Beyond the School Web Site – Create a Comprehensive Web Presence

to Reach International Students

About

• From Missouri – received a degree in Journalism• Studied abroad in Wales and taught English in Beijing, China• Responsible for digital marketing and social media efforts

Bryanna Davis – Marketing Coordinator, Envisage International

About Us

Our goal is to empower and encourage students to pursue an international education, and provide them with the tools they need to educate themselves and experience the world.• Neptune Beach, Florida• Started in 1998• Own the largest international student facing network

• InternationalStudent.com • InternationalScholarships.com• InternationalStudentInsurance.com• ELSdirectory.com• Reach - over 7 million students each year

• Business Units• Insurance • Loans• Leads and advertising

• Internal web presence• Your website, how students find you

• External web presence• Third party websites, social media and search engines

• The New School and UNF• Web presence • Best practices – what works, how to best utilize what you have

• Q & A and Discussion

Agenda

“The appearance of a person or organization on the World Wide Web."

How is it Measured?

By the amount of sites an organization or individual has, including • The website• Social media profiles• Search engine rankings• Amount of search engine real estate

Web Presence

Ability to reach millions of international student

Compliments your travel and traditional recruiting efforts

Brand awareness

Contact from reach to enrollment

Cost effective ROI

Why is Web Presence Important?

It is how you are found and have an impact when students are searching for

you or the programs you offer

Why is a Web Presence important?

Over 50% of high school Juniors and Seniors say that the web played at least a significant role in the evaluation of an institution

But 55% of students could not find the information they were looking for on a school’s website

So 18% of students turn to independent websites to learn about cost and financial aid

And 49% say independent websites are the best way to learn about an institution’s academic programso 31% say blogso 38% social mediao 52% search

College Week Live and Noel-Levitz, 2013

Why is a Web Presence Important?

• Important• Expensive• Branding• Communicate with:

• Current students• Prospective students• Alumni• Faculty

• President’s message• Mission of the school• Admissions info• Academics• Programs and degrees offered• Maps, directories, employment opportunities• Athletics, events• Parent resources, student government• And that is the first page! Oh my!

Your School’s Website

• One site created for all• Hard to navigate• Not completely relevant

• Hard to find information• Out of date

Your School’s Website

How is Your School’s Website Found?

They’re Doing What?

Getting Their Information

Email Marketing

Giving Them Information The Way They Prefer

Make It Real

Giving Them Information The Way They Prefer

• Extension of website• Upcoming events• News• Upcoming deadlines

• Promoted from website and vice versa• Engage users to push through the funnel

Beyond Your Site- Your School’s Social Media Presence

Social Media

Your School’s Web Presence

33,300 Monthly Unique Visitors

The New School

Working with Third Party Online Marketing Companies

Working with Third Party Online Marketing Companies

• Typically portal sites• Established SEO• Sticky

• Some do microsites• Stand Alone• ? – How do they get traffic

• Good way to expand your reach • Promote your social networks• Good way to expand brand awareness

What is your school currently doing?

What are a few improvement/updates you would like to see happen when it comes to your

school’s web presence?

• Hire outside help like Envisage International (us!), Hotcourses, Zinch or Hobsons…

• Ask:• How will we be found• What methods do you use (SEO, PPC, Affiliates)• What are the benefits of social media• What blogs and content will you distribute

•Know what your goals are (likes, leads, communications, brand)•Ask for help

How to Grow your Web Presence