In 2015, there will be a few changes to the School Marketing Podcast, but some things will remain the same (listen to the podcast at the bottom of this post).
SAME:
- We will continue to deliver high-quality content, ideas, resources about marketing your school. It’s only a short podcast twice a month, but combined with other content we produce, we trust it will be valuable.
- It is our goal to deliver 2 podcast episodes each month. While a biweekly schedule is preferred, at this time, I will commit to getting the two episodes, even if they come at the same time (sometimes a 2-part series lends itself better to coming at once); it’s not like the podcast should be offering “cliffhangers” where you have to wait 14 days to hear the rest of the series!
- On our solo shows, we will continue to keep them to the unique 14 minutes and 29 seconds in length. The name of our parent company is 1429 Creative (more here about the story behind “1429” . . . yes it is a Bible reference) and that’s why we chose the length. Research continues to show that somewhere around 20 minutes is the optimum length of a podcast (although I listen just fine to podcasts that are much longer). These solo shows will happen once a month.
DIFFERENCES
- While the solo shows will be once a month, most likely Randy will be the only host. As we reviewed our processes, we kept running into challenges of getting both of us in the same room to co-host the show. So, just as we did in a few episodes in 2014, Randy will host the solo shows that will feature Randy delivering content on a specific topic – and that will be in the 14:29 length format. Hopefully you will hear Donny some in 2015 but expect that to be as a special guest from time to time.
- The other episode each month will hopefully be a guest interview. We have had guests before, but only one guest in 2014 (listen to our 2-part series with marketing guru, John Jantsch, last spring). In 2015, we will do more guest interviews. This is an exciting change that I know will allow you to hear more success stories and great content from others who are in the school marketing space.
- While we have always asked for reviews of the podcast on iTunes (that makes sense, so that others perusing iTunes can see that this podcast offers value), we also know it is often easier to make a review on our Facebook page. So while we welcome reviews of this show on iTunes, we know encourage you to leave us a review of the podcast on our Facebook page, too!
ACTION:
We’re looking forward to a great year in 2015!
Word of mouth is the #1 source of referrals for new families – but it is also the #1 topic that schools want to know more about. In this 2-part episode (launched together with Part 1at the end of this month – see shownotes for link to Part 1), here are 23 practical word of mouth marketing ideas for your Christian school.
SHOWNOTES: (more…)
Word of mouth is the #1 source of referrals for new families – but it is also the #1 topic that schools want to know more about. So in this 2-part episode (launched together at the end of this month), here are 23 practical word of mouth marketing ideas for your Christian school.
SHOWNOTES: (more…)
For decades, websites have provided themselves on being a source of information for prospective customers. We search the web when we need to know something to help us, how something works, or what makes our life better. Websites have grown into behemoths of informational content.
Prospective families equally expect to find information on your school website. They want to know about your history, your values, your athletic programs, your academic successes and so much more. Your school website is likely laid out in a format that allows a prospective family to find out all the information they want to know.
The only problem is that information falls short in one area. It is impersonal. Remove the focus on impersonal information and replace it with inspiration!
We convince ourselves that prospective families wake up one day and determine the quality of information on your website in making their school choice. We fool ourselves into believing the right statistic, the well-written exposition on the quality of your teaching staff, or the list of academic, artistic or athletic successes can inspire a family. It doesn’t. Information informs. We must inspire families by sharing with them stories where they can find themselves in some day. The successful stories of families told in video, text or audio will arrest a mom’s attention when she is longing for another way out of the current situation with the public school. To capture the heart of a dad, we must showcase evidence that what works for other similar families could work for them, too.
Information is what people dig for once their heart is turned in the right direction. And to top it off, most of the information on your site sounds so similar to your competitors that it is unlikely that prospective parents can really tell what makes your the best choice. But stories differentiate you and allow you to customize your exhibition of evidence to the needs, problems, pains, frustrations and fears of your specific target audiences.
Keep the information but lead with inspiration.
SHOWNOTES: (more…)
If you are the Head of School, you know your role is about INFLUENCE. This impact current families, donors, alumni and of course, prospective families. But what are the tools you are using to build that influence?
If you relying on personal interaction, you will be effective but very limited to how many people you can shake hands with and have a conversation. And frankly, for most prospective families, they likely consider you “out of reach” and not very accessible. If you wait until they are on your campus to have a conversation with them or to give a presentation at an Open House, you have lost the opportunity nurture those prospective families much earlier in the enrollment process, thus possibly missing out on the critical step in developing these future families into LOYAL AMBASSADORS (families who REPEAT and REFER).
Social media affords us many opportunities to reach your prospective families with your influence. You should likely be on Twitter (here’s a quick course on getting started on Twitter) and you should consider starting a blog (here’s how you can launch a blog in 15 minutes or less). But in this episode of our bi-weekly podcast, we introduce the possibility of podcasting.
Podcasting is growing in popularity as a tool to build influence. Podcasting allows you to:
- INFORM,
- be INTIMATE with your audience audience,
- go IN-DEPTH and behind-the-scenes,
- share INSIGHTS and stories, and
- INSPIRE current and prospective families!
In this episode (only 14 minutes and 29 seconds long), you will explore these 5 reasons why every head of school, administrator or school leader should start podcasting now!. See our shownotes at the conclusion of this post.
SHOWNOTES: (more…)
Word-of-mouth is commonly mentioned as the #1 source of referrals at every Christian school I work with.
Word-of-mouth marketing is also commonly mentioned as the #1 area of marketing private schools would most likely to learn more about.
In this episode, we answer two similar questions about getting more word-of-mouth conversations going with parents. We also address the need for a parent ambassador group to encourage more word-of-mouth marketing at your school.
See our shownotes at the conclusion of this post.
SHOWNOTES: (more…)
