Find out how a Cincinnati language school went from invisible online to a 63% increase in verified students — and why Jay Allgood now tells every SEO company that calls that he's already taken care of.
Overview
International Language Plus is a Cincinnati-based language school serving students both in the classroom and online. Founded in 1986, the school helps individuals communicate more effectively in their professional and personal lives through hands-on instruction, customized learning plans, and one-on-one training.
Operating exclusively within the Greater Cincinnati market, the school's personal approach to language education sets it apart from larger, impersonal programs. What it lacked was an online presence strong enough to match that quality and reach the students who needed it most.
The Challenge
Before partnering with Hibu, International Language Plus was struggling across nearly every dimension of digital marketing: not enough leads, poor lead quality, an inconsistent pipeline, low online visibility, and a heavy dependence on referrals. A previous experience with another digital marketing provider had left Jay skeptical of the industry altogether. Cost was also a concern, but the deeper issue was trust. Jay is self-described as not particularly tech-savvy, and after being burned before, he wasn’t eager to take another chance on promises he’d heard over and over.
The Hibu Solution
What won Jay over wasn’t a pitch, it was a conversation. Hibu's local presence and knowledge of the Ohio market stood out immediately against a competing agency based in California. The personal interaction, open dialogue, and a more comprehensive strategy gave Jay confidence that this time would be different. And critically, Hibu explained everything in plain language. "The main thing was that Hibu was able to explain the services in layman's terms," Jay said. For someone who had been overwhelmed and misled by technical jargon before, that clarity made all the difference.
The Results
The results have been concrete and measurable. International Language Plus has seen a 63% increase in tracked leads and verified students, along with a 60% increase in website visits. Lead volume, phone calls, booked appointments, revenue, and repeat customers have all improved. The school has also seen a meaningful uptick in Google reviews, adding credibility that continues to drive new inquiries.
The real-world impact shows up in the students themselves. A family living nearby discovered International Language Plus through Hibu. They enrolled their nine-year-old Korean daughter in English lessons, and after several months of studying, her mother decided to enroll as well. Another student from Ecuador found the school while looking to learn a third language for personal enrichment and is now studying Italian. These are not abstract metrics — they are students who found a school that changed something for them, through a digital presence that did not exist before Hibu.
The business impact has been equally tangible with increased profitability, reduced stress, better work-life balance, and more predictable growth. When asked what waiting another year would have cost him, Jay's answer was immediate, highlighting lost customers, lost revenue, and lost peace of mind across all three dimensions.
Jay values everything Hibu brings to the relationship: responsiveness, communication, transparency, reporting, strategic guidance, customer service, and industry knowledge. When another SEO company calls, his answer is simple, "I'm working with Hibu and I'm totally satisfied." And to any business owner on the fence about digital marketing, his advice is equally direct, "Try it out, give it the 6 months—just try it!"
In 90 days, Hibu generated meaningful marketing results for International Language Plus:
- 130 Leads
- 118 Ad Clicks
- 1,710 Website Visits
Hibu is a leading provider of digital marketing solutions to local businesses across the US. With Hibu, your business has a truly integrated marketing program designed to increase your visibility online, drive visitors to your website and generate leads. Visit Hibu.com or call us at 855-409-6569 today to get more from your digital marketing.
