University of Illinois
2 Years of SEO for University of Illinois
As one of the nation’s leading public research institutions, the University of Illinois holds a reputation for academic excellence and global impact. However, even a world-renowned institution must maintain a commanding digital presence to effectively connect with prospective students, faculty, researchers, and alumni. Recognizing the need to stay competitive in an increasingly digital-first world, the University of Illinois approached OWDT for a robust SEO strategy that would elevate their online visibility and user engagement.
The university sought to optimize their vast online ecosystem, which included multiple campuses, research initiatives, and academic programs. Their primary goal was to improve search engine rankings, increase organic traffic, and ensure their website effectively communicated their mission to a global audience.
Traffic Increase
52%
Increase in traffic since Jan 2014, going from 1.9M per month to 2.9M per month. This growth translated into significantly higher engagement across all departments and programs.
Keywords Ranked
300,000
Over 300,000 keywords were successfully ranked, with many new keywords indexed and ranking prominently on the first two pages of search results. This included a mix of academic, local, and general-interest terms, aligning with the University’s diverse audience.
Speed Increase
x10
Enhanced page load times, a simplified navigation structure, and strategically optimized content boosted overall user satisfaction, reducing bounce rates and increasing time spent on the site.
Global Reach
x7
The University saw a marked increase in international traffic due to targeted geo-optimization, strengthening its appeal to students and researchers worldwide.
Application Increase
25%
Academic departments and programs experienced improved search engine rankings, driving more applications, inquiries, and research collaborations.
Challenges
Managing SEO for the University of Illinois required addressing its vast website architecture, optimizing for diverse audiences, and resolving technical issues like slow load times and outdated practices. A strategic approach was essential to improve visibility and user experience.
Complex Architecture
The University’s website housed thousands of pages, including departmental sites, research publications, and admissions resources. Structuring and optimizing this vast network required a meticulous approach to ensure clarity and accessibility.
Keyword Strategy
Identifying and targeting relevant keywords was critical to capturing diverse audiences, from high school students to international researchers. This required in-depth keyword research, focusing on competitive academic and geographic terms.
Technical SEO Enhancements
Outdated technical elements, such as slow-loading pages, crawl errors, and indexing issues, needed to be addressed to ensure search engine bots could efficiently navigate the site.
Localized & Global SEO
With multiple campuses and international programs, the site needed to cater to local and global audiences. This required implementing geo-targeted SEO strategies and addressing language-specific indexing challenges.
Content Optimization
Academic content often lacked the SEO-friendly structure and readability required to rank effectively. We worked to balance SEO best practices with maintaining the University’s authoritative tone.
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