“I would absolutely recommend Kids Club HQ. It has revolutionised the way we run our business. It allows us to be flexible whilst keeping on top of the bookings and payments coming in.”
While digital marketing is a great way to connect with your audience, forming partnerships with local businesses and organisations can significantly enhance your marketing efforts and boost enrolment for your out of school club.
These partnerships can provide access to new audiences, increase your club’s visibility, and create mutually beneficial opportunities.
If you are excited by the idea of growing your club with new partnerships but don’t know where to begin; This article will explore various ways to establish and leverage local partnerships to grow your club.
Identifying Potential Partners
1. Local Schools and Educational Institutions
Partnering with local schools can provide direct access to families who may be interested in your club’s programs.
After-School Programs: Collaborate with schools to offer after-school programs that complement their curriculum.
Parent-Teacher Associations: Work with PTAs to promote your club at school events and meetings.
School Newsletters: Request to feature your club in school. newsletters or on their website.
2. Community Centres and Libraries
Community centres and libraries are hubs for family activities and can be excellent partners for promoting your club.
Joint Events: Co-host events or workshops at community centres and libraries.
Flyers and Brochures: Distribute your marketing materials at these locations.
Story-time Sessions: Offer to run educational or fun sessions at the library to attract families.
3. Local Businesses
Partnering with family-friendly businesses, such as paediatricians, toy stores, and family restaurants, can help you reach your target audience.
Cross-Promotions: Collaborate on promotions, such as offering discounts to each other’s customers.
Event Sponsorships: Sponsor or co-sponsor events hosted by local businesses.
In-Store Displays: Set up displays or information booths at partner businesses.
Creating Mutually Beneficial Partnerships
1. Offer Exclusive Benefits
Provide exclusive benefits to the customers or members of your partner organisations to incentivise them to promote your club.
Special Discounts: Offer discounts on fees or special programs.
Exclusive Events: Host events exclusively for the customers or members of your partners.
Free Trials: Provide free trial sessions to introduce your club to new families.
2. Share Resources and Expertise
Offer your expertise and resources to your partners in exchange for their support in promoting your club.
Workshops and Training: Offer to conduct workshops or training sessions for the staff or members of your partner organisations.
Facility Use: Share your club’s facilities for community events or partner activities.
Resource Sharing: Collaborate on creating educational materials or resources that benefit both parties.
Promoting Partnerships
1. Joint Marketing Campaigns
Collaborate on marketing campaigns that promote both your club and your partners to maximise reach and impact.
Co-Branded Materials: Create co-branded flyers, brochures, and social media posts.
Joint Advertising: Share the costs of advertising in local media, such as newspapers, radio, or online platforms.
Event Promotion: Promote joint events through both your marketing channels and your partners’.
2. Social Media Collaboration
Leverage social media to promote your partnerships and reach a broader audience. Cross-Posting: Share each other’s posts to increase visibility.
Collaborative Content: Create and share content which highlights your partnership and joint activities.
Social Media Takeovers: Host social media takeovers where you and your partners feature each other’s content.
Measuring the Success of Partnerships
1. Track Referrals and Enrolment
Monitor the impact of your partnerships by tracking referrals and new enrolments that result from these collaborations.
Referral Codes: Use unique referral codes for each partner to track new enrolments.
Feedback Forms: Include questions about how new members heard about your club in your enrolment forms.
Regular Reviews: Schedule regular reviews with your partners to assess the success of your collaborations and make necessary adjustments.
2. Gather Feedback from Partners and Families
Collect feedback from your partners and the families who join your club as a result of these partnerships to understand what’s working and what can be improved.
Surveys: Send surveys to your partners and new families to gather their feedback.
Focus Groups: Conduct focus groups with representatives from your partners and your club to discuss the partnership’s impact and potential improvements.
Regular Check-Ins: Maintain open communication with your partners to address any issues and celebrate successes.
Local partnerships are a powerful way to boost enrolment and enhance visibility. By identifying potential partners, creating mutually beneficial collaborations, and effectively promoting these partnerships, you can attract new families and build a strong community around your club.
Furthermore, managing partnerships and tracking their success can be streamlined with Kids Club HQ. Our platform offers features like easy booking management, automated invoicing, and detailed reporting, which can help you effectively manage referrals and new enrolments. These tools allow you to focus on building and nurturing valuable local partnerships.