There’s an old saying in marketing: if people don’t know about your product, they won’t buy it. This is because they aren’t aware of your product’s existence or the unique features that make it stand out from other well-known products. Without awareness of the product or service, there will be no demand.
The same holds true for schools. If schools want to increase admissions, they need to make their school visible to parents and raise awareness about what they provide. The teachers, campus, staff, and facilities are all part of the school’s “offerings.” But even if everything about your school is top-notch, it won’t attract more students if parents don’t know about it. For getting more admissions, your school needs to ensure it is seen by the right people.
In this blog, we’ll share simple strategies to get more admissions for your school:
1. Display Your School on Billboards, Banners, and Hoardings
Many parents commute daily, following the same route to work each day. This presents a great opportunity to make your school visible to potential students’ parents. Depending on your budget and location, you can choose between billboards, banners, or hoardings—or even use a combination of all three. Although this is one of the oldest forms of advertising, it remains highly effective when executed strategically.
Before you start, ensure everything is in place: an attractive design, clear and concise messaging, and optimal locations. You can either handle this yourself or hire specialists who can research and create the ideal billboards, banners, or hoardings for your school. These experts will also select the best locations, such as the busiest roads, parks, gym, and streets near your school, and ensure the signage is positioned at right height and angles where it will be easily seen.
Once up, your billboard, banner, or hoarding will catch the attention of parents, grandparents, and even students themselves, helping to increase school admissions.
Make sure you prominently put your phone number on these, so that parents can call you up easily.
2. Place Offline Ads in Strategic Places
Traditionally, parents decide which school their children will attend, but nowadays, children play a more active role in the decision-making process, often influencing their parents’ final choice. If a student finds your school appealing, they may persuade their parents to consider enrolling them. To capture their attention, place ads in areas that are frequently visited, such as:
- Bookstores and Stationery Shops:Ideal spots where parents often shop for their children’s school supplies, making them a prime location to showcase your school’s offerings.
- Tuition Centers: A hub for students seeking academic support, these are perfect places to reach both students, who often aspire to study in the best schools or consider switching to a better one, and parents, who are always looking for better schools to secure their children’s future.
- Bus Stops and Nearby Shelters: High-traffic areas where parents and students often wait during their daily commutes. Ads here can target a diverse audience, including pedestrians and public transport users passing by regularly.
- The Backs of Auto-Rickshaws or Taxis: Mobile advertisements that move through neighborhoods and ensure your school’s visibility across different parts of the city.
- Bakeries or Cafes: Popular hangouts for students, these places allow you to connect directly with children who can influence their parents’ decisions.
- Metro Routes and Stations Near Your School: Ads placed inside metro trains, on station walls, or on key routes leading to your school can consistently capture the attention of commuters who pass through these areas daily, building strong visibility and recall.
Using these targeted ads helps you connect with both parents and students at locations they frequent. Selecting the right places and tailoring the ads to these environments can significantly boost your school’s visibility and increase admissions.
3. Ensure Your School’s Visibility at All Times
Having strategically placed billboards and ads is great, but they will be less effective if your school itself is not easily visible. To address this, invest in high-quality signage, such as channel letters and illuminated logos, for your school’s building. These not only stand out during the day but also light up beautifully at night, catching the attention of people passing by.
For example, parents of potential students may notice your school while out shopping or dining in the evening. Over time, consistent exposure to your school’s name and logo can leave a lasting impression, embedding your school in their subconscious mind. When the time comes for them to consider changing their child’s school, your institution will likely be their first choice.
Additionally, use other types of signage and billboards for your school building that remain clear and visible during both day and night to further enhance your school’s visibility and attract attention.
