Christian and faith-based
Families searching for a school that shares their values should find yours.
Google Ads for Private Schools
Google Ads for private schools. More families booking tours.
I run Google Ads enrollment campaigns for private schools: Christian, Montessori, independent and college-prep, from TK through high school. No contracts, no account managers. Just families finding your school when they're actively looking for one.
- 20New enrollmentsfor Journey Christian School
- $200K+Annual tuition revenuefrom one campaign
- 1–2Enrollmentscover a full year of ads
“The clicks make sense as I have had 3 tours this week with potentially 4 kids ready to sign up for this school year. God is continuing to bless the school. I'm glad you are a part of this journey.”
Free, no obligation
Let's grow your school's enrollment
Tell me about your goals. I'll personally review your current Google Ads, or build a plan from scratch, and come back with a clear game plan. No obligation, no sales pitch.
I reply within one business day, usually the same day. Se habla español.
Who I work with
Built for private K-12 schools that need more families
Montessori
Research-driven parents searching for the method, not just “private school near me.”
Independent and college-prep
A big tuition decision. The ads project the outcomes that justify it.
Bilingual and immersion
Families searching for a language program, often in Spanish. I write Spanish-language ads myself.
TK, preschool and elementary
Parents in full research mode, ready to book a tour.
Middle and high school
Families looking for a better fit at the next transition.
The proof is in the data
The parents are already out there. Google knows who they are.
Google Ads has a built-in audience called “Primary & Secondary Schools (K-12)”: people interested in enrolling their children in private primary or secondary schools. On Search, I use it to bid more for those parents. With YouTube and display ads, I can reach them before they ever search, right around your campus.
Whether that's worth it depends on how many of those parents Google can reach around your campus, and that's one of the things I check in your free review.
What parents type
Real searches from a real enrollment campaign
Search terms are what parents physically type into Google. “christian school near me,” “best private schools in san diego,” “private school near me.” These are real search terms from Journey Christian School's campaign, and I review every one of them by hand.
Searches that bring families get more budget. Searches that don't, like teacher job hunts, get blocked. That's the difference between a managed campaign and autopilot.
Real client results · Journey Christian School, TK–7th
One enrollment can pay for your entire year of marketing. Including ad spend.
A faith-based school in the San Diego area that needed more enrollment inquiries for the coming year. Here's what one Google Ads campaign delivered.
- New enrollments20for the upcoming school year
- Annual tuition$200K+from 20 new families
- Break-even1–2enrollments cover a full year of Google Ads
- Lifetime value$80K+per family, TK through 7th grade
Average private school tuition runs $10,000–$15,000 a year. One or two new enrollments cover a full year of Google Ads. Everything after that is return.
Real ad previews
What a real enrollment campaign looks like
Live ads built and managed by Planet Marketing for Journey Christian School in La Mesa, CA, pulled from the Google Ads preview tool. No reviews needed: every format sells the school with its message, photos and a clear next step.
Why Google Ads
Private schools can't get Google reviews. Here's what that means.
What Google restricts for schools
- Reviews and star ratings on your Google Business Profile
- Posts and other user contributions on Maps
- No stars next to your school in the search results
- Parents can't compare schools by rating
What still works
- Your Google Maps ranking: schools still rank in the map for “private school near me”
- Search ads at the moment a parent types “private christian school near me”
- Paid ads aren't affected by the review restriction
- Every inquiry, call and form is tracked
Straight from Google
Google turns off posting for every school
This is Journey Christian School's Google Business Profile. Where reviews would normally be, Google shows “Posting is currently turned off.” It isn't something the school did wrong, and there's no way to switch it back on.
Google's Maps content policy puts schools on its list of places with long-term posting restrictions, alongside courts and police stations. Parents can't leave reviews, so no school has stars. What still decides who parents find is where your school ranks on Google Maps and whether you show up in the ads above it.
Read Google's posting restrictions policy
Who you're working with
You work directly with me. Not an account manager.
Francisco Meza · Founder, Planet Marketing · San Diego, CA
I've managed Google Ads and paid search for service businesses since 2006. Contractors, medical practices, law firms, private schools, home services: I've run campaigns for all of them.
When you hire Planet Marketing, your account is never passed to a junior account manager. I build your campaigns, I manage them every month, and I'm the one you call or text. If you're in San Diego or Southern California, I'm happy to meet in person.
Sometimes you just need someone you can trust.
- 20+ years
- Month-to-month
- No junior account managers
- Se habla español
How it works
Three steps to more enrollment inquiries
- 1
Your free video review
I record my screen and walk through where you stand: your Google Ads account if you have one, a Local Falcon map of where your school ranks on Google Maps around your campus, and how your school shows up when a parent asks ChatGPT. You watch it before we ever talk.
- 2
Strategy call
Phone or Google Meet. We review what's working, where budget is being lost, and what I recommend changing. You leave with a clear plan whether you hire me or not.
- 3
I build and manage
I build your campaigns from scratch or take over the ones you have. Month-to-month, no long-term contract, and you can reach me directly any time.
Industries
Google Ads for service businesses in every industry
Each industry gets its own plan, built around how its customers search.
Home ServicesGoogle Ads and Maps that make contractors' phones ringElectriciansMore calls from homeowners who need an electricianGeneral ContractorsProject leads straight from homeowners, not middlemenDrywall ContractorsGet hired directly instead of subbed outPaintersSteady painting leads, even in the slow monthsTile ContractorsHomeowners calling you directly for tile workStucco ContractorsThe account that went from $120 to $35 per leadRoofersRoof replacements from homeowners, not shared leadsPest ControlService-plan customers who call you, not five othersDental & OrthodonticsMore new patients booking appointmentsChiropractorsNew patient calls from people nearby who need careLaw FirmsQualified case inquiries, not wasted clicksPlastic Surgery & Med SpasMore consultations from patients ready to bookReal EstateSerious buyer and seller leads, not browsersPrivate SchoolsEnrollment inquiries from parents searching right nowDon't see yours?Let's talk anyway
What clients say
5.057 Google reviews
Real reviews from real business owners
R
RylectricOctober 2026
I was struggling with trying to market my electrical contracting business. So when I was using ChatGPT to help me with some questions about Google Ads, an ad popped up for Planet Marketing. I clicked the link and connected with Francisco. This has been a game changer for me!! He’s built me a professional website. Developed professional campaigns on both Google Ads and ChatGPT. Best of all I have received more QUALIFIED LEADS that I can easily convert! Highly recommend working with Francisco!!
NZ
N. Z.October 2026
I've been working with Francisco & Planet Marketing for over 15 years and across multiple companies. Initially it was a company where his expertise in elevating our Craigslist & eBay posts helped us corner a highly competitive market. The next few times we worked together it was for different SEO/SEM/PPC needs and each time he out produced expectations. He's constantly been at the forefront each time the marketing landscape changes and with the roll out of ChatGPT & Gemini, he's there helping me once again gobble up market share. I highly recommend Francisco & Planet Marketing!
CC
Chris C.October 2026
Francisco is very knowledgeable and passionate about what he does. He has helped many of our clients with Google ads and now especially ChatGPT ads. Dont have any doubts, he is your go to source for all things marketing
JD
Juan D.October 2026
Francisco I a great person to work with. Really attentive and helpful. Good at what he does no doubt 👌👌
JL
Jason L.September 2026
Francisco is a rare find. On the one hand, he has 20 years of experience, on the other, he has his feet firmly planted in the future. My meeting with him today was highly, highly productive. He has the kind of knowledge where he can show you where the systems weak points are, and how to work around them, all while being budget conscious. I think what makes him tick is when he beats the entrenched companies at their own game. I look forward to a long business arrangement with him.
TO
The O.August 2026
Francisco at Planet Marketing was fantastic to work with! He was extremely professional, knowledgeable, and quick to respond. He took the time to thoroughly analyze my marketing needs and clearly explain his services and the entire process. He also provided pricing right away, which I really appreciated. I’m still at the beginning of my search for marketing services, but Francisco has already made an excellent impression. He clearly knows his business and genuinely cares about providing great customer service. I highly recommend Francisco and Planet Marketing for all your marketing needs!
Questions
Frequently asked questions
How much should a private school spend on Google Ads?
Enough to give us real data. At $100 a month, Google sends a handful of clicks, and that's not enough to tell which searches turn into tours. At around $1,000 a month, I can see which searches bring families who book a tour and which only bring people comparing tuition, then move money from the losers to the searches that convert. Spend usually goes up from January through April, when families choose schools. That money goes to Google, not to me, and my fee is separate.
How much does Google Ads cost per click for a private school?
It depends on your area. Fill out the form and I'll look up your area in Google's Keyword Planner for searches like “private school near me” and “christian school near me,” then record a short video showing what those clicks cost around your campus. I only target parents looking for a school and block searches like “private school teacher jobs” and “free public schools,” so you don't pay for clicks that never turn into enrollments.
When should a private school advertise?
Enrollment decisions peak from January through April for the fall, so that's when budgets go up. Many schools keep a smaller campaign running year-round for mid-year transfers.
Can private schools use Google Maps reviews?
No. Google restricts reviews and posts on school listings. Your school still ranks on Google Maps, though, so a complete, accurate profile matters, and Google Search Ads put you at the top while you can't compete on stars.
What did Journey Christian School get?
20 new enrollments for the upcoming school year from one Google Ads campaign, which is more than $200,000 in annual tuition.
Ready to grow?
Tell me about your business and what you need. I personally review every request. You'll hear from me, not an automated reply.
