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90+ Higher Education Marketing Stats [2026]
This post was updated by Paula French on 12/23/2025 to reflect current best practices. It was originally published on 1/9/2025. Higher education marketers face more pressure to compete than ever before. From the demographic cliff and evolving modern learner to the rise of AI-driven program discovery, institutions must pay close …
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Search Influence Named a Finalist for Best SEO Campaign at the 2025 US Agency Awards
We’re excited to share that Search Influence has been named a Finalist in the Best SEO Campaign category at the 2025 US Agency Awards for our AI-driven campaign, The Art of AI SEO, created in partnership with Maine College of Art & Design (MECA&D). This recognition marks our second consecutive …
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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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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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Higher Education SEO Checklist for Nontraditional Programs
Key Insights Nontraditional programs are driving enrollment growth. These offerings now provide working adults and lifelong learners with accessible routes to advance their skills and careers. Your real competition isn’t just other universities. Private bootcamps, online platforms, and credentialing providers are dominating search results and targeting the same students you …
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Higher Education Marketing Strategies: Align SEO & Paid Ads for Smarter Results
Key Insights The modern student journey is multi-channel: Your marketing efforts must span search engines, social platforms, and AI tools. SEO builds long-term visibility: SEO is a key strategy for sustaining awareness and reducing overall acquisition costs over time. Digital ads deliver speed and precision: Paid ad placements boost visibility …
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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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How to Market Microcredentials for Maximum Program Visibility
Key Insights Microcredentials are on the rise as adult learners, career changers, and working professionals seek faster, more affordable ways to gain in-demand skills. Unlike traditional degrees, microcredential enrollment funnels are short, fast-moving, and often self-directed. Learners may enroll within days, not months. Messaging that resonates with microcredential audiences emphasizes …
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