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I HAVE A NEW BLOG

I have recently upgraded to WordPress. My new website can be found at www.jasonawheeler.com

Please visit and give me your thoughts on the new design. Thanks for being a loyal reader.

Using Content Marketing to Drive Engagement - NSPRA 2018 Presentation

Thank you so much for attending my session. Below you will find a link to my presentation as well as slide notes. I have also included some other goodies to help you start the process.

I would love for you to take the time to follow me on social media at www.twitter.com/wheelercfb

You can also subscribe to my newsletter on the left. Thank you.

Using Content Marketing to Drive Engagement

Traditional marketing is dying a slow death. With increased competition in public education, school districts must use innovative approaches to market their schools and programs.

Explore the role of Content Marketing in driving audience engagement. Now more than ever, helpful content can move our marketing from mediocre to remarkable.

Presentation Files

Click below to access the presentation folder:

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Ow_2eHvV_t4yP7EXev9pEp1u__n8uwx8?usp=sharing

Quick Tips for a Successful Facebook Live Broadcast - Thought(fit) Ep. 2

Do you use Facebook Live to drive audience engagement???

Wondering how you can improve your engagement using Facebook Live and streaming video?

In this video, you'll learn about six tips that will improve your audience engagement using Facebook Live and Streaming Video. 

Click Below to Watch the First Episode of Thought(fit):



Thought Fit is a new show I created to get exercise while talking about School Marketing.

I hope you enjoy.

Leave your thoughts in the comment section about future episodes you would like to see.

7 School Marketing Trends to Think About for 2018 [Podcast]

Have you thought about your school marketing strategy for 2018? 

Do you know where your district is going to invest your communications budget this year?

Today’s episode of the Social Media Schoolhouse Podcast focuses school marketing trend’s I see coming down the pipeline for 2018. I will discuss my thoughts on where I think marketing is heading and what trends school districts should start exploring.

By the end of this episode I hope districts will at least start an internal conversation with their district leadership about the future of marketing and where investment dollars should be allocated in the future.

Social Media Schoolhouse Podcast:

• Microinfluencers (0:53)
• Streaming Video (1:56)
• User-Generated Content (3:27)
• Schools as a Brand (4:41)
• Voice Search (5:58)
• Chatbots (7:47)
• Content Distribution Strategy (9:01)

What are your thoughts on trends for School Marketing? Leave your thoughts in the comment section below.

How to Boost Engagement on Instagram with an Easy Hashtag Hack

Is your school district using Instagram? 

Do you want more people to see your Instagram posts?

Using hashtags is easier for people who don’t follow you on Instagram to find your content.

In this article, you’ll learn how to boost engagement on Instagram with an easy hashtag hack.

The Importance of the Hashtag

Hashtags started on Twitter, but have become the lifeblood of any post on Instagam. A proper hashtag can help boost engagement and allow people who do not follow your account to discover your content.

According to Dictionary.com, a hashtag is a word or phrase preceded by a hash or pound sign (#) and used to identify messages on a specific topic.
The keyword in their definition is “identify.” A hashtag puts your content into a category. Instagram users search hashtags to discover content pertaining to that category.

For example, our district’s “Teaching in Dallas” instagram account will use popular teacher hashtags to attract educators from across the country to our content.

 
By using these hashtags, our content is categorized so other Instagram users who enjoy teaching and classroom tips can easily find it—even if they don’t yet follow our “Teaching in Dallas” feed.

This is an excellent way for schools or school districts that are new to Instagram, or have small follower numbers, to get exposure to more interested people. The beautiful thing is that Instagram allows up to 30 hashtags per post.

Instagram Hashtag Hack to Boost Engagement

With hashtags on Instagram being so important, you have to use them to drive engagement. However, you need be creative on how you use them so you do not look like you are spamming Instagram with your posts.

Putting all 30 hashtags into your initial description is so 2016. With this simple hack, you can use hashtags to boost engagement without looking like a hashtag spammer.

The secret is to post your picture and content, and then put your hashtags in the first comment of your post.

By using this technique, your initial Instagram post is not full of annoying hashtags that crowd your post.

Using the comment section allows you to have a break between your caption and your hashtag categories. But simply putting your hashtags in the first comment is not enough. This is where the Hashtag Hack comes in.

Hashtag Hack Step 1: Know Thy Audience

First tip on this hack is to know your audience you are trying to attract with your post. Do you know what type of content they want? Do you know what hashtags they are using or what type of hashtags are they searching for?

HubSpot's Audience Persona Templates

You do not want to put hashtags in your post just to use hashtags. You need to have a good reason. You must know what is going to attract your audience.

Hashtag Hack Step 2: Text Editor

This is the real secret the hack. Do not type your hashtags directly into the comment section. Instead, type your hashtags into a text editor like your notes app on your iPhone. And make sure to use the dot character on your typepad to create line breaks.

By using the “Dot”, you give a break between your post and the comment section, yet still giving you the power of the hashtag. We use FIVE DOTS to give the adequate space between the post and our hashtags.

Hashtag Hack Step 3: Paste into Comment

The next step is to take your hashtags you created in your text editor, and then paste them into the comment section on your Instagram post. Make sure when you copy your note in your text editor that you copy all five dots and all of your hashtags.

 

Posting your collected hashtags into your comment section will help non-followers find your awesome content without making you look like a spammer.

Conclusion

Using hashtag with Instagram is a powerful technique you must be using. Without hashtags, your posts are basically hidden from the outside world.

School districts can take advantage of hashtags as long as you carefully select the right kind that match with your content, and as long as you do not misuse or spam your followers.

Do you have questions about using hashtags in Instagram? Do you have questions about boosting social media engagement? Leave your questions in the comment section below.

How to Boost District Enrollment Using Facebook Ads

Is your district looking for ways to boost enrollment?

Are you looking for ways to increase engagement on social media and your website?

In this article, you can watch my presentation on

How to Boost Revenue Using Facebook Ads

This video is for small businesses, but can be used to attract families to your school district.

Here are slides form my presentation:

The Power of Facebook

Facebook has 1.94 Billion Active Users!

Remember... Facebook is a Business

Organic Page Reach is Declining. You will need to "Pay to Play"

But remember... Marketing is an Investment. Facebook gives great ROI.

How to Get Started with Facebook Ads

What's Your Objective for your campaign?

Who's your Audience?

Facebook Audience Insights is a great way to determine what your audience likes

Hyper-Target Your Audience

The great thing about Facebook, is the ability to drill down to your core audience. You can reach very specific groups using Facebook ad tools.

Designing Your Facebook Ad

I rank in importance what to include in your ad. Watch my presentation above for the breakdown and specifics for each part of a Facebook ad.

Feel free to email me with any specific questions

 

6 Awesome Articles to Help Improve Your Facebook Ads

Is your district looking to dive into the world of Facebook Ads?

Do you have questions and concerns about implementing this popular social media advertising?

Facebook ads provide an excellent way to engage with niche audiences.

In this post, you’ll see a list of the most popular articles about Facebook ads on the internet in the month of May.

Top 6 Most Popular Facebook Ads Articles 

 

1. How to Set Up a Facebook Messenger Ad

 

 

Do you want to boost revenue for your next launch or promotion?

Have you thought about using Facebook Messenger ads to engage prospects?

Messenger ads provide a personal experience for customers and prospects.

In this article, you’ll discover how to create a Facebook Messenger ad.

Click Here to Read Tammy Canon's Article

2. 10 Tips to Troubleshoot Your Facebook Ads

 

Do you advertise on Facebook?

Wondering why some of your Facebook ads aren’t working?

If your Facebook ads aren’t delivering the results you hoped for, looking at specific aspects of your campaign can help you determine why.

In this article, you’ll discover 10 tips to troubleshoot your Facebook ads.

Read Julia Bramble's Article Here

3. Facebook Ads Strategy: How Marketers Can Win With Facebook

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Do you use Facebook ads?

Want to make them more effective?

To explore how to create a successful Facebook ads strategy, Michael Stelzner interviews Nicholas Kusmich.

Listen to the Podcast Here 

4. Five B2B Tips for Creating Facebook Ad Images That Work

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Want to improve your cost per click for Facebook ads?

Wondering how much influence visuals have on Facebook ad performance?

From font style to background images, the design choices you make can have a deep impact on the overall results of your Facebook ad campaigns.

In this article, you’ll discover five tips for creating B2B Facebook ad images that generate results.

Read Nadya Khoja'a Article Here

5. A Quick Guide to the Different Facebook Ad Objectives

 

 

In order to maximize your Facebook ads, you must understand the different Facebook ad objectives and how to use them. Using the wrong ad type can cause a campaign to grossly under perform, thus wasting time and money.

Take a peek at this quick guide to the different Facebook ad objective types and tips on when to use them.

Read Nathan Mendenhall's Article Here

6. My 15 Facebook Ad Campaigns

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I'm often asked for examples of how I use Facebook ads. Since I recently restructured my own campaigns, I thought it would be helpful to share the 15 Facebook ad campaigns that I’m running right now.

That doesn’t mean that these campaigns are perfect. Some will work, and some will fail. I’ll undoubtedly tweak, adjust, and create new campaigns in the very near future.

But this restructure gives you a behind-the-scenes look at what I’m thinking about when I’m creating my own campaigns.

Read Jon Loomer's Article Here

You can discover more awesome Facebook Ad articles by googling.

Do you have any tips about using Facebook Ads? Let us know your ideas in the comment section below.

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How to Improve School Marketing with 8 Simple Tips - Part 2 [Podcast]

Is your district putting more emphasis on marketing this year?

Are you feeling the pressure from private and charter schools in your area?

School marketing is becoming more important as competition is increasing for public schools across the country. It is time for school districts to embrace marketing and think of it as an investment to increase brand awareness and increase enrollment.

How to Improve School Marketing with 8 Simple Tips Podcast

PART TWO - 4 More Tips 

 

 

In Part 2 of this podcast, you’ll discover four more simple tips to improve your school marketing.

Do you have any questions about the tips in the podcast? Leave your questions in the comment section below or email wheelercfb@gmail.com

Subscribe to the Social Media Schoolhouse Newsletter

* indicates required

Email Address *

First Name *

Last Name *

 

How to Improve Your School Marketing with 8 Easy Techniques [Part 2]

Is your district putting more emphasis on marketing this year?

Are you feeling the pressure from private and charter schools in your area?

School marketing is becoming more important as competition is increasing for public schools across the country. It is time for school districts to embrace marketing. If you remember anything form this podcast, make sure to know that marketing is an investment… not an expense.

Marketing is an Investment... Not an Expense 

In Part 2 of this article, you’ll discover four more simple tips to improve your school marketing.

 

Click Here to Read Part 1

 

Let's Recap Part 1

School Marketing is about using tools to get more parents to enroll their children in your schools and keep them there. School Marketing is also about getting more community members to support your schools more often so your school district succeeds.

In part 1 we discussed these important tips:

1. Live Video for Marketing
2. Google Analytics
3. Marketing Success with Facebook Ads
4. The Facebook Pixel

Knowing our goal of marketing, let’s look at the next four simple techniques to improve your school marketing.

 

Improving Your School Marketing

5. Content Marketing with Lead Magnets

Content marketing is about being useful. Give your audience something that will help them make an informed decision. Hopefully a decision that will result in them choosing your district.

Before anything else, the most important thing you can do is to educate them before you sell to them. You goal should be to create content that educates your audience.

"You goal should be to create content that educates your audience."

And a lead magnet is just that… a piece of content that is so valuable that your audience will give you something to get that content. Most of the time it is their email address.

 

My district has had great success using this technique with parents of preschoolers to market our kindergarten program. We offered a Kindergarten Milestone Checklist to parents if they signed up for our Kindergarten Email Newsletter.

 

 

6. Creating Niche Email Lists

 

From our Kindergarten Newsletter we have had several families choose CFBISD as their district of choice for their incoming kindergartner. Our newsletter focuses on tips and techniques for parents as their child begins school for the first time. It is in partnership with our district parent blog, School-A-Hoop.

Much like our Kindergarten Digital Newsletter, we have created several niche email lists to meet the needs of the different groups in CFBISD. General district newsletters can be fine, but the real power comes with niche lists, with content for a specific group who has specific questions.

 

Past Article Alert: How to Use Email to Make a Powerful Impact

There is too much data and too many tools to not know what people want in your district. And everybody's wants are not the same. Your athletic parents do not want the same information and help as your fine arts parents. You elementary school parents are more concerned with what is happening in elementary school at the moment. 

Here is a sample of "Niche Lists" we have created in CFBISD:

• Fine Arts Parents
• Athletic Parents
• STEM TIPS
• Pre-K Parents
• High School Programs
• CFBISD Alumni
• Over 65 in the Community

Our list are influenced by our data and well thought out. Niche content is emailed to them in hopes they choose CFBISD, or remain as a proud parent.

7. Stop Worrying About Likes

So many people on social media are concerned with likes. All I can say is... social media is not a popularity contest. It's about finding the right audience who is going to engage with your content.

The Order of Importance of Social Media Engagement (Least to Best):

1. Likes/Hearts
2. Comments
3. Shares/Retweets

Worry about engagement, not if someone likes you.

Likes can be good to build an audience who is going to share, but make sure they are the right likes.

 

8. Build Audience Personas

 

You must know your audience to be able to create content that they will consume. Building audience personas is crucial for each of your campaigns. 

 

 

Everybody is different, but similar groups bubble to the surface when you do the research.

Many leading content marketing blogs have used this great quote from Ardath Albee to define Audience Personas:

"A marketing persona is a composite sketch of a key segment of your audience. For content marketing purposes, you need personas to help you deliver content that will be most relevant and useful to your audience."

 

The key statement I see is "help you deliver content that will be most relevant..."

 

Defining your audience can help with many different things including campaign management, social media paid ads, and video marketing.

 

Hubspot has an excellent Buyer/Audience Persona template to help brainstorm and build your audiences. We use them in our district to help organize the process.

 

 

Click Here to get Hubspot's Buyer Persona Templates 

 

Conclusion

 

All school districts should start thinking about school marketing. It's an investment that all districts will need sooner than later.
 

With increased competition from all types of educational establishments, it is better to start now to be ahead of the game. Remember, you are investing in the future of your school district.
 

What do you think? Will you try these school marketing techniques? 

 

Please share your thoughts in the comments below.

How to Improve School Marketing with 8 Simple Tips [Podcast]

Is your district putting more emphasis on marketing this year?

Are you feeling the pressure from private and charter schools in your area?

School marketing is becoming more important as competition is increasing for public schools across the country. It is time for school districts to embrace marketing and think of it as an investment to increase brand awareness and increase enrollment.

How to Improve School Marketing with 8 Simple Tips Podcast

In PART 1 of this Podcast, you’ll discover four simple tips to improve your school marketing. Part 2 will air next week.



Do you have any questions about the tips in the podcast? Leave your questions in the comment section below or email wheelercfb@gmail.com

Click Here for a Link to the Full Blog Post