--- title: Three Tips to Improve Your Alumni and Community Marketing description: Learn what simple changes you can make to attract a wider, more diverse audience to your college store site. image: https://foreword.mbsbooks.com/hubfs/Foreword_Online/2021%20FO%20art/Three-Tips-to-Improve-Your-Alumni-and-Community-Marketing_FO-Header_Proof-v1_210316.jpg --- - [Home](https://foreword.mbsbooks.com) - [View All Posts](https://foreword.mbsbooks.com/all) - [Visit mbsbooks.com](https://www.mbsbooks.com/) [![MBS Foreword](https://foreword.mbsbooks.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Foreword_Online/logos/fo-logo-whiteblue-400x87-nj-26080601.png?width=400&name=fo-logo-whiteblue-400x87-nj-26080601.png "MBS Foreword")](https://foreword.mbsbooks.com) # Ideas, information and industry news for collegiate retailers # Three Tips to Improve Your Alumni and Community Marketing Posted by Liz Schulte on 3/17/21, 6:30 AM Topics: [bookstore events](https://foreword.mbsbooks.com/topic/bookstore-events), [social media marketing](https://foreword.mbsbooks.com/topic/social-media-marketing), [marketing for the college bookstore](https://foreword.mbsbooks.com/topic/marketing-for-the-college-bookstore) The college store site is your most valuable resource for attracting alumni, parents and fans to shop from your store. However, these groups might not actively look for your store when they want to show their support for your college. So, how can you drive alumni and the extended campus community to your college store website? ## ![Three-Tips-to-Improve-Your-Alumni-and-Community-Marketing_FO-Header_Proof-v1_210316](https://foreword.mbsbooks.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Foreword_Online/2021%20FO%20art/Three-Tips-to-Improve-Your-Alumni-and-Community-Marketing_FO-Header_Proof-v1_210316.jpg?width=1200&name=Three-Tips-to-Improve-Your-Alumni-and-Community-Marketing_FO-Header_Proof-v1_210316.jpg)Increasing web traffic You can increase non-student website traffic in many of the same ways you go about increasing student web traffic, such as working closely with campus departments or groups like the alumni association. With a few easy tweaks, you can optimize your eCommerce site for student and alumni shoppers. Below, we have three easy ways you can tweak what your store is already doing to also reach your extended campus community. 1. **SEO** Search engines are one of the main ways customers find your site. Search Engine Optimization (SEO) is simply making it easier for search engines to direct the right traffic to you. One way to add those additional markers for search engines is with keywords. A keyword is a word or phrase that customers might use when looking for the types of products you sell. With keywords, you want to be specific. Your store might sell sweatshirts, but sweatshirts as a keyword is far too broad. To narrow it down, use a longer keyword phrase like “Women’s \[college name\] sweatshirts.” An easy way to help [optimize your eCommerce site](https://foreword.mbsbooks.com/optimizing-seo-on-your-college-store-website#gsc.tab=0) for alumni and community traffic is to think about the products you offer that alumni might be most interested in. How would that demographic search for merchandise differently than students? Including those differences in the keywords you use on your site will help ensure your store site appears higher in customers’ search results.   1. **Nostalgia** Alumni want to be reminded of their time in school and show support for their college. When you are creating social media posts, advertisements or newsletters directed toward alumni, find ways to remind them of their time in school. Sharing some old throwback pictures is a good way to spark those nostalgic memories. Or, simply consider using age-appropriate models in alumni or community marketing.   1. **Social Media** Just like with students, you have to know where your target demographics are. While students might not flock to Facebook, chances are you can reach a lot of parents or alumni there. Consider some targeted Facebook advertising and maybe include a throwback post or two a month just to keep your older audience engaged. By making a few simple changes, you can bring a wider, more diverse audience to your website and better serve the entire campus community.   [![Learn which updates helped college stores stay competitive in a rapidly changing retail environment. Download Now  ](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/445231/a68c5702-ad12-4e07-8533-812a7cc96bfb.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/445231/a68c5702-ad12-4e07-8533-812a7cc96bfb)   Share: [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fforeword.mbsbooks.com%2Fthree-tips-to-improve-your-alumni-and-community-marketing) [LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fforeword.mbsbooks.com%2Fthree-tips-to-improve-your-alumni-and-community-marketing) [𝕏 X](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?text=Three%20Tips%20to%20Improve%20Your%20Alumni%20and%20Community%20Marketing&url=https%3A%2F%2Fforeword.mbsbooks.com%2Fthree-tips-to-improve-your-alumni-and-community-marketing) [Email](mailto:?subject=Three%20Tips%20to%20Improve%20Your%20Alumni%20and%20Community%20Marketing&body=I%20thought%20you%20might%20be%20interested%20in%20this%20article%3A%0D%0A%0D%0Ahttps%3A%2F%2Fforeword.mbsbooks.com%2Fthree-tips-to-improve-your-alumni-and-community-marketing) #### Related articles on MBS Foreword [![Winter Blues Buster Events](https://foreword.mbsbooks.com/hubfs/Foreword_Online/2025%20FO%20art/Winter-Blues-Buster-Events_FO-Header_Proof-v2_260209.jpg)](https://foreword.mbsbooks.com/winter-blues-buster-events) [Winter Blues Buster Events](https://foreword.mbsbooks.com/winter-blues-buster-events) [![Summer Sales Opportunities](https://foreword.mbsbooks.com/hubfs/Foreword_Online/2025%20FO%20art/Summer-Sales-Opportunities_FO-Header_Proof-v3_250512.jpg)](https://foreword.mbsbooks.com/summer-sales-opportunities) [Summer Sales Opportunities](https://foreword.mbsbooks.com/summer-sales-opportunities) [![4 End-of-Year Campus Store Events to Increase Sales](https://foreword.mbsbooks.com/hubfs/Foreword_Online/2025%20FO%20art/4-End-of-Year-Campus-Store-Events-to-Increase-Sales_FO-Header_Proof-v1_250401.jpg)](https://foreword.mbsbooks.com/4-end-of-year-campus-store-events-to-increase-sales) [4 End-of-Year Campus Store Events to Increase Sales](https://foreword.mbsbooks.com/4-end-of-year-campus-store-events-to-increase-sales) #### Article comments ### Subscribe for updates ### Share your experience [Contact our editorial team](mailto:mktgserv@mbsbooks.com?Subject=Foreword) to set up an interview or to contribute a guest post. ### Most popular posts ### Most popular topics - [college bookstore industry trends (60)](https://foreword.mbsbooks.com/topic/college-bookstore-industry-trends) - [campus bookstore marketing (29)](https://foreword.mbsbooks.com/topic/campus-bookstore-marketing) - [wholesale textbook ordering (28)](https://foreword.mbsbooks.com/topic/wholesale-textbook-ordering) - [textbook industry trends (27)](https://foreword.mbsbooks.com/topic/textbook-industry-trends) - [college bookstore system (24)](https://foreword.mbsbooks.com/topic/college-bookstore-system) #### Contact MBS **Customer Service** 800-325-0530 cserv@mbsbooks.com **Order Processing** 800-325-0577 [![Go to mbsbooks.com](https://foreword.mbsbooks.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Foreword_Online/logos/fo-mbs-logo-footer-240116-1.png?width=103&name=fo-mbs-logo-footer-240116-1.png "Go to mbsbooks.com")](http://www.mbsbooks.com/) #### Stay Connected With Us As MBS’ signature publication, Foreword is dedicated to offering daily industry insight and cutting-edge news that keep college retailers ahead of the curve. Follow us on social media. Contact us with ideas and feedback. Subscribe for regular updates. [![icon_LinkedIn](https://foreword.mbsbooks.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Foreword_Online/logos/fo-icon-linkedin-240116-1.png?width=42&name=fo-icon-linkedin-240116-1.png)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/mbs-textbook-exchange) [![icon_Twitter](https://foreword.mbsbooks.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Foreword_Online/logos/fo-icon-x-240116-1.png?width=42&name=fo-icon-x-240116-1.png)](https://twitter.com/mbstextbook) [![icon_Vimeo](https://foreword.mbsbooks.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Foreword_Online/logos/fo-icon-vimeo-240116-1.png?width=42&name=fo-icon-vimeo-240116-1.png)](https://vimeo.com/mbstextbook) [![icon_Instagram](https://foreword.mbsbooks.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Foreword_Online/logos/fo-icon-instagram-240116-1.png?width=42&name=fo-icon-instagram-240116-1.png)](https://www.instagram.com/mbstextbooks/) © 2026 MBS. All rights reserved. [Privacy Policy](https://www.mbsbooks.com/disclaimer/privacy-policy.php) | [CA Privacy Policy](https://www.mbsbooks.com/disclaimer/privacy-policy.php#ca) | [Terms of Service](https://www.mbsbooks.com/disclaimer/tos.php)