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Preventing Digital Learning Fatigue in an Era of Interconnectivity

We all saw how technology helped people during the pandemic; without tools like Teams, Zoom, online learning platforms and social media, working effectively and staying connected with friends, family, colleagues and peers would have been incredibly difficult, if not impossible. As people become more comfortable and familiar with technology, the risk of fatigue heightens and therefore more preventative measures need to be taken in order to keep audiences engaged, motivated and intrigued.

Take learning and development platforms for example which, when facilitated digitally, offer a consistent experience for all participants irrespective of where, how or when they’re logging on. However, a digitally interconnected world does present some issues, the most stated of which is the concept of ‘Digital Learning Fatigue’ – also referred to as ‘Zoom Fatigue’ or simply ‘Online Fatigue’.

What is Digital Learning Fatigue?

Digital Learning Fatigue is a state of exhaustion, both physical and mental, where individuals reach their saturation point of using digital tools.

If this sounds familiar, and you feel like you have experienced this burnout, you are not alone. In 2021, 70% of people said they had experienced it, and dealt with frustrating side effects like sensory overload, irritability and restlessness.

One quick Google search and we’re flooded with ways to combat or at least limit these types of effects, whether it’s ‘only spend essential time online’, ‘make sure you take adequate rests’, or ‘adjust your screen brightness and ensure you have a comfortable, ergonomic set up’. Undoubtedly helpful to a certain degree, but the sustainability of such measures does raise questions, especially considering how increasingly online we are becoming.

A more sustainable and longer-term solution is diversifying the way people work and learn. Employing a ‘microlearning’ approach to studies, weaving in methods of gamification and experimenting with hybrid working are three great examples of how we can cut down our screentime, without compromising on these new, innovative and effective ways of working.

Microlearning

Microlearning is a way of teaching and conveying information to learners in bite-sized chunks, with a focused and specific learning outcome. It may also incorporate multiple forms of media to break up the format.

One study shows that microlearning has improved focus and supported long-term retention by up to 80%.

Stats source

Given that digital fatigue can be the result of having to process large quantities of information, incorporating elements of microlearning is one way to help break up the process and facilitate continued participation. Breaking large amounts of information down into smaller chunks makes learning materials much easier to digest, less overwhelming for users to approach and less exhausting to become immersed in. Not only is this universally beneficial, but it is a more accessible method for people with learning disabilities to retain information.

Microlearning can also maximise workflow. When learners complete a section of work, they develop a sense of accomplishment which can lead to a greater sense of purpose and achievement. Therefore, when you split a piece of work into these smaller sections, it can provide the learner with a greater sense of achievement more often, which in turn increases their motivation to engage with the teaching further.

Microlearning also encourages the formation of good habits and gives users more flexibility while working. Incorporating microlearning practises in combination with other methods of engagement can be an excellent way to engage people digitally while preventing learning fatigue, but it is important that these techniques are intertwined with one another as continued engagement is about diversification and enjoyment. Microlearning uses repetition in short bursts which has been linked to memory retention comparatively to large volumes of information in one go.

Using the agile methods of workflow, although ridged in nature, can be a great way to improve workflow and productivity while moving at a pace that embraces microlearning. Following this methodology facilitates reflection and inspection ensuring results are to a higher standard, while simultaneously being more engaging for users. This method of work can easily be gamified to engage users further, while simultaneously making workflow more productive and enjoyable.

Similarly, to Microlearning, gamified learning elements have also proven to be more engaging for people with learning disabilities. Gamification encourages outside-of-the-box thinking and leans away from ‘traditional’ forms of learning that are often not catered to the needs of these groups of learners. Digital methods of learning can help people with Dyslexia as digital text can be edited e.g., text could be made bigger or a different colour to be more accessible for someone with differing needs, or visual recourses to aid reading.

Gamification

Gamification is the enhancement of systems, typically educational or workplace systems to create an experience similar to a video game in order to motivate and engage the user.

Incorporating elements of gamification into digital learning can encourage continual engagement over longer periods of time by making it more enjoyable. Gamification can also provide a sense achievement and pride to the learner, through elements such as interactive tutorials, progress bars, mini games and quizzes.

Gamified educational platforms have already seen success in the workplace and in educational environments. Universities around the world are investing a significant amount of money on creating engaging platforms for students to use alongside their in-person studies.

Additionally, 55% of teachers agree that using digital games in class motivates low-performing and special ed students.

Stats source

Imagine the impact of a student or employee going through compulsory training in a mixed media format; consisting of core written materials in bite-sized chunks, interspersed with informational, engaging videos, with game elements and quizzes, collaboration with other users, team exercises and mixing methods of in-person and digital learning; versus an experience solely consisting of lengthy written materials over long periods of time, which the learner is expected to read on their own and complete within a set timeframe.

Hybrid Learning

Hybrid or blended learning is an innovative approach to learning that combines online educational materials and in person or place-based opportunities together to create an environment that is more interesting and more inclusive to the user.

Integrating physical and digital learning elements can ensure learning is more memorable, enjoyable and productive. Although traditionally thought of as a distraction to learning, embracing the capabilities of smartphones and weaving them with other forms of learning has the potential to engage disengaged audiences. A good example of this is the use of mobile technology during physical learning sessions – such as smartphone polls, quizzes, or a group activity. The popularity of smartphones has allowed people to embrace the use of them in learning, a good way to engage people with technology. People are familiar and comfortable with mobile phones, especially younger audiences who are often the target market for digital or hybrid learning.

65% of students prefer in-person learning

Stats source

Although young people may respond well to digital tools, they also respond well to in-person activities, and studies have shown that up to 65% of students prefer in-person learning. A way in which this could be implemented is by starting the learning experiences physically and then allow the journey to continue and be enhanced digitally. QR codes are a staple for this and could encourage students to scan to continue their experience within a virtual environment, perhaps to play an interactive mini-game based on something they’ve learnt in-person.

Students digitally learning

Engaging people using emerging technologies such as Augmented Reality (AR) is a great way to combine digital capabilities with the real world. AR is now available through smartphones, making the technology not only more accessible, but also portable. Mobile AR means learners can easily interact in a digital way with their physical surroundings, presenting opportunities for interactive learning. Incorporating hybrid learning into practises such as onboarding is a great way to increase engagement. Traditionally onboarding is either online or in person but combining the two and adding gamified elements could be a great way to prevent fatigue during this process.

 

Conclusion

As people’s familiarity with technology increases, digital fatigue increases parallel to it. Therefore, innovation is important in its prevention, ensuring technology is developing alongside people, growing with them and being adapted to meet their needs. Digital fatigue can also have some serious physical and emotional consequences so is important to deploy solutions and embrace technology designed to prevent it and engage the user across all sectors, whether it be education or within the workplace.

Although it may seem like a popular buzzword, digital fatigue could cause serious disengagement with a huge proportion of people and that’s why considering it during any digital design process is crucial. Due to market oversaturation of learning technologies, diversifying platforms using unique features such as gamification and hybrid learning is a great way to stand out among competitors. Digital fatigue can affect all users, but it can often depend on the users’ needs and the type of platform and type of learning. Therefore, designing and developing platforms with this in mind from the start is the path to preventing digital learning fatigue.

 

Discover a real-world example of how technology can be integrated into learning effectively.
Read our case study on ‘Partnership in Action: Newcastle University Business School & Motivait’

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Time for reflection at Motivait 2022

We are almost at the end of the year and our team mascot, Moti, has been observing the Motivait team and taking notes on their achievements and learnings during 2022, here is his summary…

2022 recap

2022, what a year! Over the past few months, I’ve been observing the Motivait team, watching them grow and develop and I’m here to reflect on everything that has been going on and what the future might hold for them. I’ve seen new additions to the team, an expanding solution portfolio, strengthening relationships with clients and so much more.

Let’s have a closer look at what the team have accomplished, and how they will continue to develop and provide invigorating experiences for clients into next year and beyond…

Growing the team

It’s super exciting to reflect on the fact that this year, Motivait have increased their employee base by nearly 30%! They have welcomed new faces from England, Poland, Nepal and Cuba – so they are never far from learning about new and exciting cultures, traditions and languages. It’s great to watch the team grow and develop strong bonds across different functions and locations.

With growth comes the continued balancing act of how to handle post-pandemic expectations to offer more flexibility, whilst simultaneously addressing the challenges this can pose around sustaining a sense of belonging, community and enthusiasm – one way the team have managed to do this is by ensuring the in-person connection remains an important part of their work.

I’ve loved watching the team reunite in person again (or meet, in some cases where they had only met through a screen), collaborate and create meaningful and valuable bonds. I’ve seen members of the team visit both physical offices, in Spain and the UK. Ana from the design team lives in Portugal and has visited both the Madrid and Newcastle office this year and has learned more about the cities and the client relationships in each country. The software developers based in Madrid have also visited the Newcastle team for informative talks on careers in software development to computer science students at Newcastle University.

These visits have proven to be beneficial for team bonding – which is something the Motivait team do very well! Especially at their annual Kick Off… the Kick Off took place this year in April at the Madrid office; each Motivait team member joined together for a day of team building, client deep-dives, and concluded in a wonderful evening in the city centre, with some members throwing themselves into a bit of Salsa – lead by the Motivait resident dance experts David and Rey!

New ventures

This year has brought the design, development and management of some new bespoke solutions for Motivait. One of the new solutions developed in partnership with Newcastle University Business School allows students to engage in learning about professional and academic skills, while enhancing and developing their teamwork and collaborative skills – it really seems to be going down well with the students, looking like it’s running smoothly so far!

Another solution launched this year was a bespoke Digital Hub for the agricultural charity The Food and Farming Discovery Trust (FFDT). The Digital Hub focuses on engaging audiences, especially young people, with more connection and appreciation with and for food, farming and the countryside. This was a highly collaborative project built with future evolution in mind and has been a great example of Motivait’s managed service – how they work with clients to bring their ideas to life with the view of it being able to grow and develop over time.

With more projects underway, I look forward to seeing the team design, develop and deliver even more exciting and engaging solutions. Watch this space!

Looking to the future

After a great year for Motivait, I can see bright future ahead of them, their excellent client relations have allowed them to continue some of their relationships into 2023 to new projects and continue to create inspiring engagement across a variety of sectors. The feedback says it all honestly, and here are some comments from their clients that really show how good 2022 has been for the Motivait team: (or maybe quotes from the team about there year could be fun little Moti holding a microphones)

‘I’m not usually at the office, so apart from the regular visits, I love to get together with the team for the Christmas lunch and do team activities on the kick-offs!’
– Ana (Creative and UI Designer) 

‘One of the most memorable moments of this year was that time we went into Madrid for dinner and then we went dancing with some members of the team. It was so much fun!’
– Emerson (Full Stack Developer)

‘As an intern, the amount of knowledge that I absorbed within a such short period of time while working at Motivait cannot be described in words. The team is very helpful and willing to help when needed. I really enjoy working at Motivait, and I couldn’t imagine undertaking a placement year somewhere else!’
– Kacper Intern Front-End/Web Developer 

 

Until next year,  

Moti x  

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The challenges of engaging diverse communities in a digital space and ways to overcome them.

Establishing a sense of community in a landscape so shaken by an ever-changing social climate is an emerging issue, and technology has further changed how we reach out to, connect with, and engage communities. Digital community engagement is a potential solution for businesses, councils, institutions and governments that are faced with the challenge of engaging their people. By utilising digital innovation to overcome issues that arise from traditional forms of community engagement, it could have the potential to bridge the gap between people and ensure their needs are being supported in the most inclusive way.  

So, what does true community engagement look like? ‘Engagement’ can have multiple meanings and there is not one ‘easy fix’ for an absence of it but combining digital innovation with more traditional forms of community connection and discussion is the emerging answer to questions surrounding engagement. Impactful public engagement is supposed to communicate information or increase participation in a way that is enjoyable and rewarding for a user and makes them want to participate continually.  

Diversified engagement routes for diverse communities   

In a diverse setting, engaging a large proportion of different kinds of users with differing needs, user characteristics and behaviours can be a challenge.  

The ‘traditional’/’offline’/’in-person’ community engagement techniques are so valuable when gathering information and feedback from communities, however, there are many obstructions that this type of engagement techniques cannot break down alone. Digitalisation has been shown to unite communities behind issues, encourage discussion and innovation, and facilitate positive change by allowing community members to make meaningful contributions through an online environment. Digitalisation is also a significant contributing factor when capturing marginalised and previously unheard voices. However, reaching groups that are not engaged with online spaces is as important, especially considering these voices are often unheard in the community.  

The positive impacts of a mixed-engagement model (both online and offline) is undeniable, however complex it may be to achieve. It is also becoming increasingly difficult attract and engage diverse audience using simply online-only model for many reasons: 

  • the digital space is becoming more and more saturated with choice, with more than 547,200 new websites being created globally every day (Siteefy), users are overloaded by a sheer number of sites which they can choose to engage with.    
  • different age groups access, use and respond to the same channels and platforms differently. 
  • differing levels of digital competency mean that designing a website for ease-of-use is also essential to its ability to engage, despite digital know-how increasing significantly after the pandemic. 
  • users expect and want personalised experiences, the days of a passive website that draw people in are long gone.  
  • people are expecting more from their online experiences, they expect to be engaged. Therefore digital experiences must be continually engaging and develop over time, keeping up with changing technologies, while maintaining relevancy and their true nature and intent at heart.   

Engaging with a varied community takes these five challenges further. To effectively engage these communities, it requires knowledge, understanding and a true analysis of each of the different user groups at each of these points in order to ensure the outcome is appropriate and effective for the user group. The more diverse a community, the more complex this can be.  

The importance of data, design and communication  

When engaging with diverse communities through a mixed-engagement model, it is important to ensure that each mode of engagement is connected to one another, complement each other and are well executed to ensure the end-engagement result is as well suited to the target audience as possible. This is achieved through three key elements; data collection, design and communication, these three processes are important for ensuring solutions are catered to the needs of the user and must be interconnected.  

Data  

When collecting data and research about diverse communities, these practises need to be all-encompassing and far-reaching in order to capture the clearest picture of the community and create the best platform for the targeted audience.  

Good data practises must be followed in order accommodate for diverse audiences, such as ensuring questions are clear and not leading. Surveys or focus groups must be reaching the largest proportion of people as possible and reaching all groups proportionally to get the most accurate results that are representative of the majority. In order to reach marginalised groups, engaging with community groups, connecting with community leaders or digital community hubs such as social media is a great way to ensure that these voices are heard, or survey reach the largest proportion of people. It is important to ensure that these surveys are assessable in multiple languages in order to gain feedback from communities despite potential language barriers. By starting an engagement programme with good research practises, it will allow for a digital space to be shaped around the voices and needs of the community in a way that includes all voices. 

Design  

When dealing with digital engagement, it is important to ensure that the solution is developed with accessibility and inclusivity at the heart as inclusive design is central to creating a platform for a diverse community, elements to consider include:  

  • ensuring that symbols and graphics are universally understandable and clear can ensure a website messaging is concise and it is reaching the most people. 
  • building a platform that is easy to navigate, as you need to consider diverse digital competency. 
  • the messaging of the website needs to be concise in its messaging and delivery. 

Creating an engaging and exciting platform can also encourage continual use, incorporating gamification technology can be a great way to engage audiences long-term, this in combination with ease of use can greatly improve a community’s engagement with the platform.  

Communication  

Incorporating omnichannel forms of communication is also essentially in engaging the maximum amount of people as well as catering engagement to its target audience. For example, if you were to connect with users using social media you would use different platforms depending on the intended audience, as Facebook cater to an older age demographic, 65% of people aged 50-64 use the platform, whereas 90% of Instagram users are under the age of 35.  Connecting a platform with software people are familiar with can be a great way to encourage use, it can be a great way to get people comfortable with your platform initially while using a platform already familiar to the user. Especially with older age demographics who statistically have less digital competency.  

Considering cultural barriers to engagement is also important, for example not just ensuring the research process is accessible in multiple languages is an important feature that some users may need to engage with the platform. If the platforms focus is around connectivity and discussion, ensuring that conversations and dialogue can be easily translated so that all members of a community are involved in discussions and all voices are heard. Having public discussions in community hub and then linking those interactions to a digital space is a great way to engage new audiences that wouldn’t usually be actively engaged with digital spaces. This is a good way to draw unlikely users onto an unfamiliar platform or app. 

Keeping up with the innovation  

Digital innovation can transform the ways in which we do things, new advancements make things simpler, more intelligent and more efficient. Using new digital tools and innovations when addressing engagement problems can lead to more valuable insight and end-engagement results, but you can run the risk of leaving people behind if adopting them too quickly and can alienate vital groups of clienteles.   

Using a mixture of offline and online communication is the best way to integrate new and valuable technologies whilst maintaining appeal to a wide demographic. This omni-channel approach ensures that all angles of your community can get involved without feeling excluded. Examples of this can come in forms Incorporating things like QR codes into engagement programmes can be a great way to facilitate ease of use through a non-digital space.  

Nuturing your community   

Community engagement is not something that is easily solved through a singular channel, it is a process that requires nurturing and innovative solutions that follow the whole process from conception to actualisation. It requires understanding of interpersonal relationships and community boundaries as well as in-depth understanding of how to create bespoke platforms for a wide audience.  

Ensuring that users’ needs are considered and prioritised throughout the whole engagement process is the key to engaging with diverse communities. Considering data, design and communication throughout the conception of a platform while weaving these processes together is crucial to the creation of a solution fit for the needs of a diverse community. In order to meet the changing needs of a community you must ensure continued support throughout the process as well as afterwards and consider changing markets, community development, technological innovation and other environmental changes that could affect engagement. This is crucial in providing an exemplary platform for a diverse community of users. 

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Customer Experience Starts with Excelling in Omnichannel

Omnichannel marketing is far from being a new concept, but it has seen significant changes across different sectors in recent years. It essentially refers to the various integrated channels (physical and digital) businesses use to reach customers and deliver their brand experience. When most of the world was in lockdown, omnichannel moved into the spotlight as those businesses who had previously invested in strong digital presence where able to maintain communication and contact with customers as they lost the ability to draw them to their physical locations. However even before the pandemic, omnichannel was already a buzzword at the forefront of most marketing and loyalty departments, with the rise of different social media platforms opening up new possibilities to market, attract, and engage customers.

In the world of retail, omnichannel is far from being a gimmick and with amounting challenges impacting supply chain, high street presence, and general accessibility for many customers, nailing omnichannel strategy is increasingly necessary in order to stay relevant, to stay front of mind, and to even just stay in business. For retailers to genuinely achieve omnichannel excellence and place consumers at the centre of every transaction, they must be able to offer customers a unified, consistent, and real-time experience regardless of their location or preferred channel.

In this blog, we’re going to take a look at just how to deliver an excellent omnichannel experience of your brand to customers, but also what features play a key role in creating a strong omnichannel strategy.

How to create the right omnichannel strategy for your brand

It’s not just that people are shopping online more than ever before. It’s the way consumers are browsing and how they reach your brand – the new type of ‘window’ shopping or app hopping, as you go from a look that catches your eye on Instagram to the brand’s profile to putting the item in your basket after downloading their mobile app. An omnichannel presence needs to support the omnichannel customer who is always connected, active store-to-store but also always moving between devices looking for comfort and convenience.

Your end customer is influenced by an inspirational idea or recommendation from a trusted source, leading them to evaluate the purchase from many fronts: from comparing prices with a competitor who pops up in personalised advertising when they are browsing, to evaluating whether they engage with brand ambassadors across all social networks, to assessing the ease with which returns are made, to scanning the news to see where your brand stands on issues that mean something to them.

Omnichannel strategy can’t solely focus on efficiency or speed. It’s vital to consider how your different channels also establish and promote the brand experience, further endearing customers and potential customers alike.

Below, we explain different aspects that your company can follow to establish a solid omnichannel strategy:

Understand how to reach your audience

1. Understand how to reach your audience

You may learn a lot about a person’s demographics, such as age, locations and gender by looking at where they are most likely to shop. For instance, customers in the Gen Z age may be more at ease with social commerce (using social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram to directly sell products) and even prefer it to traditional eCommerce sites (process used by companies and customers to exchange goods and services using an electronic medium). Therefore, you might want to ask for suggestions or carry out surveys to target a more precise audience. Knowing your customers well can help you start to decide which method is or isn’t appropriate for them.

Establish a consistent brand

2. Establish a consistent brand

You need a coherent brand in order to create a holistic experience. You must be in control of how your brand is perceived. This must be the same across all platforms. If your website is personable and interactive, then your social media presence should be much alike. Additionally, omnichannel marketing ensures that your brand is noticed by your target audience where it matters most. You must know how to reach consumers because they no longer actively seek out brands and anticipate you to come to them.

Provide readily available customer support

3. Provide readily available customer support

People respond better to other people. This is why it is important to establish your brand as relatable and approachable who is aware of the demands and preferences of its target market. Understanding the effectiveness of your omnichannel efforts depends on speaking with the customers. Customers evaluate brands 104% better when they combine AI and operators in their customer service. Offering human connection will ensure that you are providing your consumers with a tailored experience.

Don’t try and do it all

4. Don’t try and do it all

Omnichannel doesn’t mean you have to be on all channels if it’s not the right approach for your brand and your people. Don’t fall into the trap of making an app or create a TikTok profile just because everyone else has one – if you have a high performing, mobile responsive website, sustain and nurture that if consumers respond well to it. Build good paths to where your customers are, but don’t focus on building too many of them. A mediocre or bad channel experience can do a lot of damage to a brand.

Utilise the right data

5. Utilise the right data

Making data-driven improvements to your omnichannel approach is vital. By gathering and analysing data, personalisation and integration efforts can be improved. You will eventually be able to identify trends among market segments. If you observe your data, you will find that your customers will tell you exactly how best to assist them. A Salesforce survey found that 57% of all consumers voluntarily give their personal information to business in exchange for personalised offers and incentives.

 

Therefore, it follows that creating a strong omnichannel experience is important if you want people to recognise and value your brand. However, it is not necessary to be present on absolutely every platform, as doing so may have the reverse effect and hinder your business. Every brand will have unique preferences and capabilities. Regardless of the customer’s preferred location or channel, omnichannel excellence places the consumer at the centre of every transaction and enables businesses to provide seamless, consistent and real time experiences.

 

Inspired? Next read: Creative Solutions for Captivating Customers

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Latest Trends in Gamification

Gamification is the technique of integrating game characteristics and mechanics into a digital environment, making use of technology to improve the user experience, foster loyalty and increase engagement. In other words, it is the application of game aspects in a non-game context.

Gamification is gaining popularity at an increasing rate. Today, it is a widely used tool in many fields, such as sales, education, health and wellness, design, employment, business and commerce. For example, gamification is used by stores and e-commerce companies to encourage good consumer behaviour, and used in the corporate environment to increase productivity, efficiency and personal skills.

In this blog you will be able to explore and learn about the diffrent trends in gamification.

Six examples of gamification in various sectors

The following industries have seen significant increases in revenue and customer retention as a result of incorporating gaming aspects into their applications and platforms.

Health and wellbeing: Apps reward you and prompt you to use them more to drive engagement and make daily tasks more enjoyable, turning actions into healthy, daily habits.

Education: Game concepts such as teamwork, objectives, points, and badges are often used to create and engaging atmosphere that encourages deeper learning while still making a subject interesting.

Foodservice: Using gamification to design engaging customer retention programmes and to animate dining experiences. Actions such as ordering through the phone and order tracking functions have created significant changes in this sector.

Transportation: A common feature of many ridesharing and cab apps is a real-time tracker where users can see exactly where their driver is and when they will arrive. As well as numerous loyalty programmes that encourage users to use them more frequently and receive rewards.

Retail: To engage its users, build brand awareness and promote sales, brands and stores use a variety of gamified elements to increase customer engagement such as VR/AR, mini games, pop-up interactive installs in-store, referral rewards and interactive contests.

Banking: Gamification is used to enhance the customer experience. From apps with personalised saving goals to competitions with rewards, gamification is used in banking to  produce personal finance management applications that inform their users and help them better understand and manage their finances.

Motivait’s response

At Motivait, our solutions create more engaged and interested customers, no matter the sector. We employ games in a practical way, from badges, goals to quick feedback, that activates customer motivation and builds brand affinity. Gamification is a practical approach to business growth, regardless of whether you run a restaurant, fitness app, retail store or anything in between. If you want to better understand how we work, take a look at our video on how we can help you innovate an improve the way people feel and experience your brand.

(Sources: FinancesOnline, Trio, Motivait)

 

Employee onboarding can be a time-consuming task. However, onboarding is a crucial factor for a company’s new employees. The importance of first impressions cannot be overestimated. You only get a small window of opportunity to describe the type of experience potential employees can expect when working for your organization. This is where gamification comes in. Studies have revealed that delivering information through a gamified form results in greater assimilation and retention. The two main objectives of gamification as an onboarding method are to make training enjoyable and to accelerate the pace of learning.

Six advantages of using gamification in Onboarding.

  1. Positively represents the company – Employees say gamification makes them feel: 89% more productive and 88% happier at work. (Source: Talent LMS)
  2. Offers the ability to receive instant feedback – Gamified Onboarding programmes typically include: 59% points systems, 51%leaderboards, 47% levels and 71% badges. (Source: Talent LMS)
  3. Improve retention – 12% of new hires voluntarily leave their company during the onboarding process (Source: Brandon Hall Group). Finding ways to make work more fun can increase skills retention by 40% (Source: Forbes)
  4. Increases employee engagement – 87% of employees say that gamification provides a sense of belonging and social connection in the workplace. (Source: Talent LMS)
  5. Aligns onboarding with important business objectives – Tools employees would like to see gamified: 33% training software, 30% communication software, 15% customer relations/HR software, 10% documentation software, 12% collaboration and PM software (Source: Talent LMS)
  6. Decreases employee attrition – The cost of replacing an employee range from 90-200% of their original salary (Source: Talent LMS)

Motivait’s response

At Motivait, we use technology to create an engaging, interactive and game-based process to meet your onboarding objectives and help new employees become competent in their future responsibilities. It could be the perfect opportunity to change things up and incorporate some gamification into your onboarding to make new hires happy and productive workers. If you want to better understand what we do, take a look at our work with Zebra Technologies, where we developed a global onboarding process with an immersive experience.

(Sources: Motivait, FinanceOnline, Staffbase, Talent LMS, Brandon Hall Group, Forbes)

 

Gamification offers users highly engaging and immersive experiences. To further enhance its impact, companies can start by implementing customised gamification strategies to improve both employee and customer engagement.

74% of consumers are frustrated when they receive content that has nothing to do with their tastes and interests. 94% of companies say personalisation is critical to their success.

We all know that “one size does not fit all”. For example, in the learning environment, today’s learners want to invest time in training created or selected specifically for them in order to get the most out of their time.

The following points serve as an example of how tailored-made gamification can benefit the increase of student engagement:

Personalised learning route: Suggest the most suitable path for the user or provide the ability to customise the user’s own route.

Individual performance indicator: Personalised gamification can go beyond scores/badges and leaderboards by providing users with information on their performance in relation to learning objectives.

Real-time personalised feedback and suggestions: Set up suggestions to cover any tips on how to improve their skills.

Calls to action: Can be used effectively to motivate change through specific calls to action to help users meet their training objectives.

Continuous learning: Gives the user the opportunity to maintain the learning connection even after the main training has ended.

While gamification in itself is a strategy that fosters a huge degree of engagement, methods such as personalised gamification can serve to further increase participation, motivation and performance.

Motivait’s response

At Motivait we stand out for providing our clients with the best personalised solutions tailored to their needs. One of our success stories is ‘Tir Na Nóg’, the mythical island that transformed the concept of mathematics for many children in a public school in Madrid. The experience was a clear example of the effectiveness of engagement solutions and the use of gamification in training and learning. If you want to understand better how we did it, take a look at our Case Study.

(Sources: Motivait, GrowthEngineering, eLearningIndustry)

 

More than half of the population now uses social networks. The same neurotransmitters that make games so addictive are released when people use social media. Dopamine, for example, is released whenever we learn something new. Similarly, when we engage in rewarding social interactions, we experience a rush of oxytocin.

Many companies today are gamifying their social media campaigns to increase trust and one of the key KPIs such as brand engagement. Large companies have included gamification components in their social media strategy, such as M&M’s, LinkedIn and Waze in order to promote user interaction with their posts. Gamification has the potential to be a game-changing marketing tactic for companies looking to increase engagement, attract repeat customers and gain crowdsourcing capabilities.

Gamification can be as basic or as complicated as one chooses. Here are some possible examples:

  • Live video games on a website
  • Surveys
  • Offer prizes to people who review, like, comment or contribute content
  • Posts contests on social media
  • Create a ‘scavenger hunt’ type game on social media

The impact of gamification on social media

  • Website with gamification experience a 29% increase in page shares.
  • Gamification increases comments by 13%
  • Gamification increases social sharing by 22%
  • Gamification amplifies content discovery, increasing engagement in the activity feed by 68%

(Source: GrowthEngineering)

It is expected that more companies will soon follow suit. Gamification has the advantage of introducing some fun into the social media approach, which is a benefit. Your audience’s engagement is likely to increase dramatically as a result of their entertainment. After all, research has shown that social media can increases engagement metrics by 100-150%. In addition to growing your community of followers, you may also be able to capture long-awaited leads.

Motivait’s response

We recognise gamification as a versatile tool that can be used for both business and educational as well as marketing purposes. Our work with gamification can help companies build a strong online presence and improve audience engagement. By incorporating the features of prizes, immersive storytelling and competitions, these can be used as a powerful tool to amplify any social media campaign. If you would like to find out more about how we can help you promote your brand while creating a fun experience for your customers, don’t hesitate to contact us!

(Sources: GrowthEngineering, Meltwater, Spectrio, Motivait )

 

 

To achieve their acquisition and retention goals, today’s businesses are gamifying their marketing initiatives. Gamification is used to engage people at every stage of the customer journey.

Gamified content improves the sales funnel (Awareness, Consideration, Preference, Purchase, Loyalty, Promotion). It is an engaging process, so people tend to remember it. This, in turn, creates better brand awareness.

Here are some benefits of using gamification in marketing and sales activities:

  • It drives customer engagement. Users are less likely to pass over content.
  • When users are encouraged to complete tasks for rewards, conversion rates soar. The reward can be a badge, a trophy, points or any other specific feature.
  • As visitors become more engaged with your content, brand awareness and loyalty increases.
  • Finally, gamification is fun!

According to the Demand Gen report, 93% of marketers love gamification and plan to use it in their future activities. Here are some key takeaways from the report on what marketers are saying:

  • According to 81%, interactive content is more attention-grabbing than static material.
  • 88% say that interactive content is effective in differentiating their brand from competitors.
  • 79% agree that interactive content can have reusable value, which translates into repeat visits and multiple views.
  • Around 70% believe that interactive content successfully engages users.

Gamified marketing also gives users the impression that they are in control. They are free to decide how to interact with the content. This provides a new level of fun and excitement that is rarely present in other situations.

Motivait’s response

At Motivait we make sure we live up to our client’s expectations. Most of our clients are looking for rewarding and innovative experiences. When it comes to marketing campaigns, we can provide such experiences with gamified solutions that make your content and optins fun and engaging. Today, we are subject to so many influences that it is difficult to focus on a single message. However, people always try to make time for entertainment because it is a time when they can switch of and enjoy themselves. Therefore, we can conclude that gamification is an accessible and very beneficial method of self-promotion if we combine this feeling of joy with the pleasure of receiving rewards. If you want to know more about our engagement and loyalty solutions click on our video!

(Sources: GrowthEngineering, OptinMonster, DemandGen, Motivait)

 

 

Human-Centered Design is a problem-solving technique that places real people at the centre of the development process, enabling the creation of products and services that appeal and adapt to the need of their audience. The goal is to take into account the desires, pain points and preferences of users at every stage of the process. In turn, you will create more intuitive and accessible products that are likely to generate higher profits because your customers/employees have already examined the solution and feel more interested in using it.

Studies show the growing importance of human-centred design in meeting the needs of today’s workforce. Furthermore, empathy from managers is what drives 92% of employees to stay in their jobs. Therefore, employee input now influences the design of gamification methods. Companies are now starting to coordinate their organisational goals with the values of their employees.

Gamification and human-centered design are based on the same principles of focusing on the user, finding and approach that maximises desirability with feasibility, and adopting an experimental approach to find the best solution.

There are the same three phases, which are:

  1. Intention discovery, empathising with users and defining the future state
  2. The iteration and creation of ideas and prototypes
  3. The delivery and launch of something in the real world

Motivait’s response

For us, gamification is a crucial aspect when creating our solutions. Human-centered design encourages us to focus on behaviour. With today’s social, environmental and business challenges, changing user behaviour is the cornerstone of tackling modern problems. Technology also allows us to create more engaging user experiences, through interactive components, real-time data and information, and social connectivity. Our inherent purpose of applying gamification is to provide an engaging experience to incentivise behaviour and increase user engagement in solving real problems. If you want to better understand how we deliver user-centric digital solutions visit our website for more information, and don’t hesitate to contact us!

(Sources: HBS Online, BCG, TTISI, Medium, Motivait)

 

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Optimising learning through digital technology

In an increasingly digital world, the education sector is in a period of transformation driven by technology and new working models and methods. This digital strategy requires flexible education that encourages students and academic institutions to be active, innovative and entrepreneurial.

Electronic devices and the broader digital environment have become much more accessible to students. In terms of tools, technology has given rise to a wide range of platforms, equipment, systems, networks and applications that are already in use in many educational institutions and are expected to become even more common in the future. From the traditional textbook to a variety of digital materials, courses and support systems, content is expanding and diversifying.

As part of the Digital Education Action Plan (2021-2027) the European Commission conducted a public consultation at the end of 2020 to obtain the views and experiences of citizens, institutions and organisations on the impact of COVID-19 on education and training, the consequent evolution towards remote and online learning, and the future of digital education in Europe.

Respondents expressed that online learning resources and content should be more relevant, interactive and user-friendly, and not dependent on the financial resources of a city or local council. More than 60% felt that their digital skills had improved during the pandemic, and more than 50% confirmed that they wanted to improve them further.

The study conducted in the Action Plan helps to reiterate the current trend towards online and hybrid learning that has been accelerated by events in recent years. These changes have led to the discovery of new and innovative ways in which learners and educators organise their online learning and teaching activities, engaging in more personal and flexible interactions

Support and motivate students with digital technology

Digital motivation is about applying the capabilities offered by new technologies to increase students’ confidence. Thus, making them feel more comfortable in their educational environment and ultimately improving their performance. Active engagement, cooperation among students, quick feedback on work or assessments, and the ability to put what they learn into practice are some of the conditions for students to learn effectively using technology.  Students’ lack of motivation is not only a barrier to understanding topics, but also a challenge for teachers in their everyday work.

Academic institutions can support students on a personal level while providing a comprehensive and integrated understanding of university systems. Digital and interactive portals provide connections to all relevant systems, as well as ‘live sections’ that display grades, upcoming assignments, timetables and other information and encourage participation before, during and after different activities. Access to information and course materials anytime, anywhere.  A way of communicating with students and guiding them through their work giving them assistance, focus and reinforcement.

As shown in a study published by McGraw-Hill Education, students prefer digital learning to traditional learning. According to the study, 81% think digital learning technology is helping them improve their grades, and 71% say digital course materials have increased their engagement. The clear majority of students believe that digital learning technology has benefited their schoolwork by encouraging concept retention and improving grades, and that more than half (53%) of students feel much more motivated in classrooms that incorporate such tools.

Towards a new university student experience

Increasingly, students want higher education institutions to provide them with a personalised and individualised experience. They expect the same level of interaction and experience offered by consumer brands such as Amazon and Netflix. To respond to these needs, leaders at universities, business schools and other education institutions are beginning to see a connection between the student and the consumer, and how digital transformation is necessary to meet the demands and aspirations of today’s students.

Consequently, students no longer want to be treated uniformly and anonymously, but are looking for tailored notifications and suggestions, customized to their own interests, as well as a perfect experience. They want to be seen, heard and appreciated, as well as receive attention that is specific to them. According to the Connected Student Report, 90% of students want universities to interact with them as frequently as possible, using email, tailored communications and notifications, as well as other means. Around 40% say they would prefer more individualised communications, and 25% say they would like a more personalised university experience in general.

For a higher level of success, digital solutions must include procedures that encourage reciprocity and interaction, thereby increasing knowledge retention and avoiding monotony. It is essential to ensure that students apply what they have learned to solve problems, practice decision-making and skills development in a safe environment where their understanding can be tested.

At the same time, digital solutions can lead to improvements in educational institutions to operate more efficiently in capturing new students, in ensuring the performance of students along their journey and also in maintaining contact with alumni. In addition, they serve as a digital basis for 360-degree monitoring of the educational process. An integrated platform that allows students to customise their university experience from start to finish.

Some examples of the benefits are:

  • Collaboration and cooperation: experiences, work and projects can be shared, facilitating engagement and joint learning.
  • Autonomy and flexibility: there are a variety of methods through which information can be obtained, as well as sufficient freedom for their own organisation and planning. (Asynchronous education)
  • Interactivity and communication: Students can connect and talk to their peers, greatly enhancing their ability to communicate and learn. Even student-teacher conversation can take place outside the classroom.

 

 

Gamification in education

Gamification is one of the educational innovation techniques that has provoked most interest and success in recent years. It is a method that consists of introducing game aspects and dynamics into the teaching and learning process. Examples include ‘scoreboards’ that record students’ scores in various activities, ‘badges’ that are awarded to students when they reach certain learning milestones, and the use of applications that allow multiple-choice tests to be transformed into interactive competitions.

Let’s imagine an immersive narrative (initial motivation) in which we find ourselves on a deserted island and, in order to survive, we have to go through different levels, challenges and obstacles. There are many elements and strategies that we can incorporate into the island to encourage motivation, reinforcement, various stimuli and a greater sense of involvement. For example, through interesting and fun activities for students to work on concepts and exercise the basic skills that the subject is intended to promote. As you explore the island you earn small rewards that give access to badges and levels; all achievements will be added to a scoreboard (increased participation, continuous reinforcement and short-term motivation). In addition, a help or hints option can be included in which students can ask for assistance from both the teacher and other students (social immediacy). Within each challenge or activity there may be the possibility for students to choose different options or routes, i.e. depending on their choice, they may reach one outcome or another. For each completed task, quality and immediate feedback can be received in order to learn beyond mistakes. The experience can also encourage group work and systems of competition between teams (team-based learning).

This immersive experience can be part of any academic subject and for students of different ages, from different levels of school to university, postgraduate courses, etc. It all depends on the narrative, the approach, the design concept, the catalysts, etc. that are applied in each case. A way to exceed the mastery of the concepts of a subject and to discover and intensify fundamental values of personality and teamwork.

Therefore, we can conclude that the education sector has undergone a significant digital transformation, encouraging both students and academic institutions to become more engaged, creative, and entrepreneurial. Learners and educators have discovered new and imaginative methods to organize their educational activities as a result of recent changes and adjustments during the pandemic. There is now a much easier access to electronic tools, and technology has resulted in a variety of platforms, equipment, systems, networks, and applications. Digital transformation is necessary to meet the demands and aspirations of today’s students, who are increasingly seeking a personalized and individualized experience and concepts such as gamification can further improve student performance and motivation while also making a topic more enjoyable.

 

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Marketing and Human Resources, connected by engagement

Although at first glance they may appear to be very different departments, the reality is that marketing and HR share many similarities. Broadly speaking, both seek to attract, retain and satisfy the needs of their ‘customers’, whether they are consumers or employees; both want to deliver rewarding experiences and expect a return on their relationship; both need to know their audiences and their expectations, fears or desires; and in both, communication, recognition, motivation and reward for loyalty are essential to retain them.

If we analyse the changes experienced in society in recent years, the power is no longer with organisations but with the individual. The traditional approach of imposing and controlling is giving way to greater collaboration and consensus. Recommendations have become the norm when it comes to influencing purchasing, and technology has turned around the way we relate to our environment, where immediacy is a requirement, and we need to have access to information at the click of a button.

Faced with this qualitative leap in social behaviour, companies have been adapting and implementing strategies that provide the greatest satisfaction to their customers following a new approach. The key now is to design unique experiences that generate engagement beyond what is offered by the usual loyalty programmes. This means appealing to emotions, personalising each activity, entertaining, surprising and managing a stable, lasting and deep relationship. Can the same recipe be applied to those ‘customers’ of HR – the employees? And can the technology used by marketing be a good solution to solve the important challenges in HR?

Adapting to changes in concept

Customer acquisition and retention often receive a significant share of the marketing budget. They are in many ways similar to recruitment, selection, onboarding and career development, but different in terms of the budget allocated for these purposes. But who chooses who nowadays? Does the organisation select the candidate or does the candidate select the company they wish to work for? HR managers know that if they want to attract the best talent, they have to “sell” the company and the vacant position well and convince them that they are the best choice. Just as a marketing expert who wants to compete and grow in the market would do with their products.

However, both consumers and employees now have a different set of values, and want to live unique experiences, to feel listened to and understood, to be the protagonists and receive personalised treatment. They want to be able to interact with brands or companies that reflect their ethical or sustainable values. They want to be informed and be involved in events and exchange ideas. They are competitive yet want to share. These are all aspects that enhance their sense of belonging. Each of these factors are becoming more important to customers, but how do you order all these concepts to be able to manage new engagement strategies?

Innovation to improve performance and stimulate participation

Technology is a catalyst for development, as it provides a space to bring together all the needs, problems, corresponding solutions and a way to build an ideal environment to achieve objectives. By following the employee journey from start to finish, we can detect where our potential gaps are and how to turn these into successful outcomes. When dealing with the recruitment and selection phase, technology can help us learn about and qualify key elements of applicant profiles, while at the same time providing them with information about the company’s values, ethos and philosophy to check the alignment between the two. It helps us to be more effective and convey an enviable brand image. As the journey continues, it is time to impress our applicants, to create an unforgettable impression that will make them lifelong ambassadors for the company. It is time to create an onboarding experience in which we can make such a necessary and essential process cost-effective, entertaining and efficient, to unclutter those countless procedures, policies and other documents that everyone needs to be familiar with, or to make job-specific training entertaining and motivating.

 

Professional development, training plans and job recognition complete the employee’s journey, which technology organises and promotes through gamified engagement solutions. Users greatly appreciate these tools because they allow them to achieve goals in a fun way, interact with other colleagues, progress, compete, learn faster, embed certain behaviours and, above all, motivate and generate a bond with the company that is difficult to break. At the current time, HR is expected to register the highest growth rate in the gamification market, with a 27.8% increase according to data provided by Prescient & Strategic Intelligence. In addition, 72% of employees say that gamification inspires them to work harder. Additionally, according to Talent LMS, 89% of employees think they would be more productive if work was more gamelike and 88% of the survey respondents affirmed that gamification makes them happier in their company. For 78% of respondents, organisations would be more desirable if their recruitment process was gamified and gamification elements at work make 87% of employees feel more socially connected.

Investing in employees to win customer’s hearts and minds

Human Resources must therefore innovate and implement actions that boost interest and motivation in order to nurture a sense of commitment in employees. We must not forget that investing in HR is investing in our customers and their satisfaction. Engaged employees transmit confidence and enthusiasm, they work harder for the benefit of the company and generate customer loyalty.

For marketers and HR professionals alike, one of their main purposes are to activate the mechanisms necessary to create engagement. The Employee and Performance Gallup 2020 report states that companies with high levels of engagement have up to 81% lower absenteeism, 18% higher productivity and 23% higher profitability. However, only 15% of people felt actively engaged in their work. Disengaged employees are more likely to waste time and be absent more and therefore be less productive and contribute to a worse environment. It is worth noting the conclusion of the study ‘The Top 5 Traits of a Successful Work Culture’. Employee engagement in the connected workplace’, prepared by IDC and Crayon which confirms that employee engagement has become a fundamental factor in the recovery and resilience of organisations and a clear indicator of their health. In this sense, it affirms that 70% of companies that invest in engagement and have highly engaged employees will recover pre-COVID-19 growth levels by the end of 2022, further reinforcing the notion that investing in employee engagement means an investment in the company’s future.

Additionally, Gallup also reports that customers who are fully engaged with a brand account for 23% of profitability, revenue and loyalty, compared to the average customer. ThinkJar states that 86% of consumers would pay more for a better user experience. In this regard, a study by the CMO Council and RedPoint reveals that personalised, omni-channel interaction with customers offers companies an average customer retention rate of 89%, which drops to 33% for companies that do not have this option. In addition, 40% of consumers recognise that they buy more from brands that provide a more personal customer experience and interaction and what is more, the duration of their engagement with these brands is 30% longer. Finally, 79% do not consider buying from companies that do not actively demonstrate that they understand and care for their customers.

This data clearly demonstrates a trend that is similar in both HR and marketing department, two areas of an organisation in which marketing activity is fundamental in the face of changes in society and people’s behaviour. Both areas are destined to understand each other through better engagement.

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Embracing Individuality in Alumni Engagement

“Individuality” [noun] – the qualities that make a person or thing different from others

It can be tempting to want to replicate a successful alumni engagement programme from a competing university – you know the ones, the award-winning, sector-shaking ideas you wish you had thought of first. And although it’s common-sense to recognise what works for one university may not work for another (in most cases, it won’t), the deep-rooted need to stay relevant, competitive, and to stand out in a saturated landscape, doesn’t stop you as a team wanting to reproduce ideas or variations of ideas in the hope they’ll also work in your environment.

There’s nothing wrong with adapting ideas that work. It happens everywhere and there is good reason to utilise effective, creative strategies that have made an impact in your sector. If it aint broke, don’t fix it. However, there is an argument to say it is through this default reaction to simply copy or clone, that we end up with ‘cookie-cutter’ initiatives that make their way across the university landscape, slowly becoming the ‘norm’ of alumni engagement. Behind each new university signing up is an Advancement Team looking to make a difference, hoping to achieve the level of success as the original institution. Instead, in more cases than not, there is a lack of engagement from graduates and students, leading to Advancement Teams scratching their heads as to why the programme hasn’t worked.

There are many factors at play as to why the ‘cookie-cutter’ or ‘off-the-shelf’ engagement initiatives may not be successful, including the differences at the institutions themselves. From iconic buildings and venues, to student cultures, to the cities and towns themselves that shape the universities themselves, each institution inevitably offers unique but shared experiences for their alumni that stay with each generation. What makes your university distinctive may be the reason why your one-size-fits-all programme may be failing you and that’s OK, because it is exactly what makes your alumni community special, and is ultimately your secret weapon to delivering a killer engagement programme.

UK University information statistics

Keeping the spark alive

A recent Living Liberty study revealed that only 36% of UK graduates remain in the city in which they studied, with Glasgow, Edinburgh or London based universities being the main exceptions as they tend to retain over half of their graduates on average. Furthermore, in 2018, CASE shared their latest findings on the HE landscape in their ‘Engaging for Excellence‘ Alumni Relations report, one significant figure was the total number of alumni across Europe and Asia-Pacific now stands at over 14 million (14,371,711), a figure that continues to grow each year.

The combination of these statistics alone presents an immediate consideration for any alumni strategy of programme. Time, distance and absence do not always make the heart grow fonder, and with more universities developing foreign campuses or providing courses through partner universities, there is a strong need for universities to find ways to stay connected – or even forge connections – despite the distance.

The simple fact of where your university is located can have a significant impact on how connected your alumni feel; Shift Learning’s 2020 Exploring UK Alumni Engagement Report found that there was no significant difference between types of UK universities and how engaged their alumni felt (ie Russell Group or Post-1992), however they did find a significant difference in the distance between the alumni and their institution; 22% of alumni sampled who lived 10-20 miles away felt strongly connected (scores of 9+/10), while only 8% of those who lived more than 100 miles away felt strongly connected (and 67% providing a connection score of 4 or less!).

CASE also revealed that the mean number of full-time staff stands at 1.2 per 10,000 alumni, so it is understandable why institutions take the mass approach when it comes to their engagement programmes, there are simply too many alumni to engage with on an individual level. It becomes impossible for alumni staff to have a personal relationship with every member of their alumni base, especially when engagement targets are often driven by ‘the bigger the number, the better’ quantifiable results.

Technology of course can help bridge both the gap in distance as well as the gap in alumni resources. Digital engagement platforms help provide a centralised point of contact or information for alumni to log on to. But in a world of endless distractions, saturated inboxes, constant notifications, people are increasingly exhausted and switched off by the frequent lack of consideration or personalisation for the individual at the receiving end of every news item, ping or mass email campaign.

Faced with increasingly disparate, diverse, distracted and demanding target audience, how can you make your alumni feel valued on a personal level and not just another number counting towards an end-of-year target when you are not able to actually give them that level of attention?

Recognising Individuality

As of 2019, there were a total of 164 university and higher education institutions in the United Kingdom (Statista). The UK Higher Education landscape is one of the most richly diverse in the world, with focus on nurturing independent study, debate, critical thinking, and more real-world application of teaching compared to other nations. 29 UK universities are in the global top 500, 18 in the top 100.

Motivait alumni individuality personalised experience

When marketing to potential students, universities undeniably lean into their differentiated offering. “Come study among our gorgeous buildings; investigate in the world’s best laboratory; benefit from our high graduate employability rates”. Attraction and recruitment to the university is firmly founded in what makes that specific university experience different, dynamic, and distinctive compared to any other. It only makes sense for alumni engagement to continue this approach beyond graduation through unique, differentiated experiences that attract, nurture and retain those potential supporter, volunteer and donor populations.

With the right technological capabilities, engagement initiatives can be almost automatically scaled up and made more accessible and inclusive, while simultaneously providing personalised experiences. Taking a page from Customer Engagement and Experience practices, the programmes that generate most participation and interaction for brands are those that deliver personalised, seamless, meaningful experiences that allow individuals to engage where, when and how they want. A customer centric approach revolves around utilising data and information provided to enhance every interaction throughout their journey or exploration of your platform– engaging, synchronised, attractive environments, and high performing customer-focused operations that, ultimately, make the individual feel as if everything has been made with them and their interests in mind.

By focussing on the end users that you’re looking to engage and forge meaningful relationships with, in this case alumni populations, you begin creating experiences/initiatives from a place of empathy – understanding their interests, their needs, how they will interact with the technology or expect it to respond.

Motivait alumni individuality

In an era where most of the population is aware of the data exchange for services, so much more can still be done to nurture trust and demonstrate the valuable application of consumer data. The argument being, if you’re going to request or collect data, at least use it to improve and personalise the experience by showing you understand individual preferences rather than blasting people with emails or notifications that are only in your interest.

Through technology, engagement initiatives can be almost automatically scaled up and made more accessible and inclusive. As we see consumers becoming more considerate of their personal circumstances and needs, there is a great opportunity to develop mindful experiences for them as well. Emails that are reactive but not invasive. Suggestions and recommendations that feel handpicked and perceptive, rather than random or machine generated.

Making it a reality

Universities are complex and there are many factors you could consider to determine how to deliver your alumni programme. Advancement Teams can benefit from analysing the distinctiveness of your institution and using this powerful information to design and implement effective engagement programmes for your alumni community.

Rather than looking at a programme that is successful at a neighbouring institution and using this as a basis for your next big engagement idea, first reflect on what makes your institution different and what this means for your graduates; what do they want and need from their alma mater? You need to take the time to really understand your institution and graduates.

Whatever the programme is, if you put your alumni at the heart of it, it will be more successful. University’s will never be able to truly engage with each graduate, but there are ways in which you can make them feel special enough to engage. Collecting rich data that will give you and the alumni real value, and figure out how to utilise this information to it’s fullest to design killer engagement programmes for your graduates.

In summary, know your institution, know your alumni and use this to your advantage. Utilise technology to engage alumni from afar and create ways in which your graduates can select their interest points.

 

 

 

*https://www.universitiesuk.ac.uk/latest/insights-and-analysis/higher-education-numbers

**https://www.statista.com/statistics/1084737/eu-28-adults-with-tertiary-education-attainment

^ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_universities_in_the_United_Kingdom_by_enrolment

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