GDPR compliance in student recruitment can go overboard with a practice I call “GDPR bombing”.
Maybe you have been ‘bombed’ before. Or you may have developed a habit of ‘GDPR bombing’ yourself
It goes like this.
First, someone has an idea. Could be anything, but let’s say that it helps the institution to be more relevant in their marketing to prospective students. Soon after, the GDPR bomb gets dropped.
“Sounds like a great idea, but can we do this, with GDPR and all?”
O course, checking for GDPR compliance is not a bad thing. But asking the question too early kills off too many good ideas.
Far too often:
- No data protection officer gets consulted.
- No conclusions are drawn
- And the plan dies a silent death.
I’m not against GDPR. In fact, I think it’s GREAT for marketers. GDPR forces us to provide so much value that people will WANT to receive our email updates. And willingly consent to it. It raises the bar for any communication that goes out.
So next time someone drops a “GDPR bomb” on you, don’t drop your ambitious plans.
Go find that data protection officer. Find out HOW it CAN be done. Don’t try to game the rules.
Challenge yourself to:
- Make this SO GOOD that people will consent.
- Really respect peoples’ privacy
Agree?
