Today, I want to introduce you to a captivating concept called #SurpriseAndDelight. While you may already be practicing it unknowingly, let's delve deeper into this intriguing strategy.

"Surprise & Delight" involves doing something unexpected and personalized for someone, leading to genuine...

In one of our recent Small School Solutions trainings we went through best practices for low-budget in-house videos, what to shoot and when, and also tools that can support these efforts.

In this blog, we are hitting a few of the key points from that training, and the first one is...

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Today we're going to talk about silos. I always think of silos on a farm filled with corn. And I suppose that it’s the way each one contains only one product, and keeps it insulated from the weather on the farm is where the term came from. And if you think about it, schools tend to have a...

I love this quote because it's so true. We live so much of our lives in fear.

Fear of disappointing.

Fear of failing.

Fear of hoping.

Fear of succeeding.

And when we listen to these fears, we end up not trying.

This can look like not trying a different marketing strategy or continuing...

Hey there, 

Surveys are a hot topic right now! Why? Through annual surveys, you can benchmark data, figure out what's working, and what needs to improve. Here are 7 key surveys you should be using at your school: 

1. New-family survey. This helps your school better understand the...

Hi there! 

Today we're talking about advancement directors—do you have one? Do you need one? 

If you don't yet have an advancement director, I would strongly encourage you to seek one out. Now, you may be thinking, why do I need an advancement director? What if my school doesn't...

Hi friends, 

Have you ever conducted third-party interviews of your current parents, alumni families, and your students?

If not, I highly recommend it. It will not only give your constituency an anonymous place to express how they feel, but it will also give you key insights into why...

Hi there!

Let's talk about your not-so-new parents. You know what I'm talking about—those families who joined your school in 2020.

They're not necessarily new, but they have not yet gotten the true experience of your school. They might be familiar with some aspects of your school, but...

Hey there, 

As a part of our back-to-school series, today I'm addressing the importance of soft touches. What is a soft touch? I define it as anything that doesn't have a hidden agenda. It's the pieces that connect your families with your mission. 

They're important because when a...

Hello friend! 

Are you in a development, admissions, or marketing department at your school? This conversation is one that I believe can benefit anyone working in these departments, especially when it comes to planning and considering your budgets. 

This came from a question I...

Hey there,

Don't let your communications fall short as you head into the new school year, because this is the ideal time to be communicating with new & returning families.

Right now this is especially important because families are looking for those beloved traditions, community,...

Hi friends!

Today I'm sharing some admissions & retention strategies to keep families at your school! These came from our most recent Small School Leaders meetup, where we heard some inspiring tips that you can use at your school. 

1. Shift the mindset. This means showcasing from the...