Issue 266

Right now, you're probably staring at a to-do list that includes:

Holiday social media content. Year-end giving appeals. January enrollment campaign materials. Re-enrollment reminders. Winter event promotions. And about fifteen other things that all need to happen in the next few weeks.

Here's the thing: None of this is a surprise.

December happens every year. January enrollment season happens every year. The winter concert happens every year. But somehow we're still scrambling like it snuck up on us.

I'm not saying this to make you feel bad. I'm saying it because I've been there, and because the pattern is worth naming.

Back in September, when the school year was just starting, you were busy. You were handling first-day-of-school content, updating the website, supporting fall admissions events, and putting out whatever fires needed putting out. December felt far away. You had time.

Except you didn't have time, because October brought its own urgencies. And November did too. And now here we are.

The reactive nature of school marketing means we're always responding to what's right in front of us. The Head of School needs something for tomorrow. A parent has a complaint. These things are real and they're legitimate and they demand our attention.

But they also ensure that we never get ahead.

The uncomfortable truth is that most of us won't fix this problem this year. December is here and we're going to do what we always do: work extra hours, pull something together, make it work because we have to.

But maybe, just maybe, this is the year you put a reminder in your calendar for next September. Not to plan everything perfectly, because that's not realistic. But to at least block out time for the things you know are coming.

Because your February problem is starting right now.

Thanks,
Brendan

You know what your school needs. You just need a roadmap to actually execute it.

School Marketing The Right Way walks you through the practical strategies that move your marketing from reactive to strategic. This isn't another book about brand theory or engagement metrics. It's a comprehensive guide to clarifying your school's identity, connecting with ideal families, and implementing systems that actually work.

As one reviewer put it: "This book is incredibly forward-thinking and comprehensive, with plenty of easily actionable guidance wrapped within bigger strategy. Most importantly, while smaller indy schools often lack large marketing staffs, there are things in here that any school can choose to implement on their own without excessive expense or endless labor."

Whether you're building a marketing program from scratch or refining what you've already created, this book gives you the framework to do it with confidence.

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