Navigating the maze of getting a school board vote for the adoption of your edtech product can seem like a Herculean task if you don’t know what to expect.

You won’t get a checklist that delineates how to get your product adopted. Every school district has unique processes and politics, but there are certain similarities you can use to your advantage. You have to know your market, put in time as a vendor, develop relationships, and pay attention to details to ace the school adoption process.

Edtech companies that keep these tips in mind will breeze through the school adoption process.

Mind your market

You’ll have to market your edtech product, so take a careful look at what sells to schools. Your digital technology must also appeal to central office leaders who will recommend to the school board that your product be adopted. By knowing where you fit in the market, you’ll know how to position your edtech product.

Become a vendor 

When you know your market, it’s time to meet your consumers.

One of the best ways to get yourself in front of the right audience is to attend an education conference where you can showcase your product to the people who will use it: the teachers. Teachers will tell their campus principals, who in turn will alert their central office administration to take a closer look at what you have to offer.

Regular attendance at state and national conferences makes you visible for potential sales.

It’s about the relationship

Getting through the school adoption process can be tricky unless you’ve spent time building relationships with people.

It’s easy to focus on the technology aspect of your company, but remember that schools are places where people come to learn. For educators, relationships are important. Teachers and administrators want you to show that you plan to stay in the game for a long time.

Building relationships with major leaders in the district will also help you learn more about the district’s the adoption process. Some districts want vendors to make elaborate presentations, some want a one-page overview of your edtech product, and others like to engage school board members in using the technology.

If you’ve built relationships, you’ll be able to ask about the best approach to take.

Mind your Ps and Qs

Finally, make sure that your proposal is error free when it goes before the school board for approval. School board members have voted against adoptions because of mistakes in grammar, mechanics, and usage. These errors suggest that you may have overlooked other problems as well.

Breezing through the school adoption process can be easy if you remember that education is about people.