GROW CONFERENCE RESOURCE

What a Prospect Parent typically sees when searching for “private schools near me” on Google

Be relevant on the following platforms

REVIEWS ARE SO IMPORTANT

• Platforms want to show the most highly rated schools with the highest review ratings.

• Personally reach out to Alumni & Parents for reviews via text and follow-up.

• The Schools that get the reviews typically = Top Result on the Page

RESOURCES, ADVICE, TIPS & TRICKS

Google Business Profile

Resources FROM GOOGLE

Creating a Profile: https://www.google.com/business/

Video Guide ↓ & Slideshow → Get Your Local Business on Google Search and Maps

Uploading Photos to Your Profile

Uploading high-quality photos is a BIG WAY to differentiate your school from others and give Google content to use.

IMPORTANT: Upload 100-150+ high-quality photos of the school. Continually add 30-50 photos a semester. Most schools have only 5-25 Photos. Outperforming the competition will reap big dividends.

 Ideal photos are the following:

• Main Entrance

• Picture of the Building from the Road

• Main Sign, listing the school name

• Student Life (Preschool & Elementary, High School)

• Athletics on Campus

• Recess

• Playground Equipment

• Classroom Photos with Students

• Teachers Interacting with Students

• Staff Photos

• Outdoor Photos of the Campus, photos from several different angles. 

• Pictures of Chapel

Sample Photo Gallary

Collecting Reviews

The typical number of reviews for schools on Google Business Profile/Google Maps is minimal. Typically 1-10 reviews. It currently is an unsaturated market compared to other businesses like restaurants for example. Your turn to take advantage. Strive for 30 reviews and settle for 20. Ask for more reviews each year during re-enrollment season. Ask those families that are coming back next year to leave a review of their experience, if they are coming back they probably have good things to say.

The more detailed the review the better, however, a 5-star rating is better than nothing.

Sample of a postitive detailed review

Picking the right Category for your Business

You pick your categories and it is important because this helps Google show end users the correct search results. If you find your category is “church” or “Lutheran church”, your school will not appear for the search “private schools”. Prospect families aren’t searching for churches, but for schools. IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO GET THIS CORRECT.

Disclaimer: Since 2020, Google has started to not let reviews appear for the category “private educational institution”, this is due to trolling by students. However, “private educational institution” is the best category to appear at the top of search results for “private schools near me”. You can keep your primary category as “school” and reviews typically come through.

ADVICE: Have your primary category be “private educational institution”.

• Switch your category to “school” or “Lutheran church” for 3 week period during the year to allow reviews to come through.

• Then switch the category back to “private educational institution” for the remainder of the year. This will mitigate trolling and let you control when reviews are allowed.*

*This isn’t a perfect science and it depends long your Profile has been in existence, some profiles are grandfathered in. Do your own testing.

Niche.com

Cost: $0 for a free profile.

Niche.com also offers a paid tier where you have the option to add photos.

Advice: Create a free profile, and complete it to 100%. Pass on the paid version. Investing in your Google Profile will get 800% more clicks to your website than through paid Niche profile, which is expensive.

Private School Review

Cost: $99/year for a profile.

Advice: Create a paid profile, and complete it to 100%. Add photos. Fill in all fields.