We need time to plan. We need time to strategise. We need time to create. We need time to collaborate. We need time to connect. We need time to reboot. We need time to think. We need time to breathe. We deserve nice things.
We need a Retreat...just for us.
Create, Collaborate, Connect
Strategic School Marketing Retreat offer you the time, space and support to create your school’s Marketing Plan while connecting and collaborating with other school marketers facing the same challenges as you.
Be guided through crafting your 2025 plan while also learning from expert presenters along the way.
Due to the success of the inaugural Strategic School Marketing Retreat in Byron Bay in 2023, there will be two Retreats held in 2024 in Noosa, Queensland and Werribee, Victoria.
The magic of the first retreat was the small, intimate number of school marketing professionals and experts. To maintain this sense of camaraderie, there is a cap of 25 schools per event.
Option 1
Noosa, QLD
Sunday 11 August to Tuesday 13 August 2024
Spend two days in sunny Noosa on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast building out your school’s Marketing Plan.
We’ll be staying at Peppers Noosa Resort and Villas, a 500 metre stroll away from the famous Hastings Street and Laguna Beach.
Set in the serenity of Noosa’s National Park, you’ll feel like you’re a million miles away from that busy to-do list back at the office and can truly relax and focus on being strategic.
Option 2
Werribee, VIC
Sunday 18 August to Tuesday 20 August 2024
A little something closer to home for our southern friends - we’ll be just 30 minutes from the Melbourne CBD, but feel like you’re in another world.
The Lancemore Mansion Hotel venue offers us a sophisticated getaway that will help you to relax and focus on the task at hand.
There are some truly fabulous areas for our networking sessions at this beautiful, historical venue that will make you feel like royalty for a couple of days.
Explore the three critical stages of the marketing plan you’ll be developing at the Retreat…
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This first critical stage is designed to build a comprehensive overview of the current state of play at your school so you an make informed decisions a we move onto the following stages:
Data Deep Dive
Situational Analysis
Competitor Analysis
Metrics that matter
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The bulk of our work will focus on strategic exercises that will be your North Star for the year ahead:
Your school’s ideal audience
Dissecting the customer journey
Strategic objectives
Positioning in the marketplace
Digital Marketing Strategy
Brand Evolution: Enhancing your brand visuals (Werribee only)
Your two-speed brand plan (Noosa only)
Lead Scoring
Budget allocations
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Once you’ve completed the first two stages, the third - Tactics - will be a breeze. Here you’ll identify the important tactical initiatives to focus on:
Tactical digital marketing plan
Annual roadmap
Hear from the Pioneers
Hear what school marketers have to say about their experience at the inaugural Strategic School Marketing Retreat…
The Investment
The Strategic School Marketing Retreat is $2,179+GST per person.
Pricing includes:
Two nights accommodation (Sunday and Monday nights) at the respective resorts
Sunday welcome dinner and drinks
Two days of marketing plan workshops
Professional development including workshops with industry expert speakers
Breakfast, morning tea, lunch and afternoon on Monday and Tuesday
Dinner on Monday night (Werribee only)
Comprehensive electronic materials that will form your completed marketing plan
Printed workbook to support your planning exercises
Small, exclusive setting limited to a maximum of 25 to foster deep connections
Noosa (above) and Werribee (below) accommodation.
Book your spot!
Which will you choose?
Question:
What’s really standing in the way of you creating a strategic, actionable plan for your school?
Answer:
Time.
We need more time.
Time to create
You’ll be guided through building out your 2025 Marketing Plan by Bianca Coleborn, Director of School Marketing Manifesto. With well over a decade of experience working in schools, Bianca will ensure you are leaving after two days with an actionable plan that you can present to your Principal, Business Manager and College Council.
Time to connect
You’ll be surrounded by other school marketers from around the country who are experiencing the same challenges you do. This is an opportunity to not only meet other school marketers on a superficial level, but to form deep connections that will help support you in years to come.
Time to collaborate
Experienced industry experts will be on hand to guide you through building an actionable plan that will help you find clarity and direction in 2025. There are dedicated breakout sessions during the Retreat to encourage collegiality and rich discussions.
Time to unwind
You’ll spend two days in luxury at your chosen venue. Each destination is far enough away from busy cities that you can truly step away from the office and focus on being strategic and developing a plan for the following year.
The Strategic School Marketing Retreat will give you the time you deserve.
You'll leave feeling organised, refreshed and in control - ready to finish 2024 strong and have your most productive year yet in 2025.
Why August?
That’s a great question!
Let’s take a look at the school calendar to understand why this is the perfect, strategic time to be creating our marketing plans…
Term 1
If you wait unti Term 1 to write your plan, the horse has already bolted. In order to start 2025 on the front foot, you need to have media booked in the back end of the year prior. It’s also really draining to start the new year trying to throw a plan together - imagine how good it feels when everything is mapped out and ready to go when you return from holidays.
Term 2
Term 2 is a bit too early in the year to be thinking about the following year’s marketing initiatives. This is the time of year that you should be focusing on delivering on your priorities. The important work that you’re doing in Term 2 is going to help inform you when you start creating your plan for the following year.
Term 3
It’s now that you’ll need to be finalising your budget for the following year, so you need the think ahead to be able to allocate your budget effectively. This is also the right time to start making media bookings for the following year - particularly for finite items such as billboards. Term 3 is also the calm before the storm of Term 4!
Term 4
Bahahahaha! You think you’re going to write a marketing plan in Term 4? With everything that happens at this time of year, it’s practically impossible to create one at this time. And if you wait until the school holidays? You’ll be so fried from the year that was that you’ll be in no state to write something inspired that will be of use the following year.
Each venue has been meticulously selected to provide collaborative spaces for us to work and connect during the Retreat.
My promise
You will leave with a draft plan for 2025 mapped out for you, which you can then work through with your Principal and/or Business Manager to finalise when you return to the office.
That’s my promise to you.
The only exception will be if you skive off and go play instead of attending the planning sessions - then you’re on your own, kid!
Event Sponsors:
Spaces are strictly limited - get in quick!
FAQs
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All Retreat participants will enjoy the following as part of the package price:
- Accommodation (Sun/Mon)
- Welcome Soiree Dinner (Sun)
- Breakfast (Monday & Tuesday)
- Tea & coffee on arrival (Mon/Tues)
- Morning tea (Mon/Tues)
- Lunch (Mon/Tues)
- Afternoon Tea (Mon/Tues)
- Dinner (Mon - Werribee only)
- Retreat gift bag on arrival
- Printed workbookPlus, of course, friends for life, a clear plan for the future and a renewed sense of enthusiasm!
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That’s a great question! This is not a large conference with hundreds of people. In fact, the maximum number of schools present will be 25.
Instead of the two days being dedicated to listening to others speak (there will be some of that), the majority of the time will be dedicated to doing something (your marketing plan) and leaving with something to show for your time away, other than a heap of great new ideas (which is the wonderful thing about conferences).
You’ll be heading home after the two days with a great big item - your 2025 plan - ticked off your to-do list, which just doesn’t happen at conferences. -
Of course! It’s up to you how much time you spend at the retreat. You’ll be offered all the tools and guidance you need to complete your plan, and if you find that you have some time to go exploring, that’s entirely up to you. (I’m not your mother.)
Having said that, everyone had such a great time collaborating and connecting at the first Strategic School Marketing Retreat that we had 100% attendance during all the planning sessions. -
We hope you do not need to cancel your participation at the Retreat, however, if cancellation takes place the following will apply, as per the Retreat Terms and Conditions.
Cancellation of a booking by you must be made in writing. It is up to you to cancel your booking. We will not regard a booking as cancelled unless and until written notice is received by us.
On cancellation the following charges will apply:
More than 60 days’ notice prior to the Retreat starting date, and 75% of the Total Fee will be refunded (the Fee minus your 25% non-refundable deposit)
More than 34 days' notice and 50% of the Total Fee will be charged.
35 days or less before the scheduled Retreat starting date, and the Total Fee will be charged (100%) unless you are able to transfer to another participant, at our sole discretion.
Please be aware that if you cancel once the Retreat commences or you do not attend, you forfeit all fees. Late arrival may also result in a forfeited fee.
Strategic School Marketing Retreat