There’s an old saying in marketing: if people don’t know about your product, they won’t buy it. This is because they aren’t aware of your product’s existence or the unique features that make it stand out from other well-known products. Without awareness of the product or service, there will be no demand.
The same holds true for schools. If schools want to increase admissions, they need to make their school visible to parents and raise awareness about what they provide. The teachers, campus, staff, and facilities are all part of the school’s “offerings.” But even if everything about your school is top-notch, it won’t attract more students if parents don’t know about it. For getting more admissions, your school needs to ensure it is seen by the right people.
In this blog, we’ll share simple strategies to get more admissions for your school:
1. Display Your School on Billboards, Banners, and Hoardings
Many parents commute daily, following the same route to work each day. This presents a great opportunity to make your school visible to potential students’ parents. Depending on your budget and location, you can choose between billboards, banners, or hoardings—or even use a combination of all three. Although this is one of the oldest forms of advertising, it remains highly effective when executed strategically.
Before you start, ensure everything is in place: an attractive design, clear and concise messaging, and optimal locations. You can either handle this yourself or hire specialists who can research and create the ideal billboards, banners, or hoardings for your school. These experts will also select the best locations, such as the busiest roads, parks, gym, and streets near your school, and ensure the signage is positioned at right height and angles where it will be easily seen.
Once up, your billboard, banner, or hoarding will catch the attention of parents, grandparents, and even students themselves, helping to increase school admissions.
Make sure you prominently put your phone number on these, so that parents can call you up easily.
2. Place Offline Ads in Strategic Places
In addition to billboards, banners, and hoardings, other offline advertising methods can effectively attract more admissions to your school. These include posters, flyers, brochures, vehicle wraps, and metro ads. The key is to place these ads in strategic locations where parents, guardians, and students are most likely to notice them.
Traditionally, parents decide which school their children will attend, but nowadays, children play a more active role in the decision-making process, often influencing their parents’ final choice. If a student finds your school appealing, they may persuade their parents to consider enrolling them. To capture their attention, place ads in areas that are frequently visited, such as:
- Bookstores and Stationery Shops:Ideal spots where parents often shop for their children’s school supplies, making them a prime location to showcase your school’s offerings.
- Tuition Centers: A hub for students seeking academic support, these are perfect places to reach both students, who often aspire to study in the best schools or consider switching to a better one, and parents, who are always looking for better schools to secure their children’s future.
- Bus Stops and Nearby Shelters: High-traffic areas where parents and students often wait during their daily commutes. Ads here can target a diverse audience, including pedestrians and public transport users passing by regularly.
- The Backs of Auto-Rickshaws or Taxis: Mobile advertisements that move through neighborhoods and ensure your school’s visibility across different parts of the city.
- Bakeries or Cafes: Popular hangouts for students, these places allow you to connect directly with children who can influence their parents’ decisions.
- Metro Routes and Stations Near Your School: Ads placed inside metro trains, on station walls, or on key routes leading to your school can consistently capture the attention of commuters who pass through these areas daily, building strong visibility and recall.
Using these targeted ads helps you connect with both parents and students at locations they frequent. Selecting the right places and tailoring the ads to these environments can significantly boost your school’s visibility and increase admissions.
3. Ensure Your School’s Visibility at All Times
Having strategically placed billboards and ads is great, but they will be less effective if your school itself is not easily visible. To address this, invest in high-quality signage, such as channel letters and illuminated logos, for your school’s building. These not only stand out during the day but also light up beautifully at night, catching the attention of people passing by.
For example, parents of potential students may notice your school while out shopping or dining in the evening. Over time, consistent exposure to your school’s name and logo can leave a lasting impression, embedding your school in their subconscious mind. When the time comes for them to consider changing their child’s school, your institution will likely be their first choice.
Additionally, use other types of signage and billboards for your school building that remain clear and visible during both day and night to further enhance your school’s visibility and attract attention.
4. Create a Stunning Website with SEO
We live in the digital age, where almost everyone relies on the internet. Whether it’s buying everyday items like vegetables and milk or luxury products like the latest iPhone, people prefer to shop online rather than visiting physical markets. This shift in behavior extends to schools as well—parents now research schools online before making decisions about their children’s education. That’s why having a strong online presence is essential for every school.
A well-designed, user-friendly website is the foundation of your school’s online presence. Your website should be mobile-friendly, easy to navigate, and packed with essential information about your school. It should also answer common questions parents have, such as details about the curriculum, extracurricular activities, and admission procedures. Most importantly, the website should make it easy for parents to contact your school and connect with someone who can guide them through the enrollment process.
However, having a great website alone isn’t enough. Just as your physical school needs to be visible to attract attention, your website must rank high on search engine results pages (SERPs) to be noticed. This is where Search Engine Optimization (SEO) comes in. SEO ensures your website appears when people search for relevant terms, such as “Good School in Mayur Vihar” or “Best School in Malviya Nagar.” By optimizing your website’s content and structure, SEO experts can improve its visibility and help it reach the right audience.
Beyond website SEO, there’s also Local SEO, which is equally important. Local SEO focuses on optimizing your school’s Google Business Profile, ensuring that when parents search for schools near their location, your school appears prominently in the results. This profile should include your school’s address, operating hours, website link, phone number, images, videos, and reviews. Local SEO also ensures your school appears on Google Maps, making it easier for parents to locate and learn more about your institution.
By creating a stunning website and implementing both SEO and Local SEO strategies, your school can not only stand out online but also attract more parents who are looking for the best educational opportunities for their children. Together, these tools will make your school more visible and accessible, ultimately leading to an increase in admissions.
5. Build a Strong Presence on Social Media
While having a professional website is essential for your school’s online presence, as it boosts credibility and trust, being active on social media is just as important. Social media allows your school to directly connect with parents and students who spend a significant amount of time on these platforms. It’s a smart and effective way to attract more admissions and engage with your community.
However, merely having social media accounts isn’t enough—you need to stay active and post regularly. Share content that is both informative and visually appealing, such as infographics, images, and videos that highlight key aspects of your school. For example:
- Beautiful campus photos showcasing your facilities.
- Fun event highlights that reflect the enjoyable and lively environment at your school.
- Classroom or activity videos that give a glimpse into the quality of education and extracurricular activities you provide.
Consistency is key, so posting on a regular schedule is crucial. To manage this effectively, you can either hire a dedicated team to handle your social media platforms—like Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and LinkedIn—or work with social media experts who specialize in managing school profiles.
An engaging and well-maintained social media presence not only makes your school more approachable but also keeps it top-of-mind for parents and students when they are considering their educational options.
6. Run Pay-Per-Click (PPC) Advertising Campaigns
Offline marketing, while effective in some scenarios, has its limitations. It tends to be expensive and shows your advertisements to everyone, not just your target audience. In contrast, online advertising through Pay-Per-Click (PPC) campaigns is a far more efficient and cost-effective way to reach the right people.
PPC advertising uses advanced technologies like Machine Learning (ML) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) to target your audience precisely. For schools, this means your ads can specifically reach parents and students living near your school.
These ads can appear across various platforms, including:
- Google search results when people look for schools in your area.
- YouTube through video ads.
- Mobile apps as banners or pop-ups.
- Websites and blogs relevant to education.
- Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, where many parents and students are active.
The beauty of PPC campaigns lies in their ability to deliver highly persuasive, well-crafted messages directly to your audience. These ads not only generate high-quality leads but, if your team does everything right, they can also convert into actual admissions for your school.
7. Make your school and staff ready for admission
No matter how well you execute other strategies, the most critical factor in attracting more admissions is ensuring that your school and staff are fully prepared to make a great impression. If this step is overlooked, all other efforts could go to waste.
Start with the physical appearance of your school. The entrance gate should be clean, well-maintained, and inviting, with clear signage, greenery, and no signs of wear and tear like peeling paint or broken fixtures. A welcoming entrance creates a positive first impression for both students and their parents. Beyond the entrance, every part of your school—both inside and outside—should reflect readiness and care. Parents pay close attention to cleanliness, safety, and the quality of facilities such as classrooms, playgrounds, and school buses.
In addition to preparing the physical premises, you must also ensure that your staff is equipped to handle admissions effectively. From security guards to administrative staff, everyone should be trained to address parent queries with professionalism, friendliness, and patience. Common questions like:
- What is the fee structure?
- What are the admission requirements?
- When do new admissions start?
- When can parents visit for inquiries or to enroll?
Staff members should be able to answer these confidently and calmly. If parents raise concerns or have specific issues, staff should either resolve them promptly or offer practical alternatives.
To ensure everything runs smoothly, consider implementing a regular inspection of the school premises, either weekly or monthly. Check for potential security risks, areas needing maintenance, or anything that could negatively impact a parent’s perception. Additionally, conduct periodic training sessions for your staff to refine their communication and problem-solving skills.
When your school and staff are fully prepared for admissions, you significantly increase the likelihood of converting inquiries into actual enrollments.
Hire Digital Marketing Experts for Schools
When it comes to digital marketing, hiring experts is always a smarter choice. They bring the expertise needed to handle tasks efficiently and deliver better results.
If you want to create a professional website, manage social media, optimize for SEO and local SEO, or run PPC campaigns, a specialized digital marketing agency for schools can handle it all. Inklik’s specialized team has been working with schools for years and can quickly set you up and running for digital success.
Conclusion
To get more admissions, your school needs a strong presence both offline and online. From effective signage and local ads to a user-friendly website and active social media, every effort counts. Ensure your school is ready with a welcoming environment and trained staff to convert interest into enrollments. With the right strategies and expert help, you can attract more students and grow your school’s enrollment.
