smj blog

In the fast-paced world of school marketing, where the demands are high and the stakes even higher, finding ways to maximise efficiency is crucial. Whether you’re managing admissions campaigns, engaging with parents, or promoting school events, time is a precious commodity.

We rarely do or say something intentionally that surprises us. That’s because we are in intimate contact with the noise in our heads – we spend our days looking in the mirror, listening to our inner voice and defining our point of view. “That’s not the sort of thing I would say or do … ”

To do great school communication and marketing — work that truly moves the needle for your school — some of the most impactful levers you can pull do not depend on the size of your budget.

Marketing strategies are vital for schools to effectively promote their unique offerings, connect with their target families and achieve their goals. With the ever-evolving landscape of marketing, it is crucial to understand the different approaches available.

I have a client who sends me an email every time they chat with someone else about the project. They introduce new thoughts, new changes, new perspectives. As you’d expect, some of the ideas are interesting food for thought and some are terrible. That’s okay – separating the signal from the noise is what we do. But no feedback is helpful if it comes in dribs and drabs over the course of a week.

Attention has become one of the most valuable resources of the digital age. Parents are presented with an avalanche of information — not just from your school, but from every corner of their lives.

Australian school Heads are increasingly forced to address contentious, complex and dynamic issues with their communities. Increasingly, staff, students and parents now turn to school leaders for trusted information and guidance on issues. Thus, school Heads are expected to provide communications that are both accurate and appropriate.
So, how do you decide when to say what to whom?

In the world of independent schools, clear communication isn’t just beneficial — it’s pivotal. The pitfalls of misinterpretations, ambiguous roles and inconsistent messages can profoundly inhibit a school’s growth on all fronts.
Schools, like all organisations, face challenges in achieving effective communication. And it’s holding them back.

You are not alone. Adapting to the changes to the school communication and marketing landscape is challenging for all schools. If you are not finding it challenging, then it’s likely that you are not trying hard enough, and are at risk being left behind.

Some folks think of marketing as something that is done to people. A hustle, a hype, a stealing of attention.
We need a name for that, but I don’t think that’s marketing.
On the other hand, calling dinner, “cold dead fish on rice,” while accurate, doesn’t really help people enjoy their sushi.
Human beings aren’t information processing machines. We’re not hyper-rational or predictable. Instead, we find joy and possibility in stories, in connection and yes, in tension and status roles as well.