Winter break is right around the corner...it's hard to imagine it's only been 100 days or so since the school year started — think of all that's happened!

During your school's winter break and students are on vacation, we want you to be, too. Before your school closes down for the holidays, there are some last-minute tasks to add to your to-do list so the next couple of weeks feel truly like a break — and a well-deserved one at that!

Take a few extra moments now and make sure your marketing and communications office is prepared for winter break.

1. Schedule social posts in advance

Did you create a holiday greeting? Are there any events your followers should know about over break? Of course, you want your holiday message to be at the top of constituents' feeds on holidays during the break, but it is time off for you, too. Schedule your posts well in advance to save you from reaching for your laptop on Christmas Eve.

If you need some creative inspiration for this time of year, download a free copy of The Complete Social Media Calendar for Schools and Districts and you'll have everything you need to keep students and families engaged. 

2. Send a holiday greeting to constituents

Whether it's a video message, a festive graphic, or simply some text wishing a happy and safe holiday season, sending a holiday greeting is important! Your time and resources will determine the detail, creativity, and complexity of the email message or social post.

Aim for an authentic holiday greeting, focus on the successes of the year so far and include the voice of students, teachers, and administration. Avoid including any news events or requests for annual fund gifts in your holiday greeting— save those for a newsletter. And, don't forget to use personalization to make your constituents feel like the message is just for them!

3. Prep your spring semester website content

Do you have a little extra time this week? Make the transition to the spring semester as easy as possible and draft pages for campus events (like your spring open house or band concert) and get those important dates on the calendar.

Constituents will appreciate the planning so they can start planning ahead for the spring semester, but also for next year. Many families travel for the holidays and will want to jump on reservations for next year — knowing the holiday dates for next winter can help them plan their schedules in advance.

But your school calendar shouldn't get all the attention. Don't forget about other areas of your marketing and communication efforts. Now is a great time to have them ready for when you return.

Feeling like you want a head start? Check out these 9 Easy Marketing Project Ideas to Conquer Over Winter Break, including:

• Rebuilding your email newsletter
• Giving your tuition page a well-deserved makeover
• And making your news section more engaging

4. Prepare your summer programs

Wait, but it's winter — it's already time to think about summer camps when there are still snow days?! Yup! Google sees a massive spike in searches around traditional summer programs and camps every winter. Winter is here, but summer is coming...

As parents reach the end of winter break (and the end of their patience with kids...) families shift their focus to their summer plans and take the necessary steps to ensure the kids are out of the house. 

Your school's summer camps and programs are one of the best ways to market the value of your campus to new families, retain current families for the summer months, and bring in additional revenue for your business office. Now is a great time to prep the pages of your summer camp programs.

But before you open up registration, make sure you've spent some time preparing your site and focus on:

• What makes your summer programs special
• Why the programs are a good investment for families
• The credentials of your summer camp faculty
• Promoting your camp on social media, digital ads, and SEO
• Adding social proof — including testimonials from campers and parents

The programs at Summer at Santa Catalina, a sleepaway and day camp in Monterey, CA, may be months away, but they're gearing up for the registration rush this winter — they've even got a countdown until the first day of camp!

For more best practices, keep reading: 10 Tips for Filling Up Summer Camp Registrations, Fast!

Key Takeaway

Imagine coming back from winter break and actually feeling like you're caught up, or even <gasp> ahead of work! Take the time now to plan and schedule your social content, connect with your community, and prep key areas of your website. Now, go grab yourself some hot chocolate and get busy!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Connor has spent the last decade within the field of marketing and communications, working with independent schools and colleges throughout New England. As Finalsite’s Senior Content Marketing Manager, Connor plans and executes marketing strategies and digital content across the web. A former photojournalist, he has a passion for digital media, storytelling, coffee, and creating content that connects.