{"id":14388,"date":"2024-07-08T21:15:09","date_gmt":"2024-07-08T21:15:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.schoolstatus.com\/blog\/10-steps-to-creating-school-emails-that-reach-parents"},"modified":"2024-11-19T22:11:47","modified_gmt":"2024-11-19T22:11:47","slug":"create-school-emails-reach-parents","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.schoolstatus.com\/blog\/create-school-emails-reach-parents","title":{"rendered":"10 Steps to Creating School Emails That Reach Families"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n

Email. It\u2019s the workhorse of school communications. It\u2019s direct, measurable, and can be one of the most powerful tools in your communications mix. Unfortunately, however, few school administrators understand the science behind creating ones that get noticed, opened, read and acted upon.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

So what makes an email effective\u2014one that your families not only read, but then engage in the way you want them to?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A few savvy businesses know the formula. I\u2019m not talking about the spammers who might slip through your spam filters. I\u2019m talking about senders with whom you have some established relationship. The sharp ones know how to make the most of their email campaigns. Hubspot, an inbound marketing juggernaut, has taken a scientific approach to email, and breaks down the Anatomy of an Email in this super article<\/a> by Meghan Lockwood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In one of our recent surveys of school communicators, IT managers, and school administrators, we found that email is still the most preferred and effective way of reaching families. With the popular channels being used to engage families<\/a>\u2014school websites, social media, notifications, voice\u2014email remains a very personal way to connect.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Email is still the most preferred and effective way of reaching families<\/strong><\/em>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pro tip: Smore<\/a><\/strong> is fully integrated with SchoolStatus Connect<\/a><\/strong>! Easily create responsive and translatable newsletters for your class, school, or district and share directly to your audience\u2019s central feed and email inbox. <\/p><\/blockquote><\/figure>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

Schools Have the Advantage<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As a school, you already have a built-in connection with your families\u2014they trust you as their child\u2019s school. This relationship gives your emails an advantage over the clutter in inboxes. According to a recent survey of school administrators, communicators, and IT managers, email remains the most preferred and effective way of reaching families<\/strong>, despite the rise of websites, social media, and notifications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Optimizing Your School Emails for Success<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

To ensure your emails reach and engage families, consider these key elements:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Craft an Attention-Grabbing Subject Line<\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n

Spend time crafting a concise subject line that hints at the content inside. Aim to pique curiosity or highlight value. Avoid generic lines like \u201cMessage from the Superintendent\u201d\u2014instead, get specific. The subject line is your gateway to clicks.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Personalize the \u201cFrom\u201d Field<\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n

Emails from a real person get more opens. Instead of sending from \u201cXYZ School,\u201d use the name of a trusted school staff member, such as the principal or communication director.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Maintain Clear School Branding<\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n

Consistent branding, from school colors to logos, strengthens recognition and trust. Make sure your email templates reflect your school\u2019s identity and involve your communications team in the design process.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Personalize the Salutation<\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n

A personalized greeting, such as \u201cHi Brian,\u201d creates a stronger connection than a generic \u201cDear Sir\/Madam.\u201d Personalization fosters trust and engagement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Get to the Point<\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n

Show the reader the value of your message right away. Avoid fluff and be direct\u2014e.g., \u201cAttending the open house shows your support for your child\u2019s education.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

6. Use a Clear Call to Action (CTA)<\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n

Whether you want parents to register for an event or visit a page, make it easy. Use prominent, clickable buttons or links to guide them toward the next step.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

7. Include Relevant Images<\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n

Emails with images perform better. Use school-related photos or graphics to break up text and draw attention to your message. Just ensure the images are relevant to the content.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

8. Add Social Sharing Buttons<\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n

Encourage parents to share your message on social media. Adding Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn buttons increases your email’s reach.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

9. Provide a Secondary CTA<\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n

If your email has multiple objectives, include a secondary CTA. Direct parents to your website, calendar, or other important school resources to keep them engaged.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

10. Include Unsubscribe Information<\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n

Ensure your email footer contains privacy details and a simple unsubscribe option. This is not just good practice\u2014it\u2019s the law.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Reaching Mobile Audiences<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

More families are checking emails on their phones or tablets, so optimizing for mobile is crucial. Responsive design, concise content, and easily clickable buttons enhance the mobile experience, ensuring your message is accessible anytime, anywhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Pro Tip: Segment Your Emails for Maximum Impact<\/strong><\/h6>\n\n\n\n

Not every email needs to go to every family. Segment your audience by school, grade, or involvement level to send the most relevant information. Families appreciate tailored communication, and this approach ensures higher engagement.<\/p>\n<\/div><\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":39,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"content-type":"","_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[487],"tags":[87,381,77,477,81],"class_list":["post-14388","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-branding-and-social-media","tag-communication","tag-community-building","tag-engagement","tag-school-districts","tag-technology"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n10 Steps to Creating School Emails that Reach Parents<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn email best practices with these top 10 steps to create engaging school emails that parents open, read, and act on.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, 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