A school that offers vocational education and training for careers with specific and often quite lucrative skillsets can use its school website to tremendous advantage.
While traditional high schools, colleges, and universities offer the necessary prerequisites for academic and intellectual fields, their offerings and curricula are often generic.
On the other hand, the vocational school can stand out from the crowd of choices because you can provide specific examples of what you offer and what your students can and should expect when they attend your school.
Where do you begin?
To stand out and convince parents and students that your school is the right fit for them, you need to earn their trust and provide examples to help them see themselves succeeding in your culture and environment.
So, ask yourself:
What do you offer that other schools do not?
The answer is critical to the content you want to include on your website and social media channels. One way to address this question is to understand what your students are looking for (that they might not get through a strictly academic environment) or their pain points that your school can address.
What are your students challenges?
- Do our students have full-time jobs and need a flexible schedule that you can provide?
- Do you offer both full-time and part-time options to meet various student needs?
- Do your students need financial assistance because they can’t afford to pay out-of-pocket?
- Do your students need payment options?
Does your website and social media address each of these challenges, and describe how your school solves them? Do you make taking the next step to enroll or get on your waiting list simple and online?
Why is your trade school a better option?
Do you demonstrate to potential students why your trade school is a good fit for them? Consider showing them that:
- They will spend less time to get from the training to their career.
- They will spend significantly less than they will in getting a traditional degree.
- They will gain lifelong skills that will help them in their chosen future.
- They will have hands-on experience that provides them with the opportunity for growth and advancement.
Some high school students feel they must attend a four-year college program because it is expected of them or because they don’t know their options. It is your job to help them see the alternatives.
Sometimes, prospective students are already employed but dissatisfied with their current situation. They may feel stuck or need more experience or skills to enter the field for which they are better suited.
In both situations, you can use your website and social media platforms to show them that your school can deliver solutions.
Turn your vocational school website into a workhorse
What should your school website include?
The vocational school website is the first point of contact for many prospective students and their parents. A well-designed, professional website can make a solid first impression and establish credibility. Hire a professional designer!
Here’s what matters:
Develop a Professional, User-Friendly Vocational School Website
- Design and Navigation: Ensure your website has a modern, clean design with intuitive navigation. Make it easy for visitors to find course information, admissions, and contact details.
- Responsive Design: Optimize your website for mobile devices, as many users may access it via smartphones or tablets.
Create an Information Hub
- Course Details: It provides detailed information about the courses offered, including curriculum, duration, fees, and career prospects.
- Admission Information: Clear and accessible admission guidelines, application procedures, and deadlines help streamline the enrollment process.
- Faculty and Facilities: Information about faculty qualifications and facilities available can help attract students by showcasing the school’s strengths.
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Utilize SEO Optimization
- Keyword Research: Identify and use relevant keywords related to vocational training and your specific courses.
- Content Creation: Regularly update your website with high-quality content, such as blog posts, articles, and success stories relevant to your audience.
Create Clear and Engaging Content
- Course Descriptions: Provide detailed descriptions of each course, including objectives, curriculum, duration, and career outcomes.
- Visual Content: Use images, videos, and infographics to make the content engaging. Virtual campus tours, student video testimonials, and course previews can be very effective.
- Success Stories: Showcase testimonials and success stories from former students to build credibility and demonstrate the real-world value of your training programs.
Use Lead Generation and Conversion
- Call-to-Action (CTA): Use clear and compelling CTAs throughout your site to guide visitors toward enrolling in a course, downloading a brochure, or scheduling a tour.
- Contact Forms: Place easy-to-find contact forms for inquiries, applications, and newsletter subscriptions.
- Live Chat: Implement a live chat feature to provide instant support and answer questions from prospective students.
Develop Content Marketing and Blogging
- Blog: Start a blog to provide valuable information on vocational training, industry trends, career advice, and more.
- Guest Posts: Collaborate with industry experts to contribute guest posts on your blog, expanding your reach and credibility. Invite successful alumni to share their stories as well.
Use Social Media Integration
- Social Media Links: Include links to your social media profiles and encourage visitors to follow and engage with your content.
- Shareable Content: Create easily shareable content on social media platforms to increase your reach.
Include Email Marketing
- Newsletter: Collect email addresses through sign-up forms on your website and send regular newsletters with updates, news, and valuable content.
- Email Campaigns: Run targeted email campaigns to promote new courses, events, and special offers.
Consider Online Advertising
- Google Ads: Use Google Ads to target specific keywords and drive traffic to your website.
- Social Media Ads: Run targeted ads on platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn to reach your ideal audience.
Engage with Your Audience using your Vocational School Website
- Feedback and Reviews: Encourage students to leave reviews and provide feedback on your website. Display positive reviews prominently.
- Community Building: Create forums or discussion groups where current and prospective students can interact, ask questions, and share experiences.
Utilize Administrative Efficiency
- Online Applications and Payments: Facilitating online applications and fee payments can streamline administrative processes and reduce paperwork.
- Data Management: Online forms and data collection tools can help manage student information efficiently.
By combining these strategies, you can create a vocational school website that effectively promotes your vocational school, attracts potential students, and encourages engagement and enrollment.
If you need help from the experts, we hope you’ll contact us here at School Webmasters by calling Jim at 888.750.4556 or get a quote today.
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