Inquiries and communication
How do you compare course inquiry sources?
The source table in Course's statistics screen groups inquiries by their recorded source. Within the selected date range and institution scope, it shows how many inquiries were received and how many of them are linked to student records.
To interpret this table, distinguish inquiry volume, conversion to a student record, and payments actually received. Comparing sources on its own does not establish whether advertising was profitable.
On this page
Distinguish the measures in the source table
The conversion rate is the number of converted inquiries divided by the number of inquiries, shown as a percentage. The percentage on screen is rounded. For a source with few inquiries, a single conversion has a greater effect on the rate.
| Measure | What it counts |
|---|---|
| Inquiries | Records within the selected institution scope and inquiry date range. |
| Sales / converted inquiries | Inquiries in that group that have a link to a student record. |
| Conversion rate | The share of inquiries that have a link to a student record. |
| Source name | The source value recorded on an inquiry, which is used as the grouping key. |
Compare sources within the same scope
Check your source names.
Review the names on the Sources screen and the values used on inquiries. Different spellings of the same channel may appear as separate groups.
Keep the date range and institutions consistent.
Select the period and institutions you want to examine in the statistics screen. If you change a filter, the same source name may represent a different set of inquiries.
Read volume and rate together.
Consider the inquiry count, the converted count, and the conversion rate side by side. Do not call a channel with very few inquiries your strongest source based on its rate alone.
Inspect the underlying inquiries.
Filter the inquiry list by source and examine the records' statuses, assigned advisors, and open tasks. Use the actual records to investigate whether a difference in the report relates to incomplete follow-up or inquiries that have not yet reached a decision.
What does the date range limit?
The source report selects inquiries by their inquiry date. It then checks whether each inquiry in that set is linked to a student record when the report is viewed. Consequently, the conversion count for an older date range can change if those inquiries are converted to student records later.
This is not a count of conversion actions performed only during the selected period. More recent inquiries may have had less time to reach a decision, so account for follow-up time when comparing conversion rates across periods.
What cannot be concluded from the conversion table?
An inquiry converted to a student record may later be associated with different education sales. The source table does not total those sales individually. To see how much has been paid, consult the payment and finance records.
The source table does not provide a cost breakdown that links advertising spend to those inquiries. Calculating advertising return or customer acquisition cost requires separately verified spending and an appropriate time period. An inquiry count alone does not establish an increase in revenue.
Frequently asked questions
Does the conversion count fall if an inquiry's status is reopened?
The source report bases conversion on the link to a student record, rather than a temporary status label. A change in status does not make an inquiry with a student-record link count as unconverted.
Why do source names appear on separate rows?
Grouping uses the source value recorded on each inquiry. Different names that mean the same thing can split the results across separate rows.
Does a high conversion rate mean more payments were collected?
No. Conversion describes a link between records, while collection describes payments actually recorded. Evaluate each using its own records.
Assess how Course fits your institution's workflow
Explore the features described on this page in your account, or discuss your institution's needs with our team.