When prospective students and parents research educational institutions, they often use testimonials to influence their choices. That’s why it’s essential for schools to share authentic student stories across various digital marketing channels. Let’s explore how to effectively collect and showcase student experiences to enhance your school’s reputation.

The importance of authenticity

Authentic testimonials—both written and video—carry more weight than traditional marketing copy. Video testimonials, in particular, create an emotional connection that’s hard to replicate. Influencer marketing can also do this—why not hire an industry influencer to be a student for the week? By sharing their genuine perspective with their thousands of loyal followers, your school will be able to reach a far wider audience. 

Requesting impactful testimonials

When asking for testimonials, guide students with specific questions that highlight diverse aspects of their experience. For example:

• What surprised them most about your school?
• How did your programmes prepare them for their next steps?
• What support services made the biggest difference?
• How did your school’s staff and community impact their experience?

Maximising testimonial visibility

Once you’ve got a collection of testimonials, make the most of their marketing potential by strategically using them across multiple platforms. You could:

• Feature rotating testimonials on your homepage
• Create social media campaigns highlighting student stories
• Include relevant testimonials in programme-specific marketing materials
• Share video testimonials during virtual open days and webinars

Creating a dedicated testimonials hub

It’s also helpful to develop a section on your website dedicated to testimonials, allowing them to be filtered by programme, nationality, or outcome. This makes it simple for potential students to find stories that resonate with their specific interests and concerns.

Consistent collection and sharing of genuine student experiences creates a powerful narrative about your institution over time. Don’t forget to refresh your testimonial content regularly to ensure diverse voices are represented—this will help establish ongoing credibility that resonates with prospective students from various backgrounds and with different educational goals. Ready to transform your school’s reputation through strategic use of authentic voices? Get in touch with Schools & Agents today to find out about our influencer marketing packages!

Written by Stephanie Clark