Summer is here, although the school does not start, but your work as a K12 communicator cannot take a vacation.
You may be spending this time reflecting on the previous year and preparing for the 2021-2022 school year. After all, it will come before you know it, and it will never hurt to be as prepared as possible.
We have compiled this handy guide to ensure you make the most of the last few weeks of summer vacation before school starts. Therefore, please read on for some specific methods that you can lay the foundation for a good year ahead.
1. Planning and Organization
For organizations that are difficult to manage when school starts, summer is a good time. As a school communicator, you can do the following things to prepare yourself for success in the fall.
Leverage marketing automation
Marketing automation is a breeze for K12 communicatorsIt ensures that you promote regular communication and provide the right people with the information you need to know, freeing up time for higher-level tasks.By automating standard emails, such as welcome emails for new students and faculty, or Monthly newsletter, You can inbox in advance and keep communicating.
When you automate day-to-day communication, you can ensure that the work is completed without delay, and you will not get stuck in the to-do list in the process. Your time management becomes more efficient, you become more efficient; this is a win-win!Also, as soon as the email starts, you can Track participation And open rate to understand how you communicate with your audience, because these tools are built into your automation technology!
Clean up your list
Another great feature built into marketing automation is Email contact list management.
Email bounces and inactive accounts may affect your Email delivery rate And reduce the effectiveness of email campaigns. E-mail is an effective way of communication. It provides you with a direct connection with your audience, so it’s important to expand the reach as much as possible. First clean up and organize your email list so that your actual audience and target audience are as close as possible.
When subdividing the list, consider who needs to hear what, and create groups accordingly. For example, a teacher’s email will be very different from a parent newsletter. Review all the emails you sent in the last year to gauge how best to organize your recipient groups.
Conduct an investigation
Feedback is the backbone of an effective communication plan. Send a short questionnaire to parents, Students, faculty and staff understand the effectiveness of your communication plan and whether they have any specific unmet needs. Analyze this data and use the insights you gather to inform your plans for the coming year.
Another benefit of soliciting feedback is that it gives parents a chance to feel heard. When they feel listened, they will pay more attention to the information you send to them and participate in school activities and activities.
Determine policy and important content
In the past year, the world has undergone tremendous changes, and the needs of parents and students everywhere have also changed. When creating content and communication plans, consider how to make them relevant to the current context.
Does your school have a new vaccine policy? Are there any rules about wearing masks or social distancing?Consistent education is to ensure any recent development and Back to school agreement People who are integrated and realize that they will affect.
When making a content plan, make sure that you communicate across various channels and work together to send a message.For example, your Social media posts, E-mail and Intranet announcements all need to work at the same time to deliver a unified message.
Develop processes and templates in the summer. This will ensure that during a busy school year, you will be better prepared to manage chaos without letting it affect your content.
2. Participate
Summer vacation is not a reason to close communication channels with parents. Keep sending emails (as long as they are purposeful) and keep posting on social media. Just because students leave does not mean that the school should disappear from their sight. Use this time to involve parents in informative and useful content.
Information content may include local summer activities, camps and resources. Combine it with some light reading, such as interesting facts about teachers, student grades from the previous school year, book recommendations or interesting quizzes. Summer vacation is a great way to show the human side of the school and build relationships with parents, making them more willing to accept your future communication.
3. Skills Upgrading
As a school communicator, you may hold several roles: digital marketer, copywriter, internal communicator, and even designer. Through reading digital and technological development, marketing automation, e-mail campaign strategies, etc., priority is given to self-growth and development in the quieter summer.
Webinars are a great way to keep up with industry trends. They are very convenient because they allow you to learn and share knowledge across borders in the comfort of your home or office. A quick Google or LinkedIn search will help you find related virtual events.
The evolution of school communication has established new relationships between schools and parents, and as a K12 communicator, you are at the forefront of this incredible transformation. By making the most of the summer months, you can ensure that the next school year provides exciting opportunities for cooperation and development within and among schools, teachers, parents, and students.
