Open days are one of the first opportunities educational institutions have to make a positive first impression on their potential students, and done correctly, they can be the difference between a student selecting your institution and one of your rivals. They can have long-lasting implications that ultimately influence the overall success or failure of educational institutions.

Of course, a great open day doesn’t just happen. They’re built. In this post, we’ll look at a bunch of ways that institutions can ensure their open days dazzle their prospective students from beginning to end.

Marketing the Open Day

You won’t have a chance to impress a potential student if they don’t know that your event is taking place! Running a successful open day depends on ensuring that as many people as possible know about it. In this day and age, there are countless ways to market your open day online, including running social media ads and PPC campaigns.

Remember: it’s vital that your ads are pushed towards people who may be interested in your educational institution, so having a solid understanding of your target audience and where they hang out (for instance, which social media platform) is paramount. 

Presenting a Clean, Professional Environment

Presenting a clean, professional environment is essential for making a positive first impression. After all, your potential students are unlikely to be impressed if the campus is dirty, or the facilities are showing signs of wear and tear. In the months before the open day, take a look at updating any areas of the campus that are beginning to show their age. Updating to the latest education flooring solutions will not only increase the professionalism of the environment but will also be easier to clean — it’s a win-win situation. On the day itself, the campus and all the facilities should be at their sparkling best.

Utilise Existing Students

Your current students can make all the difference on open day. Why? Because they’re your biggest cheerleaders. They offer prospective students the chance to see (and hear) what it’s like to be a student at the university. It’s recommended to put the call out for student ambassadors in the months leading up to your open day, so you can filter the applications and find the ones who are best suited for your needs. 

Solid Organisation

The best open days are the ones that flow smoothly from beginning to end. Aside from having a clear order of events, look at investing in wayfinding products that clearly highlight how visitors can get around.

Focus On Your Strengths

Finally, focus on your strengths! There’s a near-endless number of educational providers out there. You can set yourself apart by focusing on what makes your institution unique. For instance, maybe you have a strong track record of putting alumni in a certain profession/industry, or you have an excellent theatre programme. Whatever it is, put it front and centre. It can also be useful to focus on your location — for instance, by offering tours of its famous attractions.

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