The answer lies in tailored messaging.
Why Tailored Messaging Matters
Students today expect personalized experiences across all their digital interactions — and college search is no exception. Generic emails and mass communications are often ignored, while content that speaks directly to a student’s interests and goals is far more likely to earn their attention.
A 2024 survey by EAB found that 93% of students said they are more likely to engage with colleges that send personalized content based on their interests and behavior, but 66% of students said that they’ve received college communications that felt personalized. EAB, 2025. This highlights a clear opportunity for institutions to enhance the impact of their communications without stretching budgets or resources.
Smart Segmentation and Targeted Content
Tailored messaging starts with smart segmentation. Whether it’s by academic interest, location, extracurriculars, or stage in the funnel, breaking your audience into defined groups allows you to speak more directly to what matters to them.
But you can go beyond basic segmentation. Tools like CustomViewbook let students tell you what they care about upfront. When a prospective student selects programs, activities, and campus features that interest them, they’re giving you a roadmap for follow-up messaging.
Instead of guessing what might resonate, you can:
- Send academic-specific emails with faculty highlights or program outcomes
- Share personalized scholarship opportunities based on student interests or demographics
- Highlight student organizations and campus events that align with their extracurricular passions
- Provide tailored testimonials or success stories from alumni in their chosen field
- Offer custom virtual event invitations based on program or geographic location
- Deliver content about campus resources and support services relevant to their needs
This kind of messaging feels personal because it is — and that connection drives results.
Do More with Less Using CustomViewbook
CustomViewbook is designed to help colleges increase efficiency while improving engagement. With each personalized viewbook created, your team receives detailed insights into what individual students care about most. That means fewer wasted messages, stronger calls to action, and a better experience for both students and staff.
Rather than crafting dozens of one-off campaigns, you can build smart automations around the preferences students have already shared. It’s personalization at scale and it works.
A Better Way to Recruit
Tailored messaging isn’t just a marketing trend — it’s a response to how students think, search, and choose. Gen Z expects communication that is quick, relevant, and respectful of their time and data. Meeting those expectations builds trust and improves outcomes.
If your team is looking to streamline operations without sacrificing quality, tools like CustomViewbook can help you do more with less.
