The best way to attract targeted audiences is to offer them something of value, not a promotional brochure. Schools are conditioned and prone to be some of the worse self-promoters, but just about every business is guilty of it. But if we do not promote, how will they come?
I suggest that there are 3 easy ways to produce content that will attract the right kinds of families to your school: (more…)
Doesn’t every marketer, whether you are selling soap, automotive repair or a Christian school education, wish there was a magic formula for marketing? Well, I would not call it magic, but I can suggest a formula to follow.
The big picture is a formula is broken up into 3 macro sections:
STRATEGY + TACTICS + CONTENT
Now let us break this down into the specifics of the formula: (more…)
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“.
Whether it’s the Christmas Break, Spring Break, Fall Break, or even Summer Break, you probably think, “I need a break.” Yes you do.
However . . .
Your prospective families are likely on break as well and this is when they are finally finding time to check out schools. While you probably won’t schedule a one-on-one private tour of your school the day after Christmas, you cannot afford to go silent. Your marketing must continue by communicating your school’s core marketing message through a variety of ways. Here are 3 easy ways to make sure your school’s marketing doesn’t go silent:
RETAIN YOUR BEST FAMILIES – SIGN UP FOR THIS PREMIUM COURSE!
- A BANNER THAT GETS RESULTS– Run down to your local sign company and have them print up a banner to hang on a strategic location of your campus where visible by passersby (at the front gate or on the sports field fence if it’s near the road). Some families may think some of the administration or admission folks may be on campus so they may want to stop in for a visit. How disappointing to find everything locked up, shut down and totally silent. It’s like running to the cleaners at 7:15pm only to find out that they closed at 7:00. Ugh. Why not greet them with a banner that might say?:
- “We want to visit with you. Leave us a note on our Facebook page and let us know you stopped by.” (this is very passive, but you get the idea.)
- “Sorry we missed you. Visit our virtual open house on our website.” (send them to a short URL that opens up a brief video where students have put together a walking video tour around campus with brief interviews of faculty, staff, and other students.)
- “Scan the QR code to get a copy of 5 Stories of Families At Our School Who Are Just Like You.” (perhaps it takes them to a page where they upload their email address to have an autoresponder send them the link to the video. They get interaction with you and you get their email address for future follow-up).
- SCHEDULED SOCIAL CONTENT – since Facebook added the scheduling feature for posts, you are without excuse about maintaining a steady stream of content in the news feed of families. Before you walk out the door for your break, schedule a few Facebook posts to go out while you are gone. You can schedule tweets as well if you are using HootSuite or Buffer to provide content to your followers while you are off. Perhaps look for 3 different types of content (so it’s not always about you):
- Find a good informational/educational article about helping your child do better at school or even the unique benefits of private / Christian education. Look for a 3rd party site who can do your bidding so you don’t seem braggadocios. Let another source reinforce those benefits you say on your website. I have put together a Pinterest board called “Parent Articles” that might be a good clearinghouse of articles to post online.
- Next, post a promotional event – perhaps your school’s next marketing/admission event. I always prefer posting this kind of content as a photo with the details in the photo description – this is typically more effective than simply posting the text about the event. If you have enough likes (minimum of 400), you might consider promoting the post as well.
- While still about your school, grab a video link from your school’s Vimeo or YouTube channel with a testimonial from a family.
- EMAIL MESSAGES – most email marketing systems, like MailChimp or Constant Contact,allow you to draft a message and then schedule it to go out at a certain date. Don’t miss this opportunity have a quick touch point with families who are in your email database. Be sure the email message has both current AND prospective families in mind.
That’s just a few ideas to make sure prospective families looking at your school don’t find you MIA during the break.
-Randy
** UPDATE: as many schools begin to use on-demand media like podcasts and webinars, these tools provide exploring families the opportunities to interact with you, be inspired by your stories of success and become informed about who you are and why they should check out your school! Click here for a podcast episode I did with Brendan Schneider on how they are using webinars in their school marketing.
*NOTE: Register Now: “RETENTION: Keeping Your Best”!
Our customized retractable banner stands (also known as pop-up displays) are popular for several reasons:
- EASY TO TRANSPORT – these lightweight retractable stands are conveniently packed in a small bag (less than 3′ wide) with a handle which makes for easy carrying from the car to the arena.
- EASY TO SET UP – typically, it can take less than 5 minutes to pull up the banner, attaching it to a single pole, and ensuring it is clipped on the aluminum base. Absolutely no tools are required!
- QUALITY VINYL – these 10 mil indoor premium vinyl banners are durable and will last (not intended for outdoor use; they are not water-proof).
- MULTI-USE – whether set up as stand-alone displays, or next to a table or a table-top display, these reasonably priced vinyl banners can stand next to a large 10′ floor display to draw attention or highlight a uniqueness of your school. And with the right creative design, 3 or 4 stand-alone banners, could also stand next to one another to create an approximate 10-12′ wide “wall picture” (note: there is a 1-2″ gap when standing these retractable displays side-by-side.)
- FREE PROFESSIONAL DESIGN – included in your purchase of a single-sided retractable banner is our complimentary graphic design services! In addition to the vinyl banner, the aluminum stand and the lightweight tote bag, you’ll receive the option to have our design team take your logo, high resolution photos and other graphics and create an attract 4-color design the will certainly draw the attention of prospective families. With this professional design, you will be offered 1 initial concept (based on our phone or email consultation) + 2 additional revisions (additional revisions can be added at an additional fee.) Most online sites that sell similar retractable banners require camera-ready artwork or they will charge up to $125/hour for help with your custom design (bringing your total for banner, stand, and custom design to over $700!) We can answer all your questions about custom design in our phone consultation.
As you prepare for your marketing events, we would love to help design a customized retractable banner for your next open house, preview night or expo event. As an example of our work, in the right side of the image at the top of this post, you’ll see 3 retractable banners we recently designed for a nonprofit organization that works with children of abuse and neglect.
Contact us below to ask questions about pricing or to get started:
When it comes to announcing any list, you’re bound to leave off something. Nevertheless, I start a 3-part series talking about the importance of the 3 Rs of private school marketing.
I guess I could have included any of the following:
- Real-time search results
- Relationship building
- Reaching out
- Real results
Any others I missed?
But for me, every school must have a sound marketing strategy focused on the following Rs: (more…)
