"I didn’t know Parent-Teacher Conferences were this week!"
"What form did I need to fill out?"
"Is the soccer game home or away?"
Sound familiar?
Like all of us, parents are super-busy, and it can be incredibly difficult to reach them with critical info. According to recent data, email open rates in the Education sector average only 25%, meaning that important school emails are getting lost in the clutter.
Broadly speaking, the partnership between school admins, teachers, and families, is critical in determining student success. In a recent study, over 80% of parents and school leaders agreed that school communications help parents engage in their children's learning.
“Communication channels must go above and beyond the occasional parent-teacher conference.” – Center for American Progress
So, how do you get parents to see, open, and then read your emails? Here are seven tips that may help:
1. Use timely details in the subject line - For example, “Message from the Principal” will seem less timely than, “November school forms to sign & more!” or “Your child's grades this semester.”
You can also experiment with putting a riddle in the subject line and the answer in the body of the email. Here's one you can try in your November newsletter: “What music did the pilgrims listen to?” - “Plymouth Rock!” Another great trick is to use sequential numbers that will make your email seem familiar, as part of ongoing communication between you and families or community members. For example, Ms. Maple’s Memo #24 or Principal Hutchins: December Dispatch #1.
2. Use Emojis to Stand Out: According to an email marketing study, the use of emojis in subject lines increased open rates by 56%! So don’t shy away from showing your emojis.