Today, more and more schools are using chat bots to improve how they communicate online. Chat bots for education are especially helpful for communication around admissions, FAQs and parent support. They help to enhance user experience, streamline communication and improve engagement on school websites, particularly for prospective parents, students and staff. Chat bots can make a very useful addition to your website. This blog explores the benefits of chat bots and looks at how schools can easily get started by working with an agency that understands the education sector.

What is a chat bot and how does it work?

A chat bot is a computer program that is designed to hold an online conversation with a human being. Typically using text, the website visitor tends to feel as though they are messaging another person, even though many know otherwise.

Both education and student expectations are evolving. In this digital world we live in, everyone is looking for instant communication – no one more so than a young learner. With a school website chat bot, they can have exactly that.

Low maintenance, you don’t need technical knowledge to have one – a digital agency can handle the planning, setup and ongoing support.

Why your school website needs one

You may be wondering how schools use chat bots. There will be times when parents can’t find the information they need. The chances are your admin teams are pretty stretched, and opportunities for engagement could be missed. A chat bot can give them what they need at the moment they need it, making lost opportunities a thing of the past.

If you partner with the right agency from the outset, you can relax, knowing that your chat bot is setup to work efficiently for you 24/7/365 – there to answer questions and make your website visitors feel you are doing your best to help them around the clock.

What WEBPRO Education can help you do

A digital agency can ensure your chat bot is set up to make your website a highly useful resource for all visitors and stakeholders. WEBPRO Education has helped many schools and educators set up their chat bot service. We are very well qualified in:

• Identifying key questions and user needs, as we are so experienced in this area
• Writing helpful and friendly bot scripts that help direct the user appropriately
• Integrating the chat bot with your current website for a seamless user experience
• Keeping it updated with seasonal info, such as open days or term dates, so they don’t need to call in to the office, they can access the details they need instantaneously
• Ensuring it reflects your school’s tone and values, keeping to your brand style guidelines

Benefits of using a chat bot on your school website

Education chat bot benefits include:

• Faster answers for prospective parents. By having ready-made responses to the most asked questions around admissions, parents can make informed decisions.
• More enquiries captured out of hours. Website visitors will appreciate the instant responses a chat bot can bring around the clock.
• Fewer repetitive calls or emails for office staff. If set up properly, a chat bot makes a low maintenance digital assistant, saving your school time and resources.
• Stronger impression of professionalism and innovation. Prospective parents and students will value your professional and innovative approach.
• Better overall website experience. All website visitors will enjoy an enhanced user experience.

Real examples of what a school chatbot can do

Typical educational chatbot provisions include:

• Efficient school tours or open events booking, with reassuring booking confirmation for users and easy to collate information for schools
• Easy to find year group or curriculum information, helping users access what they need, fast. This acts as a warm welcome for newer students and is very useful for all
• Directing sixth formers to application portals, providing additional support for when pupils need it most
• Gathering interest in nursery or reception places so schools can prepare for the next academic year
• Surfacing SEND or pastoral care support resources can be highlighted to help those who might need these provisions

Things to look for in a chatbot partner

When you use an agency to help set up and manage your chat bot service, you will not only help your website visitors in ways you may not have been able to otherwise, you will also maximise opportunities – for promoting your school as a whole, for promoting individual services, for gathering data and for saving resources. A good agency will:

• Have experience working with schools or MATs
• Be able to customise design and tone of voice
• Manage reporting and analytics to track engagement
• Provide ongoing support and seasonal updates
• Secure hosting and data protection standards

Final thoughts

A chat bot is like a long-term digital assistant that can grow with your school. When it is set up right, it can save you, your office team and even teaching staff, valuable time and resources. It can help your website visitors in many ways and can help to develop trust.

Whatever your reasons for considering one, whether you primarily need a chat bot for admissions, or you’ve been looking at chatbots for student support, you won’t have to build it yourself – a trusted agency partner can make it easy to implement and manage. As the preferred website and digital marketing supplier to many schools, WEBPRO Education can help. Why not get in touch for a demo or consultation?