Archer Education

Oh, you thought it was over!? Two bylines in one week. My guide to SEO for higher education is now live on the Wix SEO Hub. This one is the playbook I wish I had when I started in higher ed over a decade ago. Seven years at Archer Education driving enrollments for online programs went into it, including data I shared at SEO Week in New York: lead-to-application rates rose from 44% in 2024 to 56% in 2026 as AI search compressed the funnel. Higher quality inquiries, not just more of them. Inside the guide: -Why higher ed SEO is different: 4 to 18 month decision cycles, YMYL scrutiny, and competition that includes US News and Reddit alongside other schools -How to build student personas from surveys, admissions advisors, and CRM data -Program pages that convert adult learners instead of reading like a course catalog -Optimizing for AI search, where roughly half of prospective students now research programs (per a UPCEA study) -The KPIs that matter: lead-to-app rate, cost per enrollment, and AI visibility Thanks to the Wix team (Crystal Carter and Kiera Carter) for having me. If you're in enrollment marketing, this one's for you. https://lnkd.in/eYyaSpBC

We’re hiring! Join the Archer team as an Account Manager - Performance Marketing.

Headed to UPCEA SOLAR? Join Luke Urbani and Mary Carroll Celano for their roundtable: 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗠𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗮𝘁 𝗦𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗲: 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗢𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 𝗢𝗿𝗴𝗮𝗻𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝗻 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘁𝗶𝘁𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 Join the conversation to hear Augusta University Online's success story, and share knowledge and strategies for managing organizational change at scale while growing online programs. #UPCEASOLAR

Enrollment leader summer school is in session. We're covering AI, Search, Strategy, and Program Growth - exactly what you should revisit before Fall kicks off.

Your faculty are already experts. The question is: are prospective students finding them? Join Lydia Matlock, George Bradley & Jenene Vernon for a 20-minute workshop on how to turn your faculty members’ expertise into an intentional enrollment driver across search, AI discovery, and the broader student journey. 📅 Tuesday, August 4 2:00 PM E.T. / 1:00 PM C.T.

Congratulations to our own Raymond Martinez for being named on the Top 100 Most Influential in SEO. Ray is building organic & AI visibility strategies that put our partners and their programs right where students are searching. It's great to see his work and creativity appreciated by brightonSEO. Thanks for all you do, Ray!

We’re honored to share that Archer has been named Enrollment Provider of the Year by EdTech Breakthrough. This award reflects the work of our team and our partners who show up every day with focus, care, and deep commitment to helping colleges and universities grow online in ways that are sustainable, student-first, and built for the future. We believe online education needs more than services. It needs strategy, transparency, partnership, and a different playbook for growth. We’re grateful to EdTech Breakthrough for this recognition, and to our team and partners who make this work possible.

This spring, Archer team members across the country rolled up their sleeves for #CommunityDay 💪 Across Portland, San Diego, Kansas City, and Dallas, our teams spent the day packing meals, sorting more than 5,300 pounds of produce, and supporting organizations that make a difference in their communities.

AI search is changing the student journey and institutions that answer questions clearly and quickly are the ones staying in consideration. In our latest HEMJ article, our Director of Public Relations and Communications, George Bradley explores how personalization is moving upstream, with AI-powered search engines shaping prospective students’ decisions before they ever visit a website. Read the full HEMJ article here ➡️ https://bit.ly/4u4rPZ7

AI search is reshaping how prospective students discover, evaluate, and trust universities. Today’s students aren’t just typing keywords into search engines. They’re asking AI tools complex questions about career outcomes, flexibility, ROI, and program fit — and AI-generated answers are increasingly shaping their decisions. Our VP of SEO Raymond Martinez breaks down what this shift means for higher ed institutions in our latest HEMJ article. Read it here ➡️ https://lnkd.in/ekfabcYR