Let’s talk about how you’re actually getting leads right now. I used to believe the main path was: SEO & Content Marketing & Organic Social. But after working with a lot of trade schools and talking to owners here, I’ve realized something important: The best strategy depends on your situation. Here are the three main paths I see working. 1️⃣ If you need students NOW and have some budget, run paid ads (Google Ads, especially). High-intent searches like “dental assistant school near me” can quickly bring in applicants. 2️⃣ If you need students NOW but don’t have a budget, lean on your network. Talk to: - Professionals in the trade you are certifying - Friends - Past students - Community groups - Facebook groups - Local partnerships Your network → their network → their network. This is how many schools get 5-10 students. @Dillon Smith has a great training on this, btw. 3️⃣ If you don’t need immediate results and prefer quieter marketing, play the long game with content. Consistent posts, helpful videos, and articles build trust over time. It’s slower, but it compounds. Ideally, you’d do all three. But most small schools don’t have the time or team for that. So the better approach is: Pick one or two things that will move the needle the most for you. Then: Execute → Evaluate → Evolve Curious to hear from everyone here: Agree or disagree with this? What situation are you in currently? Where do most of your students come from right now?

- Ares CDL Institute - www.acdli.org - Kansas City, Kansas - paying customers or students