9 Things to Keep Your School Volunteers Happy

YSM-twitter-image-volunteers

I admit that my possibly offensive title probably sounds like I think volunteers are a nuisance.  Actually, the point of this article is to help you find practical ways to involve school volunteers who are always asking, “how can I help?”

First of all, while volunteers are a blessing, they come with conditions.  It cannot be denied that volunteers on your marketing team operate differently than paid staff or outsourced consultants.  Administrative officials and hired contractors work for results which are often tied to how much money they make or how long they keep their job.  It’s one reason to consider NOT assigning critical, timely marketing tasks to volunteers.  While they may indicate a willingness and eagerness to help, they MAY not operate with the same sense of urgency you have.  Nor may they offer the same level of excellence you would demand of an employee or contractor.  You want to have the freedom to dislike their work without feeling like you are going to offend them and run them off from volunteering ever again (or worse, writing a bad review about your school . . . uh, see #7 below).  You want to be able to “fire” them if they do not perform.  But how do you fire a non-paid volunteer?

So what jobs can you create for your eager beavers?  Here are 7 ideas your school volunteers can do from any computer or mobile device: (more…)

[Course] Understanding the Basics of Twitter

Online Course - Understanding the Basics of Twitter
Welcome to the School Marketing Academy

Are you frustrated that while you understand Facebook, you know nothing about Twitter? You have teenagers or college students on Twitter or maybe your head of school is asking you to learn how to use Twitter but you are nervous about trying to make sense of it.

This course was designed for the beginner in mind. We walk you through understanding the basics of Twitter from creating an account to sending out your first tweet. In this course, we focus of the visual side of learning Twitter through the use of several “how to” videos that will help feel comfortable with this social media tool.

Click on the “Course Preview“above to see if this course is right for you.

Then . . .

Click here to enroll in the entire School Marketing Academy where you get this course, “Understanding the Basics of Twitter”, and many others!

 

 

 

 

 

 

As March Madness begins, this is a great time to talk up COLLEGE

As March Madness begins, this is a great time for your Christian school to talk up COLLEGE

In Texas, we have 4 different seasons. Winter, Summer, Friday Night Football and March Madness!

In August, Friday Night Lights sweeps over our schools with incredible enthusiasm [RELATED ARTICLE: “Friday Night Football – A Modern Mobile Marketing Marvel”]. As many people talk this week of NCAA’s college basketball March Madness brackets, this is a prime time to talk about your school and COLLEGE. Here are 3 ways to tie in your school marketing to what will likely be a trending (more…)

Using Vine in the Christian School Classroom

*BREAKING NEWS* Twitter finally rolls out the Vine app for Android devices. 

Until yesterday (6/3/13), Vine has been limited to iOS devices (where it has garnered over 13 millions users in just a few short months!)  So right now seems like a natural time to talk about the use of the Vine app with private Christian schools. (more…)

Are you providing a perfect pathway for prospective parents?

Private Christian School Marketing:  Are you providing a pathway for prospective parents?

Your prospective parent is looking for evidence of your school’s greatness.  Are you creating a pathway for them to discover your unique offerings?

You cannot assume every potential family is ready to enroll.  Some are only becoming aware of your existence, while some are somewhere in between. Are you providing each family profile the right kind of steps to move them to the next level?

Read this guest article that Randy wrote Providing Stepping Stones Not Stumbling Blocks“.