Name
Death of the Inquiry: A Two-Funnel Framework for the Enrollment Journey
Date & Time
Thursday, September 24, 2026, 10:15 AM - 11:15 AM
Speakers
Description
Every school has an enrollment funnel, but most are only managing half of it. And the half they're missing is getting harder to reach. Consumer behavior has shifted. Today's parents research schools the way they shop for everything else: anonymously, on their own timeline, completing most of their decision-making before ever identifying themselves. Yet most schools still require a full inquiry form just to enter the process. For a growing number of families, that ask is too much, too soon. This session introduces the Two-Funnel Framework, a model that separates the research funnel from the enrollment funnel, and explains why treating them as one creates blind spots in visibility, measurement, and strategy. The research funnel is where families quietly browse and compare schools on their own terms. The enrollment funnel begins once a family makes direct contact. Most schools only see the second, missing the earlier interactions that shaped the decision. Niche will share market-level data on what families are doing before they contact a school, and how the gap between family interest and inquiry volume is growing. Two partner schools will then share how they connected these funnels in practice — through lighter-weight lead capture, CRM integration, and smarter pipeline management. Learning Objectives: Distinguish between the research and enrollment funnels, explain the behavioral shifts widening the gap, identify lower-friction entry points that capture family interest earlier, without requiring full commitment upfront, and illustrate how CRM-integrated lead data creates a more complete picture of the parent journey and enrollment ROI.
Location Name
Pacific Ballroom 26 (Ground Level)