How Automated Emails Can Help You Nurture More Prospects

Let’s face it — university admissions teams have a lot on their plates.

Between attracting new prospects, building relationships, and converting those leads into enrolled students, it’s a full-time job (and then some). And while personalisation is key, doing everything manually just isn’t scalable.

The good news? You don’t have to choose between efficiency and engagement.

With email automation, your team can deliver timely, relevant, and personalised messages to prospects — without spending hours crafting individual emails. It’s one of the simplest ways to save time, stay responsive, and guide prospective students through the decision-making journey.

Let’s explore how it works — and why it’s such a powerful tool for modern admissions and marketing teams.

Why Email Automation Matters in Higher Education

Today’s prospective students expect fast, helpful communication. If they register for an event, download a brochure, or start an application, they want to hear from you — right away.

But manually following up with every individual is time-consuming (and frankly, unsustainable). That’s where email automation steps in.

By using marketing automation tools — like those built into Full Fabric — you can:

• Send the right message at the right time.
• Trigger emails based on behaviour, not just static timelines.
• Personalise messages using data from your CRM.
• Track engagement and refine your strategy over time.

Best of all, once your workflows are set up, they run automatically in the background — giving your team more time to focus on meaningful interactions.

‍

A Realistic Example: What an Automated Email Workflow Looks Like

Let’s say your team attends a postgraduate recruitment fair. You meet several students interested in your upcoming Marketing MSc.

Here’s how automation could help you nurture those leads:

1. After the event, you send a targeted SMS thanking them for stopping by and sharing a link to start the application.
2. When someone clicks the link, they automatically receive a follow-up email with more details about the course and a personalised message from the programme director.
3. A few days later, another email arrives with a CTA to attend an open day — tailored to their course of interest.
4. Meanwhile, your system is tracking every interaction, from email opens to form submissions, giving you insight into each prospect’s level of interest.
5. With this data, your admissions team can focus their time on the most engaged leads — and send additional tailored content when it matters most.

All of this happens with minimal manual effort. And the student on the other end? They feel seen, supported, and encouraged to take the next step.

‍

Beyond Email: A Multichannel Opportunity

Automation isn’t just for emails.

You can also trigger communications across other channels — like SMS, in-app messaging, and even social media — based on user behaviour. For instance:

• Send a reminder SMS before a webinar.
• Share a video from a course tutor when someone completes a form.
• Offer personalised programme suggestions via chatbot.

By coordinating your efforts across multiple touchpoints, you’re creating a consistent, student-centric experience — one that builds trust and drives action.

‍

The Bottom Line

When done well, email automation isn’t robotic — it’s responsive, relevant, and remarkably effective.

It helps your team:

• Stay in touch with more prospects.
• Deliver messages that feel personal and timely.
• Reduce repetitive admin work.
• Improve conversion rates at every stage of the funnel.

Ready to take the pressure off your team and connect with more prospective students? Book a demo to see how Full Fabric’s built-in email automation can support your recruitment strategy.