In partnership with
PROLOGUE
The Middle Is Where Families Slip Away.
A family inquires in October, tours, and says all the right things. Then they hear nothing personal until the January deadline reminder. By then they’ve picked someone else.
Most schools are good at the front door and the deadline. What sits between gets a monthly newsletter.
October through December is when families actually decide. And at most schools, nobody owns it.
The family didn’t go cold. We did.
This week:
Pull the list. Every inquiry since August 1 that hasn’t started an application.
Find the quiet ones. No real contact in 21 days? Send a short personal note that mentions one thing they told you.
Plan six weeks. Send one useful email a week, one personal check-in, and one small invite, like a shadow day.
Give every inquiry an owner. If it belongs to everyone, it belongs to no one.
One ask: Reply with one number. How many open inquiries have gone 21 days without hearing from a real person? I read every reply.
Thanks,
Brendan
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You can expect to walk away with new email strategies, the very latest digital trends, and how to step up your email performance. But don't worry, we also like to have fun. This year's theme is rom-com, so there will be DJs, meet-cutes, and a cutest pet contest. (Start prepping your dog's headshot now.)
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NEWSLETTER SHOUT-OUT
Thank you to Zandra Cook, Director of Enrollment Management, at St. George Episcopal School in San Antonio, TX, for recommending the School Marketing Insider.
UPCOMING EVENT
For MarCom Society Members Only
Who Do They Think They Are? Writing to Identity in School Communications
Your database knows who your audience is. Your appeal letters usually don't. This session covers the research on identity-based messaging and gives you a practical audit you can run on any appeal or admissions email before it goes out.
Bio: Dr. Deanna Nelson is the founder and CEO of Clarus Fundraising Consulting, LLC. Clarus works with nonprofit organizations to turn lukewarm supporters into joyful and enthusiastic donors who give their biggest and best gifts. We do this by combining proven fundraising strategies with research into what inspires generosity, helping organizations build stronger donor relationships, communicate their impact more effectively, and create giving experiences that are meaningful for both donors and the causes they support.
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Whenever You're Ready, There Are 5 Ways I Can Help You
Fractional Digital Marketer Program: Our flagship consulting program, where we help you get more inquiries by implementing inbound marketing, Google Ads, Meta Ads, SEO, Reputation Management, and blogging for you! Learn more.
School Marketing The Right Way: Purchase my new book about school marketing. It was the book that I wished existed when I started my journey with marketing a school. Purchase.
SchoolMarketingCRM: My new marketing software for schools. This is the software I wish I had when I worked in schools. It handles all of your marketing functions, including landing pages, email automation, reputation management, appointment scheduling, and much more. Learn more.
The MarCom Society: Join other school marketing and communication professionals in my membership community, which is designed to help you become a better MarCom professional through training, support, and community. Learn more.
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