Marketing Strategy for Schools in the UAE

Marketing Strategy for Schools in the UAE

August 31, 2022 / blog / Comments (0)

A proven marketing strategy for schools is a powerful tool that can boost enrollment, simplify recruitment, and strengthen the community as a whole. There’s a problem, though—it’s hard to know where to start, what will work best for your school, and how to measure success. This article also covers the best marketing strategies for school, so you can apply ideas to suit your schools marketing.

To help you out, The School Agency has put together this list of proven marketing strategies for schools, complete with examples of how each one has worked for other schools in the past.

1. Update Your Website

Almost all schools have a website, but many are in need of an update. Think about what your website says about your school—is it comprehensive, accurate, and compelling? If not, it may be time for an update.

Your website should act as a hub for all of your communications and marketing channels. That means it should be easy to navigate, up-to-date, and full of information that prospective families are looking for, including pages for:

best marketing strategy for schools

  • Proven marketing strategies for schools:
  • admissions
  • academics
  • athletics
  • arts
  • alumni
  • community
  • values
  • news
  • social media

The best school websites are highly visual, with beautiful photos and engaging videos that give visitors a taste of what your school is like. They’re also easy to use on mobile devices, since that’s how most people will be accessing your site.

2. Create Compelling Content

Your website is a great place to start when it comes to creating compelling content, but it shouldn’t be the only place. Think about other ways you can reach your target audience and share your school’s story. Some ideas for compelling content include:

best marketing strategy for schools

 

  • Proven marketing strategies for schools:
  • blog posts
  • traditional news articles
    videos
    infographics
  • podcasts
  • guides (e.g., a guide to choosing the right school)
  • When creating any kind of content, make sure it’s well-written, accurate, interesting, and easily shareable.

3. Build Community Through Social Media

Most schools will have some sort of social media presence—an Instagram page, a Twitter account, and so on. The key is to make sure you’re using social media to build community and engage with your audience, not just to post announcements and content.

best marketing strategy for schools

A simple example of would be creating and engaging with a Facebook group for new families. Or for alumni to stay in touch with their teachers and peers.

By using social media the way it was intended (to connect with people), you can create a strong sense of community around your school—which is what turns parents and students into advocates and referrers.

4. Get to Know the Local Press

The media can be a powerful ally in your marketing efforts, but only if you take the time to get to know the local press. Find out which journalists cover education in your area and reach out to them to start building a mutually beneficial relationship.

Journalists are always looking for stories to fill their pages. If you can provide them with interesting, newsworthy content about your school, they’ll be more likely to write about you—and that’s free publicity for your school.

Marketing Strategy for Schools

Some simple story ideas:

  • Proven marketing strategies for schools:
  • new construction projects
  • new hires
  • exam or test results
  • sports team victories
  • alumni achievements
  • student performances

The stories don’t need to be massive headlines-
sometimes the smaller, more human-interest stories
are the most effective.

5. Make the Most of Parent Advocates

Your current parents and students are some of your best marketing assets—so make sure you’re making the most of them!

Encourage parent advocates by starting programs that connect enthusiastic parents with prospective families in their area. For example, you could create a parent ambassador program or start a parent-led tour program.

This helps connect prospective families with people who can give them an authentic look at what your school is really like. Plus, it connects them to your school’s community before they’re even a part of it.

6. Put Your Facilities to Work

Your facilities—buildings, sports fields, gymnasiums, theaters, and so on—are all potential marketing tools.

Think about ways you can open up your facilities to the community and use them to showcase what your school has to offer. For example, you could host open houses, tournaments, concerts, and other events that would attract attention to your school.

Your facilities can also be used to support your fundraising efforts. For example, you could rent out your gymnasium for a charity basketball game or your theater for a local production.

By utilizing your facilities in this way, you’ll not only generate income for your school, but you’ll also raise awareness of your school in the community. And that’s what marketing is all about—getting people to know who you are and what you have to offer.

7. Get Involved with the Local Community

Getting your students, parents, and staff involved with the local community is a simple way to increase brand awareness while making a positive impact.

This could involve:

  • Proven marketing strategies for schools:
  • sponsoring a sports team
  • organizing a food drive
  • partnering with a local charity
  • cleaning up a public area

Find ways to get your school involved in the things that matter to your community. Not only will this help you build goodwill, but it will also help you attract attention and interest from potential students and their families.

8. Invest in Professional Marketing Materials

Investing in professional marketing materials is a key part of marketing your school effectively. This could include:

  • professionally designed website
  • professionally written copy
  • print collateral such as brochures, flyers, and posters
  • promotional items such as t-shirts, water bottles, and pens

Having high-quality marketing materials shows that you’re serious about your school and that you’re willing to invest in attracting new students. It’s also a great way to make a positive first impression on prospective families.

How an Educational Marketing Agency Can Help

If you’re struggling to market your school effectively, it may be time to seek out professional help. An educational marketing agency can provide you with the expertise and resources you need to take your marketing efforts to the next level.

An educational marketing agency can help you:

  • Proven marketing strategies for schools:
  • develop an effective marketing strategy
  • design and develop high-quality marketing materials
  • plan and execute marketing campaigns
  • evaluate your marketing efforts and track results

If you’re ready to take your school’s marketing to the next level, contact The School Agency to schedule a free consultation call.

 

Tags:blog articles on private school marketing , , , , ,

avatar

Managing Director

Peter Caush