Grow Your LinkedIn Alumni Group By 5PM Today

There are over 86,000 alumni groups on LinkedIn catering to traditional high school and college alumni groups, and a wide range of corporate alumni including McKinsey (7,800 members), Goldman Sachs (8,800 members) and Bain & Company (5,600 members).

Yet, most of these groups grow organically at a slow pace, and few count more than 20% of their global alumni population as members.

Over the last four years, Bowdoin College Alumni has grown to 3,100 members representing 17% of Bowdoin’s 18,000-person global alumni community. However, there are 8,500 Polar Bears on LinkedIn.

Why haven’t more than 35% of Bowdoin alumni on LinkedIn joined the group?

Bowdoin’s doing much better than most.

• 30% of Carnegie Mellon alumni on LinkedIn have joined Carnegie Mellon Alumni.
• 25% of Brown University alumni on LinkedIn have joined Brown Alumni Association.
• And while Princeton touts an industry-leading 60%+ alumni giving participation rate, only 12% of Princeton alumni on LinkedIn have joined Princeton University – Alumni Association.

Alumni LinkedIn Group Participation Rate

So what gives?

One of the challenges is that discovery of alumni groups is difficult amidst a sea of over one million LinkedIn groups.

But there is a very easy, FREE way to grow your LinkedIn group in just a few minutes. Here’s how:

Step 1 – Select Your Alumni Group

Step 6 – Watch your Group Grow!

If you try the steps above, please let us know what kind of uplift you see in your alumni group membership.

If you’re interested in learning more about how LinkedIn groups can help you engage your alumni community, please listen to the free webinar below, or send us an e-mail at marketing@evertrue.com.

Ever True!
Brent

Alumni Engagements – Cupid’s Campus

In honor of this amorous holiday, we thought we would take this opportunity to look at #alumnilove a little bit more seriously.  When I receive my alumni magazine, one of my favorite things to do is look at the wedding announcements section.  I am always in awe of how many Bowdoin couples end up marrying each other.  I remember touring the college and hearing that 50% of Bowdoin alums marry another alum.  Fifty percent?! This statistic seemed shocking, and it was—later being disproved when I checked with my alumni office that estimated only 9% of Bowdoin alums were married to one another.

Swarthmore College is known as the “Quaker Matchbox” for its ability to match fellow alums.  The once all male college has 19,474 living alumni.  Of this alumni population, 2,602 (about 13%) of those alums are married to one another, further validating the matchbox moniker.  These statistics only include alumni who have reported their marital status to the college.  My suspicion is that this number, at both Bowdoin and Swarthmore is actually higher.

This past weekend one of my best friends from college, Kaitlin, got engaged to another fellow Polar Bear.  One of the first things she told me was, “You are responsible for bringing the Bowdoin banner to the wedding”. I can already picture the photo of the huge group of Bowdoin alumni at the wedding—friends who all watched Kaitlin and Peter’s relationship blossom on campus.  I asked Kait to comment on whether she feels being in a relationship with a fellow alum influences her ongoing relationship with our alma mater.  Her response: “Being engaged to a fellow alum helps us both stay more connected to Bowdoin and our friends there.  It is a really important shared experience for us that helped to shape our relationship.”

In 2010 The Princeton Alumni Weekly took a closer look at alumni “engagement” statistics.  While they were unable to track down an exact number of Princeton couples, the resounding trend was that the Ivy League campus is a veritable love nest, not only forming couples while they are studying at Princeton, but often far after, with couples meeting at alumni events and through friends.

The article quotes a Princeton alum and psychologist, Julie Anderson, who says, “Sharing common experiences, intellectual pursuits, and friendship circles are among the many aspects that can strengthen relationship bonds.”  Both college and high school are times when people are learning new things about themselves, meeting new people and actually “growing up”.  This is a perfect environment in which to foster and grow a relationship.

At EverTrue we all pride ourselves in being active and involved alumni and true to form, we have two members of our team who have embraced #alumnilove.  VP of Alumni Engagement, Jesse Bardo, takes his title to heart following his engagement to a fellow Andover alum.  I asked Jesse’s fiancé Courtney about her alumni engagement.  She said, “I have always been obsessed with Andover, but now [being with Jesse] I am even more crazy about the school and being a loyal alum.  It’s a big part of each of our lives that we can share.”

If you want to read more alumni engagement stories, both Cornell University and Georgia Tech share some great ones both here and here.

Happy Valentine’s Day from team EverTrue.  Remember to spread the #alumnilove!

Rivalry Week: Alumni at Phillips Andover and Phillips Exeter

Photo Credit to LOCPix, an app developed by EverTrue Developer PJ Gray

For our last post of rivalry week, we take a look at one of the oldest rivalries in high school contests between two top ranked prep schools, Phillips Andover and Phillips Exeter. This rivalry began at the schools’ origins when Samuel Phillips JR. established Phillips Andover at Andover, Massachusetts in 1778 and was followed just three years later by his uncle John Phillips in his establishment of Phillips Exeter at Exeter, New Hampshire. Today Phillips Andover and Phillips Exeter boast a healthy amount of well known alums who have made significant contributions to society. Ulysesses Grant and Facebook’s Mark Zuckerberg are two of Exeter’s famous names. Andover boasts Benjamin Spock, Artist Frank Stella, Central Park Designer Fredrick Law Olmsted, and both President Bush’s amongst others.

EverTrue’s VP of Alumni Engagement and Andover alum, Jesse Bardo, recounts his experience with the rivalry, “Andover plays Exeter in every sport, the last week of the season, every season. Your team may not win a single game the entire year, but if you beat Exeter, the season is a success. The rivalry is still strong for me out in my professional life today. I meet Exeter alums and that is the first thing we talk about. It is an incredible tradition to be a part of. I remember every win I had against Exeter.”

When approaching these two distinguished school’s alumni communities on LinkedIn, it is easy to see that there is much in common for the Phillips family. Both school’s alums attend fine institutions, Harvard and Yale topping for both schools as the most attended only to be followed by other Ivy’s. Financial Services and Law Practice are both common industries for alums to land and a large portion stay close to their New England roots by vying for positions in Boston and New York City.

Beyond demographics of the alumni communities that we found on LinkedIn, the academies are both active on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Let us know if you have a rival that you would like for us to highlight on the EverTrue Blog!

Rivalry Week: Alumni of Syracuse and Georgetown

While growing up in Central New York I had become, and still remain, an avid fan of the Syracuse Orange. If you ask most Syracuse University basketball fans who their biggest rival is, you will most likely hear about the Hoyas from Georgetown University. Tonight, the two top ranked teams meet each other again to contend for court supremacy.

Off the court, these two highly esteemed universities produce excellent alums that head often toward different paths. SU’s well regarded Newhouse School of Communications produces many alums who work in the marketing and advertising industry. While, being located in the heart of politics in D.C., Georgetown attracts recruiters from government organizations and is the starting point for many alums who enter into a career of public service or law.

Regardless of their differences, both schools are heavily engaged in social media for their alumni communities. Although half the size of the Syracuse Alumni Community, Georgetown still boasts an impressive 6,401 Likes on their Facebook Alumni page. Meanwhile, the Orange proudly maintains one of the most influential Twitter handles in higher education.

From our analysis of the alumni of this classic Big East rivalry, here are a few highlights:

• SU Alums & Georgetown Alums Often Stay Close to the Campus of their Alma Mater

• A High Number of SU Alums Serve as Owners of a Business

• Georgetown Alums Are Active in Public Policy

• The Orange and the Hoyas have similar engagement in their Alumni LinkedIn Groups

Let us know if you have a rival that you would like for us to highlight on the EverTrue Blog!

Rivalry Week: Alumni at Williams and Amherst

ESPN, the popular 24/7 sports network, will be starting today their annual college basketball “rivalry week.” As the teams hit the court for battle, EverTrue has decided to look at a few compelling rivalries that excite our team.

Today, we feature a college basketball matchup slated for this upcoming Friday between two prestigious liberal arts colleges hailing from Western Massachusetts.

Williams College and Amherst College, both members of the NESCAC Conference and part of the “Little Three”, saw their first match on the football field in 1884, and now for over a century have seen their rivalry grow over a variety of athletic contests.

Beyond sharing purple jerseys, a close observation of the two schools on LinkedIn makes it readily apparent that colors is not all that these schools have in common. Here are a few of our observations:

• Williams and Amherst alums share top popular industries: law, finance and higher education
• Alums from both schools tend to land in NYC, Boston and San Francisco (in that order)
• Goldman Sachs and J.P. Morgan are top employers for both colleges

When noting their alumni on their LinkedIn, the game remains close. The slightly larger Williams (Williams at 2,188 undergraduates vesus Amherst’s 1,795) takes an edge with 4,878 members over Amherst’s 4,049.

Yet, lastly, it appears that in other social mediums the two schools differ:

Williams has placed their attention to a Twitter account dedicated to their alumni with 632 Followers.

Meanwhile, Amherst has emphasis to a Facebook page for their alumni with 2,208 Likes.

How does your alumni office match with your athletic rivals’ in social media? What channels have you found most effective for engaging with your alums?

3 Awesome Boston Alumni Hangouts

This is a guest post from Kelly McDonald, a passionate alumna of Babson College, Emma Willard and a member of the Junior League of Boston.

From the moment we graduate from our alma maters, alumni are peppered with invitations for events and get-togethers. Recent alums are asked out to brunch, grab some cocktails and perhaps even hear from a faculty member on future of our institution.

Personally, I love going to these alumni gatherings to catch up with friends that I may have lost touch with, but also see what everyone is doing with their lives. When I receive my invitation for an event, I want to know where I will be going. Is it that swanky new restaurant that just opened up? Or, is it the bar we went to in college with the dollar drafts?

Since you already know who will be going and what you’ll be talking about, the setting is often the most exciting part. Sending in a “Yes” on your RSVP is a wonderful way to try a new place in your city that you otherwise wouldn’t have found. The location of the event is going to set the tone for the entire evening, so choose wisely. To make things easier, we came up with a few alumni hot-spots to get your party off on the right foot. We are starting this series in Boston, where EverTrue is located, and hope to expand to other cities with your suggestions.

Back Bay Social Club – The Crowd Pleaser
I love Back Bay Social Club. I recently attended an alumnae event here on a Wednesday evening and there was another alumni event being held in their downstairs room. Two crowded alumni events on a frozen Wednesday in January? Obviously, they are doing something right. The ambiance is swanky, but comfortable, with great cocktail and food menus. It’s located right across from the Prudential Center on Boylston, so it’s easy to get to by the T and there are also many parking options close by. The staff at BBSC is very accommodating and will block off a section of the main floor or even set you up with a private room free of charge depending on the number of guests. Come for your event, but stay for their burger- YUM!

Harpoon Brewery – Happy Hour
The 5:30 Club at Harpoon Brewery is a great way to unwind with fellow alumni after a hard day at the office. During the 1.5 hour tasting, the brewery staff will tell you about the history of this beloved Boston institution and you’ll learn just what goes into making your favorite beers. Catch up with an old professor while sampling some of Harpoon’s dozen brews on tap in the tasting room. With the low rates for renting the tasting room, it’s a perfect choice. Once you’ve found your new favorite beer, you can even grab a growler or a case of it to bring home. Catching up, learning something, and trying some new beers? This is sure to be a popular event.

Eastern Standard – Fundraising Power Play
Planning an intimate event with high-profile alumni or school leaders? Then the Eastern Standard is an ideal location. This swanky spot is the perfect setting for doing some serious fundraising over the house made charcuterie and oysters from the Raw Bar. An extensive and creative cocktail list with Whiskey Smash and Pisco Sour, just to name a few, will please even the most discerning of attendees. Eastern Standard offers a private room than can seat up to 16 and they can also block off sections of the restaurant to accommodate larger parties. This is an extremely popular spot, especially during Red Sox season since it’s so close to Fenway Park, so plan ahead to hit your annual fund goals!

Hopefully you all can get out to an alumni event of your own in the next few weeks. These events are great to catch up with classmates you’ve lost touch with and make some really great professional connections. If you’re looking to make a career move, meeting up with fellow alumni is also an incredibly easy way to network and ask around for help.

Whether for work or play, where have you been to a memorable alumni event of your own? Tell the team at EverTrue!

Mobile Infographics for Alumni (3/3)

This is the final post of a series that highlighted infographics showing trends in mobile.

For the last infographic in this series EverTrue takes an international look at the smart phone phenomenon. In alumni communities that are increasingly international, the need (and ability) for mobile to help connect far away alumni with their schools and one another is more important than ever before.

If you believe that mobile is only big here in the States? Think again.
Check out some of these stats provided by the Daily Infographic:
• In the UK 22% of adults and 47% of teens admit answering their “handsets in the loo.”
• In Russia their are 1.54 mobiles per person.
• In China 70% say they “can’t live without their mobile phone.”

Do you have alumni in each, or any, of the foreign countries below?

Also, make sure to check out our recent webinar on “LinkedIn for Alumni Engagement and Prospect Research!”

LinkedIn for Alumni Prospect Research and Engagement

EverTrue held its first webinar last Wednesday, entitled ”LinkedIn for Alumni Engagement and Prospect Research.”

If you were busy or just missed it, no worries, we recorded it for you.

While focusing on alumni groups and advanced search, EverTrue CEO and Co-founder Brent Grinna provided insight on how alumni offices can best utilize LinkedIn for increased engagement with their alumni communities. With attendees from both independent schools and universities, domestic and international, a great conversation sparked on how LinkedIn can benefit a variety of institutions.

By tapping into the world’s largest professional network, the webinar addressed questions like:
•What are the top industries, locations, companies and groups of your alumni community?
•How can you sort your alumni by educational experience and job title?
•What are best practices for alumni groups on LinkedIn?

A special thanks to all those who attended.

Have an idea for our next webinar? Shoot us an email at marketing@evertrue.com!

Mobile Infographics for Alumni (2/3)

This is post two of a weekly series that will highlight infographics showing trends in mobile.

From the famous “Zach Morris Block Phone” to the modern day iPhone 4S, improvements to mobile devices come around as often as your next alumni reunion!

In this post EverTrue features an infographic on “Mobile Phone Evolution” from the team at Wilson Electronics.

Some entertaining facts:
• The “flip phone” was first produced by Motorola in 1989
• Color screens were first introduced in 1997 from Siemens
• The Motorolla RAZR, sold more than 130 million units, becoming the best-selling clamshell phone in the world
• The LG Optimus 3D is the world’s first full 3D smartphone

What’s your favorite phone on the list? Do you remember any of the ones below?

Tell us your mobile phone stories!

Mobile Infographics for Alumni (1/3)

This is post one of a weekly series that will highlight infographics showing trends in mobile.

Whether providing job search advice to alums or demonstrating the importance of alumni offices to give career assistance, EverTrue is constantly on the look out to help alumni in the job search.

When we first saw this infographic by Beyond we were instantly excited to share it on our blog. Here are some of the highlights:
• 25% of job app searches are for entry/grad level jobs.
• 77% of job searchers use mobile apps.
• The ability to respond quickly to new job opportunities accounts for over 36% of mobile job searches.

Have you ever used a mobile app while in the job search, or know someone who has?

Interested in mobile apps to help connect your community in the job search? Give us a shout!