In 2022, when it comes to brands, they all should have a strategic social media presence, and yes, that includes your school. More than ever, families are allowing social media to influence their decision-making process; it might be to choose the trendiest backpack or even the right school for their child.
But are you making the most out of your social media presence? At Schola, we help put a spotlight on schools best features and build effective communication strategies to increase engagement and boost enrollment. Let’s dive into ten quick tips to leverage your social media posts and make them stand out to reach and connect with your audience.
1. Know When To Post🕑
Did you know that posts receive higher engagement at different times of the day? That’s why choosing the right timing for posting is essential! For example, on Facebook, posting in the mornings on Tuesday through Thursday is more likely to be successful. However, keep in mind that it really comes down to your specific audience as to what time is best to post for them, so it might take some trial and error to determine the optimal posting period for your school.
2. Engagement: Videos > Photos📹
Have you heard about the social media platforms algorithm? Not only is video proven to be more engaging for families, but it is more likely to work in favor of the social media algorithm and reach more people. Hack: Try using Instagram Reels or TikTok to create engaging and trendy content that will help skyrocket your views.
3. Get To Know Your Audiences’ Preferences❤️
Do your families prefer scrolling on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or even TikTok? Whatever the case, knowing what platforms your audience spends most of their time on is highly beneficial, so you don’t waste your time, efforts, and budget on channels that are not effective with your unique community.
4. Feature Your Students🧑🏾🎓
Families want to be able to envision their kids at your school! To achieve that, you have to feature other students they can relate to. Having students tell their success stories and advocate for your school is the best word of mouth you can ask for. It will not only help parents feel confident about choosing your school, but it can also have a positive impact on new students by helping them feel like they too can succeed in school. Hack: For high schoolers, you can even have them be part of creating the content. It will show them that you trust and support their creativity and perspective.
5. Use Trending Sounds and Hashtags🎶
When it comes to social media, it’s all about keeping up with the latest trends. Using trending TikTok sounds and hashtags related to your school or after-school programs is a great way to ensure your content reaches a broader audience. Hack: When it comes to hashtags, more isn’t always better. Choose them wisely to maximize your posts!
6. Use Social Listening To Stay In The Loop👂
Keeping track of conversations about your school, hashtags related to your programs, and comments from parents have become more accessible through social listening. It helps you understand why, where, and how conversations are happening within your audience. Social listening can help you create future campaigns, improve your content strategy, messaging, and stay ahead of your competitors. Hack: Make an effort to always respond to posts and comments related to your school.
7. Seek Participation🙋🏼
Want to increase the comments in your posts? Simple! Ask questions in your captions and let your audience know their opinion matters! This will boost your comments and help you pick the brain of families interested or already attending your school. You can also try hosting contests, raffles, or polls to leverage your audience’s participation and engagement with your content.
8. Show Off The School’s Fun Side🙃
Why so serious? Make sure to feature your school’s fun side and leave parents wanting more. Remember, when families choose a school, it’s not all about the outstanding academics but also about the whole experience (and yes, that includes having fun🤸🏾♂️).
9. Re-Share Your Content🔗
You know what they say; sharing is caring! Some of the advantages of social sharing are the ability for your posts to reach a wider audience. So instead of being self-contained, your posts could be seen by thousands of families. Hack: Try sending your posts to other accounts and sharing them through those profiles too. It can help increase your reach as the algorithm recognizes your post as engaging content.
10. Try New Tactics & Discover What Works For YOU💯
It’s all about discovering what works best for you, because (just like in education📓) there is not a one-size-fits-all approach. Instead, try different strategies and implement various tactics to discover what works best for you and your audience.
If you want to dive even deeper into how to amplify your school’s voice in social media, we invite you to join our Schola Webinars. Every Thursday we meet with school leaders from all across the country to discuss and apply communication and marketing strategies to help tackle their unique needs and challenges. Join in the fun, and let’s start optimizing your communication efforts!
Recent Comments