As institutions and agencies in the international education industry compete for the attention of prospective students worldwide, having a strong online presence is key. And what better way to ensure this than with the power of search engine optimisation (SEO)? In this article, we show you how to improve your website’s visibility, attract more traffic, and ultimately enrol more international students by optimising your website. 

Understand your audience’s search intent

The first step in effective SEO is understanding how your target audience searches for information related to your programmes and services. You can discover this by conducting keyword research to identify the phrases prospective international students use when searching for study opportunities abroad. Then, incorporate these keywords naturally into your website’s content, meta tags, and URLs.

Optimise your website’s content

Creating high-quality, informative content that addresses the common questions and concerns of international students can improve your search engine rankings. This content could include course details, admission requirements, campus life, and student testimonials. Use your target keywords strategically throughout your content, but avoid keyword stuffing, which can hurt your rankings.

Employ localised SEO tactics

Many international students search for educational opportunities in specific locations. Optimise your website for local SEO by including your institution’s or agency’s location in relevant pages, creating local listings on directories like Google My Business, and obtaining backlinks from other reputable local websites.

Encourage user engagement

Search engines favour websites that keep users engaged. Implement strategies to reduce bounce rates and increase time spent on your site, such as providing easy-to-navigate menus, incorporating multimedia content, and offering resources like course catalogues or scholarship information for download.

SEO is an essential tool for businesses in the international education industry to increase their online visibility and attract more international students. By using this guide to optimise your website you can improve your search engine rankings and reach your target audience more effectively.

Written by Stephanie Clark