Higher Education Marketing Strategies
Get an Education in
Marketing Success
- Overview
- Quick Wins
- Higher Education Marketing Step By Step Guide
- Higher Education Marketing Trends
- Case Study
- Get Help
How to Market Your Educational Institution
Learn about new digital marketing approaches—and how to use them.
Higher education is increasingly online. So it's no surprise that that digital marketing tactics are having a huge impact on the success of many institutions. To keep enrollment strong, you need a smart digital marketing approach and a strong higher ed marketing agency. Let's get educated!
Leading higher education institutions are embracing the digital marketing landscape.
"CMG Local Solutions has been instrumental in helping us find new markets and new strategies. This partnership has made a significant impact on the three-year growth in enrollment that we have experienced."
Miami University
"CMG Local Solutions' plan was very successful in driving brand awareness and maximizing student enrollment."
Clark State Community College"
Marketing Quick Wins for Higher Ed
Get smart, faster, with these starter tactics
Building a reputation for your higher education institution is a long-haul effort. But starting with the low-hanging fruit will help you get some initial traction quickly.
Get Social
Go where the students are—on social networks! Giving a little extra love to your social accounts in the form of fun content is a surefire way to boost your buzz. You can also expand your following with a strategic paid social campaign.
Show Up In Search
Students initially start their research for higher ed online. Make sure you're listed on all applicable listing sites, directories, etc. Then implement strategic search campaigns to make sure you're showing up in for relevant searches related to your educational offerings and location.
Manage Perceptions
Young people have grown up combing through online ratings, reviews and content to help influence their decisions on everything—including where they choose to go to school. Make sure your higher education institution has good online ratings and reviews, and enlist a higher education marketing agency to help give them a boost, if need be.
Suggested Services
SEO + PPC + SEM + OTT
Primary Key Performance Indicator
Form Fills + Phone Calls
Recommended Time Frame
9 Months
A Step-By-Step Guide to Higher Ed Marketing
We'll school you on the latest higher ed marketing approaches—one step at a time.
Whether you're higher ed institution is an established national brand or small, local or new to the scene, a fresh approach to digital marketing can reinvigorate your organization. Use this easy 5-step plan—and a strong higher ed marketing agency—to see your ROI grow.
Work on Your Website
What personality does your website convey to prospective students? In addition to making sure it accurately represents your institution, you'll want to make sure it is easy to navigate and that prospective student info is at the forefront—specifically the forms and information needed to enroll or apply.
Put SEO First
When working up a marketing plan for higher education, SEO should come next. This includes creating content targeted toward key search terms, optimizing site speeds and other technical website issues and ensuring your site appears in as many relevant directories, higher ed listing sites, etc.
Widen Your Circle
In addition to organic efforts (SEO), you'll want to use a strategic omni-channel media mix to get in front of students at the right time and right place. This includes programmatic display, SEM, paid social and more. Work with a higher ed marketing agency that knows how to get results.
Build Relationships
Prospective students may take months or even years to decide which higher education path is right for them. This is why it's important to capture their contact information when they're on your site (through high-value gated content or other incentives), then use automated nurturing tactics (email, SMS and retargeting ads) to foster familiarity and positive perception.
Get Analytics in Check
To ensure you're getting the most from your spend higher ed marketing spend, you'll need a multi-touch attribution approach. This helps you get a clear picture of how all tactics are working together. But keep in mind, getting this right is tricky; make sure you have a higher ed marketing agency that knows how to achieve this.
Higher Education Marketing Trends
As enrollment declines, higher ed must try new tactics
In the last decade, college enrollment has been on the decline. At the same time, those who are enrolled are increasingly online, opening up the prospective student pool significantly.
Higher ed enrollment dropped by 4.9% from 2019 to 2021—the biggest drop since 1951
Community College Drives Increased Registrations
Suffolk County Community College needed to promote its "Late Start" program and increase student registrations. Fresh creative assets were deployed in social and display campaigns to build buzz.
300 New Student Reservations
In less than one month, the campaign reached 68,463 qualified users; drove 933 clicks to the registration page; and met the client's goal of 300 new student registrations for the program."
Get FREE Custom Insights
We have inside information on the audience and market trends affecting your higher education institution.
From information about the size and makeup of your local or national market to insights on your competitors and their marketing activities, we'll provide you with in-depth, free reports to help guide your higher ed marketing strategy in the right direction. Fill out the form to get started.
