[wilfredw]

I would like your feedback on the following: I was thinking of having a simple postcard (line drawings) designed with details of our site that will be handed to mums at the school gate of the local primary schools. Is this too cheesy?

And my follow-up question, How would you market/sell to parents of 10-11 year olds?

Thanks

W

[notgoingtouni]

Originally Posted by wilfredw

And my follow-up question, How would you market/sell to parents of 10-11 year olds?

The easy solution would be not to target the parents but target the children, but in the case of Maths revision I doubt many 10/11 year olds will keep hounding their parents until they do something about it!

In regards to handing out flyers I wouldn't say it's 'too cheesy', you've just got to open their eyes to to what you're offering and explain how it will better their chances of getting in to a "better" school. In this day and age I would imagine a lot of parents would be willing to use services like yours if it means their children get into a more competitive school.

Hope this helps

[Dotwhack]

I think the flyers would be a very good idea - captive audience really as parents are simply waiting for their children to come out of school. However you need to consider the following:
1) How do you know which parents belong to the 10-11 year old kids and not to the other children at the school?
2) I would image a considerable amoutn of parents wait in the car for their children - how will you appoch these people?
3) I would alos expect a proportion of 10-11 year olds to not be collected from school but to either attend an after school club or walk home without a parent.

Just things to consider...

[wilfredw]

One thing I did not mention - I am my target market as well as I have a 10 year old and I do all the dropping and picking up . And yes, he got in to a very good school..

[notgoingtouni]

Originally Posted by wilfredw

One thing I did not mention - I am my target market as well as I have a 10 year old and I do all the dropping and picking up . And yes, he got in to a very good school..

Perfect! Use your own story as a case study and tell the other parents of your son's success with your maths revision. It helps that you too are a parent of a 10 year old as parents would be more willing to listen to you.

[Dotwhack]

Most schools issue a newsletter to parents - not sure if they allow people to advertise on them but worth a try. That way it'll go directly to parents without you having to stand around the school gates.
Or maybe contact the local education authority and see if they do any marketing to parents which you can piggy-back on.

[Dotwhack]

Or another idea - most schools have a summer fair - can you tie in with this i.e. if the school hands out programmes of events you could perheps include a flyer in here. Or maybe have a stand for parents to visit while their kids are off throwing sponges at teachers for £1 a go!

Don't know how viable those ideas are but might be worth investigating

[wilfredw]

Thanks. I have a few good pointers now to create a simple marketing plan.

W

[admagic]

Originally Posted by notgoingtouni

The easy solution would be not to target the parents but target the children, but in the case of Maths revision I doubt many 10/11 year olds will keep hounding their parents until they do something about it!

In regards to handing out flyers I wouldn't say it's 'too cheesy', you've just got to open their eyes to to what you're offering and explain how it will better their chances of getting in to a "better" school. In this day and age I would imagine a lot of parents would be willing to use services like yours if it means their children get into a more competitive school.

Hope this helps

I know governments are CRAZY but it is now illegal under the new unfair sales act to advertise in anyway designed to get children to pester parents to buy something for them!

The thing is...

Kids arent going to buy this stuff for themselves anyway,
Sure they may go looking for freebies

But when it comes to buying it will be parents
So the site should be devoted to selling the ideas to parents!

where the present website seems to be talking to the kids not the parents

re the idea...

A great headline with just a URL to follow is OK as an idea.

provided it offers something

The card cant sell by itsellf amd so you want
Enough to interest, not enough to disappoint.

And this is one of those cases where the main goal of your
site may be to get them to sign up for some good stuff free so you
can then market the offers to them

So focussing your hand out at a competition or freebie download maybe the way to go.

Imagine..a headline that said.

"3 secrets the school doesnt tell you about how to pass the 11+ "

everyone would want to know what they were..

or

Is YOUR KID making these COMMON mistakes in trying to pass the 11+?
Download a free guide to the minefield now!

everyone would want to know what they were..

or

DONT PANIC!
Download the parents survival guide....free 5 point plan that guarantees
they pass the 11+.. with the minimum amount of effort and stress!
even if you struggle with numbers yourself!

Register now and one lucky parent will win a *******

or something

You will need to work a lot harder with the copy on your website though to persuade people to buy ...and as someone else said, telling a story is a good way to write copy..

[wilfredw]

admagic - you're a star. These are excellent ideas.