Does your school have a social media presence? If not, you’re missing out on a powerful tool for marketing your programs and attracting new students.
Today’s tech-savvy youngsters are active on social media platforms and use them to research schools and colleges they’re planning to attend. By establishing an active presence on social media, you can connect with students where they are and engage them through their preferred communication channels.
In this article, we’ll describe six effective marketing strategies to elevate your online presence and draw in new students.
Utilize User-Generated Content
User-generated content (UGC) is a key focus for many social media marketers and it’s just as valuable for schools.
Authentic and engaging UGC offers prospective students a real glimpse into campus life. By encouraging current students to share photos of themselves participating in events and social activities, you help potential recruits picture themselves in those experiences.
Not only does this attract new students, but it also fosters a sense of involvement and connection among your existing students, faculty, parents, and alumni.
Leverage Your Alumni Network
Do you have distinguished or successful alumni? Keeping track of these notable graduates can be highly beneficial, as they might be interested in serving as ambassadors for your school. This approach creates a win-win situation: it enhances your school’s credibility and provides incoming students with role models to aspire to, while successful alumni can offer valuable guidance.
Since many prospective students are active on social media, identifying alumni who already have a strong online presence can be particularly advantageous. These alumni will be able to engage with and motivate prospective students through the social media platforms they are already comfortable using.
Run ad campaigns on social media
Social media advertising is one of the most effective ways you can promote your school. Social platforms like Facebook and Instagram offer unparalleled control over campaign goals and audience targeting, while also providing valuable analytics to assess ad performance and refine future efforts.
You can test various target audiences, graphics, and messaging to find what works best. To save on costs, use online tools to create professional-quality ad graphics with readily available templates. Websites like PosterMyWall offer a range of free, easily customizable templates for school admission poster templates that can enhance your advertising efforts.
Engage your audience with Stories
Social media apps like Instagram and Facebook have story features that enable you to create engaging and bite-sized content.
You can utilize this feature by showcasing campus life, dorm experiences, live event highlights, and behind-the-scenes glimpses. For upcoming events, use stories to share promotional posters and flyers. PosterMyWall is a great tool for this purpose, offering a variety of templates to help you design eye-catching flyers that match your event’s style.
Remember, stories are only visible for 24 hours, so plan your content and posting schedule accordingly.
Conduct Location-Based Marketing
Schools can utilize location-based marketing to enhance their outreach and engagement through tools like filters and location tags on social media platforms. By creating custom geo-filters for Snapchat or location-specific tags for Instagram and Facebook, schools can target potential students and their families within specific geographic areas.
This approach allows schools to promote events, showcase campus life, and highlight unique aspects of their programs directly to individuals who are nearby. For instance, a school could design a geofilter for an open house event or a campus tour, encouraging attendees to share their experiences and spread the word.
Additionally, schools can use location-based ads to reach prospective students who are visiting nearby colleges or high schools. By integrating location-based marketing into their strategy, schools can increase visibility, drive engagement, and attract new students more effectively.
