The year 2023 is here and now’s a great time to start planning ahead for the marketing and technology trends that are likely to emerge over the next few years. While it’s impossible to predict exactly what the industry will look like three years from now, there are some trends that are likely to have an impact on international education in 2023.
Let’s take a closer look at these emerging trends.
📋 Table of content
Micro-influencers
The days of large influencers with millions of followers dominating social media platforms may soon come to an end.
In their place, micro-influencers that specialize in niche topics such as travel and education could gain even more traction with target audiences than traditional influencers due to their more intimate connection with their followers.
Asking them to share user-generated content about their experience with your business or even their destination’s culture and features can prove beneficial for international education agencies and educators looking for ways to reach new audiences and increase their client base.
If you identify a student that has potential as a micro-influencer, consider collaborating on a campaign or offering them something in exchange for Instagram stories or posts.
Working with micro-influencers is also budget-friendly! According to a survey by Influency.me 50% of brands had an annual budget at or below 10k USD for hiring micro-influencers - which means access to great marketing at lower price points!
Content marketing
Content marketing remains one of the most powerful tools available for international education agencies and educators looking to reach prospective students and build relationships with them over time.
Content like text, design, presentations, videos, podcasts and many others can be used on social media platforms, websites, emails, and other channels as a way of engaging with prospective students through thoughtful stories about student life or helpful advice about studying abroad.
Try to be creative and create content that really brings value to your potential students.
Virtual reality and augmented reality
Virtual reality (VR) technology has been around since the mid-1990s, but it hasn’t really taken off until recently.
Augmented reality (AR) has become increasingly popular over the past few years, and its use is only expected to grow.
In 2023 we expect to see VR and AR become mainstream, with more businesses using these technologies to offer immersive experiences for customers.
International education agencies and educators can use VR and AR as a way to provide immersive experiences for prospective students—enabling them to explore different campuses or educational programs without leaving their homes!
This could prove especially useful during times when travel restrictions prevent students from visiting campuses or attending events in person.
Automation tools
Automation tools are becoming increasingly popular in marketing due to their ability to save time and money while still delivering great results quickly and efficiently.
These tools can be used for automating routine tasks like data analysis, creating personalized campaigns, and tracking sales performance metrics across multiple channels.
If you repeat a task more than once, ask yourself if you can automate it, there are multiple tools out there that can help you with this task, our favorite at Edvisor is Zapier!
Ecommerce
By using interactive tools that enable students to view different education options, play with the number of weeks for the desired programs and courses, see the different accommodations available, and view different pricing points for their selections, international education agencies and educators can also take advantage of online selling.
Agents and educators could soon see tools like this available in the market and gain access to an unprecedented level of consumer engagement through ecommerce tools for the online selling of education (🤭stay tunned for our upcoming releases)!
Live video streaming
Live video streaming has become increasingly popular over the past few years, particularly among Millennials and Generation Zers who prefer watching live videos instead of pre-recorded ones because they feel more connected with the content creator in real time.
International education agencies and educators should consider leveraging this trend. Hosting live Q&A sessions with current students or faculty members on different social platforms, like Instagram Live or YouTube Live, can help prospective students feel like they’re getting a true glimpse into education life before committing themselves fully to studying abroad.
Social media
Despite all of the new technologies emerging every year, social media remains one of the most important channels for advertising and reaching potential students and international education clients worldwide–and this isn’t likely to change anytime soon!
Having an effective social media strategy is key for any successful agency or educator in 2023 and onward. Even though Facebook, YouTube, and Whatsapp are still the largest platforms it is important to stay up-to-date on the new social platforms fighting for the #1 position.
Here are some trends to look out for:
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The continued growth of short-form video content, such as TikTok and Instagram Reels, as well as live streaming across platforms.
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Authenticity is a clear winner. Being authentic on social platforms and having a recognizable brand personality are important.
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Highly designed and heavily edited content is no longer the top priority, the days of aggressive, brand-focused promotions on social media are over.
Personalization
As students become more discerning, education agencies and educators will need to tailor their marketing efforts to the individual needs and preferences of their target audience. This could include a customer-focused website with customized product recommendations, personalized email campaigns, or targeted ads.
Live chat and chatbots
Live chat allows businesses to provide real-time customer service and support to their audience, which can help to improve customer satisfaction and build trust.
Chatbots are also becoming increasingly popular for businesses looking to provide quick and efficient customer service through the application of artificial intelligence technology.
It is important to plan and ensure the messaging and support process are keeping the customer journey top-of-mind to avoid not meeting customer expectations.
Authenticity
Keeping an authentic brand presence is not only important in social media marketing, but it is also key in every aspect of the commercial strategy.
Consumers are becoming increasingly skeptical of traditional advertising methods and seeking out authentic and transparent information about products and services.
As Millennials and Gen Z become the more prominent consumers of today’s economy and are the most connected in history, it is important to be authentic and maintain a strong digital presence in order to appeal to this customer base. Read this article to learn about the 5 golden marketing keys for success in the international education industry.
The world moves quickly these days - especially when it comes to technology - and predicting what will be popular three years from now can seem daunting at times! However, by keeping an eye out for potential trends such as AI-powered chatbots, micro-influencers, augmented reality (AR), content marketing, live video streaming and others, you'll be well prepared when these trends become mainstream in 2023 and years to come! By staying ahead of the curve you can ensure your international education marketing efforts remain effective long into the future!
