Harnessing the power of OOH for university marketing

Both university marketing and higher education as a whole are hugely competitive industries. Not only are students competing with each other to land places on the courses that will help them achieve their dreams, but universities themselves are competing to be the place that can make those dreams come true. As a result, universities are constantly seeking innovative ways to engage with prospective students and their families.

Out-of-Home (OOH) and Digital Out-of-Home (DOOH) advertising are innovative tools for universities, providing dynamic and visually impactful platforms to communicate everything from courses to campus culture. This blog explores the role of OOH in higher education marketing, the strategies that make it successful, and how to integrate it seamlessly into your overall campaign strategy.

The role of OOH in university marketing

OOH advertising offers universities the opportunity to communicate with diverse audiences in everyday settings. It allows institutions to create memorable campaigns that capture attention in the real world, not just online. When it comes to university student recruitment, the reality is that potential students can be found in a wide variety of places, as people attend university at a range of different ages, and are often willing to travel beyond the area in which they live.

Expanding awareness and visibility

OOH helps universities extend their reach far beyond campus grounds. By strategically placing advertisements in high-traffic areas such as transport hubs and city centres, universities can raise their profile and attract the attention of potential applicants.

For example, a university billboard at a busy train station can become a daily reminder for commuters, embedding the institution in the minds of both students and parents. High-visibility campaigns also play a key role in reinforcing brand recognition, ensuring your university stands out from the competition.

Supporting student recruitment efforts

OOH campaigns are particularly effective as part of student recruitment strategies, such as in the run-up to open days, clearing, or application deadlines. With concise messaging and visually engaging design, these campaigns can guide students to your website, event registration, or application portal. They’re also a great way to reach international students, with placements near airports or major travel hubs.

Choosing the right OOH formats

Selecting the appropriate OOH format for your campaign is essential to achieving your goals. Each format offers unique advantages that can be tailored to suit your message and audience.

Billboards

Billboards are one of the most recognisable forms of OOH advertising. With their large format and ability to dominate the visual landscape, they’re ideal for bold, eye-catching university marketing campaigns. Universities can use billboards to promote their brand, highlight key programmes, or announce open days.

Digital OOH (DOOH)

DOOH takes traditional advertising to the next level by allowing for dynamic, programmatic and interactive content. Placing digital screens in high-traffic areas enables universities to showcase video testimonials, real-time updates, or multiple campaign messages in a single location. DOOH is perfect for delivering engaging, multi-faceted content that can adapt to different audiences and times of day, giving student recruitment strategies an element of versatility.

Street furniture and posters

For a more localised approach, street furniture such as bus stops and posters offer an effective way to connect with audiences in specific areas. These formats work particularly well for targeting students in nearby schools or local communities. Posters placed around popular venues or commuter routes can complement larger campaigns by reinforcing your messaging.

Developing engaging OOH content

Content is the cornerstone of any successful OOH campaign. Universities must create ads that resonate with their audience, and reflect their unique identity.

Emphasising campus culture

Students are drawn to institutions where they can see themselves thriving. Use your OOH campaign to showcase the spirit of your campus, whether that’s through photos of state-of-the-art facilities or quotes from current students. Capturing the essence of your university helps create an emotional connection with prospective students, and is key to university student recruitment.

Visual storytelling

OOH lends itself to storytelling through imagery and design. For instance, a series of posters could tell the journey of a student, following them from enrollment to graduation, highlighting their pivotal experiences along the way. With high-impact visuals and concise copy, you can communicate your message quickly and effectively.

Using dynamic content with DOOH

DOOH allows for unparalleled creativity. Imagine a campaign that changes based on the time of day, displaying different messages for commuters in the morning and students in the afternoon. Or use real-time updates to showcase the countdown to an open day or application deadline. Dynamic content ensures your message remains fresh and engaging, and gives you total control over your campaign.

Reaching your ideal student demographic

OOH campaigns are most effective when they are targeted. University student recruitment strategies can benefit from OOH’s flexibility when trying to connect with the right people at the right time.

Local and regional targeting

Geographic targeting is key to reaching students who are likely to consider your university. Whether you’re focusing on a specific city, region, or international market, strategic placement ensures your ads are seen by the audiences most relevant to your campaign.

Reaching parents and guardians

Parents and guardians play a significant role in the decision-making process. OOH campaigns placed near family-oriented locations, such as shopping centres, supermarkets, or commuter routes, can deliver tailored messages that address their concerns and aspirations for their children.

Evaluating the impact of your OOH advertising

Launching a successful campaign doesn’t mean dusting off your hands and saying the job is done once your ads are placed. Measuring performance is essential for understanding your return on investment and refining future university marketing strategies.

Metrics to monitor

Trackable QR codes, website visits, and social media mentions are just a few of the metrics you can use to gauge the success of your OOH campaign. Combined with footfall data or geo-targeted analytics, these metrics provide a comprehensive view of how well your campaign is resonating with your audience.

Incorporating feedback and insights

Post-campaign analysis should include feedback from your audience, where possible. Whether it’s from prospective students or current staff, insights into what worked well—or didn’t—can inform future campaigns and help you fine-tune your messaging and creative approach. This kind of qualitative data can be hard to obtain, but is worth its weight in gold.

Bridging offline and online strategies

OOH is at its most powerful when integrated with digital strategies.

Driving digital engagement

OOH campaigns can act as a bridge to your online platforms, driving audiences to your website or social media channels. QR codes, NFC technology, or short URLs make it easy for passers-by to take immediate action - something that can give you a clear advantage in the competitive world of higher education marketing, when combating students’ short attention spans.

Amplifying social media campaigns

Your OOH campaign can feed into your social media efforts, creating a unified presence across all of your channels. Encouraging users to share photos of your posters or billboards, or featuring user-generated content on your DOOH displays are easy and effective ways of making your institution feel tangible and relatable. This cross-platform approach will boost engagement and extend the reach of your campaign.

University Marketing with Clear Channel

At Clear Channel, our expertise in OOH advertising can help you design and execute campaigns that will bring students, revenue and acclaim your way. By combining strategic placement, engaging content, and seamless integration, along with digital platforms, you can create impactful campaigns that resonate with your audience. Contact us today to discover how we can support you and your university marketing efforts.