At Discount Displays, we recognise that schools often operate on tight budgets. To help, we’ve compiled a list of affordable marketing strategies that can deliver a strong impact without straining your finances. Here are some of our top suggestions:
Marketing Strategies for Schools on a Tight Budget:
- Large format print/signage
- Pre-designed graphic templates
- Utilise social media
- Partner with the local community
- Utilise email marketing
- Optimise your website with SEO
- Encourage word-of-mouth
Large Format Print/Signage
Posters, signs, and banners are all excellent tools for promoting school events. It’s important to choose a large format printer that offers both good quality and reasonable pricing. Opting for the cheapest option can sometimes backfire, resulting in blurry images or incorrect colours. However, there are some smart ways to cut costs:
- Plan in Advance: Last-minute printing usually comes with a higher price tag. By staying organised and allowing plenty of time between the event/purpose for your printing, you can often secure better rates.
- Maximise Material Efficiency: Ask your printer for advice on optimal sizing to minimise material waste and reduce costs.
- Explore Partnerships: Negotiate a deal and consider what you could offer in return. This may be through promoting their brand in the school newsletter or on social media.
Pre-designed Graphic Templates
Utilise Social Media
In today’s digital age, platforms like Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, and LinkedIn provide excellent opportunities to engage with your school community. These platforms allow you to share important announcements, encourage conversations, and strengthen connections with parents, students, and alumni. Make sure to stay active and consistent on these channels to maximise engagement.
If you have an upcoming event, such as a school open day, use social media to promote it. This helps reach not only your existing community but also prospective parents and students who may be interested in learning more about your school.
Social media competitions are another effective way to boost engagement. They encourage interaction and can create excitement around your school. For ideas on what kinds of competitions to run, check out our blog article on different school competition ideas. Competitions can be a fun and interactive way to gain more visibility and foster a sense of community online.
Partner with The Local Community
Partnering with local businesses can provide valuable resources for your school while giving those businesses exposure to your school community. What can your school offer local businesses in exchange for goods, services, or sponsorship? The key is to find ways to help promote a local business without adding extra costs to your budget. Some ways you can do this are through:
- Social media mentions
- School newsletters
- Event programmes
- Dedicated sponsor page on your website
- Promotional materials or displays at events
By offering these types of promotions, your school can attract more sponsors, foster long-term partnerships, and benefit from local business support. It’s a win-win relationship for both your school and the local business.
Utilise Email Marketing
Email marketing remains one of the most cost-effective marketing strategies for schools to reach their target audience. It allows for direct, more personal communication with parents, students, and alumni while keeping costs low. Email marketing allows you to connect with individuals through bespoke content and solve their wants and needs, which is more likely to build a stronger relationship.
Successful email marketing is about building relationships.
To promote upcoming events, such as open days or fundraisers, begin your campaign with a series of emails sent well in advance. For instance, send the first email at least four weeks before the event to mark it on everyone’s calendars. Include key details like the date, time, and highlights. Follow up with a reminder a couple of weeks after and a final alert a few days prior.
Optimise your Website with SEO
Optimising your school’s website for search engines (SEO) can be time-consuming, but for most schools, the key is to focus on dominating local search engine wars. There’s plenty of free SEO advice and resources available online, and one of the easiest ways to improve your visibility on Google is by setting up a Google Business Profile. This helps ensure your school appears in local searches.
To get started, open Google Maps, locate your school, right-click, and select “Add My Business.” Be sure to fill out your profile with as much detailed information as possible so your school is easily found by local families and students searching online.
Additionally, ensure your school website is structured clearly with easy navigation and relevant keywords that reflect your school’s name and the local area.
Creating high-quality content is also crucial for improving SEO. Consider starting a blog that covers topics important to parents and students, such as extracurricular activities, school events, or student success stories. You can also create informative videos or visually appealing infographics that showcase your school’s unique programs, achievements, and values.
This combination of SEO practices and high-quality content can help boost your school’s visibility in online searches, making it easier for prospective students and their families to find you online.
Encourage Word-of-Mouth
Your satisfied parents can be one of your school’s most powerful marketing tools. Word-of-mouth recommendations are incredibly valuable, as people tend to trust personal experiences over traditional advertising. Encourage parents to share their positive experiences with friends, family, and colleagues, either in casual conversations or through online reviews.
Additionally, you could ask parents to leave reviews on platforms like Google, Facebook, or school review websites. This will help to enhance your school’s reputation and credibility online.
Effective marketing strategies don’t have to strain your school’s budget. By leveraging affordable strategies such as large format printing, pre-designed graphic templates, social media engagement, community partnerships, email marketing, SEO, and word-of-mouth referrals, your school can enhance its visibility and strengthen connections within the community. With careful planning and creativity, you can create impactful marketing strategies while staying within your financial means.
