Gain the experience, advice, and strategies to invigorate enrolments at your Catholic School

Leading Marketing Solutions is dedicated to the implementation of fresh and dynamic marketing for Catholic schools to help invigorate enrolments and the local community.

Through the expertise of company director, Claire Grlj, your school will enjoy the advantages of positive marketing strategies that will set the foundation for enrolments, promotion, and educational branding your school will benefit from into the future.

Claire Grlj is an experienced marketer and implementer who works with Catholic Primary and Secondary Schools to help them engage, animate and share their vision so they can increase enrolments and visibility in their School and Parish community. Her expertise is in interpreting information, values, benefits and offerings into practical marketing strategies and tactics that can easily be implemented and maintained. Claire’s ability to inspire, mentor and support others comes naturally as does her creativity and sense of humour. She recently sat down to answer some of the frequently asked questions she gets from Schools looking to engage her. Here’s her responses to your questions…

How are you different from other Marketers?
As a parent of both primary and secondary school students attending Catholic Schools, I understand the issues School’s face when engaging with their Community. I’ve also experienced Leadership Team frustrations through my participation as Chairperson of the Pastoral Advisory Board in a Secondary College. I also attended Catholic Primary, Secondary Schools and a Catholic Business College.

Who are your clients?
Principals and Leadership Team Members of Secondary and Primary Schools in a Catholic Archdiocese or Independent Catholic School.

Who do you work best with?
Typically I work best with Leaders who have a clear vision of what they want to build in their School or College Community. They are also able to articulate that vision. My clients are generally willing to learn, are courageous decision makers and are comfortable about stepping outside their comfort zone. They have a Leadership Team who support them and are enthusiastic about animating the vision. My clients understand that they need to prioritise our work together in order to reach the desired outcomes.

How can marketing make a difference to a School?
The top schools get there off the back of their marketing. Marketing can deal with the key issues that schools want addressed; that is to increase enrolments and to build a positive community culture of engaged parents who support and are actively involved in the School activities. Schools are also becoming increasingly aware of competition and brand management and reputation. You can only address these issues by reaching out and engaging with and in your community by highlighting the unique qualities and offerings of your School.

What marketing strategies and tactics have you helped other Schools implement?
There is a list as long as your arm of strategies and tactics available, the key is to decide which ones are suitable and what issues need to be addressed first. You need clarity on the outcomes you want to achieve, in what time frame and at what cost? Every School is different as is the recommended prescription for strategies and tactics.
Just to name a few, I’ve helped Schools create:
*Presentations to parents to generate more enrolments including event run sheets to take them through exactly what to say and do at these events.
*Promotional and instructional videos from 5 – 18 minutes long.
*School Apps which allows parents to interact and receive   instant information from their School which again promotes more engagement.
*Well written introductions to key teachers and leaders in the school
*Upgrade and review of enrolment packages and procedures
*Audio interviews with Principals
The common goals I see is that Schools want to have a waiting list of the best kind of prospective students and families and that they want to create an engaged community of parents supporting the School and their Leadership Team.

How do you charge for your services?
That depends on the project and what’s required and in what time frame. There’s a number of different ways Schools can access me depending on the services they want and the amount of time and expertise they need from me.

Do you do all the work yourself?
I oversee all the work that is completed and complete some elements myself. I also have access to a broad group of contractors I’ve built relationships with over the years. For example, graphic design is best completed by a talented designer, film crews also complete their best work when their values and expertise are in alignment with the School’s vision. IT and technical work needing to be completed is best done by IT savvy contractors – indeed some Schools draw upon their own staff/students to complete some of the tasks. Rest assured, the contractors I work with offer very good value for money, understand exactly what’s expected and I ensure outcomes are delivered on time and to professional standards.

How can people get in touch with you and what can they expect in a first meeting?
The first meeting will last about an hour. Right after we’ve set a day and time for the meeting, I’ll send over some questions and requests for information so that I can review these prior to the meeting. At the actual meeting, I get a fuller understanding of what issues may need to be addressed and in what budget
and will offer some suggestions and timelines for consideration.

I invite anyone who’d like to work with me, to call me directly on 0401 439 612, or to email me on claire@leadingmarketingsolutions.com.au.