SMU Cox

Powering SMU Cox’s enrollment engine with quality leads

Based in Dallas, Texas, SMU Cox is a nationally and internationally ranked business school. It offers in-person and online MBA programs for executives, professionals, and early-career individuals, along with a variety of specialized Master’s programs.

In August 2023, SMU Cox approached Kiosk with a relatively inefficient funnel and pressing enrollment deadlines. Our primary goal was to help the school achieve its MBA enrollment targets in a highly competitive regional market.

While long-term improvements to the funnel could come from optimizing costs and boosting conversion rates, timing was of the essence. In the six months before we took over the campaign, SMU Cox’s average cost per lead far exceeded the MBA category benchmark.

Strategy & Execution

We began our partnership with SMU Cox by implementing a complete strategic restructuring of their paid search account. Over the course of the next 18 months, we moved away from manual processes toward a more sophisticated, data-driven engine that could scale with their enrollment goals.

Our approach included:

  • Transitioning to AI-driven bidding
    We replaced manual bidding with target CPA (tCPA) bidding and later implemented a model focused on maximizing Return on Ad Spend (ROAS). This allowed us to leverage Google’s machine learning to adjust bids in real time, factoring in signals such as a user’s recent online activity and level of interest.

  • Prioritizing high-value engagement
    By assigning values to specific actions within the enrollment funnel, we moved beyond simple lead generation to prioritize the prospects most likely to convert into students.

  • Continuous conversion testing
    We maintained a rigorous testing schedule for landing page design and ad copy, which successfully boosted on-page conversion rates by 53% and click-through rates by 15%
    .

  • Proactive campaign management
    Our team performed daily and weekly optimizations, including keyword and keyword exclusion grooming, device and location targeting refinements, and deep dives into competitor activity to ensure the account remained agile.

Results

A smarter funnel generates higher-quality leads, for less.

By blending machine learning with hands-on expertise, we turned SMU Cox’s funnel into a pipeline of high-quality prospects. This ongoing optimization not only drove more conversions but also built a stronger, more efficient funnel for future growth.

+0%

Monthly lead volume

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Cost Per Lead

Collaborating with SMU Cox to analyze enrollment data allowed us to build a more accurate KPI framework. By resetting our measurement standards, we’ve been able to optimize media pacing and allocation to ensure we are timing our outreach to be most effective when it matters most.

Mark Nelson

Chief Digital Officer,
Kiosk

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