A high-ranking education website can significantly boost your visibility to prospective students worldwide. So, whether you run a language school, university or international education agency, here’s how to optimise your website so it ranks high on Google’s search engine.

Do keyword research

Identify relevant keywords using tools like Google Keyword Planner, focusing on location-specific keywords to target students from particular countries. Aim for keywords with high search volume and low ranking difficulty to maximise your chances of ranking well.

Add keywords in the right places

Place your target keywords strategically in page titles, meta descriptions, headers, and throughout your content. Ensure it reads naturally and avoid keyword stuffing. A good practice is to place your target keywords within the first 100 words of your content.

Link to relevant internal pages

Create a network of links between relevant pages on your website. This helps Google understand your site structure and discover new pages. It also guides users to other useful information, improving their experience and potentially increasing time spent on your site.

Build quality backlinks

Partner with reputable education websites like Schools & Agents to obtain quality backlinks. These backlinks serve as ‘votes of confidence’ for your site in Google’s eyes.

Optimise images

Add descriptive alt tags to images, keeping them under 125 characters and including target keywords when relevant. Well-optimised images can improve your site’s accessibility and help you rank in Google’s image search results.

Localise your content

If you’re targeting students from specific countries, create content in their languages. Use hreflang tags to tell Google which language you’re using on a specific page. This helps search engines serve the right content to users based on their language preferences.

Remember, improving your website’s ranking is an ongoing process. It’s important to regularly analyse your website’s performance using tools like Google Analytics and Google Search Console, and adjust your strategy based on these insights. That’s all for now, but tune in again next week for more international education digital marketing tips!

Written by Stephanie Clark