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Making the decision on where to send their child to school can be a challenging choice for families. One way to showcase your school is to hold enrollment events. From kindergarten roundups to open houses, this is a great way to get the word out about your school.
Now, you have already learned the basics in our Marketing 101 blog post. With events you are hosting, the theme may change, but how you execute the plan should remain fairly consistent.
Have a plan
It's important to have a plan for the event. Include things such as:
- Event theme
- Staff and volunteers
- Event overview including schedule
- Specific tasks by group (marketing and promotion, speakers, refreshments, etc..)
- Budget
This event planning sheet from SchoolInfo will help you get organized to help with your event success! Save a copy an customize it to match the needs of your event.
Though everything is included in the event planning sheet, there are a few things we'd like to call out.
Theme
You know what people in your community want! Are they looking for a simple open house with a school tour? Or do they need an incentive, like an ice cream social with student performances. Knowing what you want can make a difference.
Promotion
As with the theme, promotion is dependent on your local area. Does everyone listen to a specific radio station? Advertise there! If everyone uses Facebook, consider using Facebook Ads.
Remember, when creating ads, always have a strong call to action, telling your audience what action you want them to take. If you want current families to tell their family and friends, ask them to share the news. If you want prospective families to attend, make sure that is clearly stated.
Get information
Make sure to get contact information from those who attend and follow up with them. The personal touch will help convert potential families to current families.
Event debrief
Your event may be fabulous, or there may be some challenges. An event debrief can make sure you reuse ideas that worked well and that you change things that didn't go as planned. Reviewing your event after completion is also a way to make sure all of your volunteers are celebrated and heard, making sure they continue to volunteer!
If you have some questions on the basics of marketing, go back to our Admissions Tips and Tricks: Marketing 101 post. Looking for other great ideas? Our ebook, "Digital Communication Strategies for Districts and Schools" is full of great ideas to improve communication at your school. You can download it here.
