Marketers across the world have realised the powered of the internet and have integrated digital marketing tools as a pivotal part of their marketing strategy. A few years ago, marketing managers allocated most of their budgets towards traditional print media and on outdoor campaigns. However, these had a limited life. For instance, an advertisement in the newspaper, only had visibility for one day, after which the chances of it being seen by anyone was limited. This new development also applies to educational institutions like Primary and Secondary schools, Colleges, Polytechnics, Universities in Nigeria.
Today, the internet has unleashed an unending list of possibilities for marketers and schools too can benefit from this online boost by reaching out to an increasing number of parents and increasing their admission rate.
To help schools get started, here are a few tools that they could use to increase their admission rate and expand themselves
Learn The Importance Of Keyword Research
It cannot be denied that any information we are looking for, we immediately turn to Google for the answers. According to online estimates, there are close to 2.3 million Google searches that are performed every second. Schools, therefore, need to develop a robust Search Engine Optimisation strategy to attract prospective parents through search engines. This means being aware of the various search phrases that a parent would use when looking for a school and integrating the same into your website content
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Creating an inbound marketing strategy
Creating an inbound marketing strategy essentially means attracting parents to your school website by offering information that a prospective parent would be looking for. For instance, you can invest in creating relevant blogs and articles on your website which can be easily found on the internet by your target audience. You can also use these blogs to highlight various aspects of your school in detail. Events, activities and other school features can be shared with prospective parents to help them understand the essence of all that your school has to offer.
Social Media Marketing
Social media platforms such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram have become a large part of our lives and often play a role in influencing our purchase decisions. This makes it essential for schools to create an online presence and use the same to reach out to prospective students and their families. This can be done with the help of sponsored posts and pay per click (PPC) campaigns. A PPC click campaign is also the perfect tool for a short-term marketing activity or for promoting time-sensitive content such as admission driven content. When used intelligently, a PPC campaign can boost the online presence of your school tremendously.
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A call to action and landing page
When running an online marketing campaign, irrespective if it is an SEO activity, or a PPC campaign, one of the most essential elements is to create a Call to Action form that needs to be placed on the landing page. It is essential that the advertisement, the landing page and the Call to Action all tie together into a logical and compelling journey for the prospective parent or student.
Create a virtual tour
In a hyper-busy and connected era it can be difficult for parents to take the time out and to vest a school for a tour. Schools can incorporate virtual tours into their website along with 3D images of their classroom to allow parents an opportunity to view their school from any geographical location. This saves the time of the parents and yet helps them feel connected to a school despite not visiting them.
Digital marketing is not only an art, but it is also a science that lends great results to the marketer. School that can effectively create an online presence using these tools will not only be able to reach out to a larger number of parent, but they will also be able to position and present themselves as a modern school that is digitally forward and parent-friendly.