Boost Your Reviews: Benefits and Tips for Engaging Parents
In today’s digital age, online reviews are more important than ever. When prospective parents are searching for high-quality education and childcare centers for their children, reviews and testimonials become genuine and reliable sources of social proof that can influence their decision process. According to a 2020 survey by BrightLocal, 87% of consumers read online reviews and 79% of them trust online reviews as much as personal recommendations.
For this reason, it is essential to encourage satisfied parents to post reviews on platforms like Google My Business and Facebook. Here are some tips on how to increase enrollment in private schools through the power of reviews.
1. Ask for reviews at the right time
The best time to ask for a review is when you know parents are in a good mood to share their positive experiences. It could be after a recital, when the team has won a soccer match, after a Mother’s Day or Father’s Day celebration, or in a parents-teachers meeting. Another idea is to ask for reviews when sending follow-up emails or text messages and make sure to include the link to the review platform.
2. Make it easy to leave reviews
The perception that leaving reviews requires too much effort or time, is one of the main reasons why people choose not to leave them. Avoid things like asking for too much information or making them create an account. Instead, make sure to give them clear and simple instructions on how to leave a review.
3. Provide prompts and guidance
To assist families in creating compelling testimonies you can give them questions to consider, such as:
- What positive changes have you noticed in your child since they started attending our school?
- What specific aspects of the program’s curriculum or school’s environment do you appreciate most?
- What is your child’s favorite class and teacher?
A detailed review can make your school stand out and help prospective families imagine being part of it. These are just some tips that can encourage parents to participate in sharing their opinions about the school. Remember that reviews are a powerful tool when it comes to how to increase enrollment in private schools as they can influence other parents when choosing a school. Here are some specific benefits of having positive reviews.
- Boosts credibility: By giving families a space to share their positive experiences, you can increase the credibility and trust surrounding your school. Potential parents can sense that the environment and teachers, as well as the curriculum, must be good if parents are content. Families may find it difficult to choose the right education program, but positive reviews can give them the confidence to entrust you with their child’s education and development.
- Gain new leads: Any business that wants to succeed must be able to satisfy its current clientele and attract new ones on a steady basis. The same goes for schools or childcare programs. Besides additional tactics related to digital marketing for private schools, having real positive reviews with pictures of the environment and even names of teachers can be extremely beneficial because they can help you acquire new leads and drive enrollment. New leads mean potential parents who book a tour, ask questions about enrollment or demonstrate interest in your programs. These leads can ultimately convert into enrolled students, contributing to the growth and success of your institution.
- Position yourself apart from your competitors: When evaluating education or childcare options, families are likely to weigh multiple alternatives. Positive reviews and testimonials can set you apart from other local schools. They can be an opportunity to why families might find more success in sending their children to your institution instead of another.
Encouraging parents to leave positive reviews is a powerful strategy for how to increase enrollment in private schools. They not only boost your institution’s credibility but also serve as a vital tool in attracting new leads and setting your school apart from competitors. Implement these tips strategically and reap the benefits!
