Driving $1.2M in Tuition Leads with Performance Marketing for Pear Tree Schools

How We Engineered Enrollment Growth for Pear Tree School

To help Pear Tree School break into Vancouver’s crowded private education market, we designed a high-precision, full-funnel lead generation campaign built on real data and ROI-driven tactics. Our strategy was tailored for K–8 education, leveraging the latest in PPC, paid social, and analytics to reach the right families and drive real enrollment results—fast.

Process & Approach:

• 3-Phase Digital Campaign:
  We launched a phased approach:
  1. Awareness & Announcement: Google Performance Max and Meta ads (Facebook, Instagram) spotlighted Pear Tree’s theme-based learning, chef-prepared meals, and small class sizes—targeting parents within 5km of the new Yaletown campus.
  2. Engagement & Consideration: Retargeting website visitors, running interactive Q&A and virtual info sessions, and sharing testimonial videos to build trust.
  3. Conversion & Enrollment: High-intent PPC search ads captured families searching “private schools Yaletown,” paired with urgency-driven messaging to book tours and submit applications.
• Precision Audience Targeting:
  Our paid media specialists used geographic and interest-based targeting to reach progressive, education-focused parents—maximizing every ad dollar.
• Conversion Optimization:
  We built landing pages optimised for lead generation, streamlining the path from click to inquiry with clear CTAs and engaging content.

Industry:

• Education, Private School, K–8, Camps

Services Provided:

• PPC Campaign Management
• Paid Social Media Marketing
• Web Analytics & Reporting
• Strategic Campaign Planning

Key Challenges & Solutions:

• Challenge: Limited brand awareness and a highly competitive private school market in downtown Vancouver.
  • Solution: Multi-channel awareness campaign with a focus on Pear Tree’s unique value and results, boosting visibility where competitors relied on traditional tactics.
• Challenge: Only 4 months to fill a brand-new campus or risk a major financial loss.
  • Solution: Agile, data-driven campaign roll-out, rapid creative testing, and real-time budget reallocation to winning ad sets.
• Challenge: Needed to differentiate from “old-school” private schools and attract modern, values-driven families.
  • Solution: Messaging centred on theme-based learning, healthy meals, small class sizes, and testimonials—aligning with the values of today’s parents.

Campaign Outcomes & Market Impact

Setsail Marketing’s data-driven, full-funnel approach didn’t just hit the numbers—it redefined what a private school marketing agency can deliver. In just four months, Pear Tree School’s new Yaletown campus filled its enrollment pipeline, and the campaign set a new benchmark for lead generation and ROI in Canadian education marketing.

Key Metrics (Visual Block):

• Total Leads: 49.59 qualified enrollment inquiries
• Cost Per Lead: $381 (vs. $500–$800 industry benchmark)
• Impressions: 503,000+
• Website Users: 11,341
• Clicks: 8,050 (1.6% CTR)
• Session Duration: 2:19 (high engagement)
• Campaign Spend: $18,900 (40% under budget)
• Potential Tuition Revenue: $1,190,160
• Return on Investment: 6,197%
• ROAS: 63x

Strategic Insights & What’s Next

This campaign made it clear: digital marketing isn’t just effective for private schools—it’s the most cost-efficient way to drive enrolment. By integrating PPC and paid social channels, we outperformed traditional methods, driving higher quality leads at a lower cost per acquisition. Targeting families within a 5km radius of Yaletown, and centring our messaging on Pear Tree’s unique approach, proved that geo-targeted, values-driven campaigns outperform generic education ads. Looking ahead, Pear Tree School can scale this digital playbook for future enrolment cycles and new campus launches.
For brands seeking similar results, Setsail Marketing specializes in education and local lead generation—explore more on our PPC services or learn how we support education marketing.

Learnings & Recommendations

If I were to advise another private school or camp, I’d say this: start digital early, especially if you have an aggressive timeline or a competitive market. Traditional advertising can’t match the speed or precision of a data-driven digital marketing agency. Messaging is critical—our content about theme-based learning, chef-prepared meals, and small class sizes directly resonated with parents. Dynamic budget allocation also mattered; we optimized in real time, doubling down on top-performing campaigns and staying agile throughout.
Want to see how agile, data-driven campaigns can work for your school? Check out our insights on marketing strategy and case studies for more success stories.

Outcomes & Market Impact

Pear Tree School’s campaign is now the benchmark for private education lead generation in Vancouver. We didn’t just fill the new campus pipeline—we established Pear Tree as a progressive brand with a scalable growth model. The shift to digital-first enrolment marketing has already paid dividends, with outcomes that can be repeated for other locations and ongoing cycles. Schools that want real, trackable ROI should consider full-funnel, digital-led campaigns as the foundation for future growth.
Ready to move your school or business to the next level? Learn how Setsail’s marketing solutions can deliver measurable ROI, or connect with us for a free strategy session.

Want These Results?

Ready to grow? If you want your next campaign to deliver record ROI and predictable results, let’s talk!

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