Top 5 summer content ideas for schools
School might be almost out for summer, but that doesn’t mean social media stops or parents stop scrolling when the sun comes out. Instagram and Facebook algorithms recognise dormant accounts, making it harder to return to previous levels of reach once September arrives. It’s therefore important to keep your school’s accounts active over the break, even if you’re operating with a lighter posting frequency.
Taking leave during the holiday? Now is the time to maximise your scheduling tool of choice (we love Later.com which has free packages available), but there are lots of others out there too.
Working through some or all of the break? Make the most of the quieter time on site (ok - we know the life of a school marketer is never quiet - but at least there will be slightly fewer requests arriving in your inbox) and plan your back to school content for a super-charged start to September!
‘But what should I post during the summer holidays when there are no students around?’ is a common question from our clients. So we’re here to help spark some inspiration!
Top 5 summer content ideas for schools
Re-wind to earlier in the school year with #ThrowbackThursday (#TBT). Didn’t get a chance to post the ski trip photos you promised the enthusiastic Head of Department? Now’s your chance! Bring previously unpublished content back to life with #ThrowbackThursday within the caption or stories stickers.
Take a trip down memory lane and further back in time with #FlashbackFriday (#FBF). Perfect for alumni of years past, raid the archives to find old photos - the more nostalgic the better, black and white ones if you have them. Think outside of the box of group shots, to historic photos of the school back in time - from boarding houses to the inauguration of ‘new’ buildings, or quirky and historical features of your site. Ask quiz questions on stories about dates and key facts to really engage your alumni audience!
Showcase your site with seasonal photos in the sunshine. And if you have a visible Grounds team, consider including a thank you within the caption to show appreciation to staff for maintaining the site over the summer holidays.
Build anticipation for the start of the new school year and appeal to prospective families by giving a sneak peak of any new on-site developments. Alumni will love being kept in the loop too. We all know that contrary to popular belief, schools don’t stop when the summer holidays arrive. Often a time to get works done (the restoration of that beautiful but leaky 400 year old roof?), or exciting new developments such a new 4G pitch or outdoor learning areas, use social media to reveal the behind the scenes of the ongoing investment in your school’s excellent facilities. Contractors on site? Ask if they will do a slow-mo video of the build which you can both use.
Start your Open Day marketing with soft launch ‘Save the Date’ style posts. Give prospective families as much notice as possible to get key dates in the diary. You could even build up a wait list via a landing page if you’re not yet open to bookings and get a few steps ahead with your next wave of lead generation.
We hope these ideas will give you a head start and by making use of scheduling tools, you’ll also get a chance to take a breath before September.
Download our Free Content Calendar for even more inspiration.
