When marketing to homeschoolers, it helps to know some of the thoughts that are foremost in the minds of those who think way outside the classroom.

Below are some of the out-of-the-box ideas that will help you tailor your copy to this particular group of home educators.

Ready for something different?

Here are seven creative marketing approaches you can incorporate into your copy so you can reach homeschoolers in ways you may not have considered.

Knowledge which is acquired under compulsion has no hold on the mind. Therefore do not use compulsion, but let early education be a sort of amusement; you will then be better able to discover the child?s natural bent. ~ Plato

Every Child Is Different, And Averages Are Just That

1. Despite all of the standardized reporting and generalizing of homeschool statistics, not one child will exactly fit the mold of any statistical average.

While institutional schools will approach teaching by trying to ?fit-the-child-to-the-curriculum,? homeschoolers have the advantage of freedom and flexibility.

Each homeschooled child can use a variety of subject material spread over several learning levels to obtain a custom education designed around their specific strengths.

When you are creating marketing tools for multi-level materials, stress that what you offer can be as flexible as both the parent and student need it to be. This will allow the student to be an individual, not one of the crowd.

?For the mind does not require filling like a bottle, but rather, like wood, it only requires kindling to create in it an impulse to think independently and an ardent desire for the truth.? Plutarch

Knowledge Is Good, But Morals Are Foundational

2. Plutarch knew that the desire for truth was a fundamental skill that all minds should obtain. Homeschoolers know that they are able to not only share new information with their children, but also to teach their children how to learn on their own.

While also imparting knowledge, home educators are aware that guiding their children toward a solid moral compass is even more important than being sure they know their multiplication tables or good grammar rules.

If your product offers life lessons intermingled with facts, you will be ahead of the homeschool marketing crowd.

?Education must not simply teach work ? it must teach Life.? W. E. B, Du Bois

Not All Learning Is Done In The Schoolroom

3. One of the benefits of home education is being able to fit a standard school day?s work into a much smaller timeframe. This gives the homeschooled child the opportunity to explore and experience life, and to expand their hobbies, interests and interpersonal skills.

To reach these relaxed homeschoolers, be sure your product features rich lessons over busywork, and encourages deeper thinking versus rote memorization.

And if your product is designed to be used outside the schoolroom, all the better. Promote this, because homeschoolers are looking for life experiences.

?I suppose it is because nearly all children go to school nowadays and have things arranged for them that they seem so forlornly unable to produce their own ideas.? Agatha Christie

Personalization and Individual Tailoring Is A Must

4. A stress-free learning environment is important to homeschoolers. Products that are simple to use and promote relaxed learning will win over time-consuming and complicated layouts and schedules.

While there are home educators who prefer more structure to their day, none wish for their experience to be stressful and rigid. Products that can be easily tailored for individual families will win over unbending structure.

 

Hold The Tests

5. Testing students who are homeschooled is a controversial topic. Since the parent is personally teaching their children, they know precisely how much has been learned and retained in any subject within their home classroom.

Although standardized testing is a requirement in many states, even for homeschoolers, including tests in your curriculum products isn?t always necessary. Practicing for tests, such as college entrance exams, can be a separate, focused learning program when needed.

If you market to both institutional schools and home schools, you could have the option to offer and promote special print editions that omit redundant test pages, or offer tests in a different format, such as digital.

?When we are connected, when we feel heard, when we feel like we aren?t being force fed an education?that?s when real, passionate, fiery learning takes place.? Jessica Pilton

Capture The Interest Of The Parent As Well As The Student

6. Marketing your products for the use of parents as well as their homeschooled students is a good way to help them learn in tandem.

Encourage exploration, not only by the child, but by including extra information or prompts that engage the parent as well.

Children learn by watching, and if they see their parents are excited and interested in a subject, they are more likely to pursue learning that information as an adventure rather than a chore. Be creative and try to present a new way of teaching a subject that resonates with the whole family.

?When the atmosphere encourages learning, the learning Is inevitable.? Elizabeth Foss

Sometimes, Though, Learning Can Be A Chore

7. Of course, not all learning will be thrilling for the student. Some things simply must be learned, such as basic math and proper grammar, like it or not.

If you offer multiple approaches to a subject, be sure to make alternative suggestions that cover a wide range of learning styles so that homeschoolers have several choices for subjects that fall into the ?necessary? column.

 

There is a whole varied world of homeschoolers out there who can benefit from what you have to offer. Spending a little time learning creative ways to market to a wide range of homeschooling families can boost your sales and set you apart as being in touch with more of the market than your competitors.

If you need assistance creating copy that moves homeschoolers to become customers, contact me today and let me help you!