Events and open houses bring people to your facility, where they can see your operation firsthand and meet instructors and students. These face-to-face interactions are powerful for converting interest into enrollment. This article covers how to plan and execute successful events.
Types of Events
Open Houses
Regular open houses allow anyone to tour your facility, sit in aircraft, and meet instructors. These events demystify flight training and make it accessible to people who might be intimidated by the prospect of calling or scheduling individual tours.
Learn to Fly Seminars
Educational seminars that explain how to become a pilot, training requirements, career paths, and costs attract serious prospects. These events position your school as an authority while generating leads.
Family Days
Invite current students to bring family and friends. These events create a welcoming atmosphere while introducing new people to your school through trusted referrals.
Planning Successful Events
Plan events around clear objectives: generate leads, build community, or showcase capabilities. Ensure you have staff available to greet visitors, answer questions, and guide tours. Have materials ready: brochures, pricing information, enrollment forms.
Community Engagement
Reach out to local media, schools, and community groups when hosting events. Position events as community education opportunities to gain free publicity. A local news story about your open house reaches far more people than your own marketing alone.
Follow-Up
Collect contact information from all attendees and follow up promptly. Send thank-you emails, provide requested information, and offer special incentives for event attendees who enroll within a timeframe.
Conclusion
Events create opportunities for personal connections that digital marketing can't match. Schools that regularly host well-planned events see higher conversion rates and build stronger relationships with their communities.