Marketing a college or university in 2025 isn’t the same as it used to be. From new tech tools to better ways of talking to students, schools are changing how they market. This blog roundup gathers some of the freshest ideas from top voices in higher ed marketing. Whether it’s boosting enrollment, updating websites, or getting creative with ads, there’s a lot to learn—and plenty to rethink.
Listen to this RoundUp as a Podcast:
Table of Contents
- 2025 Social Media Playbook for Education Marketers
- Plan Your Redesign Like a Pro with the Right CMS Strategy
- The Next Big Growth Engine: SEO for OPMS in 2025
- Want to Get Students’ Attention? Start Where They’re Already Looking
- Anatomy of Effective Creative Ads in Higher Ed
- Unlock Your Enrollment Potential: Real Strategies for Real Results – We’re in This Together
- Stop Marketing to Yesterday’s Students: A New Era for Higher Ed
- Wrapping It Up
5 Common Takeaways in Higher Ed Marketing
- Know Your Audience
Success starts with understanding who you’re trying to reach. From social content to ad copy, marketers are focusing on what students care about. - Use Social Media Smartly
Social platforms like Instagram and LinkedIn aren’t just for brand awareness—they’re where real conversations happen with students and prospects. - Invest in SEO and Website Strategy
Schools are putting more energy into organic search and improving their websites, not just for design but also for better search visibility and user experience. - Personalize Outreach with Data
From emails to ad targeting, data is driving better, more personalized communication that matches student needs and behavior. - Teamwork Makes the Difference
Collaboration across departments and with outside partners is a key part of the most successful campaigns, helping ideas get executed well and on time.
5 Controversial Ideas Challenging the Norm
- Traditional Marketing Is Failing
Some experts argue that old-school marketing tactics don’t work anymore and need to be completely replaced. - Higher Ed Needs to Think Like a Business
Marketing leaders are pushing institutions to treat enrollment growth like sales pipelines, which not everyone agrees with. - Social Media Should Be Used for Learning, Not Just Promotion
More educators are using platforms like TikTok and Instagram for teaching, which sparks debate on mixing education with entertainment. - Outsourcing Strategy to Agencies Isn’t Always Best
While partnerships are popular, some critics believe schools lean too hard on agencies instead of building in-house talent. - SEO Is the Top Priority—Over Paid Ads
Some suggest SEO should come first for growth, even ahead of digital ad spend, which many see as risky or short-sighted.
2025 Social Media Playbook for Education Marketers
Diana Salazar
https://www.higher-education-marketing.com/blog/social-media-playbook-for-education-marketers
🗓️ 2025-04-30
Synopsis
- Discusses the use of social media in education marketing.
- Highlights the importance of a social media strategy for reaching prospective students.
- Provides tips and best practices for education marketers to maximize the effectiveness of their social media efforts.
Background Resources
- Blog post: The Importance of Social Media for Higher Ed Marketing
- Webinar: Social Media Strategy for Education Marketers
Noteworthy Positions
- Understand your audience and tailor content accordingly.
- Use social listening tools to track trends.
- Experiment with different content types and platforms.
Key Takeaways
- Plan social media carefully to reach and engage prospective students.
- Know your audience and tailor content.
- Use social listening to stay updated.
- Try different content and platforms to find what works.
Tweet
💡🎓✨ Maximize social media in education marketing: know your audience, listen actively, and test content to see what sticks! #EducationMarketing #SocialMediaStrategy
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3 Strategic Actions to Support Graduate Enrollment in Today’s Policy Landscape
@EAB
🗓️ 2025-04-30
Synopsis
- Strengthen employer partnerships.
- Diversify recruitment with incentives.
- Expand access through technology.
- Respond to policy challenges with strategy.
Key Takeaways
- Align programs with workforce needs.
- Recruit underrepresented groups.
- Offer flexible online learning.
- Act strategically to support enrollment.
Tweet
🎓💼 Want to grow grad enrollment? Focus on employer partnerships, diverse recruitment, and tech-enabled learning to stay ahead. #HigherEd #GraduateEnrollment
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Plan Your Redesign Like a Pro with the Right CMS Strategy
hannonhill.com
https://www.hannonhill.com/blog/2025/plan-your-redesign-like-a-pro-with-the-right-cms-strategy.html
🗓️ 2025-04-29
Synopsis
- Redesigns need a solid CMS strategy.
- Steps: audit content, identify personas, set goals.
- Align CMS with business goals.
- Involve stakeholders.
- Test early, optimize continuously.
Key Takeaways
- A strong CMS strategy guides successful redesigns.
- Use audience insights to inform decisions.
- Test early and improve continuously.
Tweet
🎨🖥️ Redesigning your website? Start with a strong CMS strategy! Align with goals, engage stakeholders & test early for a better UX. #WebsiteRedesign #CMS #UX
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The Next Big Growth Engine: SEO for OPMS in 2025
Granit Doshlaku
https://www.manaferra.com/seo-next-big-growth-engine-opms-2025/
🗓️ 2025-04-29
Synopsis
- SEO is growing fast for Online Program Management Systems.
- Focus areas: keywords, on-page, tech SEO, and links.
- Create content that fits user intent.
- Embrace voice search and AI trends.
Noteworthy Positions
- SERP visibility is vital.
- Analytics integration improves strategy.
Key Takeaways
- SEO brings growth to OPMS.
- Strong content and search visibility matter.
- Use data and tools to optimize results.
Tweet
📈💻 Win at Online Program Management with SEO! Optimize your site, create strong content & track behavior to boost visibility and enrollments. #SEOforOPMS #GrowthEngine
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Want to Get Students’ Attention? Start Where They’re Already Looking
Lesley Delchamps
🗓️ 2025-04-28
Synopsis
- Students are active on social media.
- Educators can use it for communication and learning.
- Real examples show success with social tools.
- Keep privacy and ethics in mind.
Key Takeaways
- Social media helps connect with students.
- Use it to support learning.
- Maintain ethical standards.
Tweet
📱 Want student engagement? Meet them where they are—on social! 👌 Platforms like Instagram & Facebook make learning more relevant and fun. 🎓 #SocialMediaInEducation
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Anatomy of Effective Creative Ads in Higher Ed
Jaxon Nilsson
https://www.nextgrad.com/anatomy-of-effective-creative-ads-in-higher-ed/
🗓️ 2025-04-28
Synopsis
- Understand the target audience.
- Use emotion and storytelling.
- Strong visuals and headlines grab attention.
- Concise messages lead to clear calls to action.
Key Takeaways
- Know your audience.
- Use authentic visuals and emotional storytelling.
- Keep messaging short and focused.
Tweet
🎓🎥📣 Understanding the target audience, storytelling & powerful visuals are key to effective creative ads in higher education. #HigherEdAds #CreativeMarketing
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From Strategy to Spotlight: RNL Partner Campaigns Setting the Gold Standard
Ruffalo Noel Levitz
🗓️ 2025-04-27
Synopsis
- RNL runs successful enrollment campaigns with partners.
- Focus: digital ads, search, personalized comms.
- Data and teamwork drive performance.
Key Takeaways
- Strong partnerships boost enrollment success.
- Personalization and data analysis lead the way.
- Berry College example shows major impact.
Tweet
🏋 RNL partner campaigns set the gold standard in enrollment—blending innovation, personalization & data-driven insight to drive results. 🚀🎯 #EnrollmentStrategies #HigherEdSuccess
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Unlock Your Enrollment Potential: Real Strategies for Real Results – We’re in This Together
Ken Huus
🗓️ 2025-04-27
Synopsis
- Collaboration and teamwork matter.
- Use data and technology.
- Focus on student needs.
- Partner with external resources when needed.
Key Takeaways
- Work together across departments.
- Let data guide your actions.
- Use tech and automation for better results.
Tweet
Unlock your enrollment potential with real strategy & teamwork! 🚀🎓 Use data, personalize outreach, and embrace tech to win. Adapt. Innovate. Succeed. #EnrollmentManagement
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LinkedIn Boosted Posts: A Powerful Tool to Enhance Your Marketing Strategy
Haley Mattera
https://www.carnegiehighered.com/blog/linkedin-boosted-posts
🗓️ 2025-04-24
Synopsis
- Boosted posts on LinkedIn increase visibility.
- Choose an audience, set a budget, track results.
- Use analytics to measure success.
- Test different versions of posts.
Noteworthy Positions
- Boosted posts build credibility and reach the right people.
Key Takeaways
- LinkedIn boosting drives traffic and leads.
- Target precisely and analyze results.
- Show thought leadership and brand value.
Tweet
📣 Boost your marketing strategy with LinkedIn Boosted Posts! 🚀 Enhance visibility, engage your audience, and drive traffic to your brand. #LinkedInMarketing #BoostedPosts
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Stop Marketing to Yesterday’s Students: A New Era for Higher Ed
🗓️ 2025-04-24
Synopsis
- Old tactics don’t work like they used to.
- Use personalization, data, and digital marketing.
- Build inclusive and accessible online spaces.
Noteworthy Positions
- Personalization outperforms one-size-fits-all marketing.
- Tech and data are non-negotiable.
Key Takeaways
- Update your strategy to stay relevant.
- Focus on student needs and preferences.
- Learn from what’s working at other schools.
Tweet
🎓🚀 To reach today’s students, higher ed must evolve: personalization, tech adoption & data-driven insights are no longer optional—they’re essential. 💡 #HigherEdMarketing
Wrapping It Up
Higher ed marketing is changing fast. The ideas shared across these blogs show how schools can connect with today’s students in better, smarter ways. The biggest wins come from trying new things, working together, and letting real data shape the message.
