Sustainable digital advertising for higher education

Most ad agencies will have you believe you’ve got to spend a certain amount of money to get results. Our team of digital ads experts works with budgets of all sizes — on platforms of all types — to create strategies that go beyond inquiring and push-to-apply. We target prospective students where they’re at in the enrollment funnel with offers that resonate with their concerns and motivations. From building better audiences, experiences, and offers to executing campaigns and providing in-depth reporting, DD proves the ROI of your advertising efforts — and does so transparently.

To win on the Google platform, you need savvy SEO strategies (see below), compelling copy, and creative that takes your brand to the next level. And with us, that's what you'll get. We design and manage strategic Google Ads campaigns that prioritize real conversions over vanity metrics. With a constant eye on performance and ROI, we fine-tune campaigns based on real-time data — not assumptions. The result? Smarter spend, better leads, and measurable impact.

At Direct Development, we infuse organic SEO strategies on the paid side. For us, it’s all about reinforcing your digital advertising strategy with sustainable, long-term visibility. By aligning keyword strategy with your paid campaigns, we help increase overall conversion efficiency while building a stronger presence across the SERP. You can support both immediate and long-term enrollment goals (without breaking the bank).

We build and manage paid social media campaigns that reach prospective students where they spend their time — when they’re ready to engage. Whether it’s lead generation on Meta, storytelling on Instagram, or retargeting on LinkedIn, our strategies are designed to move users from awareness to action. Every campaign is backed by data, driven by audience insights, and built to complement your broader digital advertising goals. 

Not every prospective student converts on the first visit. That’s where retargeting comes in. We craft strategic retargeting campaigns that keep your institution top of mind, reengaging users across platforms with the right message at the right time. Through retargeting existing leads, inquiries, applicants, and admitted students, Direct Development is able to generate a higher yield at all bottom-funnel stages of the applicant journey.

By diversifying your ad offers, you can reach students wherever they are in their enrollment journey. Content promotions are a crucial tool in your digital advertising arsenal. We build strategies that amplify your thought leadership, program pages, and lead-generating assets through ad campaigns and align that content with the right audiences and stages. To us, it’s not just about getting clicks — it’s about driving meaningful engagement.