Latest / Higher Ed Marketing Insider / Future-Proofing Education: AI and SEO Strategies for Universities
Transcript
- 0:00Jack: Welcome to our deep dive today into how AI and SEO are changing the landscape of higher education marketing.
- 0:07Jill: It really is a fascinating intersection to explore.
- 0:10Jack: We're going to look at how universities are using these powerful tools
- 0:13Jill: to connect with students,
- 0:15Jack: especially in this increasingly competitive digital environment.
- 0:18Jill: Right.
- 0:18Jack: So if you're involved in higher ed marketing in any way,
- 0:21Jill: pay close attention.
- 0:23Jack: This episode is for you.
- 0:24Jill: Absolutely.
- 0:24Jill: We'll
- 0:24Jack: be covering a lot of ground.
- 0:26Jill: Yes, we will.
- 0:27Jack: Looking at AI's role in student recruitment and success.
- 0:31Jack: Alongside
- 0:32Jill: all the essential SEO strategies
- 0:34Jack: that institutions are using to maximize their online visibility.
- 0:39Jill: Visibility is key.
- 0:40Jack: Let's start with a stat that I think really highlights the importance of all of this.
- 0:44Jack: Google searches for online bachelor's degrees have skyrocketed.
- 0:48Jill: They really have.
- 0:49Jack: Up by over 300 percent in recent years.
- 0:52Jill: Wow.
- 0:52Jack: Which shows the growing demand for these online programs.
- 0:55Jill: No doubt.
- 0:56Jack: And the critical need for universities to adapt their marketing strategies accordingly.
- 1:01Jill: So institutions need to make sure
- 1:03Jack: What?
- 1:04Jill: That their online programs are not just high quality.
- 1:06Jill: Right.
- 1:07Jill: But also easy to find for those who are looking for them.
- 1:09Jack: And that's where SEO becomes absolutely crucial.
- 1:12Jill: Couldn't agree more.
- 1:13Jack: One company, I think, is doing some really interesting things in the AI space.
- 1:16Jill: Interesting.
- 1:17Jack: In higher education.
- 1:18Jill: Okay.
- 1:19Jack: Is Element 451.
- 1:20Jill: Oh! Element 451.
- 1:23Jack: They recently got a big investment.
- 1:24Jack: I guess you're right.
- 1:25Jack: 175 million.
- 1:27Jack: To further develop their AI powered platform
- 1:30Jill: that focuses on
- 1:32Jack: student engagement and success.
- 1:34Jill: I'm really interested to see how that develops.
- 1:35Jack: Me too.
- 1:36Jill: Their
- 1:37Jack: bolt AI assistants are already streamlining tasks for staff and students.
- 1:42Jill: And what does that mean exactly?
- 1:44Jack: Well, It helps increase productivity and free up time for more meaningful interactions.
- 1:48Jill: I like that.
- 1:49Jack: Another cool tool they have.
- 1:51Jill: Yeah.
- 1:51Jack: Is Bolt Discovery.
- 1:53Jill: And that does what?
- 1:54Jack: Transforms university websites into interactive Q& A platforms.
- 1:58Jill: So it's AI powered search functionality.
- 2:01Jack: Exactly.
- 2:01Jill: That lets students get immediate answers.
- 2:04Jack: To their questions.
- 2:05Jill: Providing a level of support.
- 2:06Jack: Personalized support.
- 2:08Jill: That is just so hard to do.
- 2:09Jack: Especially at scale.
- 2:11Jill: I agree.
- 2:12Jack: So, that's AI.
- 2:13Jill: Mm hmm.
- 2:13Jack: Now, let's talk about SEO.
- 2:15Jill: Okay.
- 2:15Jack: As online programs become more and more popular.
- 2:18Jack: Which
- 2:18Jill: they
- 2:18Jack: are.
- 2:19Jack: Lots of institutions are ending their partnerships with what are called OPMs.
- 2:24Jill: Online Program Management Companies.
- 2:26Jack: Exactly.
- 2:27Jack: So, the big question is.
- 2:28Jill: What is it?
- 2:29Jack: How can universities keep a strong SEO presence?
- 2:32Jill: After they split with an OPM.
- 2:34Jack: Exactly.
- 2:35Jill: That's a very good question.
- 2:36Jack: Transitioning from an OPM.
- 2:38Jack: requires really careful planning.
- 2:40Jill: You can't just jump into it.
- 2:42Jack: No, because you could lose valuable SEO equity.
- 2:46Jack: Right.
- 2:46Jack: Institutions need to consider things like content ownership, migration strategies, Which
- 2:51Jill: involve
- 2:51Jack: transferring all the content Oh,
- 2:53Jill: I see.
- 2:54Jack: and redirecting URLs
- 2:55Jill: Yeah.
- 2:55Jack: back to the university's website.
- 2:57Jill: To preserve rankings.
- 2:58Jack: Exactly.
- 2:59Jill: That makes sense.
- 3:00Jack: One of the most important tactics is implementing 301 redirects.
- 3:04Jill: For old URLs.
- 3:05Jack: Yes.
- 3:06Jack: This ensures that anyone clicking an old link from the OPM site
- 3:10Jill: Will be taken.
- 3:10Jack: will be automatically redirected to the right page.
- 3:14Jill: On the university's main site.
- 3:15Jack: Yes.
- 3:16Jack: Yes.
- 3:16Jack: So you preserve SEO value that way.
- 3:18Jill: And you create a smooth user experience.
- 3:20Jack: Which is important for prospective students.
- 3:22Jill: It is.
- 3:23Jack: Another tool is Canonical Tags.
- 3:26Jill: What do those do?
- 3:27Jack: They basically tell search engines,
- 3:28Jill: Uh huh.
- 3:29Jack: which page is the primary version.
- 3:31Jill: When there are duplicate pages.
- 3:33Jack: Right.
- 3:33Jack: Which happens a lot when consolidating content from that OPM site.
- 3:37Jill: So it helps avoid confusion.
- 3:39Jack: For search engines.
- 3:40Jill: And make sure the right page shows up in search results.
- 3:42Jack: Exactly.
- 3:43Jack: So once a university has control of all the content,
- 3:46Jill: The next step is
- 3:47Jack: figuring out how to integrate it into the main website.
- 3:50Jill: In a way that's both user friendly and optimized for search engines, there are several good approaches to doing that.
- 3:57Jill: What?
- 3:57Jill: One is incorporating online programs into the existing information architecture.
- 4:03Jack: So putting them under, like, academics or programs sections?
- 4:06Jill: Right.
- 4:07Jill: To show that those online programs are a core part of the university's offerings.
- 4:12Jill: I
- 4:12Jack: see.
- 4:12Jill: Another approach,
- 4:13Jack: Yeah.
- 4:14Jill: is to create a dedicated landing page just for online programs.
- 4:18Jack: That gives prospective students a central hub
- 4:21Jill: to see all the options and
- 4:22Jack: it sends a strong signal to search engines
- 4:24Jill: that the institution is serious about online education.
- 4:27Jack: Okay, what if the institution has a really big online presence?
- 4:32Jill: Then using a subdomain might be a good strategy.
- 4:34Jack: It
- 4:36Jill: creates a dedicated space to showcase all the online programs.
- 4:40Jack: While still having a connection to the main university website.
- 4:45Jack: And I'm guessing clear navigation between the subdomain and the main site is key.
- 4:50Jill: To make sure the user experience is seamless.
- 4:52Jack: So when it comes to optimizing a website.
- 4:55Jill: For these online programs.
- 4:56Jack: Yes.
- 4:57Jack: You need to understand your audience,
- 4:59Jill: which is
- 4:59Jack: online students,
- 5:00Jill: of course,
- 5:01Jack: and keyword research is essential to figure out
- 5:04Jill: the language they use
- 5:05Jack: and the search terms they use,
- 5:06Jill: right?
- 5:07Jack: So once you have those keywords, you have
- 5:08Jill: to use them naturally
- 5:10Jack: throughout the website content
- 5:12Jill: in the metadata, the headers,
- 5:14Jack: all of that.
- 5:15Jill: To signal to search engines that you're catering to this audience.
- 5:18Jack: Yes.
- 5:19Jack: It's not enough to just attract students.
- 5:21Jill: No.
- 5:22Jill: You need to give them the information they need.
- 5:25Jack: About the programs.
- 5:26Jill: Details.
- 5:28Jill: Time to completion.
- 5:29Jill: The
- 5:29Jack: worst length.
- 5:30Jill: Start dates.
- 5:30Jack: Ethnical requirements.
- 5:31Jack: And all
- 5:32Jill: of that.
- 5:32Jill: Being transparent builds trust.
- 5:34Jack: And it helps students figure out.
- 5:36Jill: If the program's right for them.
- 5:38Jack: And don't forget to be upfront about any hybrid learning components.
- 5:41Jill: Or required in person elements.
- 5:44Jack: Students need to know exactly what they're getting into.
- 5:46Jill: And they need to know about costs.
- 5:48Jack: And financial aid.
- 5:49Jill: So provide detailed information about tuition, fees, and available resources.
- 5:54Jack: Right, because those Can really impact a student's decision.
- 5:57Jill: Think time.
- 5:59Jack: So by thoughtfully integrating that online program content
- 6:02Jill: into the main website
- 6:03Jack: and optimizing it for search engines,
- 6:05Jill: you can attract and engage all those students
- 6:07Jack: that are looking for online learning opportunities.
- 6:10Jill: And there are more and more every day.
- 6:12Jill: Now let's shift gears a little bit.
- 6:14Jill: How AI is changing the game when it comes to student retention.
- 6:17Jack: That's success.
- 6:18Jill: Yeah, because it's not just about getting students in the door.
- 6:21Jack: It's about supporting them.
- 6:22Jill: Throughout their entire educational journey.
- 6:24Jack: And making sure they succeed.
- 6:26Jill: Right.
- 6:26Jack: This is a huge issue for universities.
- 6:28Jill: I mean, retention rates are a key indicator of how well an institution is doing.
- 6:33Jack: So how can AI help with this?
- 6:36Jill: Well, AI can play a really important role in early intervention.
- 6:40Jack: What do you mean?
- 6:41Jill: AI systems can analyze all sorts of student data.
- 6:44Jack: Right.
- 6:44Jill: Grades, attendance, engagement with online platforms.
- 6:48Jack: And they do this in real time.
- 6:49Jill: To identify students who might be struggling.
- 6:52Jack: Academically.
- 6:53Jill: Or at risk of dropping out.
- 6:54Jack: So you're saying it's like an early warning system.
- 6:57Jill: For student success.
- 6:58Jack: So instead of waiting for a student to fall behind.
- 7:00Jill: You can be proactive.
- 7:02Jack: And intervene early.
- 7:03Jill: Exactly.
- 7:04Jill: Advisors or faculty can be alerted.
- 7:06Jack: And step in to help.
- 7:07Jill: And what's really interesting is that AI can help tailor those interventions.
- 7:11Jill: Of
- 7:11Jack: which students individual needs.
- 7:13Jill: That's right, AI can look at past data
- 7:16Jack: to see what's worked for similar students
- 7:18Jill: and then recommend personalized strategies.
- 7:21Jack: So, for example,
- 7:22Jill: it might suggest connecting a student with a tutor
- 7:24Jack: or giving them some extra academic resources
- 7:27Jill: or just scheduling a check in with an advisor.
- 7:29Jack: The key is getting the right support to the right student
- 7:32Jill: at the right time,
- 7:34Jack: which can be tough to do manually.
- 7:36Jill: Especially when you have a ton of students.
- 7:38Jack: Right.
- 7:38Jack: AI helps you scale those efforts.
- 7:40Jill: And provide that individual attention to everyone.
- 7:43Jack: Now, AI is also being used to create these really personalized learning experiences.
- 7:47Jill: Like, imagine having an AI tutor.
- 7:49Jack: That adapts to a student's learning style and pace.
- 7:53Jill: Exactly.
- 7:54Jill: How
- 7:54Jack: would that even work?
- 7:55Jill: Well, The AI tutor could give targeted feedback.
- 7:59Jack: Okay.
- 8:00Jill: Suggest practice problems, adjust the difficulty of the material.
- 8:03Jack: All in real time.
- 8:04Jill: So that the student is challenged but not overwhelmed.
- 8:08Jack: This could totally change online education.
- 8:11Jill: I think so too.
- 8:11Jill: Make
- 8:12Jack: it much more engaging and effective.
- 8:14Jill: Absolutely.
- 8:15Jill: And AI can also help make learning more inclusive.
- 8:17Jack: I.
- 8:18Jill: Providing support to students who might not have access to traditional support systems, like
- 8:22Jack: first generation college students,
- 8:24Jill: working adults,
- 8:25Jack: students who are just hesitant to ask for help,
- 8:27Jill: right?
- 8:28Jill: I can break down those barriers and
- 8:30Jack: offer that support discreetly and whenever they need it.
- 8:32Jill: Exactly.
- 8:33Jill: Now there's a lot of talk about a eyes.
- 8:36Jill: Roll in creating educational content
- 8:38Jack: this is where things get really interesting
- 8:40Jill: some people believe AI could completely Revolutionize how we create content
- 8:46Jack: making more efficient more personalized and more engaging
- 8:49Jill: Imagine AI that can generate custom Textbooks
- 8:53Jack: or study guides,
- 8:54Jill: even interactive simulations,
- 8:56Jack: all tailored to the specific course
- 8:58Jill: or a student's learning style,
- 9:00Jack: which could free up faculty to do other things
- 9:03Jill: like mentoring students
- 9:04Jack: or providing that personalized feedback.
- 9:06Jill: It's an exciting idea, but it also raises questions about the role of the instructor
- 9:11Jack: and the impact on the publishing industry.
- 9:13Jill: Those are valid concerns.
- 9:14Jill: We need to be thoughtful about this technology.
- 9:16Jack: We don't want to replace human educators.
- 9:18Jill: We want to find ways for AI to enhance the learning experience
- 9:22Jack: for everyone involved,
- 9:22Jill: students and instructors.
- 9:24Jack: Finding that balance is essential.
- 9:26Jill: Absolutely.
- 9:27Jill: Another practical application we're seeing right now
- 9:30Jack: of AI is chatbots.
- 9:32Jack: They're popping up on university websites all over the place.
- 9:34Jill: And they can answer tons of questions.
- 9:36Jack: Admissions, financial aid,
- 9:39Jill: And they're available 24 7.
- 9:41Jack: Which is great for students in different time zones.
- 9:43Jill: Or who are busy with other things.
- 9:45Jack: Chatbots can handle all those routine inquiries.
- 9:47Jill: That would normally flood admissions offices.
- 9:50Jack: So staff can focus on the more complex issues.
- 9:53Jill: And provide more personalized support.
- 9:55Jack: Plus, chatbots can help students through the application process.
- 9:59Jill: Make it less intimidating.
- 10:00Jack: More efficient.
- 10:01Jill: But not all chatbots are good.
- 10:03Jack: Some are kind of clunky and frustrating.
- 10:05Jill: What makes a chatbot truly effective?
- 10:08Jack: Well, it needs to be user friendly.
- 10:09Jill: Obviously.
- 10:10Jack: Provide accurate information.
- 10:11Jill: And relevant information.
- 10:14Jack: And it has to be trained on a comprehensive data set.
- 10:17Jill: Of questions and answers.
- 10:18Jill: So it
- 10:18Jack: can handle a wide range of inquiries.
- 10:20Jill: And it needs to be transparent.
- 10:22Jack: Students should know they're talking to a bot.
- 10:24Jill: Right.
- 10:25Jill: When done well.
- 10:26Jack: Chat bots can be really helpful.
- 10:28Jill: For both prospective and current students.
- 10:31Jack: AI can also play a role in student well being.
- 10:33Jill: Especially when it comes to mental health.
- 10:36Jack: Which is a growing concern on college campuses.
- 10:38Jill: AI can help identify students who might be struggling.
- 10:41Jack: And connect them with resources.
- 10:43Jack: Learn
- 10:43Jill: Some universities are even using AI powered chatbots to screen for mental health issues
- 10:48Jack: and make referrals to counseling services,
- 10:50Jill: which can be incredibly helpful
- 10:52Jack: for students who might not reach out on their own.
- 10:54Jill: Creating a safety net is essential
- 10:56Jack: so students have the support they need to succeed,
- 10:59Jill: not just academically,
- 11:01Jack: but emotionally to
- 11:03Jill: AI can also help personalize those mental health interventions.
- 11:07Jack: So like,
- 11:08Jill: imagine an app that tracks a student's mood,
- 11:11Jack: sleep patterns, social interactions,
- 11:13Jill: and then suggests coping mechanisms
- 11:15Jack: or activities
- 11:16Jill: that have helped others.
- 11:18Jack: It's like having a personal mental health coach
- 11:20Jill: right in your pocket.
- 11:21Jack: AI can make getting help so much easier
- 11:23Jill: and help destigmatize mental health issues,
- 11:26Jack: which is really important.
- 11:27Jill: It is.
- 11:28Jill: Now we need to step back and look at the bigger picture.
- 11:30Jack: The broader implications of all of this.
- 11:33Jill: AI has the potential to revolutionize education.
- 11:35Jack: How we teach, how we learn.
- 11:37Jill: How we support students.
- 11:39Jack: But it also brings up some serious questions.
- 11:41Jill: About ethics and society.
- 11:43Jack: One of the biggest concerns is data privacy.
- 11:46Jill: As AI systems collect more and more data.
- 11:48Jack: We need to make sure that data is being used responsibly.
- 11:51Jill: Transparency is crucial.
- 11:53Jack: Universities need to be upfront about how they're using AI.
- 11:56Jack: Transcribed by https: otter.
- 11:56Jack: ai
- 11:57Jill: And
- 11:58Jack: they need strong safeguards in place.
- 12:00Jill: To protect that data,
- 12:02Jack: Students should have control over their data.
- 12:04Jill: Absolutely.
- 12:05Jill: Another concern is job displacement.
- 12:08Jack: Could AI eventually replace teachers?
- 12:11Jill: It's a valid question.
- 12:12Jack: It's important to remember that AI
- 12:15Jill: It's not a replacement for human connection.
- 12:18Jack: Or empathy.
- 12:19Jill: The best agitational experiences will always involve both.
- 12:22Jack: Human and artificial intelligence.
- 12:24Jill: AI can automate tasks.
- 12:26Jack: Provide personalized support.
- 12:28Jill: Offer insights.
- 12:29Jack: But AI can't.
- 12:30Jack: It can't replace the things that make us human.
- 12:32Jill: Passion, creativity, understanding.
- 12:34Jack: It's about finding the right balance.
- 12:36Jill: Using AI's strengths while preserving the value of human interaction.
- 12:40Jill: AI is changing education.
- 12:43Jack: And it's up to us to make sure those changes are positive.
- 12:46Jill: For everyone.
- 12:47Jack: So we've talked about how AI is impacting student recruitment, student success, and the support that universities provide.
- 12:54Jack: But what about the online programs themselves?
- 12:57Jack: How might AI shape how those are designed and delivered and even experienced by students in the coming years?
- 13:03Jill: AI could really revolutionize how online programs are developed.
- 13:07Jill: Imagine an AI system that could analyze mountains of data.
- 13:10Jack: What kind of data?
- 13:11Jill: Industry trends, emerging skills, even feedback from students.
- 13:14Jack: The men.
- 13:15Jill: It could recommend updates to course content, you know, to make sure that those programs stay up to date.
- 13:20Jack: And relevant.
- 13:20Jill: And aligned with the job market, which is constantly changing.
- 13:24Jack: That would be huge for universities.
- 13:25Jill: Right.
- 13:25Jill: No more outdated textbooks or courses that don't teach the skills employers are actually looking for.
- 13:32Jack: So AI could make sure those online programs are always evolving.
- 13:36Jill: To meet everyone's needs, students, and the workforce.
- 13:39Jack: So we've talked about curriculum development.
- 13:42Jack: How about personalizing the actual learning experience?
- 13:46Jack: Within the program itself, I mean.
- 13:47Jill: AI could help create a truly adaptive learning environment.
- 13:52Jill: Imagine a platform that adjusts to each student's pace.
- 13:55Jack: And learning style.
- 13:57Jill: Yeah, and then it could recommend different things based on their progress.
- 14:00Jack: Like different learning paths?
- 14:01Jill: Different learning paths, resources, extra activities.
- 14:04Jack: So not the one size fits all approach we see so often.
- 14:07Jill: Right.
- 14:07Jill: It would be a truly customized learning journey for each student.
- 14:11Jack: That would make online learning so much more effective.
- 14:13Jill: I think so.
- 14:14Jack: We've talked about access a lot.
- 14:16Jack: Do you think AI could help expand the reach of online programs globally?
- 14:20Jill: Definitely.
- 14:21Jill: I mean, think about AI powered translation tools.
- 14:23Jill: They
- 14:23Jack: could really break down language barriers.
- 14:26Jill: Exactly.
- 14:27Jill: And then high quality education would be accessible to anyone.
- 14:30Jack: Anywhere in the world.
- 14:31Jill: It wouldn't matter what language they speak.
- 14:33Jack: Wow.
- 14:34Jack: That opens up a whole world of possibility.
- 14:37Jill: It really does.
- 14:38Jill: Students from all over could collaborate,
- 14:39Jack: learn from different perspectives,
- 14:41Jill: build global networks,
- 14:42Jack: and it would all be facilitated by AI.
- 14:44Jill: That's the future.
- 14:46Jack: Earlier, we were talking about personalized feedback.
- 14:50Jack: How do you see that evolving in online programs?
- 14:53Jill: AI can do more than just grade multiple choice quizzes.
- 14:57Jack: I'm sure it can.
- 14:58Jill: It could analyze essays, research papers, even creative projects.
- 15:01Jack: Provide feedback on all of that.
- 15:03Jill: Detailed feedback that would help students develop important skills.
- 15:07Jack: Critical thinking skills, writing skills, you name it.
- 15:09Jill: And that would free up instructors to focus on other things.
- 15:12Jack: Like leading discussions and mentoring students.
- 15:14Jack: Right.
- 15:15Jack: This is getting pretty futuristic, but could AI ever actually design entire online courses?
- 15:21Jill: It's definitely something to think about.
- 15:23Jill: As AI gets more sophisticated, it's possible that it could create entire learning experiences.
- 15:29Jack: Craft the modules, develop assessments.
- 15:32Jill: All tailored to specific learning objectives.
- 15:34Jack: And student profiles.
- 15:35Jack: That's right.
- 15:36Jack: It's exciting.
- 15:37Jack: But it also raises questions.
- 15:38Jill: Of course.
- 15:39Jill: Who controls the AI?
- 15:40Jill: What biases are built into it?
- 15:42Jill: How do we make sure human educators are still guiding everything?
- 15:46Jack: So it's really important to have a collaborative approach.
- 15:49Jill: Absolutely.
- 15:50Jill: Human intelligence working with artificial intelligence.
- 15:53Jack: And that's really been the theme.
- 15:54Jack: Throughout our deep dive today,
- 15:56Jill: AI can enhance what we do, not replace us.
- 16:00Jill: The
- 16:00Jack: best learning experiences will use both
- 16:02Jill: human interaction and AI tools,
- 16:04Jack: working together to create truly engaging and impactful learning environments.
- 16:09Jack: It's
- 16:09Jill: been a great discussion.
- 16:10Jack: It has.
- 16:10Jack: So for everyone listening, the big takeaway here is to stay informed, ask questions, and be a part of shaping how AI is used in education.
- 16:20Jill: The future of learning is being written right now.
- 16:22Jill: Engage in the conversation and help make sure AI is used to create a better educational experience for everyone.