Lots of different kinds of businesses use Google Ads (also known as pay per click (PPC) advertising). It’s highly successful. But does it work for schools and the education sector too? In this blog, we find out. We explore why schools should use paid advertising and the specific challenges surrounding Google Ads for the educational industry. You’ll discover how costs can be kept low while maximising results and how you can incorporate other marketing activities in with your paid advertising to make it more effective.

What are Google Ads?

Google Ads is Google’s platform that allow advertisers to run PPC campaigns. PPC is a digital marketing strategy whereby advertisers create ads and they pay only when a user interacts with them. They are highly successful because Google Ads are targeted and are a cost-effective way to advertise your business, product or service.

Are Google Ads important for the education sector?

Google Ads for higher education has been found to be highly beneficial and using Google Ads is a proven way to promote degree level courses. One of the reasons paid marketing for the education sector works so well is because it’s a target audience that begin their research online. Google ads are ideal for targeting students at times when they are looking to enrol.

The benefits of using Google Ads for your school or educational establishment

For many educational establishments Google Ads has become an essential digital marketing strategy because of its many benefits:

Targeted traffic

Only people who are likely to be interested in your ad will see it, interact with it and click on it.

See results quickly

You can launch a campaign within a few hours and expect to see good-quality traffic right away.

Helps with brand awareness

People who may be interested in your educational establishment may not be aware of you. By putting relevant ads in front of them, you’ll educate them on who you are and how you can help them, increasing your brand awareness.

Increase in leads and school placements

Putting your ads in front of relevant people will allow you to advertise events such as open days, generating more leads and interest in your school.

More control over your spending budget

Google Ads allow you to track what you’re spending and gives you access to key performance indicators (KPIs) such as conversions and return on investment (ROI). You know exactly where you are with your marketing budget. They’re a highly cost-effective form of advertising for schools, colleges and universities.

What are some challenges that the education sector faces when using Google Ads?

PPC models are challenging for educational organisations who have a small budget and don’t have the time to manage them. The education sector is unique compared to other businesses who use Google Ads because they have unique goals and KPIs. Most businesses want their ad to immediately convert into a sale. The education sector needs to boost enquiries, applications and enrolments and focus on long term engagement with their ad. Like other industries, the education sector is very competitive and this can increase the cost per click for the ad.

How can campaign costs be kept low while maximising results?

If campaigns are poorly managed, they can become complicated and expensive. To help manage costs, set a maximum bid cap for your campaigns so that Google won’t exceed your budget. To keep costs low while maximising results, it’s essential that you run the ad in the appropriate way. Here are some best practices to follow:

Target the right people

Google Ads works so well because it’s a highly targeted form of advertising. If you don’t target the right people, you won’t get the results you’re looking for.

There are several ways that Google Ads can be targeted to reach the right people. Google allows you to target a specific audience using a range of characteristics, including age group, gender and interests. You can also target specific geographical areas which is especially helpful for education establishments with a fixed location.

Negative keyphrase bidding

It is possible to create a list of words and phrases that you specifically do not want to have associated with your ad and, if used, your ad will not be shown. If used, appropriately, this can save money on wasted clicks. For example, an ad for a marine biology course may have the word “human” as a negative keyword. This means that any searches for biology courses using the word “human” will not be shown your ad, potentially saving money on clicks from those looking for standard biology courses rather than marine biology courses specifically.

Consider seasonality

It’s important to think about when your campaigns will be most effective and allocate more of your marketing budget to those times. Although September is a busy time in a school’s calendar with the start of the year, it’s not the ideal time to advertise courses as those searches will have been conducted months before. It’s also important to think about resource — there is no point running a campaign if there is no one around to respond to the enquiry because they are all on summer break.

How can Google Ads be used alongside other marketing activities?

For any business, the effectiveness of Google Ads will increase when used in conjunction with other marketing activities. Here are some ways to consider merging other marketing activities with your Google Ads campaign:

Create relevant landing pages

Landing pages are powerful marketing assets and play the biggest role in converting traffic for paid campaigns. Your Google Ads campaigns need to go to a relevant landing page that will give your audience more information with a relevant CTA. Like the ad itself, the more specific your landing page copy is, the better. All landing pages should have a clear and concise way of capturing leads, either via a simple form or by offering visitors something of value in exchange for their email address, such as a relevant downloadable guide that gives them information about the course they’re looking into.

Email marketing

Nurture the leads you’ve captured from the landing page by sending out targeted emails with valuable content. This will help to keep leads ‘warm’ and exposed to your brand and the content can also be used on your website in the form of blogs or guides, if relevant, which has the added bonus of naturally increasing your website’s ranking.

Engage in search engine optimisation

Search engine optimisation (SEO) is a form of digital marketing known as organic because the methods used aim to naturally move you up search engine results pages (SERPs) so your website can be found when people are searching for relevant keyphrases. Due to budget constraints, a lot of businesses choose to focus on either Google Ads or SEO but, when feasible, it is best to do them in tandem as it gives users more than one opportunity to find you and can lead to repeated exposure to your brand.

Use the power of social media

Being active on social media can help you to reach a wider audience as it will give you more opportunities to be found in search results and cater to those who like to do their research on different platforms before making any decision. You can run the same paid ads as your Google Ads campaigns on platforms like Facebook and direct them to the same landing pages, making your marketing materials go further for a relatively small additional cost.

So, can Google Ads really work for the education sector? This blog highlights that, if done correctly, Google Ads can indeed work for schools, colleges and universities just as well as they do for other industries. It’s a powerful way to attract new students to your educational organisation and if you’re still on the fence about whether it will work for you, we’ll finish with this statistic: The average conversion rate for Google Ads in the education sector is 3.39% compared to 2.7% across all industries.

Originally published at https://webproeducationwebsitedesign.co.uk.

The power of online reviews is immense. Consider these statistics: 94% of consumers say reviews have made them avoid a business and 49% of people trust online reviews as much as a personal recommendation. People look at reviews before they go to a new restaurant, book a hotel or buy a gadget. In today’s digital age, they’re simply ingrained into the fabric of our existence. So, it comes as no surprise that schools, colleges and universities need online reviews as much as any other business.

Your school’s online reviews equate to people’s first impressions of your school. If you don’t have good reviews, you won’t have people looking at your school, let alone be able to attract students to go there.

Here’s why online reviews of your school are so powerful and why you need them:

Reviews build trust and credibility

Lots of positive reviews of your school show parents and prospective staff that you’re a good school and this builds trust and credibility in your community. Just like any other industry, education is competitive and you need to show parents that they should send their children to you to learn. One of the most significant decisions a parent can make for their child is what school to send them to. You know the quality of their education sets them up for life. With lots of positive reviews, parents can be sure you’re the right school for their children.

Similarly, to attract the best staff, prospective teachers and support staff will check out your reviews. With lots of positive reviews you’ll attract top teaching talent which will only result in you getting more fantastic reviews. A win win everywhere!

Reviews are social proof, whether they’re good or bad. The authenticity of reviews is what makes them so valuable, trustworthy and credible.

Reviews highlight your USPs

If you’re a school who excels in a certain discipline, such as sports or science, your reviews will highlight this. This helps you stand apart from your competition and differentiates you from other schools in the area. It will help with parents’ decision-making for their children if they’re looking for a school with these qualities.

Reviews encourage accountability and improvement

In an educational environment it’s important to have transparency. For a school, it’s important to have constructive feedback which helps to show where things need improving. Of course, everyone should strive for high standards and excel, but sometimes this just doesn’t happen. Sometimes you may be aware of it and other times you might not be. And this is where online reviews become useful — for accountability and improvement.

Online reviews essentially help facilitate open communication between schools, parents and the wider community. They help you to address any concerns within the community.

What platforms should be used for online reviews?

The internet is vast. You may not always have control over which platforms people use for their reviews of your school and so you need to be diligent in keeping track of people’s reviews. This is especially true for any negative feedback you may receive.

You can encourage people to leave reviews for your school on platforms such as Google, Facebook and Yelp. And be sure to showcase the most valuable ones on your website to attract students and staff.

There’s no denying how popular and effective social media is. Over the past 20 years, social media platforms have exploded in popularity and become part of everyday life. These days, social media is not just for personal or social use, but it’s also an important marketing strategy that schools, colleges and universities can use to engage students, parents and guardians.

Social media isn’t going anywhere. It’s going to rise in popularity, with many more platforms being created. As an education provider, you need to leverage the power of social media to ensure you’re keeping up with the trends in modern life.

How using social media can help your school

Builds your school brand

Having a social media presence and posting regularly, helps to inform your followers about the school’s values, exam results, Ofsted ratings and other important matters. Now, depending on your choice of platform, your followers will be mostly parents, students or teaching staff. The content you post and the values you demonstrate will help to recruit staff and raise awareness of your school to parents who want to send their children there. It can be a valuable tool to help manage your school’s reputation.

Communication and engagement with students, parents and the local community

Social media marketing is all about engagement. It’s a two-way conversation, and this is why it’s so powerful. You post content and your followers can comment, like or share your posts. It’s a way of engaging directly with your followers, almost instantly. In the past, children used to get sent home from school with paper letters. You never really knew whether the information got where it needed to.

Now, just by creating a post, you’re able to reach and have a conversation with the people you need to.

Helps raise awareness of fundraising activities and local events

Social media is a powerful way to share important information about your school, such as fundraising events and fayres and get the whole community involved.

The best social media platforms to use for your school

Not every social media platform is suitable for an education provider. To maximise efficiency, prioritise the platforms where your target audience is most active. Maintaining a presence on every platform may not be the most effective use of your time. We recommend choosing one or two platforms.

Facebook

With three billion users, Facebook is the most popular social media platform and one where your audience is likely be active. Every school should have a Facebook page. Your messages should be targeted specifically for parents. So, post messages about important events such as parents evening, sports day, fayres, fundraising events, etc. Show snippets of what a typical day is like in your school, such as what children have been doing or special achievements that students have been recognised for. It’s the ideal place to announce closures like those due to weather conditions too. Content for Facebook should be informative and engaging.

LinkedIn

LinkedIn attracts a professional audience. This platform can be used to establish your school’s profile. Use it to recruit staff and to show your school to professional parents who are looking to send their children to the best school. It’s also a good place to share testimonials, staff’s professional achievements and new appointments.

YouTube

YouTube is a popular platform used by private schools. It can be used to share live clips of school events such as sports day or important assemblies.

As busy head teachers, creating and maintaining social media accounts is probably the last thing on your mind. Let WEBPRO Education help with our tailored social media packages. Contact us now to find out more.

Originally published at https://webproeducationwebsitedesign.co.uk.

There’s a big difference between creating a website and creating one that is user-friendly. This can be particularly difficult for schools, colleges and university websites that often contain lots of content. However, it is possible to have a large website that is easy to navigate and use.

The critical factor is to view your website through the eyes of a visitor. For your students and their parents to get the most from your website, they need to be able to quickly and easily access the information they are looking for. Of course, you don’t have to do this alone. We have the expertise to help.

Create a simple menu structure

Making your website user-friendly starts with looking at how easily users can navigate to other relevant pages. Even a large website with lots of content can have a simple menu structure, the key is a considered design and how the content is laid out and linked throughout the site. There is no one-size-fits-all, but all sites must adopt best practices for optimal user experience.

The type of menu you use (classic across the top, sidebar, burger, etc.) will depend on the overall look and feel of your website and how large your menu is, however it should always be simple and easy for users to navigate. Your main menu content should be grouped so you have a simple top-level menu with sub-menu items linked from these overarching topics. In the website business, these are referred to as ‘Parents’ and ‘Children’ — apt for an education website!

The way sub-menu items are displayed will again depend on the design of your website and how many items you have to include. Some websites can get away with just having a simple drop-down list of clickable sub-menu items whereas websites with larger menu structures will need to look at alternatives like adding a second sub-menu to your drop-down lists or using a mega menu.

A mega menu unfolds when it is interacted with e.g. when a user hovers over or clicks on the main menu items. A mega menu takes up all, or at least a large part, of the screen and is generally a lot more interactive than a simpler menu structure. With a mega menu, you can add images, icons, descriptions and links to other relevant items such as related blogs. These tend to add interest, increase interaction and movement to your menu, which can improve the user experience.

Regardless of the type of menu that is most suited to your website, you should always incorporate an action that is applied when a user is viewing the menu with their mouse, such as a colour change or some type of movement. This adds interest and movement and encourages the user to take action. You should also consider the addition of a ‘sticky’ menu which means your main menu ‘sticks’ to the top of the page as a user starts to scroll down, allowing them to navigate to other areas of your website without having to scroll back up to the top of the page.

Get the layout right

The way content is presented is an important factor for making your website user friendly, particularly if there is a large volume of resources, as is generally the case for an education website. Creating various sections on each page allows content to be broken up to make it more readable. This also allows for the use of colour, shapes and images which adds interest to your website and enhances its design. Remember, a website has to look as good as it functions!

It’s also crucial, particularly as education providers, to cater to different learning and engagement styles. You will have a range of people accessing your website for information and your content needs to work for all of them. People process information in a variety of different ways:

• Through reading detailed information
• Through reading a small amount of key information
• Through graphical content such as infographics
• Through visual, interactive content such as video

Ideally, your website pages should include a mix of content types to cater to all users.

Keep it simple

Many website owners feel that unused space (often referred to as white or negative space), is wasted space. However, filling each page with content will make it feel crowded and make it less easy to digest. It will be harder for users to focus on the information that matters. Some strategic negative space is beneficial, despite its name, and should be used around text to improve the user experience. The text itself needs a clear, relevant headline and space between it and the main body of information. It will draw visitors’ attention and allow them to understand the most important messages. Don’t be tempted to fill the white space with graphs or other information. These absolutely have a place, but they should be added with thought and in their own dedicated space.

Other important factors

There are a few other general ‘rules of thumb’ to follow when thinking about how to make your website as user-friendly as possible:

• Add a search filter that allows users to find content by keyword or phrase
• Use your brand colours to make links and buttons stand out
• Ensure your website works well on all devices
• Make your website accessible
• Have your website tested for speed efficiency

Originally published at https://webproeducationwebsitedesign.co.uk.

Educational institutions used to be relatively autonomous. Parents rarely checked on teachers, assuming they knew what their students needed to learn. However, the digital revolution has irrevocably changed things. Today, your education website needs to provide a wide range of information, enough to keep current and prospective parents happy and up to date on all matters relating to their child’s schooling.

Your website is the first port of call for most parents and students, so it needs to work hard to make the right impression and to be constantly updated with pertinent information. Your education website is the place to share your brand, tell others about your values and the vision you have for your institution and provide an effective way to communicate with all interested parties. If it’s not already doing this, you need to review the sort of content you’re publishing.

Compliance first

WEBPRO is committed to ensuring your website complies with all relevant education legislation. Our team stays abreast of all the latest Ofsted and Department for Education regulations and will ensure your site is fully compliant. The government’s education departments expect to see clear contact details and you should also include the name of a staff member designated to deal with queries from parents and the public.

It’s also expected that you display your admissions and uniform policy, along with your recent exam results and Ofsted reports. These can help parents and potential students determine if your facility suits their needs. It can also be helpful to disclose any remote learning provisions as you never know when they may be needed again.

Alongside this information, you’ll need to post your complaints procedure, display your opening hours, the curriculum you follow and any behavioural policies. Other information recommended by Ofsted includes the governor’s names and their duties, the school’s financial information and the details of your charging and remission policies. Arguably, the most important information to include is the values and ethos of your school, college or university. All prospective students and parents should read this.

Outside of compliance requirements, there are other details that an education website should also include.

About the school

Every education website needs an ‘About’ page. It should be introduced by your head teacher, set the tone and outline the culture of the school and its values. This personalised approach can help the school appear more attractive to students and parents. This information can be a deciding factor when choosing a school.

Staff list

Your education website should have a detailed, up-to-date staff area. These pages should include information about each teacher, including their qualifications and a short bio about what got them into teaching. It’s easiest to create a staff profile for each teacher, allowing them to connect with parents and students. This approach can also help potential staff looking to join the school decide if it’s the right environment for them.

Latest news

Parents, students, and even teachers, need an area of the website where they can easily access all the latest information about the school. Your site needs a news page that is regularly updated to reflect current events, guidance and information. It ensures everyone knows which area of the site to navigate to if they are looking for something specific.

Virtual tours

An increasingly common and practical addition to any education website is a virtual tour. It helps people feel familiar with the campus before they start. It’s also particularly beneficial for people with disabilities as they can assess how easily they can access all the relevant facilities.

Originally published at https://webproeducationwebsitedesign.co.uk.

Websites for schools, colleges and universities naturally have copious amounts of text which can be discouraging to many users, especially if it’s complicated. A key part of making your education website accessible to anyone is ensuring the text is easy to read. But accessibility is more than just looking at the content. For your website to be genuinely accessible, it needs to be usable by anyone, regardless of their abilities or disabilities.

Making your website accessible makes it a more interesting and rewarding experience for all involved. That increases the amount of time visitors spend digesting your material and understanding it. In other words, for your education website to flourish, you need to make sure anyone can enjoy using it. Here are some ways in which you can make your website more accessible.

Adding alternative image text

Alternative image text can, and should, be added to any image on your website. The text should briefly describe what the image depicts and, bonus tip, the image file name should contain some of the alternative text as well for a little search engine bump.

This text is used by people unable to view the image. This may be due to settings, geographic limitations or if they are visually impaired. It can be read or the computer can speak the text, allowing visitors to understand the image content. This text is also used by search engines, it allows them to understand your content better and can boost your ranking.

Using video transcripts

Video has become an essential element of any website. It’s easy to absorb sometimes complex information and can be entertaining. However, this isn’t beneficial if the person watching the video has hearing impairment.

Video transcripts are a complete text description of your video content, allowing those with hearing impairments to read what is being said. It also allows people to read the text while playing a video with the sound off. Adding both types of content is also advantageous when it comes to your website rankings.

Enlisting readable fonts

There are hundreds of fonts to choose from. However, before you pick a font for your school website, consider how easy it is to read.

This is something that is so often overlooked because, for most people, reading is so easy. However, big blocks of text can appear very different depending on the font used. In addition, when the screen is magnified, fonts don’t always appear as clear.

Take the time to evaluate your font, specifically how easy it is to read in blocks and when magnified and consider how different fonts can look online compared to printed.

Balancing contrasting colours

Colour is an essential part of any website. Your choice of colour can help your website stand out from the competition or simply make it look more attractive. In many cases, the colour scheme is chosen based on what message the brand is trying to get across. For example, earthy tones are common on environmental websites while financial advisers and mortgage brokers go for blues, the colour psychologically associated with trust.

However, introducing contrasting colours is a great way to emphasise specific sections of information and ensuring a contrast between text and background colour will help all readers see the text more easily.

Offering language translation

School websites, just like GPs and dentists, serve everyone in the community. Britain is a melting pot of cultures and ethnicities and not everyone’s first language is English. Your website should accommodate this with the inclusion of a language translator.

Originally published at https://webproeducationwebsitedesign.co.uk.

School websites often include pages and functionality that you rarely find in other industries. However, there are some common web pages which you should see on education sector websites as well, such as staff profiles. Here, we answer the most common questions about staff profiles for a website, including specific advantages for schools, colleges and universities.

What are staff profiles?

Staff profiles can be added to websites across different industries and are especially beneficial on websites within the education sector. We’ll explain why that is shortly.

A staff profile usually comprises of an image of the staff member and some text to tell the reader about them. The text used for the staff profile can be a block of text or bullet points and the text itself can either tell the reader about the individual as a professional or be more personal — or be a mix of both. In the case of schools, colleges and universities, it’s usually better to provide professional information, with a short insight into the staff member’s hobbies or personal interests.

What makes a good staff profile?

The best staff profiles include a professional photo of each staff member and this high-quality imagery should be consistent across all staff photos on your website. It comes across as messy and unprofessional to have photos of different sizes and quality for each staff member, which can happen if you allow staff members to take and submit their own photos. Moreover, the photos themselves should ideally be headshots taken by a professional photographer.

Your staff profiles should be updated frequently to reflect changes to your staff, including new staff and offboarded staff. This is something that many businesses fail to keep on top of.

Why schools should be adding staff profiles

There are many reasons why every organisation should showcase its staff members on their website. Showing the genuine faces of your staff offers assurance to website visitors. There is psychological proof that seeing the faces of the people you interact with builds trust and rapport. Moreover, telling readers about staff’s experience and accreditations is a more direct way of highlighting skills and building confidence among parents and students.

Another reason to include staff profiles is recognition. Students, and especially parents, may need to speak with staff members when they visit the school. By seeing their faces on staff profile pages, it’s easier for them to confidently identify staff and start conversations.

A third reason to include staff profile sections or a staff profile page is Google. Search engines recognise the value of staff profiles, especially those with photographs. This can help the website improve its ranking on relevant search result pages. Updating these profiles regularly can contribute to creating a more authoritative site overall.

Where do staff profiles go on a website?

Staff profiles can be placed as a section on your website’s “About” page. Alternatively, your web developer can create a specific staff profile page, which may be the better option if you have a lot of staff and don’t want the About page to become overly long. There’s no blanket right or wrong answer. Each school, college or university should decide the composition and placement of staff profiles based on their circumstances and our team can always advise.

Let us create your staff profiles

With a team of in-house creatives including web developers, professional photographers and copywriters, we can create high-quality staff profiles and add them to your education industry website.

Originally published at https://webproeducationwebsitedesign.co.uk.

Once upon a time, a school website was a static web page, or a couple of pages that included a blurb, some images of the school and maybe some images of its students partaking in events. But nowadays, a school, college or university website can — and should be — so much more. So, what makes a school website great in 2024 and what should they do? The school website revolution has already begun…

The simple stuff — navigation

The ability to navigate a school website easily and efficiently to get the information you came for cannot be underestimated. After all, it is the user experience which determines whether a website is good or bad. If your website is confusing and leads people to dead ends, don’t expect them to hang around for long. Smooth navigation is at the heart of any good web developer’s work and remains crucial whether the website is for eCommerce or a school.

Showcase your establishment

Some things never change and a school website is still very much about showcasing your education establishment, as well as its facilities, events and student achievements. But a modern school website can achieve this in a much more engaging and powerful way — far beyond a collection of photographs.

A great school website in 2024 will demonstrate all of the above with high-quality professional images, as well as videos which could even make use of drone footage. If these types of videos are added to a homepage to make a big first impression, even better. Another innovative use of videos is to create online interviews so visitors can get to know staff and student experiences.

Online portals (for staff, parents and students!)

The functionality of all websites has come on leaps and bounds in recent years and school websites don’t need to miss out. High-quality education establishment’s websites often include online portals that can only be accessed by certain individuals, such as staff, pupils and their parents. The portal could serve as the primary platform for all parties to share essential information and documentation, such as providing crucial details for parents or for coursework submission.

The dull essential stuff — compliance

Although not as exciting, it’s certainly important that school websites in 2024 are accessible to everyone and are compliant. The compliance checklist includes a wide range of topics from admissions policies to complaints procedures and requesting documentation. Not all web developers are aware of the compliance regulations that school websites need to meet, so keep this in mind when considering your next developer.

If your school wants to up its website game in 2024, book a no-obligation consultation with a friendly WEBPRO Education web developer. We work specifically in the education industry to create website solutions based on your establishment’s needs.

Originally published at https://webproeducationwebsitedesign.co.uk.

Schools, colleges and even universities find themselves at a crossroads in the modern age. Traditionally viewed as providers of knowledge, schools are now navigating a competitive environment that demands more than just academic excellence. The question can be asked: why should schools invest in marketing akin to any other business trying to be successful and grow? We have rounded up some of the best answers to this question below.

Just like businesses, you need to be seen!

Firstly, the shift in demographics and social expectations requires a strategic approach to get more students enrolled. With a myriad of choices available to students and their parents, schools must work to stand out amongst the crowd.

An effective marketing strategy can articulate the unique values, educational opportunities and distinctive offerings that set a school apart from nearby competitors, whether it be a public or private institution. It’s not just about attracting numbers, but rather, engaging a community aligned with the school’s ethos.

Furthermore, financial income is still important for any educational institution’s sustainability and ability to provide a better service for students in the future. Schools rely on steady enrolments to operate efficiently. An effective marketing strategy can lead to increased enrolments, thereby ensuring a stable revenue stream that supports infrastructure development, faculty enhancement and wider academic improvement.

But marketing isn’t always about money!

Some people may argue that education isn’t a commodity that can be sold. In other words, marketing has no place in it. However, in a competitive educational landscape, it’s not about making education sell. Instead, it’s about responsibly showcasing the unique educational experiences and opportunities a school offers. The school can be proud of its work and what it creates without having to have financial motivations behind its marketing campaigns.

Furthermore, schools can use marketing strategies as a way of staying current for the benefit of their students. By staying attuned to market trends, schools can respond to evolving demands and incorporate this into teachings.

Continuing conversations…

Investing in marketing isn’t solely about attracting new enrolments, it’s just as useful as a vehicle to retain existing students. Building a brand that students are proud to be associated with can create loyalty and strengthen the alumni network. In higher education establishments, this may even transform into the creation of education ambassadors, contributing to the ongoing successes of the school or college.

Marketing options for education providers

While traditional methods like word-of-mouth referrals remain invaluable, a comprehensive marketing strategy covers all bases. From social media campaigns, engaging website content and digital advertising to community events and partnerships, schools can reach diverse audiences and communicate their value proposition effectively.

WEBPRO Education can help all UK schools to market their services and their achievements as they wish. With industry-specific professionals on hand, we can grow your school brand together through professional marketing.

Originally published at https://webproeducationwebsitedesign.co.uk.

They say a picture paints a thousand words, so why not use images to paint a story about your school and its unique brand? Using a website gallery page, your school, college or university can promote its facilities, students, staff and events.

What is a school website gallery?

A school website gallery is a website page dedicated to images that are relevant to the school and its pupils. The best school gallery pages are organised into different topics, such as school facilities, specific events such as sports days or charity fundraisers, as well as school trips and any other noteworthy occasions. A gallery page may even include a section on staff, so that parents can put a face to a teacher and work as a sort of pre-introduction.

Whenever a school gallery page is created, using first-class and standardised images is important. You don’t want to cheapen your website, and your school’s brand, by using homemade pictures or low-quality images. You can of course use images taken by non-professionals but it is best to have these images touched up or enhanced to maintain quality, and your school’s image.

What are the benefits of having a gallery on your website?

The benefits of having a school website gallery can be broken down into three main areas. First of all, it is beneficial for students to see their school acknowledge and recognise their achievements, such as team sporting events or academic accomplishments. Secondly, it benefits parents who are considering applying to the school because this page allows them to see “inside”, including a look at facilities and the type of events the school runs and participates in.

Including a gallery page on your website also has benefits to the website itself. These pages increase website engagement and the amount of time website visitors remain on the website before leaving. This timeframe is known as the “bounce rate” and it is better for your SEO performance to extend the bounce rate as long as possible. Thus, by making your website more engaging — such as including a gallery — you can contribute to a better search engine ranking which in turn can increase website visibility and enquiries.

Important things to consider

Website pages comprised of lots of images can make two potential mistakes. They can:

• Become too cluttered and displeasing on the eye
• Slow down the website

Luckily, a competent web developer will ensure your gallery page both looks great and doesn’t slow down website loading speeds. Another key consideration is permission. You will need to collect permission from anyone who features on an image within your gallery website. Our team can help you navigate all considerations to create a multi-beneficial gallery website page.

Originally published at https://webproeducationwebsitedesign.co.uk.