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Internet Marketing Blog Posts by Ren Horst 
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Higher Education AI Search Strategy: What Students Expect vs. How Institutions Must Adapt
Key Insights Students have shifted how they search. Prospective learners now use AI tools alongside traditional search, making structured, consistent program information essential for visibility. Institutional readiness lags student behavior. Many colleges recognize the influence of AI search but still lack the systems and processes to monitor and improve their …
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Search Influence to Share AI Search Strategies for Higher Education at MEMS 2025
As AI continues to redefine how students search for and engage with academic programs, marketers are rethinking how they track, measure, and optimize online visibility. This December, Search Influence will share actionable AI search strategies for higher education at the 2025 UPCEA Marketing, Enrollment Management, and Student Success (MEMS) Conference, …
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UPCEA Guest Blog: Paula French on AI Search Trends in Higher Education
When prospective students begin researching programs, their first stop may no longer be your website…. or even Google. Many now use generative AI platforms like ChatGPT, Gemini, and Perplexity to ask questions, compare options, and find fast answers. These tools influence what students see, what they trust, and which institutions …
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[Search Influence x UPCEA] Unpacking New Research on AI Search in Higher Education
This blog post was updated by Ren Horst on November 4, 2025 following the webinar event. 50% of prospective students use AI tools at least weekly to research information online. 79% read Google’s AI Overviews, and more than half say they’re more likely to trust the institutions AI cites. These …
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Search Influence to Present on AI Search in Higher Education at AMA Symposium 2025
AI-driven discovery is rewriting the rules of visibility for universities. As prospective students increasingly rely on tools like Google’s AI Overviews, ChatGPT, and Perplexity, the traditional SEO playbook is no longer enough. The next era of visibility requires a strategy built for recognition and trust within AI ecosystems, not just …
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Will Scott to Lead Generative Engine Optimization Master Class on October 7
Search is no longer limited to ten blue organic links. Today, platforms like Google AI Overviews, ChatGPT, and Perplexity generate direct answers that change how people discover information. If your content isn’t optimized for these generative engines, you risk being left out of the results entirely. On October 7, 2025 …
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UPCEA Guest Blog: Alison Zeringue on Using SEO + PPC in Higher Ed Marketing
Table of Contents Reaching Students in a Fragmented Search Landscape Building an Integrated Strategy That Drives Results Take the Next Step: Build a Smarter Enrollment Funnel Search Influence’s Director of Account Management, Alison Zeringue, is helping higher education marketers rethink their digital strategies in her latest UPCEA guest post: “Digital …
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SMX Advanced Boston Session: Will Scott on “5 Key Insights for Mastering Generative Engine Optimization”
This past June, Search Influence Co-Founder and CEO Will Scott attended SMX Advanced Boston to speak on one of the most pressing topics in digital marketing today: Generative Engine Optimization (GEO). His session, “5 Key Insights for Mastering Generative Engine Optimization,” took place on Friday, June 13, from 1:45 to …
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UPCEA Webinar Top Takeaways: SEO for AI Search
\This post was updated by Ren Horst on 05/01/2025 after the webinar took place. It was originally published on 04/02/2025. Key Insights AI is driving a shift toward instant answers, changing how online content is found and reducing the need to click through to webpages. To compete, your content must …
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UPCEA Guest Blog: Paula French Analyzes the Latest SEO Trends in Higher Ed
Search is evolving fast. Is your institution keeping up? In her latest guest blog for UPCEA, “Higher Ed SEO Trends to Stay Competitive,” Search Influence’s Director of Sales and Marketing, Paula French, breaks down four key trends redefining SEO in higher education. She explores how AI Overviews are lowering organic …
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