Comprehensive, Real-Time Data in an Easy-to-Digest Format
Wiley Education Services’ Ranku platform collects data on the behavior and preferences of visitors as they explore the Degree Marketplace. It presents this data in an easy-to-understand format on the Analytics Dashboard. The concept of the dashboard is similar to Google Analytics, but designed to be specific to the field of higher education. Here colleges and universities can find out:
- What pages users have visited
- What programs users searched for
- Which programs are most popular overall and in specific fields
- How many users filled out a form to request more information
For visitors who do complete an information request, even more data is available, including:
- Educational background
- Average age
- Gender
- Geographic location
- What type of information they are looking for (e.g., admissions requirements, tuition, etc.)
Collecting and reporting on this data allows institutions to:
- Gain insights into the needs and preferences of prospective students
- Identify opportunities for new program offerings or potential new student markets
- See where changes in marketing strategy or messaging are needed
Data Is Presented Visually
There is no need to comb through confusing spreadsheets–the data is represented in a dynamic graphic format of tables, charts, and graphs that are easy to read even for those without a background or experience in analytics. Data can be viewed in different ways: for example, to see where prospective students are located, there is a choice to view either a graph or a map. Clicking on or hovering over graphics shows more specific data.
Analytics Dashboard users can also choose different date ranges to view visitor data over time. For instance, they can look at data for a specific program over a six-month period, or data on all of their programs over a year. Wiley can also send a monthly report customized to the institution’s needs.
Use Insights to Make Better Decisions
This ongoing data collection can provide insights that can guide higher education institutions’ strategic planning regarding program offerings. For example,
- There may be a demand for an online version of a campus program, or vice versa.
- Visitors may be seeking additional information on certain programs, suggesting content should be updated to include it.
- Demographic data can suggest new or revised messaging to speak to certain audiences.
- For university systems, popular programs at one institution may point to the possibility of offering similar programs at other system
- institutions to provide potential students with more options.
An Example of How Data Drives Decisions
Let’s say administrators at a university are looking at the data on visitors who have requested information on the institution’s bachelor’s degree programs. Because the Analytics Dashboard tracks the educational background of these visitors, the administrators are able to see that the vast majority of them have either an associate’s degree or some college credits. This means these prospective students already have a significant number of undergraduate credits, suggesting that the institution should consider accepting transfer credits to attract more students to these programs or offer more “bachelor completer” programs for this market.
Start Collecting Data Immediately
Once an institution’s Degree Marketplace is live, the platform will immediately start collecting data on web traffic. As time goes on and more data is collected, more data points will be added, which will provide even more information and insights.
