In mid-2023 I met with the director of STEM University in Douala as classes were resuming.
He was frustrated: their old website cost money but brought no new students. When I asked, “Did your previous site ever get you inquiries?” he shook his head.
This is a common story for schools and universities in Cameroon.
Outdated websites or cheap one-page designs may look nice at first but they never rank on Google or bring in student leads. Yet by 2024, nearly 12.7 million Cameroonians (44% of the population) were already online, which means a professional, SEO-friendly website has become the first impression for every school. In this case study
I’ll show how a results-driven WordPress web design in Cameroon helped STEM University triple its student enquiries, and what other schools, training centers, and universities can learn from it.
STEM University had launched a website years ago, but it sat neglected. The director confessed it never brought a single inquiry, so he abandoned it.
In our meeting he said many local developers offered to rebuild the site for as little as 70,000 FCFA. But as I asked again, “What good did the last 50,000 FCFA website do you?” he admitted it only looked nice, never filled a classroom.
Industry experts note that broken links or outdated program information on a school’s site can actually repel visitors.
In short, the old site was a digital brochure nobody saw.
I listened and understood his concern about budget. But we also looked at the data: Cameroon now has 25.4 million active mobile subscriptions (87.5% of people), meaning most prospective students browse on phones.
A static one-page site won’t rank when students Google “best nursing schools in Douala,” and Cameroon’s mobile-friendly Google search algorithms won’t show a neglected page high results.
The real cost of a cheap site was lost students and tuition fees.
The challenge became clear: build a website that works as a marketing tool, not just a pretty “business card.”
I explained to the director that he was paying for value and results, not just HTML and design.
As a web designer with 5+ years’ experience, I’ve seen cheap sites fail because they ignore strategy: no SEO, weak content, no branding.
I showed him examples of other schools where my websites brought steady student leads each year.
Together we reframed the conversation as an investment.
If the university paid 470,000 FCFA, that’s a fraction of one student’s annual tuition.
If the new site attracted just 10 students that first term, it already covered the cost.
He agreed to move forward with a results-focused plan. We would use WordPress (a user-friendly CMS) so staff could update the site without coding.
WordPress powers about 43% of all websites globally, and its clean, mobile-responsive design is built for SEO.
Our goal was not just to “have a website,” but to drive inquiries with clear program descriptions, optimized page titles, and calls-to-action asking students to request information or apply.
Our team spent June–July 2023 designing the site.
Key steps included:
Custom Content & Copywriting: We crafted fresh, benefit-driven copy. Rather than generic text, each page spoke directly to Douala students’ concerns (career paths, campus life, financial aid). This helped target search terms like “best nursing school in Douala,” making the site more visible on Google.
Search Optimization: Every page had SEO-friendly titles, headings, and meta descriptions. We researched local keyword intent – for example, Douala students often search for programs in health and technology. By writing content around those terms, the site climbed search rankings within weeks.
Mobile-Friendly Design: With most Cameroonians browsing on phones, we prioritized responsive design. The site loads quickly, looks good on small screens, and is easy to navigate. Mobile-friendly pages not only satisfy users but also rank better in Google.
Empowerment via Training: Upon launch in July, I gave the university staff a two-hour WordPress training. They learned to add news posts, update program details, and even change images – no coding required. This ensured the site stays current, a key factor since outdated info can harm credibility.
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The results were clear and encouraging. By October 2023 (just a few months post-launch), STEM University received 10 new student enquiries directly through the website.
By December, that number grew to 30 enquiries.
In other words, the new site tripled what the old site had achieved (which was zero). Each of those 30 students likely paid tuition, so the website paid for itself many times over.
Even against older university websites built years ago, our site quickly outranked them.
The reason was simple: our focus on quality content, SEO, and user experience.
This success proved two important points:
Content and strategy beat cheap design. Many other institutions in Douala had sites built by novices or template-driven services. Those sites might have cost less, but they never showed up on Google.
An investment mindset is key. The director told me afterwards that he now sees the website as an asset – a marketing channel that continues to bring students year after year.
If you run a school, university, or training center in Cameroon, your website should do more than sit online. It should bring you students, enquiries, and revenue. That’s what I focus on.
I specialize in WordPress web design in Cameroon with a clear focus on education businesses. From schools in Douala to training centers across the country, I build websites that rank on Google, attract students, and pay back their cost within months.
Every project includes a 2-hour WordPress training so your staff can update courses, post news, and manage the site without needing a developer. You’ll have full control and the confidence to keep your site fresh.
If you’re serious about growing your school and want a website that actually fills classrooms, not just looks nice, let’s talk. Contact me today and let’s build a results-driven website for your institution.
ALSO READ: My Website Launch Checklist for Cameroonian Entrepreneurs
The cost of school website design in Cameroon varies depending on the quality and features. Cheap one-page sites may cost 50,000–70,000 FCFA but they rarely bring enquiries. A professional WordPress school website in Cameroon usually starts from 400,000 FCFA and pays itself back quickly through student registrations.
WordPress powers over 40% of websites worldwide and is ideal for schools in Cameroon. It’s user-friendly, SEO-friendly, and allows staff to update courses, news, and events without coding. This makes it the best choice for universities and training centers in Cameroon that want long-term control and growth.
SEO (Search Engine Optimization) ensures your school’s website appears when students search online for programs like “best nursing school in Douala” or “teacher training in Cameroon.” Without SEO, even the most beautiful design will remain invisible. A good WordPress web designer in Cameroon will build SEO into your site from day one.
Yes. With WordPress, you can manage your school website without needing a developer for every small change. We provide a 2-hour hands-on WordPress training for staff so you can add courses, post announcements, and update images anytime.
On average, a professional school website takes 4 to 8 weeks depending on the size and number of pages. The most important part is not rushing the process but focusing on SEO, clear program details, and mobile-friendly design that attracts students.
If you’re a Cameroonian entrepreneur and you’re ready to launch a website that works, I can help.