Are your school website landing pages making the grade? While school websites are brimming with valuable information, the way you design your landing pages can turn casual visitors into engaged members of your school community. Let’s explore how a strategic approach can help your website truly shine.
Making Valuable School District Landing Pages
“Strategically designed landing pages transform casual information-seekers into engaged, informed members of the school community.”
~ Chelsea Janke, Vice President Integrated Marketing at CEL Marketing PR Design
What is a Landing Page?
A landing page is a standalone web page created specifically for a particular purpose or campaign. Unlike regular web pages that might serve a range of functions, a landing page is designed with a single goal in mind: to capture a visitor’s attention and prompt a specific action. For schools, a landing page can be incredibly valuable. While enrollment and career landing pages are common and essential, don’t overlook the potential of other specialized landing pages that can further engage and build trust within your community.
Elements of a Landing Page
Start each landing page with a captivating image that reflects its focus—whether showcasing students in action, alums connecting, or thriving community partnerships. High-quality photos and meaningful graphics create visually appealing and engaging pages.
Key contacts should feature high-quality staff photos, with smiling staff conveying approachability and trust. These images not only enhance the site’s appearance but also demonstrate professionalism and care, reflecting the school district’s dedication to its students, families, and community members.
District Budget and Finance
Making the district’s budget and finances clear and engaging can help build trust with the community by explaining complex financial information.
“Clear and transparent budgeting isn’t just about numbers—it’s about building trust and fostering a sense of shared responsibility.”
~ Christopher Kampa, Director of Finance & Operations at Cambridge-Istanti Schools
- Hero Image: Start with a picture of students benefiting from new resources or programs funded by the budget. This visual sets the stage by showing the direct impact on student learning and community well-being.
- Highlight Budget Support: Use fun infographics or interactive elements to show how the budget supports students, enhances learning, and provides valuable resources.
- Key Initiatives: Spotlight major budget priorities and projects. Clearly explain their positive impact on the school community.
- Process and Timeline: Include a section detailing the budgeting process with important dates for budget approvals and community input opportunities.
- FAQ Section: Address common questions about the budget and finances to keep the community well-informed.
- Contact Information: Provide details on contacting the finance department for further inquiries.
- Dynamic Content: Keep the page engaging with updates, upcoming budget meetings, and financial reports.
Alumni Relations
A well-designed alum relations page encourages former students to stay connected and support the school community.
“Highlighting the achievements of our alumni isn’t just celebratory–it’s an ongoing story of inspiration and connection for current and future students.”
~Dirk Tedmon, Executive Director of Marketing & Communications at Eden Prairie Schools
- Hero Image: To evoke a strong sense of community, start with an image from a recent alumni event, such as a reunion or networking gathering.
- Alum Profiles: Showcase a grid or list of alum success stories with photos and bios, highlighting their achievements.
- Networking Opportunities: Provide details about alumni associations, reunions, and events to foster ongoing community connections.
- Mentorship Programs: Outline available opportunities for alumni to give back through mentorship.
- Giving Back: Spotlight donation programs and ways alumni can support the school, with easy-to-use buttons like “Donate Now” and “Volunteer.”
- News and Updates: To keep alumni engaged, feature a blog or news feed with regular updates on alumni activities.
- Contact Information: Include details for the alum office, ensuring alums can stay connected.
- Dynamic Content: Use updates, upcoming reunion details, and volunteer opportunities to keep the page lively and engaging.
Student Well-Being
A well-structured wellness page makes it easy for students, families, and staff to find and use resources to support their physical and mental health.
“A thoughtfully designed wellness page can be the cornerstone of a supportive and thriving school community, promoting both physical and mental health.”
~Jodi Fiedler, Internal Communications Officer at Madison Metropolitan School District
- Hero Image: Feature an image that captures the essence of our wellness programs, like a vibrant group yoga session or a lively healthy eating workshop.
- Wellness Programs: Showcase a variety of initiatives with engaging pictures and detailed descriptions.
- Counseling Services: Provide essential information on accessing mental health resources and counseling services.
- Health Tips: Offer practical articles and tips on physical and mental well-being in an accessible blog format.
- Fitness Activities: Detail school fitness programs, sports, and recreational activities available to students.
- Nutritional Information: Provide comprehensive guides and tips on maintaining healthy eating habits.
- Resources: Connect users to external health resources and crisis hotlines.
- Dynamic Content: Keep the page engaging with health tips, upcoming wellness events, and spotlights on student achievements in wellness programs.
Cultural and Diversity Programs
An engaging and informative cultural and diversity page promotes inclusivity and encourages community participation in diversity initiatives.
“Creating content that celebrates cultural diversity goes beyond inclusion; it’s about nurturing a vibrant, understanding, and unified school community.”
~Celi Haga, Chief of Staff and Executive Director of Strategic Communications at Eastern Carver County Schools.
- Hero Image: Feature an image that captures the lively spirit of our cultural programs, such as a vibrant multicultural festival or an engaging diversity workshop.
- Program Descriptions: Showcase a grid or list of initiatives with compelling images and detailed descriptions.
- Upcoming Events: Include an interactive calendar widget to keep the community informed about upcoming cultural celebrations and events.
- Resources and Support: Provide educational materials and services tailored to support our diverse student populations.
- Success Stories: Share inspiring testimonials and achievements related to our diversity programs.
- Community Engagement: Offer information on how families and community members can actively participate and support these initiatives.
- Dynamic Content: Keep the page engaging with regular updates, event announcements, inspiring student stories, and resources that promote cultural awareness.
Community Partnerships and Engagement
A well-organized community partnerships page fosters strong relationships between the school and the local community, encouraging support and involvement.
“Community partnerships have been crucial to our success over the past 100 years, so a robust partner page is a necessary element for our digital presence. We consistently elevate the stories of successful partnerships to foster an engaged and dynamic network of support for our schools.”
~ Grace Becker, Director of Communications at Eden Prairie Schools.
- Hero Image: Capture the essence of our community connections with images that highlight vibrant events and partnerships.
- Partnership Opportunities: Learn how local businesses and organizations can partner with our school, and explore volunteer programs that offer meaningful community engagement.
- Events and Fundraisers: Stay informed about upcoming community events and school fundraisers through an interactive calendar.
- Success Stories: Discover inspiring success stories that showcase the impact of our partnerships.
- Contact Information: Find details for our community liaison to facilitate connections and partnerships.
- Dynamic Content: Keep the page engaging with regular updates, event announcements, and inspiring success stories to encourage continuous community involvement and support.
Additional Considerations for All Pages
Accessibility: Ensuring all landing pages comply with accessibility standards is crucial for inclusive communication with everyone in the community.
Mobile Responsiveness: Verifying that the pages display well on mobile devices is especially important, considering the rise of mobile browsing. Even moving beyond worrying about a specific device is needed to create a truly responsive website.
Metrics & Analytics: Tracking user engagement and website traffic through analytics tools allows for data-driven optimization of the landing pages.
SEO Optimization: Use key phrases like “K-12 alumni network,” “school community,” and “former student engagement” to help content reach more alumni online.
Create compelling landing pages that keep information current, highlight opportunities, and nurture ongoing engagement within our community. Are you ready to transform your landing pages and leave a lasting impact?
Published on: September 4, 2024