Every marketing channel has its advantages, whether it be social media, print or broadcasting. For more than a decade, however, email has consistently produced excellent results.

Here’s a quick guide to what email marketing is, why it’s useful, and how it can help grow your Christian school.

What is email marketing?

Email marketing is simply marketing conducted via email. Successful email marketing, however, goes beyond this simple definition, and is all about building relationships. There are many different formats and opportunities to use email marketing but here are a few tried-and-true tactics:

• Welcome emails: This is the most important email you can send as they often achieve the highest open rates.  This is your chance to make a good first impression.  Tell people a little bit about your school and the value you offer.  Invite them to come for a tour, or offer to answer any questions they might have.
• Newsletters: Keep parents in the loop with regular emails that provide updates, showcase highlights, or tell about upcoming events. 
• Give reminders to inspire action: Perhaps someone came to an open house and needs a follow up to inquire if they have any further questions. Perhaps a reminder is needed that enrolment is open for the following year. 
• Connect on special occasions: You can make your subscribers feel special when you tailor the content specifically to them and wish them a Happy Mothers Day, Happy Easter or Merry Christmas.

Why is email so useful?

The most useful forms of marketing are those which help to form connections and build long-lasting relationships with past, current and potential parents. And this is where email really shines.

 With email you are able to communicate one-on-one with families on a far more personal and individual level than might otherwise be the case. Email is also extremely versatile. You can do a lot and say a lot with a well-crafted email campaign. 

How can email help my school?

Email can generate a lot of return for minimal investment, reach vast audiences, and help you retain families at your school.  Email provides an opportunity from which to draw useful data about your marketing campaigns. This is because modern email marketing statistics are very simple to gather, measure, and analyze. Opens, clicks, engagement and more can be tracked, and this data can be used to measure the effectiveness of your marketing and replicate success.