Virtual Open Houses: Elevate your Private School Marketing
The digital market has evolved and so have offerings for businesses to take advantage of. One marketing tool that many private school marketing plans do not utilize is a virtual tour of the school’s campus. A virtual tour has a lot of benefits that a private school may not even realize.
What is a Virtual Open House?
A virtual open house for a private school is an online event that aims to attract prospective families while showcasing the school’s programs, facilities, and community. The school has an excellent opportunity to promote its unique offerings to prospective families in hopes of gaining new students. Families can log-in from home and be a part of the tour. It helps prospective families learn more about the school and have a glimpse into the community it has created.
Tours may include:
- Pre-recorded presentations
- Live question-and-answer sessions
- Virtual campus tour
- Pre-recorded video from faculty and staff
Private school marketing solutions should always include a virtual open house. This is a fantastic way to connect with students and families who may not be able to travel to the school for a tour.
What Are The Benefits of a Virtual Open House?
When it comes to private school marketing you want to make sure that you are correctly represented online, and a virtual tour can cater to a lot of prospective students and their families.
Geographic Limitations
Virtual open houses break the geographical barriers and allow all families to have access to your open house. This reach can go beyond your local area, as participants can log in from all over the world.
Accessibility
For those who have mobility issues, a virtual tour is ideal. People who live with disabilities are not always able to attend events. Creating them virtually allows all family members to be a part of the open house no matter what type of limitations they are faced with.
Schedule Friendly
Today’s world is busy. Everyone is on the run to the next event. Schedules can be a huge issue when trying to find the right private school. Having a virtual open house will allow parents to log in on their own time and see what the school has to offer. Making the open house accessible should be a big part of your private school marketing plan.
Cost Efficiency
A virtual open house can help decrease costs that are associated with holding a physical open house, such as refreshments, physical space, printing materials, and staff’s time preparing for an in-person event.
Number Of People Attending
For a physical open house to occur, the number of people attending needs to be considered. The school would need to be able to accommodate many people and depending on your facility this may not be possible. Virtual tours have no limits on the number of people who are attending.
Live Q&A
Virtual open houses can allow staff to hold live question-and-answer sessions. This is a fantastic way for families to get their questions answered without having to email, call, or physically go to school.
Customize Tour Content
Your content can be customized to a specific demographic or area of interest. This will provide the exact information parents are looking for. For example, if a school offers a farm-to-table program they can create a virtual tour surrounding this unique program.
Long-Term Marketing Effects
When you create high quality virtual content it can hold its value for many years. A virtual open house can engage families and provide them with the information they need during the admissions process.
Automative Follow Ups
A virtual tour can produce automatic emails to those who have attended. These emails can ensure that prospective families have received the personal attention that they need and all their questions have been answered. These emails will also help improve engagement with families.
Data Analysis
Your private school marketing plan should include data analysis. Metrix can be run on those who have watched the virtual open house, and from this data, you can tweak your marketing efforts. Data analysis should include who attended, engagement, and interests.
Enhance Marketing
Videos are a huge part of today’s society, so you can share your open house tour on all your digital media outlets and reach more potential students and their families. These tours can also be used in email campaigns and to enhance your website.
Social Media Content
With YouTube and TikTok being two of the largest social media outlets, your school will want to capitalize on this type of marketing outlet. A virtual open house is the perfect content to share on these social media platforms.
Conclusion
A virtual open house should be a top priority in your private school marketing strategy. You want to cater to a larger audience when you consider not everyone can attend a physical event. When you take advantage of digital marketing tactics such as a virtual open house you are creating content that will help generate enrollment leads for years to come.
