An offline lead generation It has some particularities compared to online. In general, there is greater resistance to providing data: non-customers seem more concerned about providing contact information when offline.
This and other specificities require good strategies to capture leads with outbound marketing. It is necessary to think about creative strategies that optimize the marketing budget and generate good results.
In this post, we brought four ways to attracting students with outbound marketing.
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1. Holding events
Events are the most efficient way to generate leads offline. They help to increase the number of enrollees, in addition to being an easy way to find partners and suppliers. Obviously, the action should not be thought of with the sole purpose of generating leads, as it requires a good investment.
Once the event has been planned, the capturing leads with outbound marketing can start from the moment of registration. Take advantage of the fact that many people are willing to provide their personal information in exchange for being able to participate in in-person events.
During the action, carry out raffles and promotions that motivate participants to leave contact with the institution. If the event is held by a third party, use your stand to present the services offered and give away gifts in exchange for registration with a few questions asked.
2. Vestibular
The entrance exam campaign is a great time to generate leads with outbound marketing. Of course, the effort to attract students must extend beyond this time, but you should not miss the opportunity to bring together the largest number of people interested in a higher education course at your Educational Institution.
Pay attention to taking advantage of leads captured in previous entrance exams. Often, they are forgotten, and the institution misses the opportunity to generate new enrollments.
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3. Offline promotional actions integrated with online
Integrate offline and online actions! An example of this strategy is the use of check-in on Facebook.
A potential customer's visit to an educational institution is a good opportunity to connect with them on social media and start a relationship that, in the future, will generate new sales. With social media check-in, finding this lead becomes easier.
Furthermore, it is a form of marketing that reaches other potential customers, as this student's social circle may be interested in the services of your educational institution.
In addition to check-ins, another current and effective tactic is the use of dynamic QR codes in physical promotional materials. They allow the public to quickly access landing pages, forms or institutional videos directly from their cell phones, facilitating integration between channels and optimizing conversion. According to an article by QR Code Dynamic, QR codes are one of the most efficient tools for connecting offline actions to digital acquisition funnels, especially at events and street campaigns.
Caption: Person handwriting on school desk, representing in-person lead generation strategies.
4. Cold Calling
The concept refers to contacting someone over the phone without ever having had contact with that person before. It may be a weird way to do marketing, but it is possible to get results with this strategy.
At the beginning, you probably have superficial information about the contact, which doesn't immediately make him a lead. It is important to have a qualified team to lead the cold call, able to identify the signals of who is on the other end of the line.
The advantages of attracting students with outbound marketing There are many and they even involve possibly less competition. Competition for ads, keywords and other tools in the digital environment can be high in your segment, requiring much greater professionalization of the strategies developed.
To capture leads with outbound marketing or with inbound marketing, it is important to think about the consumer. Creating personalized strategies is what actually impacts the recruitment of students!
It is also worth highlighting the importance of personalization in offline actions, especially in locally-based campaigns. CRM and automation tools, such as HubSpot, allow you to segment leads captured in the field by region, behavior or interest.
Another relevant trend in qualifying and serving offline leads is the application of artificial intelligence and automation, especially with the use of hybrid chatbots (WhatsApp, SMS and telephone). These tools allow for the first contact with the lead, screening the information and optimizing the sales team's time.
Did you like the content? Learn more and find out if your Educational Institution is committing errors in attracting students!
How to use outbound marketing to attract students?
Do in-person events still work for student lead generation?
Yes. Events remain one of the most effective offline lead generation tactics. You can capture data during registration, run giveaways, and offer branded gifts in exchange for quick sign-ups. Events also help boost brand visibility and create networking opportunities with partners.
How can college entrance exams help generate leads?
Entrance exam campaigns are perfect for attracting qualified leads. They bring together students actively searching for higher education. Also, re-engaging leads from previous exam cycles can unlock enrollment opportunities that many institutions overlook.
How to connect offline actions with digital marketing strategies?
You can use social media check-ins or dynamic QR codes printed on brochures, posters, or banners. These tools direct users to landing pages, forms, or videos, linking the offline experience with your digital funnel while enabling real-time performance tracking.
Is cold calling still effective in the education sector?
Yes, when done strategically. Cold calling can still deliver results if the team is trained to recognize buying signals and adapt their approach to the lead’s profile. It should never be the first touchpoint, but rather an informed follow-up in a broader recruitment strategy.
What are the main benefits of outbound marketing for student recruitment?
Outbound strategies face less competition than digital ads and allow more targeted local engagement. They’re especially useful when digital channels are saturated or expensive, and can deliver high ROI when combined with CRM segmentation and local outreach.
Can offline-generated leads be personalized and nurtured effectively?
Absolutely. Tools like HubSpot CRM and AI-powered automation allow institutions to segment offline leads by location, behavior, or interests. Hybrid chatbots (via WhatsApp, SMS, or phone) can qualify leads, collect initial data, and schedule follow-ups—saving time for your admissions team.
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