With students all around the world active on at least one social networking site, social media platforms have become a fundamental tool for marketing international education. But how can schools and universities use social media to attract international students? Here are the best practices to consider. 

Create a strong social media presence

For your educational institution to be at the forefront of your target audience’s mind, you need to establish a strong online presence. This means creating engaging, high-quality content in various formats that is relevant to international students’ interests and concerns. For example, videos of ex-students talking about their experience studying at your institution, or blog posts about new courses or discounts on offer. Sharing content like this regularly across different social media platforms will demonstrate that your school is a top player in the international education field. 

Use third party platforms

Disseminating content consistently is no mean feat, which is why enlisting the help of third parties within the industry can help lighten the workload. It can also produce substantially more effective results more quickly. Schools & Agents, for instance, have built up such a strong online presence that we reach over 100K visitors per month via our social media platforms, newsletter, and website – by working with us to share your content, your educational institution could reach this large an audience too. 

Maximise user-generated content

Apart from creating content in-house, leveraging social media content made by current and past students can contribute towards attracting a wider target audience. This means, for example, sharing videos and posts where your institution has been tagged by people in the international student community. Their authentic experiences and perspectives can resonate with other international students, therefore increasing your school’s visibility and appeal.

Written by Stephanie Clark