The power of organic marketing: 3 benefits for private schools
In the digital age, private schools continually seek effective ways to enhance their online presence to attract prospective students and parents. It’s important to note that when it comes to finding the right strategies for increasing student enrollment, many believe that paid media is more effective than organic search. However, this is not inherently true. Keep reading to learn more about what organic marketing means and the numerous advantages that it provides for private schools to achieve their enrollment and branding goals effectively.
What exactly is organic marketing?
Organic marketing refers to strategies that involve growing your audience through nonpaid efforts such as a blog that improves your rank on search engine results or email marketing campaigns. So if you hear the term “organic search”, this ultimately refers to the unpaid listings or rankings that appear on a search engine results page. With organic search, schools use SEO to optimize their site’s visibility or rankings in search results. In contrast, paid search allows users to pay for a prominent spot in search results.
Data from Terakeet remarked that the “customer acquisition cost” or CAC of organic search for brands was 87.4% lower than that of paid search. In other words, if you spent $89 to attain a new student through paid search, you could accomplish the same results for only $11 through organic search. This is so because organic search results are widely trustworthy, producing approximately 20 times more hits than paid advertisements. Because it engages with parents more effectively, an investment in organic search also grows in value over time, resulting in higher returns. Now let’s look at some of the benefits of using organic marketing for your school.
1. It builds an authentic audience
One of the primary benefits of organic marketing and SEO for private schools is the ability to build an authentic audience. Unlike paid advertising, which can attract a broader but less engaged audience, organic marketing focuses on establishing genuine connections with your target demographic. It involves creating valuable, relevant content that resonates with your audience. By consistently producing high-quality content that addresses the needs and interests of prospective students and parents, private schools can build trust and credibility. Over time, this trust leads to increased customer loyalty. When students and parents feel a genuine connection to your school through your organic content, they are more likely to choose your institution. This emotional bond can also result in higher conversion rates, as prospective students and parents are more inclined to take desired actions, such as scheduling campus visits or requesting information.
2. It provides a cost-effective marketing strategy
While these strategies for increasing student enrollment, demand significant time and effort, they don’t require substantial financial investments. For private schools operating on limited marketing budgets, organic marketing is an ideal choice. As we mentioned before, organic marketing primarily relies on the creation of valuable content and optimizing it for search engines. While producing high-quality content requires resources, it doesn’t entail the hefty advertising costs associated with paid campaigns. This means that even private schools with modest marketing budgets can harness the power of organic marketing to reach their target audience. As private schools begin to see positive results from their organic efforts, they can consider allocating a portion of their marketing budget to amplify these efforts further, resulting in even better outcomes. Ultimately, organic marketing offers private schools a low-cost, sustainable marketing strategy that can deliver significant returns over time. It allows institutions to maximize their marketing impact while staying within budgetary constraints.
3. It sets your school up for long-term success
Perhaps the most significant advantage of organic marketing for private schools is their potential to establish long-term success. These strategies serve as the foundation upon which a private school can build a robust and enduring presence in the education sector. A well-executed organic marketing strategy creates a dedicated base of parents who actively engage with your content. These engaged parents become loyal supporters of your private school and also share their positive experiences with others through word-of-mouth, expanding your school’s reach organically. Over time, this word-of-mouth marketing can lead to sustained growth and increased enrollment. As your private school gains more visibility and credibility in the market, you’ll find it easier to attract new students and parents who align with your educational values and offerings.
In conclusion, organic marketing strategies for increasing student enrollment are powerful tools that private schools can leverage to achieve their marketing and enrollment objectives. These strategies allow schools to build authentic connections with their audience, operate within budget constraints and lay the foundation for long-term success. By embracing organic marketing, private schools can navigate the competitive education landscape with confidence and authenticity.
