Unfortunately, there is an ongoing trend in the private school space, and that trend is a rejection by boards and even administrators to adopt digital marketing techniques. Not only are they wasting valuable time, money, and resources, but they are also missing out on the power of digital marketing.
With so many parents and students researching schools online, it’s essential to have a strong online presence. In this post, I will address some of the common objections I hear, counterarguments, and an explanation of the benefits of each solution. By the end of this article, you’ll be equipped with the knowledge and skills to boost your private school’s enrollment, stay ahead of the competition, and combat objections you have to implementing digital marketing for your private school.
The Top 9 Digital Marketing Trends That Private Schools Can’t Ignore
If you’re looking to attract and engage with more families and boost enrollment at your private school, you can’t ignore the latest digital marketing trends.
1. Digital Marketing Increases Private School Enrollment
Objection: Digital Marketing Campaigns are Time Consuming
“But I don’t have the time or expertise to manage digital marketing campaigns.”
Solution: Hire or Outsource Digital Marketing Campaigns
Consider outsourcing your digital marketing to a professional agency or hiring a dedicated in-house marketer.
Why Digital Marketing is Essential for Private School Enrollment
In the digital age, parents and students are searching for schools online. Without a strong online presence, your school could be missing out on potential inquiries, applications, and enrollments. But how do you reach your target audience? By using digital marketing campaigns that target your ideal customer. From social media posts to landing pages, a well-crafted digital marketing strategy can help you attract and convert prospective families.
2. The Benefits of SEO for Private Schools
Objection: SEO Is Too Complicated and Time-Consuming
“But SEO is too complicated and time-consuming.”
Solution: Use Tools or Outsource SEO Work
Use Search engine optimization (SEO) tools like Google Analytics and SEMrush to track your website’s performance and identify areas for improvement. You can also hire an SEO specialist to help you optimize your website.
Why Digital Marketing Important for Private Schools
SEO is the process of optimizing your website to rank higher in search engine results pages (SERPs). Optimizing your website for SEO can attract more organic traffic, generate more leads, and increase your chances of converting visitors into applicants. SEO is a long-term strategy that can help you establish your school as a thought leader in your industry.
3. The Importance of Keyword Research for Private Schools
Objection: How Do You Conduct Keyword Research
“But I don’t know how to conduct keyword research.”
Solution: Use Tools or Outsource the Research
Use free tools like Google Keyword Planner or paid tools like Ahrefs or Moz to identify high-volume, low-competition keywords for your website.
The Value of Keyword Research in Private Schools
Keyword research is the process of identifying the search terms and phrases your target audience uses to find private schools like yours. By conducting keyword research, you can optimize your website’s content and meta tags to rank higher in SERPs for those keywords.
4. Optimizing Your Website’s Content and Meta Tags
Objection: I Can’t Write Content
“But I don’t know how to write SEO-friendly content or meta tags.”
Solution: Hire or Outsource the Copywriting
Consider hiring a professional copywriter or SEO specialist to help you craft compelling content and meta tags that are optimized for SEO.
Content and Meta Tag Optimization for Your Website
Once you’ve identified your target keywords, it’s time to optimize your website’s content and meta tags. Your website’s content should be informative, engaging, and optimized for your target keywords. Your meta tags (title tag and meta description) should include your target keywords and be written to entice potential visitors to click through to your website.
5. Using Google Ads to Boost Your Enrollment
Objection: Ads Are Expensive
“But Google Ads is too expensive.”
Solution: Budget for Them
Set a budget for your Google Ads campaign and use targeting options.
Leveraging Google Ads to Increase Enrolment
Google Ads (formerly known as Google AdWords) is an advertising platform that allows you to create and run pay-per-click (PPC) ads on Google’s search results pages. By using Google Ads, you can target your ideal customer with highly relevant ads that drive traffic to your landing pages. Additionally, you can use targeting options like location, device, and demographics to make sure you’re reaching the right audience. You can also use Google Ads to retarget visitors who have previously visited your website but didn’t convert.
6. The Power of Social Media Marketing for Private Schools
Objection: Our Audience doesn’t use Social Media
“But social media is only for teenagers, not parents” or “I don’t use it or see the value in it, so why should we use it.”
Solution: Parents and Students Use Social Media to Research and Compare
Many parents and students use social media to research and compare private schools. By using social media, you can reach a wider audience and engage with potential families in a more personalized way.
The Effectiveness of Social Media Marketing in Private Schools
Social media marketing is another powerful tool for private schools. Social media platforms like Facebook and Instagram allow you to reach a wider audience and engage with potential and current families. Social media can also help you build your brand and establish your school as a thought leader in your industry.
7. The Benefits of Video Marketing for Private Schools
Objection: Video Production Is Expensive
“But video production can be expensive and time-consuming.”
Solution: DIY With Your Phone or Hire a Freelancer
You don’t need a big budget or fancy equipment to create compelling video content. Use your smartphone or a simple camera to record footage and edit it using free or low-cost editing software. You can also hire a freelance videographer or agency to help you produce high-quality video content.
The Advantages of Video Marketing in Private Schools
Private schools are using video to showcase their facilities, programs, and culture in a more engaging and personalized way.
Video marketing is a highly engaging and effective way for private schools to showcase their facilities, programs, and culture. Creating video content that resonates with potential and current families can establish a deeper connection and foster a sense of community. Whether it’s a virtual tour of your campus, a highlight reel of your extracurricular activities, or a student testimonial, video content can help you stand out from the competition and attract more families.
8. Using Personalization to Boost Your Enrollment
Objection: We Don’t Have the Resources to Do Personalization
“But I don’t have the data or resources to personalize my marketing efforts.”
Solution: Collect the Basics or Use Tools to Do It for You
Start by collecting basic demographic and behavioral data from your website visitors and email subscribers. Use this data to segment your audience and deliver more targeted and personalized content. You can also use marketing automation tools like HubSpot to automate your personalization efforts.
Leveraging Personalization to Increase Enrollment
Private schools are using data-driven personalization to deliver more relevant and personalized experiences to potential and current families.
Personalization is a digital marketing trend that’s gaining traction in the private school industry. By using data-driven personalization, you can deliver more relevant and personalized experiences to potential and current families. This can help you build stronger relationships and improve your overall user experience.
9. Chatbots Helps Increase Website Engagement
Objection: “I hate chatbots” or “No one likes them”
“But chatbots aren’t personal or empathetic enough for private schools.”
Solution: Chatbots Can Provide Quick Answers
While chatbots can’t replace human interaction, they can provide a quick and convenient way for families to get the information they need. Make sure to personalize your chatbot messages and provide clear instructions on how to reach a human representative if needed.
Chatbots Support Staff and Can Increase Website Engagement
Many private schools are using chatbots to provide quick and personalized support to potential and current families and improve their overall user experience.
Chatbots can provide quick and personalized support to potential and current families and improve your overall user experience. Chatbots can also help you save time and resources by automating common customer service tasks.
Conclusion
In conclusion, these are the top nine digital marketing trends that private schools can’t afford to ignore. By using the latest SEO techniques, social media marketing strategies, video marketing tactics, and more, you can attract and engage with more families and boost your enrollment. Remember to stay flexible and experiment with different strategies to find what works best for your school. With the right approach and mindset, you can stay ahead of the digital marketing curve and take your private school to the next level.
So what are you waiting for? Start improving your school’s digital marketing strategy today and see the results for yourself!
