Get noticed! 6 Tips for Marketing your Christian School Online
A key part of marketing for private schools is attracting enrolments. Compare it to the importance of a business finding customers. Many schools, however, are still relying heavily on traditional media such as newspapers, direct mail, and billboards.
Online or digital marketing strategies can target your audience, they are measurable, and are considerably cheaper and more sustainable than traditional media.
| Type of Marketing | Traditional | Online/Digital |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Expensive | Cost efficient |
| Measurability | Not easy to measure | Measurable |
| Analytics | No analytics or reports on performance | Real time data |
| Target Audience | Broad | Easy to identify and target a specific audience |
What are some ideas for online marketing to increase enrolment? Let’s highlight six changes your school can implement today that will have a dramatic impact for the future of your school:
1.Improve your website experience
- Responsive - easy to browse and navigate whether the parent is searching on a laptop, phone or tablet
- Fast - a slow website is very annoying and parents will leave site if this is the case
- Easy to navigate - the user should be able to reach their objectives in as little time and clicks as possible
- Professional - parents will make a connection between a poor website and the education their child will receive
- Clear message - parents should easily understand the value offered, the transformation that will take place in their families (communicate your solution to the parent’s problem and the stakes involved if they choose another school for their child), and a clear path/plan to follow to enroll
See our webinar on Making your website work for your Christian School for more details
2. Improve your organic search visibility with SEO
Create your website, channels, blogs, etc. using the proper keywords for optimization. The content you create should be relevant to your audience. What questions would they be asking? What information would they be searching for?
You then want to highlight your content by incorporating proper hashtags. Use ones that are not too populated (e.g., #school), but, rather, use unique, branded hashtags or ones people in your target audience are more likely to check.
3. Create Google My Business to be found on Google
Google My Business (GMB) is one of the most important pieces of your school’s Local SEO. Therefore, make sure you create a GMB account with your school address, and ensure that your profile is completely accurate. Since many prospective parents will read reviews, invite trusted current or alumni parents to provide Google reviews for your school.
4. Create social media platforms to engage with the school community
Since a large percentage (83%) of parents use social media, this is a great platform to create community with parents and students. It is also a great way to advertise to prospective families. With proper posting, it can drive traffic to your website and increase awareness of your school in the community.
5. Engage and remind people you exist with email marketing
The key is to create value rich emails and this can be done by following some important principles. First, do not waste readers’ time by talking about yourself. Instead, develop content that speaks to parents’ challenges with their child’s education and illustrate that you understand their problems and want to help them. Link emails to your website and incorporate a direct call to action such as <Book a Tour> or <Enroll Now>.
6. Create Blogs that provides parents valuable tips and content
Blogs increase website traffic if done right. Write as often as you can because studies show that the more often a blog is updated, the more traffic it will receive. Blogs can be promoted on social media or in email newsletters to generate traffic. Write content that is valuable to parents, have catchy titles to grab attention, and include photos. Just as with emails, blogs should have a good call to action.
If you are in need of Christian school marketing strategies to boost your enrolment, contact us for a free consultation. We are here to help!
