How can digital marketing help educational institutions?

Digital marketing helps schools and universities attract prospective students, engage parents, promote open days, showcase achievements, build reputation, and communicate effectively with their community.

What social media platforms should schools use?

Schools should use Facebook for parent communication, Instagram for showcasing student life and achievements, LinkedIn for alumni and partnerships, and potentially TikTok for engaging younger audiences.

How do universities attract more students?

Universities attract students through targeted advertising, SEO for course searches, virtual open days, student testimonials, campus life content, and personalised email campaigns for prospective applicants.

Should schools invest in paid advertising?

Yes, paid advertising is effective for promoting open days, sixth form recruitment, specific courses, and reaching parents and students during key decision-making periods in the academic calendar.

How can schools improve their online reputation?

Improve reputation through regular positive content, showcasing achievements and student success, responding to reviews professionally, engaging with community, and maintaining an informative, up-to-date website.

Digital Marketing for Education (Schools, Colleges & Universities)

Featured Case Study

RISK MANAGEMENT SECURITY SERVICES

Security Co. Achieve 616% of a Potential 6900% ROI on their Digital Marketing Investment

Even a titan of commercial and domestic security services like RISK (Est. 1976) encounter digital challenges. When lesser-qualified rivals began encroaching on their territory back in 2015 they needed to bring in the Big Guns. We armed them with a powerful digital offensive, and a decade later, we're still keeping them one-step ahead online. This year we recorded a staggering 616% ROI and TOTAL digital supremacy. Discover the strategy behind the ongoing victory.

600%

ACTUAL ROI (YOY)

500+

KEY PAGE 1 RANKINGS

6900%

POTENTIAL ROI (YOY)

OUR SERVICES

When families or students compare institutions, your online presence can be the deciding factor. Our services are designed to position your school, college, or university as the clear first choice, both locally and globally.

Search Engine Optimisation (SEO)

Our SEO strategies for educational institutions are designed to increase your visibility for high-value search terms such as best primary schools in , top business degree UK, or engineering courses near me. We begin by carrying out in-depth keyword research to understand what your target audience is searching for and how they phrase their queries. We then optimise your site’s structure, on-page content, and technical elements so search engines can better understand and rank your pages.

We also create targeted landing pages for specific programmes, locations, and audience segments, allowing you to capture a wider variety of searches. Local SEO is crucial for schools and colleges, ensuring you appear in the local map pack, while international SEO helps universities tap into overseas student markets. Ongoing link-building and content publishing help maintain and improve your rankings over time.

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PPC Advertising

PPC campaigns allow you to reach high-intent audiences almost instantly. We design and manage campaigns on Google Search, Display, and YouTube to promote specific courses, events, or application deadlines.

By refining targeting based on geography, demographics, and user intent, we ensure your ad budget is spent attracting the right type of applicants. We also run remarketing campaigns to re-engage website visitors who didn’t convert the first time, keeping your institution top of mind until they’re ready to apply.

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Content Marketing

A strong content marketing plan positions your institution as both credible and inspiring. We create content that speaks directly to your audience’s goals and concerns, from blog articles on career outcomes, to student testimonial videos, to virtual open day guides.

By showcasing your facilities, staff expertise, and student achievements, we help your institution stand out as the best choice in a crowded field. This content also fuels your SEO strategy, providing search engines with fresh, relevant material to index.

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Email Marketing and Automation for Trades

Email Marketing & Automation

Email is one of the most effective tools for nurturing relationships with prospective students, current enquirers, and alumni. We design segmented campaigns that speak to each group’s needs, from sending tailored course information to prospective students, to sharing success stories with alumni.

Automated sequences ensure no lead is left behind. For example, after a student downloads a prospectus, they might receive a series of emails introducing them to campus life, explaining the application process, and inviting them to an open day.

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Website Design & Optimisation

Your website is your institution’s digital front door. We design and optimise sites to be visually appealing, easy to navigate, and conversion-focused. This includes clear calls to action, fast load times, and mobile-friendly layouts so families and students can explore your offerings on any device.

We also integrate tools such as enquiry forms, chatbots, and online application portals to make taking the next step effortless. Analytics tracking helps us measure performance and continually improve user experience.

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Our REVIEWS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES

5.0

Based on 108 reviews

Pablo D

16:07 23 Dec 25

I've been working with Big Gun for 12 months and they've been a reliable partner to our marketing team. Thank you all for your support this year, especially Tom, LukeF, LukeN and Rebecca. Looking forward to continuing our growth together.

Yashna Abhol

17:10 17 Dec 25

Big Gun Digital and Rebecca are incredibly helpful, responsive, and a pleasure to work with. They’ve supported us across multiple ad hoc projects and consistently delivered brilliant content with impressively quick turnaround times. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend them.

Ashley Wilson

10:29 28 Nov 25

Over the past 8 years, we've thoroughly enjoyed partnering with Big Gun Digital – the team is consistently responsive, helpful, and always on hand when we need them. Most recently, Luke and everyone involved delivered an outstanding job on our brand-new website, seamlessly managing the whole project from start to finish and keeping everything on track. Since taking over as our account manager, Zoe has been fantastic – proactive, clear in her communication, and incredibly supportive. A huge thank you to the entire team!

Digital Marketing for Education (Schools, Colleges & Universities) FAQs

How can digital marketing help educational institutions?

Digital marketing helps schools and universities attract prospective students, engage parents, promote open days, showcase achievements, build reputation, and communicate effectively with their community.
What social media platforms should schools use?

Schools should use Facebook for parent communication, Instagram for showcasing student life and achievements, LinkedIn for alumni and partnerships, and potentially TikTok for engaging younger audiences.
How do universities attract more students?

Universities attract students through targeted advertising, SEO for course searches, virtual open days, student testimonials, campus life content, and personalised email campaigns for prospective applicants.
Should schools invest in paid advertising?

Yes, paid advertising is effective for promoting open days, sixth form recruitment, specific courses, and reaching parents and students during key decision-making periods in the academic calendar.
How can schools improve their online reputation?

Improve reputation through regular positive content, showcasing achievements and student success, responding to reviews professionally, engaging with community, and maintaining an informative, up-to-date website.

Strategy Hours	Up to 8 Hours
SEO
Paid Advertising
Social Media
Email Marketing
BigTime App
Meetings	Quarterly
Reporting	Standard
Turnaround Time	5 Working Days
Expected Impact

Strategy Hours	Up to 15 Hours
SEO
Paid Advertising
Social Media
Email Marketing
BigTime App
Meetings	Bi-Monthly
Reporting	Detailed
Turnaround Time	3 Working Days
Expected Impact

Strategy Hours
SEO
Paid Advertising
Social Media
Email Marketing
BigTime App
Meetings	Monthly
Reporting	Bespoke
Turnaround Time	1 Working Day
Expected Impact