My son has a simple rule.
No Christmas holiday anything until Thanksgiving is over.
No Christmas songs. No Peppermint Lattes. No red and green. Nothing.
But now that Thanksgiving has passed it’s time to talk Christmas. So in the spirit of the holidays, I’d like to share my School Marketer Holiday Gift Guide for 2016.
Apps
Overcast – I love listening to podcasts, and this is my App of choice. I stopped using the iOS Podcast App a while ago and tried several different options, but Overcast was the clear winner. I enjoy the interface compared to other podcast Apps, but the difference maker for me is their Smart Speed technology which allows me to speed up the podcast playback without distortion.
Audible – When I'm not listening to podcasts I'm usually listening to audio books. At first, I was hesitant about audio books but now I love them, and it allows me to consume more books at a quicker pace. [Audible currently in running a promotion with a 30-day free trial. Click this link to start listening to audio books for free.]
Books
Inbound Marketing, Revised and Updated: Attract, Engage, and Delight Customers Online
– This is THE
Service Fanatics: How to Build Superior Patient Experience the Cleveland Clinic Way
– I finished this
Online Tools for Marketers
Leadpages – Are you using landing pages to help with your school marketing? If you're using Google Ads, Facebook Ads, and any other type of Pay-Per-Click (PPC) Ad then, you absolutely NEED to be using landing pages. This is my landing page tool of choice, and while it's not free, it is the easiest way to create landing pages for your school.
Rainmaker – This is the tool I use to host SchneiderB.com which includes my blog, podcast, SchneiderB University, landing pages, and to host the VirCons. It does so much more, and it's power is that fact that it is one integrated package.
ConvertKit – This is the tool I use for any SchneiderB Media email including broadcast messages and my Weekend Update Newsletter. I recommend this email tool now for schools if they don't have the ability to send emails from another tool they might already own.
Tailwind – Tailwind is my Pinterest secret weapon. I've used Tailwind for a couple of years now, and it's allowed my to grow my school's Pinterest account to over 4,000 followers.
Snappa – While I do like and use Canva for graphic design, I currently love Snappa to create images for blog posts, social media, and wherever else I need high-quality images or graphics. I encourage you to check it out with their free 7-day trial.
Miscellaneous
Timbuk2 Command Laptop TSA-Friendly Backpack – I purchased this backpack a year ago and love it. It is great for so many reasons, but if you travel at all, you won't need to take out your laptop when you go through TSA security. You simply unzip the bag and fold out the flap with your laptop still in it and send it through the X-Ray machine. In my opinion, that feature alone is worth the money!
Bose QuietComfort 20 Acoustic Noise Cancelling Headphones – This is one of my guilty pleasures. I've had these headphones for a few years now and can't say enough good things about them. When I fly these headphones really do take away from the stress of travel. You'd be surprised by how loud a plane is during flight. It's not an inexpensive purchase, but I use these frequently and can't imagine not having these now.
Logitech HD Pro Webcam C920 – I have a MacBook Pro and, while the webcam works OK, this webcam is so much better because it's widescreen, shoots high-definition video, and recently dropped in price.
I hope you have a wonderful holiday season and that Holiday Gift Guide will make that favorite school marketer in your life happy (even if you buy something for yourself!)
