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Whether you’re an established education provider or the ‘new kid on the block’, all childcare centres, preschools and schools want to be seen as credible, and to be valued as an asset to the education sector.

So, how do you go about building your credibility in this space?

Create a professional website

In the digital age, your website is like a window into your organisation. Often, it is the first impression a potential family will get about you and what you have to offer. Therefore it’s vital to have a professional looking website that communicates your core values and how you empower students to reach their potential.

Does your website accurately express what you bring to the education sector? Is it easy to navigate? Does it look appealing to the end-user?

These are all important questions to consider when creating or updating your website.
And these days, you don’t need to be (or hire) a design or technology expert to make a great-looking, functional website. Sites such as Wordpress and Squarespace do most of the hard work for you.

Set up an edu.au domain name

You can’t have a website without a domain! edu.au is the only domain space exclusively for the Australian education sector.

From preschools to universities, the edu.au domain is universally recognised. It provides education and training entities with a trusted brand on which to build and establish an online presence. Being able to instantly convey the nature of your organisation and assert your credibility provides a value add and marketing aid no other domain extension can offer.

An edu.au domain offers a number of unique benefits and features, including: dedicated customer support based in Australia, greater access to education initiatives and discounts, and peace of mind.

To find out if you are eligible for an edu.au domain, take a look at the self-assessment guide on the Domain website.

Get active on social media

A large number of your community, including potential users and colleagues, are online. If you’re not there with them, you could be missing out on opportunities to educate, engage and connect.

Use platforms such as Facebook, Twitter or Instagram to stay updated on educational events, and to provide important information to students and families. With remote learning becoming more prevalent during the pandemic, social media sites are a great way to help students, educators and education entities stay connected while working from home.

LinkedIn is another great tool to build credibility in the education sector. It can be used as a platform to share what your school or centre is doing, celebrate your milestones and achievements, and even find and recruit new staff.

Increase parent engagement

Increasing engagement with both current and future parents is invaluable in building your credibility.

You could start by encouraging your current families to share their reviews online, or by sending a survey home with the children. Both options provide lots of opportunities to not only find out what parents like about your school or centre, but also what areas you can improve on. Parents appreciate having a voice in how their child is educated, and any small action you take as a result of reviews and surveys will go a long way to building parent engagement and creating a positive relationship with families.

Parents’ groups can provide you with a platform to engage future parents, whether in person or online. These word-of-mouth endorsements from parents of current students are priceless.
Another way to increase engagement with parents is by using technology to provide daily reports. Make the most of the multiple apps that allow quick and simple updates on children’s daily activities, such as Xplor and Storypark.

Small steps for big impact

These are just some of the simple steps you can take right now to start building your credibility in the education sector. From updating or creating your website and registering for an edu.au domain, to being active on social media and increasing parent engagement – these small steps can have a big impact on your school or childcare centre.