Are you ready to host your alumni reunion?
Full of team-building fun and nostalgic celebrations, alumni events are 100% one of the highlights of the academic calendar.
That is, if your alumni actually want to attend… *awkward*.
Make your alumni events as unmissable as graduation and as memorable as that campus party with these 11 ideas to skyrocket your alumni engagement like no other using one simple tactic: branded merchandise!
Who are alumni and why are they so important to universities?
‘Alumni’ is the name given to former students who have graduated from a school, college or university. They’re super important to a university because:
- They offer a unique opportunity for current students as role models and career support
- They’re excellent ambassadors for the university offering up-to-date free word-of-mouth marketing
- Alumni can help advise a university’s strategy towards industry trends and programme development that otherwise may have gone unnoticed.
- Universities rely on alumni for financial support. Last year, almost £1.4bn was donated to 92 institutions in the UK and Ireland, a quarter of which comes from individual donors.
What are alumni events?
Universities, schools, and colleges host alumni events for their former students who have graduated. They usually have a theme with the goal of either building relationships between the alumni themselves or strengthening bonds with the university itself.
Read more: How to Get the Best Impact at Your Freshers Fair Event
Why your brand should sponsor alumni events
Accepting the chance to sponsor an alumni event is a no-brainer for your brand - promise!
You’ll be able to increase brand awareness and visibility to a previously untapped engaged audience, whilst ‘doing good’ by helping out within your academic community (aww).
And bonus: where else would your brand get the opportunity to impress leads and potential recruits all in one place?! Now that’s some serious return on investment!
6 tips for hosting a successful alumni event
1. Prepare in advance
Being well-prepared is the key to any successful event. And, just like any event, you’ll always need more time! Get an event date in the diary and work backwards from that. Remember to order your merchandise at least three weeks in advance (depending on the items you want!) to ensure they arrive on time.
2. Work within your budget
Don’t go overboard - sometimes an alumni event can be as simple as a virtual catch-up, and just as special.
3. Keep your alumni mailing list up-to-date
Your mailing list should always be up to date, with new alumni added to it every year. To have a successful alumni event, you need to keep checking that the information you have on file is current for the best chance of reaching your new graduates.-1.png?width=400&height=200&name=blog%20images%20(6)-1.png)
4. Have a theme
Whether it’s the year they graduated or a masquerade ball, having a theme for your alumni event will add that element of fun and surprise your attendees will love.
5. Have a goal
What do you want the purpose of your alumni event to be? Is it an opportunity for your graduates to network with other alumni? Is it part of an ongoing mentorship program? Or is the goal to raise funds for your college or campus?
Determining the goal behind your alumni event will give you more direction when planning it.
6. Quality over quantity
Remember, you don’t have to invite everyone to one alumni event. Hold several or just one exclusive event to create demand.
11 ideas to improve alumni engagement using branded merchandise
Building anticipation before alumni events
1. Branded alumni event crate
Send out RSVP merch before the event to build excitement for the day. Pack them all into a branded tote for that exclusive unboxing experience.
2. Personalised vintage university merchandise packs
If the theme of your alumni event is year-specific, why not get a selection of promotional products branded with the university artwork from that era? Everyone loves a bit of nostalgia!
3. Promotional branded giveaway competitions
Another way to build excitement for the day is through email marketing competitions with branded giveaways as prizes. Splash out on one or two items that are of a higher cost to make it more enticing, and present these on the day to the winners.
4. Promote on social media
What’s great about branded merchandise is that it’s a physical form of marketing. Take images of your merch in lifestyle scenarios to publicise your event on social media to increase awareness and anticipation amongst your university community.
Read more: 10 back-to-class essentials
Create a positive networking environment
5. Supply networking kits on arrival
One reason alumni attend graduate events is for the chance to network with others. Make networking a breeze for your alumni with a selection of branded merchandise that’ll help them connect and converse easily with others.
Read more: Bored with your business card? Here are 11 exciting merchandise ideas
6. Make identification a priority
Networking hack: make sure no one has to remember anyone's name. Instead, make sure each attendee has a name badge and lanyard to minimise any potential awkwardness.
Make your event unmissable
7.Give your stand a glow-up
Make sure your event stands look superb with colourful show-stopping banners and fully brandable tablecloths. The more eye-catching, the better.
8. Branded freebies = the science of reciprocity
Promotional giveaways like sweets and feel-good treats are great for building brand awareness and trust as well as portraying a positive brand experience. Branded freebies will also encourage attendees to ‘return the favour’ to your brand further down the line.
Read more: Freebies: Adding Value the Right Way
9. Give away promotional products they’ll *actually* love
A great way to add value to your alumni event is with giveaways your alumni will actually use and love. Be it products that make their WFH careers easier or their daily commute more bearable, branded products like magnetic phone holders, webcam covers and water bottles are a great way to add value to your event.
Read more: 14 sustainable giveaways to get REALLY excited about.webp?width=400&height=211&name=blog-header-eco-giveaways-1%20(1).webp)
Make your event unforgettable
10. Alumni love nostalgic souvenirs
Don’t stop trying to engage your attendees just because your event is over! Creating branded mementoes of the day is a great way of enhancing your alumni relationship, even once the event is over. Be it with branded campus mugs or a university hoodie, attendees will love the chance to reminisce about their days spent on campus.
Read more: Isn’t it time clothing was honest? Introducing Iqoniq
Thank your alumni for attending
Thanking your alumni for attending your event with a luxury branded gift is the perfect way to end your time together…for now! A luxury pen or self-care gift set will make for an unforgettable promotional gift, and a great excuse to send a reminder for your next alumni event!
Read more: 17 luxury budget gift ideas for under £10.webp?width=400&height=211&name=blog%20headers%202023%20(5).webp)
Rekindle your alumni engagement like a pro
It’s time for the alumni event of the school year - yours!
Reconnect and reinvigorate your alumni community like a pro with the very best in academic meaningful merchandise.
Ready to make an impact with branded products?
