As a school marketing professional, you probably find yourself having to “make the case” for many of your strategies, tactics, and creative ideas.
Why did you choose this direction? How much will it cost in both time and resources? What’s the expected ROI? And most important, will it turn more of our dream families into enrolled families?
Well, friends, we’re here to help.
If you’re ready to move your school away from traditional, underperforming school marketing campaigns and reallocate your budget and time toward new content marketing initiatives, this post will give you all the ammunition you need to make the case for content.
Want to learn exactly how to win over dream families with breakthrough school storytelling? This on-demand kit includes instant access to:
Many school marketers who have recognized the undeniable benefits of content marketing are now faced with the often-difficult task of convincing their school leadership, Board of Trustees, or even their own school marketing team that committing to a long-term content marketing strategy is critical.
So where do you begin? Let’s start by giving your team an introduction to the basics:
Content marketing is owning — and opposed to renting — media. It’s a marketing process to attract and retain customers by consistently creating and curating content in order to change or enhance a consumer behavior. — Joe Pulizzi
I like this definition because it combines two essential components of content marketing in one concise statement:
A simple way to think about content marketing is that it will require your school to create original content or share existing content that will benefit your audiences (current families, to dream families, to alumni, to donors, to your own faculty and staff, etc.,); develop an appealing hub for your content in the form of a blog, video library, podcast, news section on your website, etc.; and then use smart marketing strategies to get your audiences to engage with your content and take specific actions.
Content marketing is different than a traditional marketing campaign (such as a print ad, radio or television commercial, or printed mailers or brochures) in that content marketing is not a campaign – it’s an ongoing initiative that evolves over time, constantly being adjusted to meet new goals based on metrics and measurement.
Content marketing is a continuum: you own your content and can repurpose it to continuously attract and engage audiences. Traditional marketing campaigns have a start and end: when they’re over, they’re over.
With content marketing, you earn your audience — and therefore own your audience. With traditional marketing, you “rent” someone else’s audience and pay to have your message delivered.
Content marketing strategies are based on real-time metrics. They’re easier to test and refine tactics in real-time. Traditional campaigns can be high risk; they are measured at the end of the program and subsequent campaigns are modified.
With content marketing, ROI can be realized right away. With traditional marketing, ROI is often difficult to quantify.
Content marketing can form the foundation of all of your school’s digital marketing moving forward. Traditional marketing requires more cost and creative to cross-market channels.
Content marketing creates a shared experience between your school and your audience. Traditional marketing is usually a one-sided push of information, from your school to your audience.
A phased approach to implementing a content marketing plan can be a smart way for your school to begin to move away from any stagnant traditional marketing campaigns. Here’s how to ease into content marketing:
#1: Devise your strategy. Strategy should always come first. Formulate a plan that encompasses:
#2: Break it down. Now that you have your overarching strategy and time table, you can prioritize. When evaluating what should come first, consider:
#3: Determine metrics.
#4: Review and adjust. At the end of the pilot period, review both your progress and your efforts.
Smart content marketing can increase:
Because it’s authentic. When content marketing is done correctly, it’s interesting, informative, entertaining … and a sales tool. It forms real and trusted relationships with your school by lowering the advertising curtain and allowing the true school voice to speak for itself.
And that’s why I love it. Traditional marketing campaigns are often more tactic-driven than story-driven. With content marketing, you’re focused on creating and sharing stories your audience will love. And what’s better than that?
Need more help making the case for content to your school leadership? Book a free discovery call and let’s begin to set your strategy.