in one convenient place.

This one feature alone will meet the needs of multiple generations. It helps senior alumni remain active in, feel valued by, and stay connected to your community. Meanwhile, junior recent alumni will feel their needs are understood and met.

The role of alumni networks in career services

What is the role of the alumni network in offering your alumni career services? The truth is that it fulfills several roles.

You can use your alumni network to increase awareness of your career-building resources, encourage collaboration, and facilitate mentorship. You can also use it to highlight job postings and promote career-building events.

And Aluminate for Enterprise has all the tools you need to fulfill all of these roles.

Using technology to build engagement through learning resources

When you offer your alumni career services as part of their alumni benefits, you raise engagement too.

But if you want to offer alumni help with their career goals in a digital world, you need engaging technology. The Aluminate platform can double as a digital library of career advancement resources.

Your choice of web applications, software, and online resources can also make or break your alumni engagement and career resource efforts.

Read our guide on using technology to engage your alumni to learn more.

Empower your alumni network with Aluminate for Enterprise

It’s never too late to assist your employees in realizing their career goals, even when they no longer work for you.

With alumni career services, you can nurture your alumni network’s career growth, all the while building a better, stronger community. It all starts with the right online community software, Aluminate for Enterprise.

Request your demo today.

The post Alumni Career Services: Multi-Generational Workforce appeared first on Aluminati Network Group.

This comprehensive glossary of alumni terms explains the terminology used in both education and enterprise settings in an easy-to-read format. We’ve broken down the most commonly used words and phrases, as well as newly emerging trends.

It’s time to master the jargon and start planning your alumni association with confidence.

Core Alumni Terms

This first section of our glossary of alumni terms deals with the definition and context of frequently used alumni terminology. These key concepts are relevant to alumni across both educational and enterprise environments.

• Alumnus/Alumna/Alumni: An alumnus is a male graduate, and an alumna is a female graduate. But the term alum is also often used for a non-gender specific graduate. The plural term alumni typically refers to multiple graduates and can describe all genders.

• Alumni Network: A group of former graduates and students of an educational institution (academic alumni), or former employees of a business (corporate alumni).

• Alumni Program: A community specifically created for communicating and engaging with alumni.

• Alumni Association: An official alumni network that typically has a formal alumni program. Its primary role and purpose is to foster a sense of community and support for the alumni program.

• Mentorship: A program in which alumni use their experience and expertise to guide and mentor new students or new/junior employees. Although more common in educational institutions, companies are quickly realizing the benefits of setting up a mentorship program.

• Alumni Community: A group of alumni who have a perceived ongoing shared identity thanks to their association with a common alma mater or former employer.

• Alumni Relations: Activities and strategies designed for building, strengthening, and maintaining alumni connections. These may include alumni events.

• Alumni Event: An event that allows alumni to interact with fellow alumni and faculty (in the case of academic alumni) or management (in the case of corporate alumni).

• Engagement: A measure of how eagerly and actively alumni participate in their networks through events, fundraising, mentoring, etc.

Education-Specific Terms

Alumni associations were born in the world of higher education, and are still popular in the best universities and colleges. In this education-specific section of our glossary of alumni terms, we cover terminology most often used in academic alumni situations.

• Alma Mater: An old Latin phrase traditionally used to describe a school, college, or university that a person has attended and graduated from.

• Class Notes: The updates that alumni share with the network about their lives.

• Alumni Reunion: An organized event where alumni can reconnect with their former fellow students and graduates.

• Alumni Fundraising: The practice of reaching out to graduates for financial donations in support of the alma mater’s programs and initiatives.

• Annual Fund: The ongoing fundraising campaigns that target alumni for potential funds.

• Endowment: A financial contribution that an alum chooses to give in support of their former educational institution.

• Legacy Admission: The policy of admitting the children of alumni to their parents’ academic institution.

A good alumni fundraising strategy is the secret to accessing funds for the institution, and more specifically, to run the academic alumni program. Here are some tips for creating your fundraising strategy.

Enterprise-Specific Terms

Alumni networks are no longer limited to the academic world. Many companies and enterprises now have alumni programs for former employees. In this enterprise-specific section of our glossary of alumni terms, we cover terminology unique to these corporate alumni.

• Corporate Alumni: The former employees of a company or organization.

• Corporate Community: An exclusive business community that includes a company’s leadership and management, employees, suppliers, partners, and other stakeholders (see below). Corporate alumni are often included in these communities.

• Boomerang Employee: A corporate alum who, like a boomerang, returns to work for their previous employer. Should you hire a boomerang employee? Our boomerang employees guide will help you decide.

• Knowledge Retention: The concept of alumni as a resource for institutional knowledge and expertise.

• Talent Pipeline: The group of alumni or external candidates best suited for potential hire, rehire, or referral sources.

• Networking: The practice of maintaining relationships with other professionals, and sharing knowledge and industry insights that often lead to new partnerships and opportunities. Corporate alumni often engage in networking sessions.

• Corporate Alumni Network: A group of former employees and colleagues who remain in contact with one another and their former employer. Ask yourself these questions before launching one for your company.

• Talent Pool: A database of potential job candidates. Because corporate alumni are often the best candidates for high-level and leadership succession roles, it’s a good idea to overlap your alumni database with your talent database.

• Talent Management System: An integrated software solution used for maintaining talent pool data, recruitment, succession planning, onboarding, and even new employee performance management. Be sure to read our guide to the benefits of a talent management system.

• Stakeholders: Internal stakeholders are individuals or groups that participate in managing a company. External stakeholders are individuals or groups who have a vested interest in the company’s operations and outcomes. It is a good idea to include both internal and external stakeholders in your alumni network.

Emerging Trends in Alumni Terms

This last section of our glossary of alumni terms includes new and evolving alumni terminology. These terms, driven by technology and changing alumni practices, describe facets of modern alumni management and engagement.

• Alumni Platform: A digital space where alumni connect with their alma mater or former employer, and their fellow alumni.

• Alumni Software: Software dedicated to the creation or management of a digital alumni platform, The Aluminati range of products is an example of alumni software.

• Virtual Alumni Events: These are like in-person events but instead happen in an online environment. They include webinars, virtual networking, and online conferences for alumni engagement.

• HR Software: Software designed for human resources management tasks such as tracking new recruitment, employee performance, and employee benefits. HR software can also be used to share further learning and career advancement resources with employees.

• Enterprise Social Network: A private, internal social network, similar to social media networks, that a business uses to facilitate collaboration, communication, and engagement between employees. Learn more in our comprehensive overview of enterprise social networks.

• Affinity Groups: The subgroups within alumni networks based on shared interests and other common criteria. Our Aluminate Community Builder’s Groups module allows you to create affinity groups for your alumni network.

• Alumni Analytics: Data-driven insights into alumni activity and preferences, specifically on the digital alumni platform. Our Insights feature gives you greater awareness and understanding of your alumni engagement and the success of your program.

• Global Alumni Network: The expanding of an alumni network across borders, particularly in international organizations.

• Algorithm: The feature of Aluminati’s Intelligent Matching Engine that facilitates admins’ work and increases your community’s engagement. It matches members with other members, events, resources, jobs, and more.

Both academic and corporate alumni programs are increasingly leveraging technology to manage and engage alumni networks. Learn how to use technology to engage your alumni.

Launch Your Alumni Network with Aluminati Today

This in-depth glossary of alumni terms explains the most important terminology used for alumni groups in both academic and corporate environments. Now that you’re confident about the basics, it’s time to build your own alumni network, with Aluminati.

We offer highly customizable and scalable software in two products: Aluminate for Education, suitable for academic alumni programs, and Aluminate for Enterprise, specially designed for corporate alumni programs.

Aluminati is the world’s most customizable online community platform, ideal for alumni management and engagement in the digital age. Contact us for more information, or to book a demo.

The post Comprehensive Glossary of Alumni Terms: Education and Enterprise Explained appeared first on Aluminati Network Group.

But what are the best ways to keep alumni data updated? And what other benefits will it offer them and you? Discover the answers to these questions in this short guide on the 10 best ways to keep alumni data updated.

Why is it important to keep your alumni database updated?

An alumni database is a detailed repository of all your alumni information. This includes their personal profile data, contact information, and even their skills and workplace experience.

An accurate alumni database is crucial because, without up-to-date information, you can easily lose contact with top alumni. However, there’s a lot more to it than that. Outdated data can negatively impact both you and your alumni.

The problem with outdated data

You may lose out on potential revenue and contributions for your academic institution. Why? You aren’t up to speed with your alumni professionals’ latest achievements and thus do not know who best to approach for funding.

Alumni may lose out on exciting new job opportunities, event registrations, and networking sessions arranged through your company. Why? You don’t have the right contact information and can’t reach them in time.

Keeping alumni network data on track is essential for an alumni program that benefits everyone.

10 Best ways to keep alumni data updated

These are the 10 best ways to keep alumni data updated, for any type of institution or organization.

1. Invest in dedicated alumni management software

The best way to keep alumni data updated is by investing in alumni management software.

Dedicated alumni management software is so much more than just an alumni directory. It offers alumni a platform for communication with their alma mater or previous employer. It also boosts engagement and, when necessary, re-engagement. However, the right choice in alumni management software is key.

Aluminati is the world’s most customizable online community platform, trusted by academic institutions and corporate organizations for their alumni program management needs. It includes a wide range of features that you can tailor to meet the unique demands of your alumni network.

2. Facilitate regular communication and alumni engagement

Facilitate regular communication with your alumni, and keep them engaged. This will make it easier to stay in touch with alumni and request updates. Your alumni will also be more likely to update their data themselves, without being asked to do so.

So, what sort of communication and engagement are we talking about here? One of the best ways to keep alumni engaged and informed of recent events is with a regular alumni newsletter. Include a CTA to update their profile data or contact info in the newsletter, at regular intervals.

If you’re dedicated to ongoing engagement, you’ll love the Aluminate Intelligent Matching Engine feature. It takes the hard work out of matching alumni to their most relevant interests, by automating these matches. Now you can create even more alumni engagement without all the admin hassles.

3. Establish self-service portals for more accurate data

Another way to keep alumni data updated without much hassle is to establish self-service portals.

This allows your alumni to maintain their alumni program profile data easily, at any time that is convenient for them. Your alumni will appreciate this, as it puts control in their hands, and can easily slot into their busy schedules.

4. Encourage your alumni to stay connected via events

Encourage your alumni to stay connected via alumni events. When they see how much value they are getting from these events, they will want to keep their profile data accurate and up-to-date.

The Aluminate platform makes it easy to keep alumni informed about upcoming events, on the digital dashboard. This is a highly dynamic tool that shows users the most relevant posts for their specific interests.

5. Use data enrichment tools

Ensure data accuracy with data enrichment tools. These are automated software solutions that help you gather, edit, enhance, and update your data.

This is a simple yet effective step toward keeping alumni data accurate and functional. If you’re a company with a corporate alumni program, this will also lighten the burden on your HR services team. They’ll have the most accurate data on hand for everyone, including your former employees.

(As many top businesses know, corporate alumni are often ideal candidates for top positions).

6. Offer surveys and feedback forms

Surveys and feedback forms not only help keep your alumni data updated, but they can offer insights into alumni interests.

Any survey or feedback form should include a section for updating personal data, contact information, and any new work experience or achievements. This should be right at the start, to avoid being missed if the survey is abandoned before completion.

It can be followed by questions on interests and suggestions for the program.

7. Leverage social media networks

Leverage social media networks to keep your alumni database updated. Your alumni probably spend a great deal of time on social media platforms for professionals, such as LinkedIn. And they likely update their information on those platforms regularly. This is where you will find the most up-to-date data.

We make this even easier for you, with our social data sync feature. It is approved by LinkedIn to be used for data updates of your official alumni programs. This sync feature offers the best way to access legitimate and accurate data from social media.

8. Enable mobile-friendly data collection

Simplify keeping your alumni database updated by enabling mobile-friendly data collection. This takes your alumni program forward in terms of modern convenience and makes alumni participation possible on the go. It’s a must for keeping busy alumni professionals engaged.

9. Incentivize alumni data updates

One of the best ways to keep alumni data updated, particularly when other efforts don’t seem to be getting results, is incentivization. Are your alumni reluctant to update their info, or do they take too long to get around to it? Make it worth their while to do so, by offering small incentives.

10. Implement continuous data monitoring and reporting

Implement continuous data monitoring and reporting and your alumni data will naturally stay current and accurate. You’ll enjoy another benefit too. Data monitoring and reporting will highlight all the areas of your program that are working, as well as those that aren’t, so you can make the necessary changes.

Get deeper insights in real time with the Aluminate platform’s Insights feature. This allows you to analyze alumni participation, gauge their interests, and assess their engagement levels. Pinpoint the ways to keep alumni interested in the program, and you’ll find them willing to update their data, regularly.

Keep alumni data up-to-date, with Aluminate

The best way to keep alumni data updated is to invest in alumni management software. It will make light work of your alumni program admin tasks. But more importantly, it will enhance the communication and engagement that every successful alumni program relies on.

We offer Aluminate for Education for the academic alumni community, and Aluminate for Enterprise for the corporate alumni community. As part of the world’s most customizable online community platform, each offers multiple benefits for any alumni association.

So, make the right choice for your alumni program. Request a demo today.

The post 10 Best Ways to Keep Alumni Data Updated appeared first on Aluminati Network Group.

Stop wasting time and resources on alumni newsletters that don’t bring results. It’s time to learn how to write a more engaging alumni newsletter. This guide will show you how, in eight simple steps.

The benefits of an engaging alumni newsletter

An alumni newsletter is not only the ideal tool for keeping alumni engaged, but it also offers several other benefits.

• Promotes your institution/organization, alumni program, and alumni events. Informs alumni about fundraising drives, thereby increasing fundraising opportunities and donations.

• Makes alumni feel recognized, valued, and essential to the alumni program. This boosts alumni engagement, facilitates re-engagement, and drives alumni participation.

• Creates mentorship,  networking, and business opportunities with other program members. This strengthens members’ relationships with their alma mater/former employer and the greater alumni community.

• Advertises upcoming events such as networking sessions and seminars, ensuring more alumni attend. Alumni who feel connected to their alma mater attend more events.

How to write an engaging alumni newsletter in 8 steps

These eight simple steps incorporate the best practices for writing an engaging newsletter.

1. Collect and update contact information

If you don’t keep alumni profile data, especially contact info, up to date, you’ll lose valuable connections. There is another downside to letting this admin task slide. If alumni notice that their profile data is incomplete or outdated, they’ll lose interest. To keep them engaged, you need to update info regularly.

The Aluminate platform acts as a central database of alumni community information. It allows alumni to update their profiles, contact info, and more. And our social data sync feature makes this even easier, tracking LinkedIn and Facebook (with users’ permission, only) for the most up-to-date profile changes.

2. Segment your audience

An alumni community has one thread holding them all together. In the academic world, it’s the alma mater. In the corporate world, it’s their former employer. However, they all have unique interests, skills, talents, and affiliations. Segment your alumni audience according to the criteria that seem most relevant.

Whether you’re an academic institution dealing with former students, or a corporate organization dealing with former employees, the aim is the same. Segmentation allows you to reach out to them with more targeted, and therefore more engaging, content.

The Groups module on the Aluminate Community Builder allows you to create sub-communities within the wider alumni community.

3. Understand alumni interests

To ensure that your alumni readers find your newsletter content engaging, you need to gauge their interest and match their expectations. Aluminate’s Intelligent Matching Engine can help you do this, effortlessly.

This feature in the Aluminate Community Builder automates what used to be a major administrative burden. It matches alumni members to each other, and relevant valuable content, in the alumni program.

With just a few clicks, it can match alumni program members to :

• Available jobs, courses of study, training programs, etc.
• Upcoming alumni networking events
• Fundraising campaigns and volunteering opportunities
• Mentors to mentees (or vice versa)
• Affinity groups
• Updates to the alumni program, alma mater news, industry-specific news, etc
• Special offers

And so much more. If it’s on your community platform, our matching engine will find it, and match it to the right recipients. Matches can be downloaded and concluded manually, or automated for your convenience.

4. Create valuable content

Create valuable content that will keep your alumni coming back for more. Highlight their achievements in alumni feature stories. Offer further study and career resources. Promote upcoming alumni events.

The Aluminate platform’s digital dashboard is the perfect tool for posting and sharing a regular newsletter and other engaging content. You can use it to showcase inspiring alumni success stories, and alumni can contribute their personal stories to share with others in the program.

A Harvard University survey found that their alumni are deeply engaged and strongly committed to social responsibility through entrepreneurship and volunteerism. Indeed, 39% had founded a for-profit or nonprofit venture. These are the kinds of stories that engage alumni and inspire them to do the same.

5. Keep the design clean and engaging

It’s a fine balance between engaging, and overwhelming. Keep the design of your alumni newsletters clean and uncluttered. A page full of text and nothing else will do little to capture alumni’s attention. On the other hand, too many colorful elements and images may create sensory overload.

Introduce multimedia elements here and there to break up text and increase engagement. Indeed, interactive features are highly effective in keeping readers actively engaged. The key here is a healthy balance of information and entertainment.

6. Craft catchy subject lines

Your alumni readers already see countless emails and newsletters from various organizations every day. They may be reluctant to open yet another newsletter. It’s your job to entice them with an eye-catching subject line.

Craft some catchy subject lines for your alumni newsletters, and you’ll soon see an uptick in opening rates. You may also personalize them with their names. Avoid too many emoticons, emojis, exclamation points, and other common attention-grabbers here. Less is more, so limit these to one or two at most.

7. Include clear calls to action

Your newsletter should include a clear call to action near the end. For example, it could encourage alumni to RSVP to participate in an upcoming event, or sign up for a new free course, etc. Whatever you’re hoping your alumni will do more of, that’s what the topic of your call to action will be.

Consider the placement of your CTA. Near the end of the newsletter is good, but be sure to make it visible. Bold, contrasting colors against a white background are best. Don’t get carried away describing the benefits of the desired action – that’s what the main body of content was for. Keep it concise.

8. Measure and improve

Measure your engagement metrics such as your click through rates. This will allow you to adapt and improve your content strategy for higher engagement.

In today’s world, both academic institutions and corporations focus on data to make better business decisions. That is why the Aluminate Community Builder offers users Insights, for a deeper understanding of their alumni communities’ engagement score at a glance.

The Insights tool is dynamic and highly customizable. Use it to track relevant key performance indicators such as generated business/donations, content clicks, re-hires, and HR savings. Track the metrics that are relevant for your organization, to assess the return on investment (ROI) of your alumni program.

You can choose from a library of pre-set reports, or create your own. Insights help you determine the success of your alumni program, and discover what produces the most engagement. This in turn lets you optimize your program’s budget allocation.

Engage more alumni with Aluminate

An alumni newsletter does much more than make alumni aware of the program and its activities. It informs, educates, entertains and engages them, ultimately driving more participation. If you want your alumni association to be successful and profitable, your newsletters and other content must be engaging.

The Aluminate platform makes this so much easier.

Aluminate is the world’s most customizable online community platform. Aluminate for Education and Aluminate for Enterprise help academic institutions and companies stay connected to and engage their alumni community members.

Request a demo and start engaging more alumni today.

The post How to Write an Engaging Alumni Newsletter appeared first on Aluminati Network Group.

When alumni engagement levels are high, you will enjoy more resilient alumni relations and more active participation in your alumni events.

This is good news, whether you’re an academic institution looking for support from former graduates or a business wanting more corporate alumni to attend networking events. But how can you ensure that your alumni engagement levels remain high? It often comes down to the design of your alumni software.

In this article, we cover why alumni engagement is so important, how the right software can help, and how to design your alumni software to facilitate engagement.

Why is alumni engagement important?

Before we address the issue of using software to engage your alumni, let’s consider why their engagement is so important.

• Alumni engagement helps to build (and maintain) meaningful, lasting relationships between former students/graduates and their alma mater. Or between former employees/executives and their employer.

• Engaged alumni are more likely to contribute to their former educational institution or employer. Academic alumni may lend financial support and donations or help with fundraising. Corporate alumni may help with referrals and networking to help the company form new partnerships.

• When alumni are engaged, they may want to remain involved in campus life or the workplace culture. They may offer their time, knowledge, and skills through online mentoring programs or other services.

• Engaged alumni are the best tool you have for building a strong reputation and attracting new students or employees. They will also encourage other alumni to become more active in exclusive alumni events.

These are only a few of the many benefits that alumni engagement can bring. That’s why you must have the right software to encourage alumni and facilitate engagement.

How does alumni software help facilitate engagement?

Alumni software is specially designed to handle all the requirements of an alumni program. It integrates with other tools that your alumni program may need. And it is scalable so that as your academic or corporate alumni program grows, your software grows with it.

But to ensure engagement, the software you use must play many roles. It must serve not only as an alumni database and communications channel, but also as a platform for special networking, and a center for invitations to upcoming events or special announcements.

The list of potential uses is endless, which is why you need an online platform that adapts to your unique requirements.

As the world’s most customizable online community platform, Aluminati offers alumni software products for academic alumni (Aluminate for Education) as well as corporate alumni (Aluminate for Enterprise).

Once you have chosen your software, the next step is learning how to design your alumni software to facilitate engagement.

7 Ways to design your alumni management software to facilitate engagement

Are you ready to learn how to design your alumni software to facilitate engagement? These are the top seven ways to engage alumni and keep them engaged, with the best alumni software strategies.

1. User-friendly interface

Start with the basics — great alumni management software with an intuitive interface that’s easy for you to manage and for your alumni to navigate. This will encourage more activity in your alumni association’s online community, and boost engagement.

At Aluminati, our customizable, dynamic digital dashboards cater to the diverse needs of our users. Alumni admin and members can access the information and tools they need quickly and easily.

2. Advanced communication tools

The most engaging alumni programs are those that have a variety of communication channels. Integrate popular direct communication channels, including messaging and email, to keep your alumni informed and connected.

The Aluminati platform offers a range of communication options, including personalized email campaigns and group messaging. This helps to form stronger relationships between academic alumni and their alma mater and between corporate alumni and their employers.

3. Alumni community-building features

Your alumni software is more than just an alumni database. It’s an online community. Creating a stronger sense of community through special interest groups and social network invitations to team-building activities.

With features like alumni directories, event management, and networking opportunities, our software helps to bring people together. Customize the platform to better represent your institution or organization.

Personalize the features to encourage more communication amongst alumni program members. Our Groups feature lets you segment your alumni member base into sub-communities with shared common interests and sector affiliations. That’s the ticket to truly engaging interactions.

4. Engagement analytics

As your alumni association grows, you will see certain patterns emerging in their use of your alumni program software. Analyze your alumni engagement data to gain a deeper understanding of their online interactions and valuable insights that will improve your engagement strategies.

We give you the analytics tools that you need for data-driven insights into alumni behavior. This will help you to adapt and refine your alumni engagement program so that it works harder for your alumni and for you.

5. Career development support

Career support is always a very strong engagement driver. It shows your alumni that you care about their career development and future success. So, incorporate mentorship programs, professional networking opportunities, and job boards in your alumni program software.

Our software lets you offer your alumni the career development tools they need. Job boards, mentoring programs, and professional networking opportunities — it’s all possible with Aluminati. These are the engagement tools that will keep your alumni coming back for more.

6. Alumni network event management

Alumni events, both online and offline, are the key to keeping your alumni engaged. Every successful alumni engagement strategy includes a lively mix of these in-person and virtual events. While many of these will be more formal, it’s good to offer more casual and fun activities, too, from time to time.

You can use our software as an alumni event management tool, too. It will streamline the entire process, from the planning and promoting stage, to scheduling and managing alumni events. That’s how you ensure higher participation.

7. Personalization and customization

The more that your alumni feel that the alumni program speaks to their needs and interests, the more engaged they will be. So, make the most of your alumni engagement efforts by customizing your software and personalizing your online content and experiences.

Offer your alumni more relevant and personalized content, with Aluminati’s software. The Aluminate Community Builder includes an Intelligent Matching Engine that matches each member to content relevant to their interests and past interactions.

Members can be matched to job openings, events, news, courses, volunteering opportunities, mentors/mentees, and much more. This process can be done manually or automated to save your admin time.

This feature is ideal for driving engagement as it invites members to spend more time on the platform, engaging in content that interests them.

Use Aluminate to create the most engaging alumni platform

The success of any alumni association revolves around how engaged its members are. Create an effective alumni engagement program, and you will raise interest in membership, increase event attendance, and encourage more active contributions.

You now know how to design your alumni software to facilitate engagement in your alumni community. All that’s left to do is to choose the best alumni management software and start building a better, stronger alumni community.

Discover what Aluminate for Education or Aluminate for Enterprise can do for your college, university, or company, and become another one of our success stories.

Request a free demo of our alumni software today.

The post How to Design Your Alumni Software to Facilitate Engagement appeared first on Aluminati Network Group.

However, many institutions lament the fact that they aren’t seeing these alumni benefits. Could it be that too little attention is given to how the alumni themselves benefit?

When alumni receive value for their participation, they are more likely to give their alma mater something in return. Here are seven benefits your institution can offer your alumni.

Why is it important to offer benefits to your alumni network?

Educational institutions can reap many benefits from their alumni networks, yet too many simply don’t offer enough to them. When you offer benefits to your alumni network, you show your alumni that you appreciate their participation, recognize their achievements, and value them and their contributions.

Builds a culture of ongoing engagement

Have you noticed a dramatic decline in alumni association interest and involvement?

When you offer alumni benefits, you build a culture of ongoing engagement that promotes future involvement in the program. This will lead to more of your graduates wanting to join your alumni programs.

Encourages financial support

Is your college or university in dire need of some extra funds?

Giving alumni benefits encourages your graduates to lend financial support to your institution. This may take different forms, such as through a set monthly, quarterly, or annual financial contribution, or a large once-off donation.

Boosts your institution’s reputation

Does your institution need to improve its public image and reputation?

A strong alumni program that offers its alumni benefits they value, can be the precursor to some free PR. Your former students will think (and speak) more highly of their alma mater in conversion, in speeches, and in the media, thus boosting your reputation.

7 Valuable benefits your institution can offer alumni

Research shows that 81% of alumni feel unrecognized and unappreciated by their alumni organizations. These are the alumni benefits your institution can offer alumni to show them that you care, thus boosting engagement and financial support.

1. Career services and educational resources 

Invest in your alumni relations by providing your graduate students with career advice and other valuable career services. Give them the tools they need to succeed, and allow them to access an exclusive library of educational resources.

You can do all of this and more with an online community platform like Aluminate for Education. This platform serves as an alumni online community that can be customized to your unique requirements.

The Aluminate platform features a dynamic digital dashboard where your alumni can access job postings, an educational resource library, informational articles, important alumni announcements, and so much more.

2. Continuing education discounts

Create a culture of lifelong learning with alumni benefits that will enhance career development and ultimately, quality of life. Promote continuous learning, such as continuing education classes and discounted certificate programs and courses.

An educational discount alumni benefit allows your college or university to give alumni more value for their money. Meanwhile, your institution is continuing to earn a profit from these follow-up courses of study.

This is the perfect example of how the benefits given to your alumni will lead to benefits from your alumni. In this scenario, everyone wins.

3. Alumni networking opportunities

Create connections by hosting networking opportunities for your university’s alumni association. Networking events build a stronger alumni network and can lead to job referrals, business partnerships, and lifelong friendships.

They also offer your alumni the opportunity to brainstorm with their fellow alumni on fundraiser ideas and other projects for your institution. That makes this an alumni benefit that is in your best interests, too.

The Aluminate platform is ideal for your alumni association’s webinars and virtual social networking events. Announce all upcoming networking opportunities on the digital dashboard. Here, your alumni will see the content that is most relevant to their chosen industry and personal interests.

4. Exclusive alumni association events

Create opportunities for fellowship, friendship, and support by allowing your alumni to socialize with fellow alumni at exclusive events. They don’t have to be formal affairs. Here are some creative ideas for alumni events to inspire you.

You can also create virtual activities on your alumni online platform that allow graduates who now live further afield, to join in the fun. By segmenting your alumni network with the Aluminate Groups feature, alumni with similar career paths, passions, and interests can communicate and collaborate.

Remember to keep alumni data accurate and up-to-date. It will make it easier for your institution to reach out to alumni and invite them to join your programs. Aluminate’s Social Data Sync feature makes this easy and convenient so that they don’t miss out on these exclusive events.

5. Discounts and perks

Offer your alumni network special discounts and perks, for example, branded merchandise bearing the institution and alumni association’s names or emblems. These items will engage alumni and instill pride in their alma mater.

Don’t dismiss these as too small or insignificant to engage your alumni. Alumni benefits like these, while relatively inexpensive, can have a big impact.

Perks like free or discounted branded merchandise help to solidify the connection between graduates and their alma mater. And as a bonus, they also serve as marketing materials for your institution when used in public.

6. Volunteer and mentorship opportunities

Arrange volunteer opportunities on your campus or out in the public sphere for your alumni to be a part of. This will make them feel needed and appreciated, and they will see firsthand how their program membership makes a difference to the community.

Create a mentorship program where your former students can mentor current students. This allows alumni to share their knowledge, skills, and talents. Aluminate’s mentoring feature makes it easy for these prospective mentors and mentees to find each other.

Such services don’t only benefit your current students. The members of your alumni associations who offer such services benefit, too. They share their knowledge and skills while feeling recognized and appreciated.

7. Recognition and rewards from their alma mater

Does your institution give alumni the recognition and reward they deserve for their outstanding accomplishments? If not, it’s time to start implementing these crucial alumni benefits into your alumni association.

Create a recognition and rewards program that fits your institution’s culture and budget. Invite alumni to contribute to it as well, should they have the means.

Whether it’s a virtual mention on the alumni network online platform or a formal awards ceremony, the effect is the same. Your alumni will know that even after graduation, you continue to be proud of their achievements.

How Aluminate for Education helps manage alumni initiatives

At Aluminati, we understand the growing need for automation to relieve admin burdens. We also realize the importance of data analysis and insights into how well your alumni benefits program is doing. That’s why we added these two exclusive features to help admins manage alumni initiatives, and better understand their communities’ engagement.

Intelligent Matching Engine

The Aluminate Community Builder includes a powerful Intelligent Matching Engine. It automates what used to be a burdensome job — matching program members to one another, and relevant content in the network.

In just a few clicks, the Intelligent Matching Engine can match program members to :

• Further study courses
• Networking and social events
• Volunteering opportunities
• Mentorship opportunities (matches mentors to mentees, and vice versa)
• Special interest groups
• The program’s (and the institution’s) latest news and developments
• Relevant job vacancies
• Exciting offers exclusive to alumni

And so much more.

Matches can be downloaded and concluded manually if preferred, but the engine can also automate the process.

This handy feature ensures that your alumni reap the most benefits from your program, increasing engagement.

Insights

Everyone from leading businesses to top academic institutions relies on data analysis and insights to determine the return on investment their alumni programs offer. This helps them make more data-driven decisions in the future.

The Aluminate Community Builder makes this process even easier, with Insights. This highly dynamic and fully customizable admin tool is suitable for both academic and corporate use. Simply choose from a library of pre-set reports, or create your own, to better suit your needs.

The Insights tool lets those in the corporate sector track relevant Key Performance Indicators such as generated business, re-hires, and HR savings. In the academic world, it can be used to track generated donations, and interest in volunteerism and mentorship.

So, how does this help you manage your alumni initiatives, and offer alumni the benefits they want? It offers you an in-depth understanding of what drives your community’s engagement. And that allows you to adapt your strategy, and optimize budget allocation to the benefits they really want.

Aluminate for Education is the best platform to deliver benefits to your alumni

Part of building a strong alumni network is offering alumni benefits that boost engagement and encourage further participation. However, just as any building needs a firm foundation, so too does your alumni association. And you can give it that, with Aluminate for Education.

With Aluminate for Education, you can build a new alumni network, update existing pages, and scale your online community as its membership grows. Give your alumni benefits that matter, through a platform that’s customizable, dynamic, and rich in innovative features.

Request your free demo today.

The post 7 Benefits Your Institution Can Offer Alumni appeared first on Aluminati Network Group.

The truth is that they are not so far removed at all, and both rely on thriving alumni networks for growth and development. We get to the crux of the matter in this short guide, which explains what alumni involvement can mean to their respective communities.

Definition of alumni

The simplest definition of an alumnus (plural: alumni) is a former member of a specific group. This is most commonly used in the academic setting, but companies can have alumni, too.

So, former students and graduates can be alumni, and former employees can be alumni. Investing in alumni associations for your academic or corporate alumni can offer multiple benefits for both the alumni and your institution or organization.

Alumni in education

In higher education, the term alumni typically refers to former students and graduates of an academic institution like a college or university. These are academic alumni, and what unifies them is their former ties to a common alma mater.

Roles and contributions 

Academic alumni play an important role, and often make very valuable contributions, to the following areas of academia.

Networking and mentorship 

After graduating, college and university students pursue careers in their respective fields of study. They form new connections with industry peers and acquire new skills and expertise. These academic alumni are the best matches for mentoring the next generation of students at their alma mater.

Networking events bring these academic alumni together. Although they may have moved in completely different directions to further their respective careers, this is a good thing. They all bring unique perspectives to the table, and together, they can rebuild a struggling alumni community.

Philanthropy and fundraising

Academic institutions all have different-sized budgets and unique approaches to campus resource allocation or community involvement. However, they all need help with their various philanthropic ventures and fundraising drives from time to time.

Academic alumni, having established themselves in their careers, and perhaps even started their own businesses, are ideally suited to assist with these endeavors. Among them, they have the connections, knowledge, the solidarity, and the financial means to get these projects off the ground.

Ambassadors and advocates

Notable alumni are also the ultimate ambassadors for the educational institution and the best advocates for its various causes. The more successful they have been since graduation, the more they represent the opportunities that an education at that particular institution can offer prospective students.

That is why alumni engagement is so crucial. Their lives will have become a lot busier after graduating, and memories of their student days and friendships can soon fade. An alumni organization will foster continued fellowship and interest in the educational institution that paved their path to success.

Alumni in enterprise

In an enterprise, the term alumni refers to former employees of a business, especially a corporate organization. These are corporate alumni, and what unifies them is their former employment in the same company.

Roles and contributions

Corporate alumni play an important role and often make very profitable contributions to the following areas of the corporate sector.

Knowledge sharing and networking

A corporate alumni network offers former employees of an organization the chance to network and share knowledge with their fellow alumni/former colleagues. However, their entrepreneurship advice and knowledge sharing do not have to end there.

Corporate alumni are the best mentors, in-person or online, for new and junior employees. Because they have faced the same challenges in the same organization, they know best how to overcome them. Employees struggling to fit into new work roles will learn much from their predecessors’ industry insights.

Business development

In any corporate alumni network, at least one (and typically more) will have started their own business or moved up through the ranks to a higher position of influence. Such individuals offer much value to the future success of the business that formerly employed them.

Corporate alumni are ideal candidates for hosting talks on business development and also individual professional development. They can also arrange meetings with influential figures and thus open the door to new business partnerships.

Talent acquisition

Talent acquisition is of paramount importance in any enterprise, which is why so much effort and money is poured into recruiting and headhunting. Corporate alumni can be the solution here, too, and in more ways than one. You may want to consider incorporating your alumni network into your recruitment drives and talent management system.

These former employees can refer people from their new corporate communities as candidates for consideration. However, the alumni themselves are often the best candidates, as they are already familiar with the company culture and organizational structure. The increase in boomerang hiring proves this.

The importance of alumni networks

Alumni are the bridge between their former academic institution, or employer, and the outside world. They are the best mentors and fundraisers, and the ultimate brand ambassadors. They can also inspire current students and employees, and lead to new, exciting, and profitable partnerships.

These are just some of the advantages that make alumni vital to the success of their alma mater or previous employer. However, establishing strong alumni networks, and engaging alumni, is also beneficial for the alumni themselves.

Communicating, networking, collaborating, and socializing with other alumni and maintaining ties to their common institutions, offers the following benefits:

Building strong communities

Higher education institutions and business enterprises with thriving alumni networks enjoy a stronger sense of community. This is keenly felt by the alumni, too. It gives them more reason to remain connected to the academic or corporate community through social networking and community events.

Enhancing reputation and influence

The networking that alumni networks offer can lead to significant new partnerships. As a result, both the alumni and the institutional or organizational bodies that unite them may experience enhanced reputations and greater influence in current affairs.

Facilitating lifelong learning and growth

Alumni networks promote and facilitate a culture of lifelong learning and growth. Through mentoring new students or team members, or lending support to new projects, everyone involved keeps learning and evolving. This encourages more creativity and sparks new ideas and innovations.

Make the most of your alumni with Aluminate

Regardless of your academic field or business sector, your alumni are essential to your success. They can help you build the college or university community you always envisioned, or the corporate community you have always aspired to. In turn, they will experience camaraderie and connection.

But to make the most of your alumni, you need a strong alumni network. One that is well-maintained, and keeps alumni engaged. And Aluminati can help.

Our Aluminate for Education alumni engagement software is completely customizable, for engaging students, teaching staff, and alumni, your way. Our Aluminate for Enterprise alumni management platform is also totally customizable, for managing corporate employee and alumni programs that work for you.

To learn how to make the most of your alumni, request a demo today.

The post Alumni Definition (Education & Enterprise) appeared first on Aluminati Network Group.

In the academic sector, an alumni association is a network of former students and graduates. In the corporate sector, it is a network of former employees and executives.

An alumni association does offer many benefits. But whether you are in the academic or corporate world, the first step in building an alumni association is creating a strong alumni strategy that is mutually beneficial to both parties involved. Read on to learn what this strategy is, why it is so important, and what to consider when creating an alumni strategy of your own.

What is an alumni strategy and why is it important?

Whether you are launching an alumni network from scratch or enhancing an existing one, you need two things. You need a good foundation to build on, like Aluminati’s community platform software, and a good strategy.

Your alumni strategy is the plan of action to establish an alumni association for your organization. It will determine the stakeholders, both internal and external, and the benefits you hope to offer and receive from your alumni network.

In higher education institutions

Why is a strong alumni strategy for a higher education institution important? It maximizes alumni’s achievements both during their studies and since they left, enhancing your institution’s public image. Your alumni not only serve as brand ambassadors for your institution, but they can also offer benefits such as mentoring your current students, knowledge sharing, and fundraising.

Students who graduated Cum Laude, Magna Cum Laude, and especially Summa Cum Laude may have gone on to attain significant corporate or political influence. This makes them most suitable for representing your institution.

However, remember to include stakeholders from all walks of life in your alumni strategy. Diversity not only enhances your university or college’s reputation, it builds a more relevant and robust alumni network.

In a corporate organization 

Why is a strong alumni strategy for a corporate institution important? It maximizes the many skills and vast expertise your ex-executives bring to the table, to help you build a better business.

Alumni can help with future talent acquisition, sometimes filling roles themselves. Your corporate alumni are the first place you should look during succession planning. They are also personally acquainted with your workplace culture and business goals, which helps them to further your interests.

That said, ensure that your alumni are kept abreast of your current business goals. Much may have changed since your alumni left the corporation. You need an alumni network strategy that best reflects your current situation, and it should be updated regularly to keep in step with your progress.

5 things to consider when creating an alumni strategy

A strong alumni strategy is important, but when you’re creating one from the ground up there are some important considerations.

1. Defining objectives

What do you want to achieve with your alumni association? What do you, as their alma mater or former employer, expect your alumni to do for you and what can you offer in return?

Do you expect them to offer mentoring and guidance to new or prospective students or employees? The Aluminati platforms’ mentor-matching feature will make it a reality. Can you assist them in navigating their career paths? Our platform can house a digital repository of learning materials.

Creating your mission statement

All large enterprises and higher educational institutions have a mission statement. It outlines your purpose and goals for the university or company. Your alumni association also needs a mission statement, which outlines its purpose, values, and objectives.

2. Stakeholder involvement

Consider other stakeholders. These may be internal, active within your university, or employed at your company. Or they may be external, with vested interests in your institution or organization.

Who are the best candidates for inclusion in your alumni association strategy? How do you intend to engage them, and what do you wish to collaborate with them on? If you wish to revamp an existing alumni association, your existing alumni can help with this.

Your alumni may know of potential external stakeholders you are as yet unaware of, which is vital to expanding your fundraising community.

Involving current students/employees

Get current students and employees involved with the planning or admin of your alumni organization. Encourage them to interact with alumni for mentorship and career advice. They will be more likely to join it after graduating or leaving your company if they have first-hand knowledge of how it operates.

3. Reciprocal benefits for more engaged alumni

Many alumni feel like their alumni programs are constantly looking for handouts, yet not offering anything in return. This can turn alumni relations sour, fast. Any relationships, including those with your alumni, will be stronger when they are mutually beneficial.

Offer them value to encourage alumni to participate:

• In the education sector, you might consider offering your alumni career support, further learning resources, and networking opportunities with others in their chosen field.

• In the corporate sector, you could make new job opportunities available to them, as well as professional development opportunities, and networking events with others in their industry.

Ensuring alumni engagement

Make engaging alumni a top priority. When you engage alumni and keep them interested, you will build stronger bonds with them. The best way to do this is with a community platform where they can communicate and stay up-to-date with current events in your university community or workplace.

There are several alumni engagement strategies.

Keep alumni informed about upcoming alumni events through Aluminati’s digital dashboard, where every user sees posts that best meet their interests. Ensure alumni engagement through activities, events, and networking sessions. Also, assign them to groups where they can interact with like-minded peers.

4. Resource allocation

No matter the size or scope, an alumni association needs an adequate budget and resources. Different aspects of the program will need different resources and funds, so ensure that you have allocated the right amounts for each.

Designate dedicated staff members for this role, preferably someone with good financial and budgeting skills. They should also be someone you know you can trust to handle finances for the organization. You’ll also need someone to help you with the initial fundraising to get started.

Funding your alumni community

To ensure a robust alumni network, you need to start strong. You need a plan and a platform, but most of all, you need funding. This is what will allow you to set up the first few alumni events, where you can invite alumni to officially join your association.

5. Delegation and empowerment

Like any other association, an alumni association will have a hierarchy of sorts, with specific roles for its members to fill. Some will be your official ambassadors, others will be designated to do volunteer work on behalf of the alumni network when needed.

You must keep your database up-to-date, so you never lose contact with your alumni. Use Aluminati’s social data sync to keep your alumni community data accurate.

Matching alumni to roles

Once you have established a rough draft for your alumni database, you can start matching alumni to their prospective roles. Choose individuals who have the skill sets that best meet those roles. For example, a marketing graduate for fundraising, an accounting graduate for budgeting, and so on.

Watch your alumni strategy come to life with Aluminate

Creating an alumni strategy will help you realize your objectives for the alumni network. But first, you need to make joining the association appealing. And your alumni engagement strategic plan starts with the right platform.

This is where your alumni community can interact with the institution/organization, and each other.

Aluminati is the community platform service that leading academic institutions and corporate enterprises can rely on. For academic alumni, choose Aluminate for Education. For corporate alumni, choose Aluminate for Enterprise.

Still undecided? Request a free demo.

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