Has your school’s marketing strategy stopped performing like it used to? It might be time to go back to marketing 101 and grab some easy wins.
From assessing your competition to harnessing creative thinking, there are simple approaches you can take to get your school's marketing back on track.
The key to success is to stay focused, motivated, and always open to new ideas and approaches. With these seven easy marketing wins for schools, attracting your ideal students to your school will be a cinch.
Look sideways at your competition
One of the best ways to improve your marketing efforts is by taking regular peeks sideways at your competition. Pay attention to what they're doing, what's working for them, and what could be improved. This can help you identify gaps in the market and develop a marketing strategy that sets you apart from the comp. It’s not about replicating what they’re doing, it’s about using industry leaders as your inspiration. A common sense approach if we ever heard one! By understanding what other schools do, you can make informed decisions about your marketing efforts and stay ahead of the curve.
Consider your data—thoroughly
Data is a powerful tool that can help you steer your school in the right direction using more than just gut feeling and intuition. By assessing your website’s analytics, social media insights, and other data sources, you can identify trends, track progress, and adjust your game plan to be driven by numbers. This can help you improve your marketing efforts, achieve your goals more effectively and spend your precious marketing budget wisely! When considering your data, just be sure to focus on the metrics that matter most to your school's success. It can be easy to get sidetracked by the sheer possibility of what can be tracked.
Write strong copy that highlights your school’s personality
Strong copy can make all the difference when it comes to attracting and engaging prospective students and parents. By highlighting your school's personality and demonstrating its strengths and unique value proposition, you can create a compelling message that will resonate with your families. Make sure you use clear, concise language that feels natural, and avoid jargon or overly technical terms. Use your copy to tell a story about your school and why it's the best choice for prospective students.
Make sure your communication channels are organized
Effective communication is crucial when it comes to marketing for schools, as parents need to see evidence that you’re running a tight ship. Make sure that your communication channels, such as email, social media, and website, are organized and consistent. This can help you provide a seamless experience for your audience, and ensure that they receive the right message at the right time. Best of all, school staff won’t be bombarded by questions, just because they didn’t know where to look for the answer. Consider creating a communications calendar to help you stay organized and ensure that your messaging is consistent across all channels.
Encourage collaborative work with other departments
Collaboration between departments is key when it comes to effective marketing, particularly for schools. Encourage your marketing team to work closely with other departments, such as admissions and academic departments, to ensure that your messaging is aligned with what the rest of the school is saying. This can help you create a cohesive voice that supports your school's goals and objectives. By empowering your marketing team to work collaboratively with other departments, you can ensure that everyone is working towards the same goals and objectives.
Invite some out-of-the-box creative thinking
Creative thinking can help you develop innovative marketing strategies that set your school apart from the competition. Encourage your marketing team to think outside the box and come up with new and creative ideas for promoting your school. Consider hosting monthly brainstorming sessions or design thinking workshops to help your team generate new ideas and fresh approaches to problems. By encouraging creative thinking, you can develop a marketing strategy that is engaging enough to help you stand out from surrounding schools.
Have a clear plan and solid, achievable goals
It may sound obvious, but when it comes to marketing your school, it's important to have a clear plan and solid, achievable goals. Set specific, measurable goals that align with your school's overall objectives, and develop a plan that outlines the steps you need to take to achieve those goals. Make sure that your plan is realistic and achievable based on the resources you have on hand and the support you have to pull it all off without a hitch. By having a clear plan and solid goals in place, you can stay focused, motivated, and on track to achieve your marketing objectives. Woo-hoo!
Wrapping up
Effective marketing for schools requires a combination of strategic thinking, creativity, and collaboration. By following the tips and tricks above, you'll be well on your way to achieving your marketing objectives.
.png)