Are you bored of the same old, dull strategies that no longer work? If so, in this post, we’ll look at ten trendy, innovative marketing methods that are effective for schools and institutions.
From social media marketing to virtual reality tours, these new tactics can help you reach out to prospective students in a fun and memorable way.
So, the following are the top 10 university marketing strategies and trends to look out for in 2024!
What is University Marketing?
Higher education marketing refers to the strategies colleges and other educational institutions use to promote their programmes, services, and brand to prospective students, parents, and other stakeholders.
8 Effective University Marketing Strategies
As a university, you want to keep your establishment expanding and thriving. To do this, you need to have an effective marketing strategy.
Therefore, the following are some successful university marketing techniques that stand out.
Leverage digital marketing
A solid digital marketing plan is essential for reaching prospective students nowadays. With so much competition, you need to meet students where they are—on the web and their phones.
As a result, focus your efforts on the following digital marketing strategy for higher education:
- Develop a comprehensive digital marketing plan
- Optimise your website for search engines
- Leverage social media
- Implement email marketing campaigns
- Create high-quality content
- Use PPC advertising
Build an active social media presence
When you introduce social media in higher education, your institution transforms. You connect with students on a more personal level and build a vibrant online environment that reflects the diversity and vibrancy of your educational community.
Furthermore, here are some guidelines for building an efficient university social media strategy:
- Build a presence on various sites: To reach the largest possible audience, you should build a presence on multiple social media sites.
- Target paid social media ads: Paid social media ads, particularly on platforms like Facebook and Instagram, allow you to contact prospective students interested in your institution.
- Hold competitions and giveaways on social media: Offering freebies and contests is a straightforward approach to boosting interaction and attracting new followers. So, give your followers gift cards, branded merchandise, and school event tickets.
Search engine optimisation
Higher education marketing relies heavily on having an optimised website. You should include target keywords in blog posts, page titles, headings, and meta descriptions to raise search engine rankings.
Moreover, a high search engine ranking will drive more potential students to your website, increasing enquiries and applications.
Promote your higher education institution with short-form videos
If you’re trying to draw more attention to your university, the best method to use is short-form videos! You can create these videos to highlight your school’s unique qualities and make it simpler for potential students to find the information they require to make an educated decision.
Email marketing
Email marketing is an efficient way for educational institutions to reach their target audiences. You can use emails to market courses, notify students about future activities, and stay in touch with alums.
The key to successful email marketing for educational institutions is to produce targeted messages for each audience and to send all emails on time.
Make use of influencer marketing for colleges
One of the most efficient ways institutions reach prospective students is through influencer marketing.
So, these are the best influencer marketing strategies:
- Meet students where they are: Students (Gen Z) spend a lot of time on social media – Instagram, YouTube, TikTok, you name it. As a result, collaborating with influencers on these platforms helps you reach students who are already engaged.
- Create genuine ties: Influencers have deep, personal connections with their followers. So, use their fan base to your advantage by letting them recommend your university to their followers.
Create a YouTube channel for your university
Make a YouTube channel where you can post lectures, commencement speeches, student testimonials, virtual tours of the campus, and other videos.
Building a presence on YouTube will improve your SEO and make it easier for people to find your school because it’s the second-biggest search engine after Google.
Use Google Analytics for University marketing
Google Analytics is a free tool used to monitor website traffic, assess the effectiveness of advertising campaigns, and gather insightful data about user behaviour.
With Google Analytics, you can get real-time information on website visits, including visitor numbers, geographic locations, and pages visited.
Top Marketing Trends For Colleges
To stay competitive, you must keep up with the most recent developments in marketing, as there is more competition than ever for resources and students.
So, to help you stay ahead of the game, here are some of the most popular higher education marketing trends right now:
- Emphasise student outcomes and ROI
- Pay special attention to mobile optimisation and user experience
- Accept experiential learning and extracurricular activities
- Make use of data privacy and cybersecurity
- Incorporate AI and machine learning
- Invest in virtual tours and video content
Innovative Advertising Campaigns for Colleges and Universities
Most colleges and universities attempting to spread the word about their institutions have probably already experimented with conventional forms of advertising. However, to truly stand out in the digital age, you must be creative in your college marketing campaigns.
To help you get started, here are some of the best university advertising campaigns:
- Interactive social media campaigns: Launch an engaging social media campaign, such as a fun Instagram photo contest or challenge. For example, encourage students to send a snapshot of where they anticipate their degree will take them.
- Campus tours with a twist: Provide themed campus tours, such as a haunted campus tour or a scavenger hunt. Visitors will remember this unforgettable encounter.
- Out-of-home advertising: For maximum exposure, place advertisements on billboards, buses, trains, or bathrooms. Use eye-catching graphics and a witty, thought-provoking statement to pique people’s interest in your institution. Out-of-home advertisements reach consumers even when they aren’t actively looking for college information.
Final Thoughts
If you’re prepared to change the way you market higher education? Your secret weapons for success are the above tactics and trends. As you embark on this journey, remember that making a lasting impression is more important than simply staying ahead of the game.
You have the means to succeed whether you choose to embrace interactive content, use social media, or explore the world of short-form videos. So, feel free to incorporate these trends into your marketing strategy and observe as your school prospers in the digital sphere.
