The mtmconsulting 2009 School Marketing Survey produced by our sector leading educational research team has shown the critical need for a strong online presence amongst schools and colleges. Marketing staff, SMT members and any other figures with responsibility for pupil recruitment in educational institutions should take note.
The online survey, conducted across 200 independent schools in March and April, found that 36% of responding schools now receive half or more of their enquiries from prospective pupils and parents via their school website. Indeed, 5% of respondents said that their school website was the source of over three-quarters of enquiries made.
These statistics show the impact that strong school and college website design, search engine optimisation (SEO) and other forms of online education advertising can have on pupil recruitment in schools. A positive presence on the internet is likely to lead to increased enquiries and subsequently improved pupil recruitment.
The mtmconsulting Missing Million report (2008) presented the value of effective school and college websites from the perspective of potential parents. 94% of parents who carried out research of schools surveyed in that report said that they visited educational websites during the school research process. The survey went on to show that as few as 35% of parents described themselves as “very impressed” by the school websites they visited.
This is clear testament to the value of effective school website design in marketing for schools and colleges. There is a clear opportunity to improve pupil recruitment and steal a march on their competitors through innovative school and college online marketing strategies.
mtmconsulting’s expertise in school website design and e-marketing strategies helps schools to identify and implement these innovative solutions.
