This Marketing Matter is actually a “threefer” – three things in one: an experiment on brain researched as promised several weeks ago, a preview of upcoming Marketing Matters, and, of course, sandwiched between, is this week’s offering.<\/p>\n
Brain Research Experiment:<\/em><\/p>\n Fifteen years ago, it was said that it took nine exposures to a new idea for the brain to begin to be open to a new mindset.\u00a0 Ten years ago, with the explosion of mobile technologies, that number rose to 13.\u00a0 Five years ago, multiple exposures through multiple media became necessary just for someone to be open to considering a new idea.<\/p>\n Today, with the convenience of the Internet on our mobile phone or tablet, and now the power of AI, the number is probably not 5 exposures through 3 different media to get to 15, since even the simplest new idea requires about 17 exposures, such as learning a new work.\u00a0 However, organization research has also shown that maximum effect is reached somewhere between 15 to 20 exposures.\u00a0 After that, the effect diminishes (https:\/\/www.changedesigners.eu\/blog\/the-mere-exposure-effect-in-organizational-change\/, accessed 11.27.2023), since we get comfortable with something that’s familiar.<\/p>\n And after 20 exposures, the idea is no longer “new.”<\/p>\n Here’s an experiment to test that theory, but first you have to be a person that does not care for the smell of skunk (you know, driving at night on a country road in the spring, and suddenly – that smell…).<\/p>\n Rather than wincing, inhale deeply, and say to yourself, with confidence, “I like this smell.”\u00a0 After the first time, you may think this is a silly experiment, since you’ll still not like the smell.\u00a0 However, after the fifth time, it won’t seem so bad, after the ninth time, you may actually like the aroma, and at your thirteenth exposure, you’ll wonder why you ever thought it was such an awful scent.<\/p>\n There’s something important about the process.\u00a0 It’s the same smell – there aren’t different nuances.\u00a0 You could conduct the same type of experiment with the smell of cooking Brussels\u00a0sprouts too.\u00a0 And you need to hear yourself say the words.\u00a0 If you’re thinking this won’t work, consider that this is the reason why profanity no longer shocks anyone within conversation.\u00a0 The media have desensitized us to the vulgar, the obscene and the violent.\u00a0 It’s how doctors return to their work in the emergency room day after day.\u00a0 On an educational level, it’s exactly how teaching works.\u00a0 Patterned repetition.<\/p>\n That’s why one billboard isn’t enough; why ten yard signs aren’t enough, and why only one “campaign” consisting of several billboards is not enough. Want to increase enrollment? Then you have to expose the community to your school repeatedly and consistently!<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n This can be problematic in an environment of economic meltdown and recovery.\u00a0 At the height of the recession in 2008, the NonProfit Times reported that contributions were down across the across the country, and staffs were cut about 15%, consisting mainly of communication, development, and human resources people, as well as support services.\u00a0 In 2013, giving levels had almost returned to pre-recession amounts, but staff size had not increased.\u00a0 More money and fewer people means more funds for direct service, or, higher wages for workers.\u00a0 More than likely, given the choice between the two, more funds for direct service would be the marketing message that would continue to inspire donor support.<\/p>\n Those type of organizations would be people in faith-based schools.\u00a0 We cut and cut and cut, and end up wearing more and more and more hats.\u00a0 The problem with that type of mentality is that it contributes to the downward vortex.\u00a0 Advancement means to move forward – to grow.\u00a0 And while pruning is sometimes necessary, you have to know what and where to prune…otherwise, the plant dies.\u00a0 While marketing and development staffs have been pared back, ceasing all marketing will also send a message to the community.\u00a0 That message?\u00a0 “Out of sight, out of mind.”<\/p>\n And then comes, “Out of business.”<\/p>\n Coming up:<\/em><\/p>\n Since Advent begins next week, the Marketing Matters of December 4, 11, 18 and 25 will focus on low-cost ways to market your school.\u00a0 That’s not to say these are “easy;” they require time and talent, but not a lot of treasure.<\/p>\n And yes, December 25 will have an afternoon publication!<\/p>\n And now, this week’s Marketing Matter:<\/em><\/p>\n Your school’s Web site needs to be top-notch.\u00a0 NOW!<\/span> <\/strong><\/p>\n If you’ve been putting it off because it’s too expensive to rework it, or it will take too much time, you will not only lose potential students because people think they won’t be able to afford the tuition, or it will take them too much time and energy to find information about your school if you don’t put it at their fingertips.<\/p>\n And not just a good-looking site, either.\u00a0 It has to be one that communicates the best of your school to your potential parents…and then some.<\/p>\n Why?\u00a0 Does your school marketing say that your school has “pretty good” academics, or does it emphasize “excellent” academics?\u00a0 Does it say that students are exposed to principles of the faith, or are students expected to be formed in the faith so that it can be practiced?\u00a0 In that case, “excellence” needs to be put into “practice” when parents of prospective students come to your school’s front door.\u00a0 And that’s not the door to your school – today, that’s your school’s Web site.<\/p>\n Just as fundraising has advanced to development which has advanced to, well, advancement, it’s now no longer just enough to have a nice Web site. Companies like FinalSite and Apptegy build some of the most high-end, great looking sites out there, but they include forms creation, teacher pages, video vaults, and other solutions which schools need to serve this and the next generation of parents.\u00a0 If you lead any PK-12 school today, the Millennials comprise nearly 100% of your school’s parent community.\u00a0 The first place they go to for information is the Web, and the first people they talk to for recommendations are their friends who are current parents of your school community.\u00a0 Your school, if you’re lucky, is the third place they go…if they go there at all after checking out #1 and #2.<\/p>\n But your school needs to cut back, right.\u00a0 Of course.\u00a0 Marketing is easiest place to look at to cut spending.\u00a0\u00a0Institutions justify their decision by saying, “Oh, people know enough about us already.”\u00a0 Can you say that about your school? \u00a0If not, then it’s time to INVEST in a Web site…a professionally-made one…and there are affordable and responsive solutions available today – such as SchoolSite offer by FACTS.\u00a0 \u00a0In fact, if you’re looking to design a new site, don’t be lulled into thinking that it needs to looks great on the computer.\u00a0 It actually needs to look great and function properly on a phone or tablet, since designers are now creating sites with a “mobile first” mindset.\u00a0 Even today, schools are spending tens of thousand of dollars on a Web site, and it’s not responsive – or its design has different elements on the computer that on a tablet or mobile device.<\/p>\n Second, you now need a second Web site – not a mobile one as you did a number years ago, but another responsive one that’s specifically for your current parent community.<\/p>\n Back in the day, Web sites used to have two navigation places – one across the top for parents interested in checking out your school, and one down the left side for current parents.\u00a0 When responsive design began to come into vogue, the left side menu went away, and there were two top menus.\u00a0 But that became confusing on mobile devices since menus usually aren’t fully displayed on phones and tablets.<\/p>\n Now, there are specific apps where current parents can access gradebooks, reports, lunch menus or all those other things that you used to send home with students in, as one school used to have, brown envelopes.\u00a0 Those were the things that always got crunched at the bottom of the backpack, and today, if it’s not accessible online, then many parents don’t get it.<\/p>\n If you’re not offering parents this type of online “app” experience at your school, parents will infer that you’re not offering the latest technology at your school.<\/p>\n Further, if you’re still invoicing parents from your accounting software rather than giving them online payment experiences, you’re short-changing your school’s image.<\/p>\n Further still, if you do not have an online giving mechanism, parents will assume that you have no interest in preparing their children for the future they’re going to be facing.\u00a0 (If you’re looking for a Giving solution, be sure to take a look at FACTS Giving – another affordable solution!)<\/p>\n Where to get the money?\u00a0 Ask.\u00a0 Bring it to your development board.\u00a0 If your tuition is $4000 per student, reserve one or two “tuitions” to create a Web site for your school.\u00a0 If you increase your enrollment by 3 students, you will have a positive return on your investment.<\/p>\n Perhaps you can get a donor to sponsor it.\u00a0 I’m aware of several schools that do that with their app.<\/p>\n Because it’s the first place parents of prospective students look to get information about your school, it needs to be the best it can be.\u00a0 And, since faith-based schools have a higher purpose as its mission, shouldn’t we be giving it our best?<\/p>\n \u00a9 Michael V. Ziemski, SchoolAdvancement, 2008-2023 (Original publication date: 20081124)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" This Marketing Matter is actually a “threefer” – three things in one: an experiment on brain researched as promised several […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":8119,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1162","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-marketing"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/schooladvancement.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/MM-Purple.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p2ggCS-iK","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/schooladvancement.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1162","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/schooladvancement.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/schooladvancement.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/schooladvancement.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/schooladvancement.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1162"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/schooladvancement.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1162\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":7096,"href":"https:\/\/schooladvancement.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1162\/revisions\/7096"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/schooladvancement.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/8119"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/schooladvancement.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1162"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/schooladvancement.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1162"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/schooladvancement.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1162"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}