5 Reasons Why Instagram is Essential to Your international Student Marketing & Recruitment Strategy
Are you utilising Instagram to its full potential in your international student recruitment marketing strategy? We’re huge fans of Instagram for many reasons, but especially for how powerfully it can bolster your international marketing efforts.
Maybe you’re not sure what that looks like so, if it’s not something you’re currently leveraging, here are just five of the many reasons why you SHOULD!
World Map monochrome
It can showcase what everyday life is like at your school
International students aren’t just being sent to your school for education alone – they’re going to experience an entirely different lifestyle as a boarder abroad. They may be away from their family and their home country for the first time in their lives, and it’s hugely important before committing to this that parents and students are able to get a flavour of what everyday life looks like at your school.
For international students and their parents, who may not have a chance to visit in person (or, at least, will need to determine which schools are on their shortlist before they do travel to go on any tours), Instagram is an invaluable way to showcase boarding life: What activities do you have for boarders at the weekends? What do the houses look like? Are there other international students studying there?
It helps you showcase your USPs in a highly competitive environment
The UK has many well-established, internationally-renowned boarding schools. Remember that, particularly when you’re marketing to an international audience, you need to demonstrate how your school is the right choice over those which might be better-known. Appeal to your school’s key strengths, dependent on which would resonate most within your chosen overseas target market. This is your cue to play on your unique selling points, and Instagram is the perfect platform to showcase what’s unique about your school – whether that’s your history, location, facilities, activities, partnerships with the local community, school traditions, scholarships or academic results.
Two male students smiling at school
The visual impact of Instagram marketing can cross language barriers
They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and this is why Instagram can be such a powerful tool. Some of your prospective students and their parents may speak English as a second language, and being able to relate to your school through visual marketing, instead of relying solely on the written word, can be invaluable in building brand awareness and engagement with an international audience.
Instagram can help build brand loyalty in those who have never been to see it in person
If you’ve ever purchased a product from an online-only retailer, you’ll probably be aware of the importance of social media in building awareness and loyalty. Instead of visiting a physical storefront to make your purchase, you’ve researched the product and brands online, possibly followed the company on social media or signed up to a newsletter – you may even have discovered the brand on social media to begin with.
Instagram’s interactive marketing opportunities can help bridge geographical gaps
One of THE biggest reasons. While a website allows prospective students and parents to make an enquiry, there isn’t really the interactive element that exists on Instagram. Social media allows prospective parents to interact with your content before they’re ready to make a formal enquiry through your website. By liking and commenting on your posts and stories, asking questions and even interacting with existing students and parents on your social media account, prospective students and parents are getting a much better feel for your school than they would from static web pages.
Instagram Live can also be an easy, informal way to run Q&A sessions for parents in a variety of locations. Seize any opportunity that enables you to interact with your international audience—building connections is a key prerequisite to increasing enrolments.
So, if you weren’t convinced before…hopefully this inspires you to utilise Instagram in the ways outlined above – and beyond: to build brand awareness, encourage engagement, establish connections and, ultimately, boost international student enrolments for your school.
If you’re not sure how to start, follow us on Instagram for inspiration. Please also feel free to download our free Instagram Reels guide!
Or, if you’d really like to stop just posting on Instagram, and really begin maximising its reach and marketing potential, we offer a range of courses to transform the way you use Instagram to market your school. So, what are you waiting for?!