Effective Trade School Marketing Ideas can be tough to come by.
In fact, when it’s time to attract more students and increase enrollment, their #1 challenge is…
Finding effective Trade School Marketing Ideas.
Here’s the deal – understanding how to market your trade school effectively separates a struggling institution from a thriving one.
I’ve heard stories of administrators who thought they had nailed their marketing strategy only for it to not bring in any new enrollments at all.
Their confidence takes a hit and they’re left wondering if they’ll ever manage to boost their student numbers significantly.
Sounds familiar?
It doesn’t have to be that way. You can take these new takes on proven trade school marketing ideas to get your seats filled.
Trade School Marketing Idea: Student Success Stories
Student success stories are the best weapon in your arsenal. They provide prospective students with an authentic glimpse into what they could achieve through vocational education.
Here are a few ways you can attract potential students to your local trade school by shining a light on your current and former students.
Crafting Compelling Video Testimonials
The power of visual storytelling cannot be understated when showcasing career achievements and personal growth experiences during a student’s time at your trade school. These videos allow viewers to hear directly from those who have walked the path that they are considering for themselves.
- Filming interviews with graduates at their current workplaces gives authenticity to these narratives.
- Showcasing projects completed while studying demonstrates practical skills gained.
- Potential students get inspired by seeing real-world applications of classroom learning translating into job opportunities in skilled trades industries.
If you offer programs that can be finished in a short time, consider following one or two potential students throughout their time at your school and build that success story in real-time.
Promoting Graduates’ Achievements
As part of your digital strategies for promoting graduate successes online – whether via social media platforms or targeted email campaigns – you should focus on:
- Drawing attention to recent job openings landed by alumni.
- Broadcasting industry accolades received by past pupils.
- “Remember, every achievement starts with the decision to try.” – John F Kennedy.
In addition, profiles highlighting how some top performing former-students now run thriving businesses within their chosen field effectively demonstrate how far one can go armed with skills learned from vocational courses.
Trade School Marketing Idea: Industry Partnerships
The potential of strategic alliances with local businesses and industries is huge. These partnerships not only enhance the credibility of your trade school but also create direct employment pathways for graduates. Those alumni we just spoke about would be great places to start making these partnerships.
Nurturing Local Business Collaborations
Local business partnerships should be at the forefront when considering potential industry partners. Geographical proximity allows easy engagement between companies and students through internships or special projects.
This kind of collaboration benefits both parties: It meets an employee-driven market’s demand for fresh talent while offering real-world experience to future skilled trades professionals.
Promoting Industry Connections
To maximize the impact on marketing efforts, highlight these relationships across all relevant channels such as social media platforms where success stories from past collaborations could attract interest online.
A joint event like job fairs provides an excellent platform for interaction between potential students and representatives from partner organizations which helps build brand awareness among target audiences.
Cross-Promotion Content Marketing Effort
Content marketing activities such as guest blogging for each other’s websites or featuring interviews with top employees from partnering businesses is a great indirect promotion. Additionally, it helps you put out content more frequently.
Key Takeaway:
Forge strategic alliances with local businesses to boost your trade school’s credibility and create job opportunities for graduates. Highlight these partnerships across all marketing channels, leverage advertising opportunities, and incorporate cross-promotion content marketing efforts.
Trade School Marketing Idea: Online Skill Showcases
Social media is the ideal stage to showcase student talents. Let’s look at how to use these platforms effectively.
The Power of Video as a Trade School Marketing Idea
Prospective students want more than just descriptions and promises when considering trade schools. They want tangible evidence of what they can achieve and learn. Videos that demonstrate student projects or skills captivate attention and offer concrete evidence of what they stand to gain at your institution.
Videos offer transparency and authenticity, providing an unfiltered view of the school’s educational environment, faculty, and the actual work students produce. This authentic portrayal helps build trust among prospective students and their families, making it easy for them to enroll with you.
Skills Showcase Challenge:
A unique trade school marketing idea that can make a splash on social media involves hosting a “Skills Showcase Challenge.” Here’s how it works:
Campaign Introduction: Launch a campaign across your social media platforms inviting current students, alumni, and even prospective students to participate in showcasing their skills. This challenge could be themed around a particular trade or could encompass various disciplines your school offers.
Submission Phase: Participants are encouraged to create short, engaging videos showcasing their best work or a specific project they’ve completed during their time at the trade school. These videos should highlight their skills, creativity, and the impact of their training at your institution.
Judging and Audience Engagement: Create a panel of judges comprising faculty, industry experts, or influential figures within the trade school community. Share the submitted videos on your social media channels, encouraging viewers to engage by liking, commenting, and sharing their favorites.
Recognition and Prizes: Recognize participants with the most engaging, creative, or skillful submissions. Feature these individuals prominently across your social media platforms. Offer prizes such as scholarships, toolkits, or opportunities for mentorship or internships with industry partners.
Live Showcase Event: Organize a live or virtual event where the finalists’ submissions are showcased. Host interviews with the finalists, provide insights into their projects, and celebrate their achievements. Livestream this event across social media platforms to engage a wider audience.
Encourage Interaction and Networking: Facilitate interactions between finalists, alumni, prospective students, and industry professionals during the event. Use social media platforms to connect attendees and continue conversations beyond the event.
This trade school marketing idea leverages the power of social media to not only showcase the skills of your students but also engages your community, builds excitement, and demonstrates the practical outcomes of attending your trade school.
It encourages interaction, networking, and offers tangible evidence of the quality of education provided at your institution. It also generates buzz and visibility for your trade school across various social media channels.
Key Takeaway:
Harness the power of social media to amplify your trade school’s appeal. Showcase student skills with engaging visual content, exploit platform-specific features for maximum impact, and regularly promote success stories as proof of quality training. Remember: catchy captions and relevant hashtags are key.
At Six Degrees Digital Media, we specialize in digital marketing for EdTech and Higher Education. We understand the unique challenges that come with promoting educational institutions like yours.
Whether you need help showcasing student successes or building strategic alliances with local businesses, our team is here for you. Let’s work together on implementing effective Trade School Marketing Ideas tailored specifically for your institution. Schedule a complementary strategy session today.
