3 must-try marketing strategies to boost attendance at your next open day
First impressions matter.
If your last education event didn’t hit the numbers you wanted, it’s time for a rethink. The good news? You don’t necessarily need a big budget – just a sharper marketing strategy. With open days and student recruitment events on the horizon, there’s no better time to reevaluate how you are going to boost your attendee list. Whether you’re a college or university, competition can be fierce. But too often, student recruitment events rely on outdated tactics – boring flyers, clunky sign-up forms, or last-minute social posts copy and pasted from the previous year.
Here are three must-try marketing strategies to boost attendance, drive engagement, and turn browsers into sign-ups. No waffle. Just stuff that works.
1. Give your event an identity, not just a date
If your open day looks like everyone else’s, why should anyone show up?
An event is only as strong as its concept. Forget the timetable. Start with why people should care. What’s so special about your institution? What guides you? What transformation can it spark? We help education clients promote what makes them different – not just posters with a logo and a date.
Give your open day a theme, a hook, a visual vibe. Make it memorable. Then build every touchpoint around that.
We make creative that cuts through – bold branding, scroll-stopping visuals and messaging that hits different. Because average won’t fill your campus.
2. Make your mark with social
Post it and they will come? Not quite.
Social media is your megaphone – if you use it right. You will want to make sure all your social channels are updated regularly, not just on the lead up to your event. You’re targeting students who will be regular users of social media and will be looking to connect with you and understand more about who you are, beyond what’s on your website. Think user-generated content such as a ‘day in the life of a student’ or a video tour around campus. The channels you use are important too. According to Adobe, nearly 1 in 10 Gen Zers rely on TikTok as a search engine over Google.
We can help you build content plans that not only build awareness but will drive people to your event. Working with a social media expert can ensure you’re getting the most of your social feeds, targeting the right people at the right time, and creating content that stops the scroll.
3.Fix your website funnel
They clicked the link. Then they bounced. Why?
Your website isn’t just information – it’s conversion. If your user journey’s clunky, your form takes 10 clicks, or your content’s flat, you’re losing people. We help education institutions sharpen their web experience from the first scroll to the final sign-up. Things to consider include:
· Mobile optimisation – because Gen Z live on their phone
· Clear calls to action – so you’re driving people to make the next move
· Forms that get filled in – a greater user experience overall = better engagement
Your website is likely to receive an influx of visitors at specific points throughout the year, so it’s important to focus on upgrading it now rather than wait for those visitors to drop off after a bad user experience. Messaging is key, but so is functionality. Unsure where to start? Consider a user experience audit for actionable insights on enhancing the performance of your website.
Making the first move
Student recruitment doesn’t have to feel like a brochure with legs. We turn your open day into a campaign that connects – creatively, strategically, and visually. The truth is, you shouldn’t just be focusing on one weekend out of the year, but updating your marketing channels ahead of time will ensure you get the numbers.
From killer branding and social content to seamless UX and scroll-stopping video, we help education institutions stand out and show up. Ready to fill your next open day with future students? Get in touch.