Most faculty pages are outdated directories. No story. No strategy.

But in today’s landscape, faculty visibility impacts everything, from citations and media to enrollment and funding.

In this episode, Dr. Hashim Zaman breaks down how higher-ed marketers can support faculty online without adding to their workload, or risking trust.

Here’s what you’ll take away:

• Why personal branding feels performative to most academics and how to reframe it as “visibility with purpose” rooted in research—not hype.
• The disconnect between MarCom teams and faculty. One wants content. The other wants control. Here’s how to bridge the gap.
• What makes academic content more shareable and engaging. From video abstracts to short posts, Dr. Zaman shares formats that work.
• How marketing leaders can support faculty without overwhelming them. Tools, templates, opt-ins, and mindset shifts that build long-term trust.

“Most professors want their work to be seen, they just don’t want to lose control of how it’s represented.” Dr. Hashim Zaman

🔗 Check out academic.blog to learn more

🎧 Follow Education Marketing Leader for more conversations like this.

Your website might be compliant. But is it neuroaccessible? If it’s not, you’re losing students before they even apply.

In this episode of the Education Marketing Leader podcast, I talk with Beth Jendro Noël, Director of Communications and Creative Services at Middlesex Community College.

She breaks down what most higher ed marketers are missing when it comes to accessibility, and how to fix it.

We cover:

✅ What “neuroaccessible” really means

✅ A practical audit you can use right now

✅ Why 33% of students are affected—but only 8% disclose

✅ How inclusive design helps retention, not just recruitment

✅ How her team built a better website using next steps, plain language, and video

Beth also shares a powerful personal story about supporting her neurodivergent child through the college application process and realizing her own institution’s site wasn’t built for them either.

Bonus: Don’t miss Beth’s article: The Power of Neuro-Accessible Communications: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/power-neuro-accessible-communications-beth-jendro-no%25C3%25ABl-lunoe/?trackingId=uzagXRbqSs%2BjbjSVjBJaEA%3D%3D

🎧 Listen now.

➡️ Follow Beth for more accessibility insights.

📲 Subscribe to Education Marketing Leader for more no-fluff episodes built for higher ed marketers who actually want to move the needle.

In this episode of the Education Marketing Leader podcast, I sat down with Yane Nemeroff, Assistant Professor of Communication Studies at Miami Dade College and host of the Non-Traditional Scholar Podcast to talk about how to market to non-traditional students without the fluff.

Yane joined me to break down what higher ed marketers need to know about this growing audience.

⚡ Key takeaways:

• “Non-traditional” doesn’t mean just parents or veterans. It’s anyone who didn’t go straight from high school to college.
• Relevance is everything. Don’t sell the experience — show the outcome.
• Collaborate with faculty. Their insight can refine your message.
• Real stories convert. Highlight students like Gloria, who went from running a pizza shop to earning her degree and becoming a teacher.
• Offer options, not ultimatums — trades and 4-year degrees aren’t enemies.
• Platforms matter: Spotify for younger students, Facebook for older ones.
• Be honest. Don’t lead with a benefit they may not qualify for. It backfires.

This one’s packed with insights for anyone targeting adult learners, career changers, or returning students.

To close the episode, Yane said something that stuck with me:

“We can’t dangle the carrot and lock it in a cage. Be honest. Be human. These students have been through enough.”

📲 Listen to the full convo today.

Follow the Education Marketing Leader podcast and subscribe to catch every new episode.

Until next time. ✌️

My latest guest on the Marketing Tales show is a former higher-ed marketer turned B2B SaaS evangelist serving higher-ed clients on all things engagement, enrollment, marketing, and student success.But that's not all, folks.He's also the host of the Attention Podcast and Audience Growth teacher at Danchez, Element451's Director of Inbound Marketing, and author of the children's book "I Want To Be A Marketer When I Grow Up."Meet my friend #Danchez, a.k.a Dan Sanchez.Dan's love for graphic design led him to become a marketing leader early in his career.He was well established as a marketer when he felt the "itch" to return to school and earn his undergraduate degree in Marketing Management, followed by an MBA with an emphasis in IT Management.He specializes in audience growth and grew his LinkedIn following from 1,000 to 10,000 followers in just five months.The secret sauce to building an audience is to "build real relationships with people and make lots of friends," Dan says, which in his opinion, is the best way to build an audience in the beginning."It's kind of like making friends," he says. "You have to go one by one, be helpful to lots of people and help them succeed."When it comes to setting up a successful SaaS social media strategy, Dan likes to refer back to his days at Sweet Fish when the company developed an "Evangelist program," where the firm's leadership encouraged its subject matter experts to be consistent on LinkedIn because, in general, people engage more with personal brands than companies.It's easier to build a one-to-one relationship with a person than a brand, "which in B2B land makes all the difference to building trust with your ideal buyers," he says.Yet, nothing worthwhile is going to be given to you.Building an audience takes a lot of hard work!When Dan grew his following from 1,000 to 10,000 people in five months, he posted two to three times a day for five months, spending four to five hours on LinkedIn:Every.Single.Day.Engaging with everybody!"If you showed up to a new city and somehow discovered where all the social gatherings were, worked the rooms, shook hands, laughed, and listened to people, you'd make a lot of friends, and it won't be long until the whole city knew your name," Dan says.It's the same thing on LinkedIn, except that you show up in people's comments, engaging with the people there.That kind of grit and determination can work for anybody.You just have to decide to go all in.For more nuggets on making new friends on social, listen to the whole episode by clicking the link in the comments below.To learn more about audience growth directly from Dan, follow him on LinkedIn or visit his website, danchez.com, to discover links to his social media channels, podcasts, and blog.And if you have little ones, get a copy of "I Want To Be A Marketer When I Grow Up."I did, and my kids love it.Until next time. ✌️

My latest guest on the Marketing Tales show is a well-traveled and incredibly cultured international man of mystery who entered this world in the shadows of the Austria Alps, grew up in the Philippines, received his education in the city-state of Singapore, and developed his marketing acumen in Shanghai, China. Meet Christian Klepp, the co-founder and director of client engagement at EINBLICK Consulting Inc., a Toronto-based consulting firm, and host of the B2B Marketers on a Mission Podcast. Christian received his business/commerce degree from the Management Development Institute of Singapore (MDIS) before starting his marketing career over two decades ago. After an initial stint as a marketing executive at a firm in Germany, Christian moved back to the Far East and remained there for nearly 15 years, learning the language and cultural norms of the Chinese people before relocating to Toronto, Canada, where he started his agency. When I asked him "Why China" in our pre-show interview, he answered: "Why not?!" revealing a stereotypical ignorance within me I didn't know I had. We fear what we don't understand. 💡This show sometimes helps shine a light on those corners of the world that often remain hidden in our Western bubble. The first thing Christian learned about the cultural differences during his studies at MDIS is "being disciplined in everything that you do," he recalls. "In life, there will always be problems, but you have to learn to view the problems from different angles to come up with the right solutions."Talking about problems. In this age of economic globalization, businesses can offer products far beyond their borders, and the Chinese market, with its estimated $14.9 trillion GDP, could prove lucrative for many Western corporations. But there are several pitfalls companies could find themselves in if they fail to do their homework before entering markets abroad.Two common barriers Christian observed companies struggle with when entering the Chinese market: 1- The language barrierThe language has profound meaning with several layers of complexity a simple AI translator can't navigate. If companies try to translate their marketing copy with Google Translate, they'll quickly alienate themselves from their prospective target audiences. 2- The cultural barrierMany Asian societies, including China, are based on hierarchy and the "concept of face," not observed in the West. The "losing of face," the "saving of face," and the "keeping of face" are fascinating nuances explained in the video.Check. It. Out.To learn more about the different approaches marketers should know about when promoting products abroad, connect with Christian on LinkedIn or check out his agency, EINBLICK Consulting, to help you stand out in the market and drive revenue to your business.A special thanks to Robb Conlon for the intro to Christian. Until next time. ✌#marketing

In the latest episode of the Marketing Tales Show, I had the pleasure of speaking with David May, the Director of Marketing and Communications at the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank.David studied at Chapman University in Orange, Calif., and earned both his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in film.Upon graduation, he remained at his alma mater, worked in admissions for several years, then moved into #marketing, working his way into an Assistant Vice President of Web and Digital Media role at the university.After 17 years at Chapman, including his time as a student, David was ready to "finally graduate and go out into the big world and see what adventures there are out there," he recalls.Those adventures took him northwest on Interstate 5 and opened doors of opportunities at the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, which has served 1.6 billion meals since its inception in 1973.As Director of Marketing and Communications, David works toward reaching the next billion meals served.This begs the question: how does one market a non-profit in 2023?1 - Knowing your audience 2 - Distributing messages through modern marketing and low-cost practices"We have a high emphasis on ROI," David says.Focusing on #publicrelations efforts is one way to keep the cost down and awareness up.During the pandemic, food banks were a big part of the national story. The LA food bank gained coverage by notable outlets such as AP, Reuters, MSNBC, and many more, receiving nearly half a billion dollars in earned media coverage."One thing we like to do to ensure the media continues to work with us is to drop everything, and we get them what they need," David says.When it comes to food donations, those primarily come from farmers, growers, wholesalers, and grocers in the LA County area.Donations of funds are also invaluable, and the food bank partners with major corporations and professional sports teams in LA."These are organizations that want to make a big difference in the community," David says. "They call us and ask 'what can we do, how can we help?'"As a thank you, the food bank amplifies that message and shares the goodwill these companies show with its 200,000 newsletter subscribers and additional social media followers.Talking about the newsletter, if you're interested in learning more about the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank and its story, visit its website and sign up or follow the food bank on social media.To get in touch with David, connect with him on LinkedIn or email him at dmay@lafoodbank.org to learn more about how you can positively impact the people of LA County.Thank you, David, for being a part of the show, and thank you Kat Liendgens, for making yet another intro to a marketing leader.Until next time. ✌

• The Lean Marketplace by Cristóbal Gracia and Juho Makkonen
• Predictably Irrational by Dan Ariely

My latest guest is an amazing marketing leader and the first CMO on my show!Laurie Hood, a proud Clemson University grad, studied economics and computer science before starting her marketing career.Laurie entered the tech marketing arena right out of college. She forged her way through the ranks at many well-known corporations and now holds the position of Chief Marketing Officer at Mobilewalla, a data and artificial intelligence company headquartered in Atlanta, Ga. As a B2B SaaS marketing executive, Laurie’s team uses various marketing channels to get the message about her product out, such as social, SEO, paid ads, webinars, and industry conferences.“We get tremendous success with paid social,” she says. But, “I’m very much about quality, not quantity, so when I send a lead to my seller, I want to be sure that the prospect knows who Mobilewalla is and that receiving a phone call from us is not going to seem weird.”Highlighting the importance of adequately moving a prospect down the sales funnel.

1. Awareness
2. Interest
3. Desire
4. Close

But the tried and true way to receive MQLs usually comes from in-person events, such as industry conferences, because of the value of face-to-face interactions. Back to her quality-over-quantity approach, Laurie’s team differentiates prospects by hot, warm, and cold leads during field marketing efforts after receiving a business card.“What I don’t want is to get 1,000 business cards, and 950 of them just wanted our giveaway,” Laurie explains. Hot leads go directly into Salesforce, then get assigned to sellers, and become SQLs. Warm and cold leads are added to a separate list and receive nurture campaigns, and as these warm and cold leads convert through nurture, they eventually become SQLs.An excellent way to bring awareness and generate demand, especially at conferences, is through thought leadership presentations, she explains. A few key things that help you succeed:

1. Don’t make your presentation a sales pitch
2. Identify qualified speakers
3. Know your audience

About the third point, depending on the situation, certain industry audiences appreciate speakers who are practitioners, not managers. Laurie is known to have asked junior-level employees to speak at events to build a bridge and relatability between her audience and the organization a senior-level executive may not be able to achieve. “Everyone has something to contribute,” Laurie says. “You just have to get your people on the right topic with the right group.”A great lesson in leadership! Talking about lessons, one of the most important lessons Laurie learned during her successful marketing career is to be empathetic with non-marketers and back up efforts with data to help them understand why she implements specific strategies and tactics. To get in touch with Laurie to talk marketing or learn more about Mobilewalla, connect with her on LinkedIn or email her at Laurie@mobilewalla.comUntil next time.

My latest guest first appeared in my car’s speakers as I headed southbound on Georgia SR 400, ready to start a new career. I needed to learn about higher-ed marketing fast, and The Higher Ed Marketer podcast, co-hosted by Bart Caylor, gave me practical higher-ed marketing insights I could use immediately. Bart, a graduate of Anderson University with a degree in graphic design, always knew he wanted to help people succeed and help them solve complex problems. A career in marketing gave him that outlet as he built his first website for his alma mater in 1997. Bart worked for major corporations and various nonprofit organizations throughout his marketing career. However, no project gave him more joy than the one he completed for Anderson U in ’97. In 2011, after the great recession, Bart started Caylor Solutions. His marketing agency works with education organizations to improve communication, enrollment, and development efforts through strategic brand, marketing, websites, print, and digital collateral.He’s a serial content creator, and when I asked him about his approach to cranking out consistent, relevant content, he said: “You want to be useful to people, as opposed to just promotional. The organizations who educate are the ones who succeed, not the ones who promote.” He meets with his team twice a year to brainstorm higher-ed marketing trends and concerns and creates an editorial calendar from the information gathered. His editorial calendar, however, is a living document, and he’s been known to call audibles from time to time depending on the latest technology changes that may affect the industry, e.g., ChatGPT and generative AI.AdvertisementsREPORT THIS ADAlways on the pulse of what’s going on in higher-ed marking, Bart knows that a school’s website is the first and most important tool for enrollment marketing.Four ways to make a website more enrollment-focused:

1. Know who’s it for (students, caretakers, etc.)
2. Tailor it to your prospect’s needs
3. Make it understandable (cut academic jargon)
4. Show outcomes (ROI/social proof)

Three ways prospects get to a higher-ed website:

1. Legacy (family members attended)
2. Influencers (teacher, coach, or pastor told them)
3. Discovery (people find a school through search

Of course, given the nature of this platform, be sure to follow Bart on LinkedIn for the latest higher-ed marketing news, updates, and content strategy tips, and listen to his podcast, The Higher Ed Marketer Podcast, which releases new episodes every Tuesday morning. Remember to listen to the full interview on my YouTube channel by visiting the link in the comments below for more insights on making your website more enrollment focused. Bart, thank you for your continued support and the value you bring to the higher-ed industry. Until next time. ✌️Advertisements

My next guest fell into marketing by chance, and we're all the better for it!Nick Bennett studied Sports & Movement Science at Salem State University, planning to become the next big athletic director or professional sports agent when he realized he needed to further his education to do so or start selling tickets for the Red Sox at $10/hour. No fun! So, he decided to get into sales, which then put him in various marketing roles, eventually earning him a job as Sr. Director of ELG & Evangelism at Airmeet, a virtual event platform focused on a people-first approach. Nick also hosts the Anonymous Marketer Podcast, a show that answers marketing-related questions many want to ask but are afraid to utter for fear of looking ignorant. "I want this to be a safe space to ask questions to help marketers," Nick says. As a SaaS marketing leader, to Nick, the creator economy is the future. "It goes back to embracing a people-first mindset," he says. "We want to empower people to be creators, whether through podcasts, blog posts, or social media engagement."The creator economy is still in the early adopter phase. However, Nick predicts that in about three years, MarchTech and SalesTech firms will change their strategy and hire full-time creators or work with them externally to help with their marketing needs. As someone with nearly 50k followers and over 15 million eyes on his content over the last three years, he thanks his former boss @Kyle Coleman for encouraging him to post about field marketing on LinkedIn. He was an overnight success! Or so you'd think. "I started creating content around field marketing for six months, and no one liked my stuff," he recalls. "It was crickets!"He saw some traction after six months, but it took about one year of posting five times a week to see a significant engagement increase. "I think when you stick with it long enough, people will like you for you," Nick says. "Being your authentic self, people will like the content you create regardless of what it is about."Know that there are tons of lurkers on LinkedIn who will never engage with your content but will send you DMs thanking you for the difference you made because of your efforts. If you're thinking about being part of the creator economy, "do it because you want to, not because someone told you to do it. Do it because you're getting joy out of it," Nick says.Educational content usually gets the most traction.Two lessons he's learned throughout his marketing career: 1) Haters Hate. Creators Create! 2) Don't be afraid to fail and talk about it!"It's ok to talk about failure, and it's ok to have them," Nick says. Most importantly, remember lessons learned, and keep moving forward, my friends. If you're a content marketer, Nick suggests checking out the Revenue Vitals and Content Logistics podcasts.To learn more about Nick, check out the full episode in the comments and follow him on LinkedIn. Until next time. ✌️

In this episode of the Education Marketing Leader podcast, I sat down with Jaime Hunt, Founder and President at Solve Higher Ed Marketing and author of the new book Heart over Hype.

We covered the real work behind building an authentic brand in higher ed.

No fluff.

Just strategy, leadership, and lessons you can actually use.

Here's what we covered in the episode:

✅ What's behind the title "Heart over Hype"

Jaime breaks down why emotional connection and trust matter more than flashy campaigns, especially in higher ed.

✅ How to lead change inside your institution

She talks about aligning leadership, building coalitions, and how to gain internal buy-in when everyone has an opinion on marketing.

✅ Why higher ed marketing needs a reality check

Jaime explains how the pressure to drive enrollment can lead to hype-driven tactics, and how to avoid that trap.

✅ The risks of inauthentic messaging

Misalignment between brand promise and student experience? Jaime's been there. She shares how to fix it.

✅ Practical advice for marketers trying to do better work

We talk about knowing your audience, measuring what matters, and leading with empathy.

This episode is a must-listen if you're juggling leadership expectations, branding constraints, and the pressure to deliver ROI.

Listen now and grab a copy of the book today.

Follow and subscribe to the Education Marketing Leader podcast with Chris Rapozo for more real conversations with the people shaping higher ed marketing.

Back in November 2022, I sat in on a roundtable discussion on social media marketing in higher ed during #AMAHigherEd and noticed Eddie Francis seamlessly moderate the session attended by nearly 30 people with ease.The next morning I saw Eddie at breakfast, introduced myself, struck up a conversation, started following him on LinkedIn, and took note of a social proof campaign he started at Dillard University.Friends, meet Eddie Francis, Dillard University’s Director of Communications and Marketing, part-time lecturer, AMA Higher Education Marketer of the Year Nominee, and host of the “For Our Edification” podcast.Eddie joined Dillard as the MarCom director in 2019 and was impressed by the school’s distinguished list of alumni, which includes a Louisiana Supreme Court Justice, a Pulitzer Prize Winner, and university presidents.However, when he asked people what made Dillard the institution that produced such notable alumni, he noticed that there was no unifying language that explained the Dillard experience.That’s when he started the “Write Your Legacy” project, a call to the Dillard community to tell its story in a clear, concise, bold, and unapologetic way.A social proof campaign featuring students, alumni, faculty, and staff that encourages those involved in the university to share their Dillard story with others and build a community in the process.And “community is our superpower,” Eddie says. “Dillard has a distinct way of making sure that the students form this really nice, productive academic culture, and it really comes out of that strong sense of community.”Knowing his audience, Eddie’s team leans heavily on video content to share featured student stories and long-form articles for alumni, faculty, and staff stories.To ensure story contributors express Dillard’s value in one voice, Eddie’s team offers a toolkit that educates content creators about the school’s brand guidelines.As Eddie said: “it is important for folks to realize that they can look at the campaign differently, obviously, because everybody is going to bring themselves to the campaign, but we all got to sing the same song.”Emphasizing that “like the legendary Dillard University Concert Choir, [Dillard’s] community must sing with one voice to attract students, donors, and community partners.”If you’re a higher ed marketer trying to build a sense of community with your students, alumni, faculty, and staff or thought about starting a social proof campaign like the “Write Your Legacy,” give Eddie a follow, listen to his podcast, or visit Dillard’s website to learn more about the campaign.As Maya Angelou once said: “there is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.”It’s time to let it out.Until next time. ✌️

• Specific.
• Measurable.
• Achievable.
• Realistic.
• Timely.

Have you considered starting a podcast as part of your 2023 marketing efforts? Two things you need to succeed:

• Be consistent
• Be in it for the long haul

I had the great pleasure of getting Robb Conlon, owner of Westport Studios, on the line to learn about his story and share some advice to help aspiring podcasters get off to the right start. With well over 1,000 podcasts produced across multiple industry verticals, including education, legal, and finance, Robb knows what separates the good from the bad. One benefit to starting a podcast as a marketer is “the relationships you’ll build,” Robb says. “You’ll build much more expansive and deeper relationships with your guests, especially as a B2B marketer.”And as many of you know, people do business with people they like, not a faceless company. So, starting a podcast and interviewing your prospective clients or people your prospective clients want to hear from will set you apart and help you build trust with your audience. Regarding your setup, be sure you have a quiet space, but most importantly, a consistent host. “A host that can show up every single week and crank out one to two episodes a week is more important than any mic, headphone, or camera,” Robb says. About the cadence: publish your podcast weekly or better. AdvertisementsREPORT THIS ADIf you’re thinking bi-weekly or monthly, people will forget about you! “If you can get [your audience] on that “treadmill,” where they’ll know that you’ll publish an episode every Tuesday at 8 a.m., you’ll build a following,” he says.But how do I find people to interview, you might wonder? Ask!“Figure out your audience, find 50 prospective people who might be guests on your show, drop a three to four-sentence email to them and ask them to come on your show,” Robb advises. But above all things, be consistent and know that you must stay committed to the project if you want to succeed. Don’t give up too early, especially in the first few weeks or months. It takes time to build a brand and following, and too many creators in this get-rich-quick on the internet, 15-minute-of-fame world that we live in give up before they ever reap the fruits of their labor. If you’re going to start, go all the way. And if you need a producer or a trusted advisor, contact Robb Conlon and ask him about the secret sauce of getting it right in the podcasting world. Hint: That secret sauce is often not a process; it’s a person. And there is no better person that I can think of than Robb Conlon. A friend. A guide. And an overall great guy willing to take a few moments out of his busy schedule to help you get closer to your dream of becoming a successful podcast host. Until next time. ✌️#marketing #podcast #content

Look up the word Mensch and then become one.When I asked Troy Singer, who to chat with to learn more about video marketing, he mentioned Rob Clark, the creator of That Tall Family.That Tall Family has over 2 million followers across three channels:

• YouTube
• TikTok
• Instagram

The brand is on track to reach 2 billion organic views in the last 22 months. I thought I’d be a long shot to get Rob on the line, but he graciously agreed to meet and share some of his insights on creating successful videos with me. Rob started making videos during the early years of YouTube. Initially, he saw little results. Sound familiar? But as the saying goes: it’s better to be prepared for an opportunity and not have one than to have an opportunity and not be prepared.So, he kept at it, continued cranking out content, and by the time short-form videos became popular, he had the necessary skill set and know-how to hit the ground running, ride the trend and gain popularity. One piece of content can change everything because you never know what will happen to it when it’s out there. That is what happened to one of his YouTube videos that initially didn’t see much engagement. That is until six months after the posting, a morning show in India, equivalent to Good Morning America, shared it with its audience, helping it gain up to 170 million views!Thus far, Rob has achieved most of his short-form video success with The Tall Family on TikTok. However, he predicts that YouTube will be the video platform of 2023 with its expanding YouTube Partner Program updates, enabling more creators to make money with Shorts, including revenue sharing on ads.Plus, YouTube is the second biggest search platform on the internet, so marketers would be wise to create video ads for people searching for products on that platform.His advice to anyone entertaining the idea of getting into video marketing: “Make as many videos as possible, don’t overthink it, and don’t decide which video is going to do well,” he said. “It’s impossible to predict what will do well and when. Just keep producing content.” As with everything in life, if you’re willing to invest time in something, it will pay off. “The more you do it, the better you get at it, and the more your brand grows,” he explains. And that’s what we’re all trying to achieve as marketers. We want to expand our reach, gain visibility and grow our brands.I hope you’re inspired to go all-in with video marketing in 2023 and step out of your comfort zone to try new things, like getting in front of the camera.Oh, and a Mensch is someone to admire and emulate. Someone who gives without expecting something in return. That’s who Rob Clark is to me after our conversation, and I’ll be sure to pay it forward when I’m in a position to help someone who can’t help me back. Until next time. ✌️

The humanities are facing an uphill battle in higher education, with budget cuts and declining enrollments. But are we missing an opportunity? 🤔

In this episode, Kyle Campbell joins host Chris Rapozo to discuss the shifting landscape of SHAPE (Social Sciences, Humanities, and the Arts for People and the Economy) subjects and how universities can better market them.

🔍 Key Topics Covered:

✅ The missed opportunities in humanities marketing – Why universities are cutting humanities programs at the worst possible time.

✅ AI and the rise of critical thinking – How the humanities are becoming more relevant than ever in an AI-driven world.

✅ The student perspective – Why young people still choose humanities despite job market concerns.

✅ The power of storytelling in marketing humanities – Why raw data isn’t enough and how universities can craft compelling narratives.

✅ Interdisciplinary learning – How schools like the London Interdisciplinary School and Arizona State University are redefining education.

✅ The role of podcasts and digital storytelling – How institutions like Purdue and Syracuse are using alumni stories to boost their brand.

🎯 Actionable Takeaways for Higher Ed Marketers:

🔹 Stop leading with job outcomes – Many students choose humanities for passion and purpose first. Speak to that.

🔹 Invest in experiential marketing – Prospective students need to feel the value of these programs through events, content, and storytelling.

🔹 Create employer-student connections – Feature real employer testimonials alongside student success stories.

🔹 Build interdisciplinary bridges – Partner humanities programs with STEM to show real-world applications.

🔹 Leverage digital platforms – Whether it’s podcasting, YouTube, or immersive online experiences, universities need to meet students where they are.

Memorable Quotes:

💡 (04:32) “The number one programming language of the future isn’t Python or Java—it’s English.” – Chris Rapozo

💡 (06:59) “Young people aren’t just looking for careers. They’re looking for meaning, purpose, and passion.” – Kyle Campbell

💡 (10:35) “We need universities to stop treating humanities as expendable when critical thinking is more essential than ever.” – Kyle Campbell

💡 (16:08) “The idea of being a thought leader is that you lead with your thoughts. But too often, thought leadership just repeats the same ideas over and over.” – Kyle Campbell

💡 (20:43) “If humanities students graduate with the ability to create and distribute content effectively, they’ll be miles ahead in the job market.” – Kyle Campbell

Resources & Links:

📩 Subscribe to Kyle’s Newsletter: The Education Marketer

📌 Follow Kyle on LinkedIn: Kyle Campbell

Listen to more episodes

#HigherEd #EducationMarketing #Humanities #SHAPE #MarketingLeadership #Podcast

Higher Ed Marketing is at a Crossroads

The demographic cliff is here. Competition is tougher than ever. Institutions are losing talent to the private sector.

So how do we fix it?

I sat down with Suzan Brinker, Co-Founder & CEO at VIV Higher Education and author of Pass/Fail, to unpack what institutions must do to survive the next decade.

Here’s what you need to know:

1. Integrated Growth Planning is Non-Negotiable

Most institutions operate in silos:

❌ Academic affairs picks programs in a vacuum

❌ Marketing chases inquiries without strategy

❌ Enrollment pushes deposits without knowing capacity

💡 The Fix: Break down barriers. Align teams under shared goals. Schools that do this will win.

2. Your Brand Isn’t Just a Logo—It’s Culture

Most colleges spend millions on brand redesigns.

The problem? No one actually believes in them.

✅ A strong brand must be authentic to faculty, staff, & students

✅ Consistency = Trust → If your messaging keeps changing, students & donors walk

✅ Brand is bigger than marketing → It should shape hiring, admissions, and fundraising

3. The Entrepreneurial Mindset Will Separate Winners from Losers

Higher ed moves too slow.

The schools thriving today?

👉 Northeastern University launched 10+ campuses & grew aggressively

👉 Elon University tripled undergrad enrollment over 20 years

❌ Schools that resist change? They’re in trouble.

4. Lead Where You Are

Most institutions don’t have a VP of Cross-Functional Strategy.

So be the person who steps up.

Ask better strategic questions. Push for alignment across departments. Don’t wait for permission to lead.

Listen to the full episode now!

Follow & subscribe to The Education Marketing Leader Podcast for more insights.

What’s the biggest challenge your institution is facing right now?

The higher ed marketing vendor landscape is shifting—fast.

More VC-backed companies.

More consolidations.

More agencies blending into one another.

If you're a higher ed marketer evaluating vendors, you need to know what’s happening behind the scenes.

In this episode, I sat down with Kevin Renton, Principal at Electric Kite and Publisher at Volt Magazine, to break it all down. We covered:

✅ The agency and MarTech landscape – Who’s merging, who’s independent, and how it impacts your institution.

✅ The real risk of vendor conflicts – If your agency serves your competitors, how do they prioritize your success?

✅ Essential tech stack decisions for 2025 – CMS, search, CRM—what really matters and what’s just noise.

✅ The rise of solopreneurs and boutique consultancies – Why top in-house higher ed marketers are going out on their own.

✅ Red flags when evaluating vendors – What to watch for in RFPs, sales pitches, and case studies.

“In any vendor relationship, look at the case studies and references. The demo means nothing if they can’t show real results.” – Kevin Renton

This episode is packed with insights that can help you make smarter vendor decisions and avoid costly mistakes. Give it a listen, and let me know your thoughts!

Listen now.

➡️ Follow Education Marketing Leader for more episodes, and subscribe on your favorite platform to stay ahead in higher ed marketing.

Email isn’t dead. It’s just misused.

On the latest episode of the Education Marketing Leader podcast, I sat down with Day Kibilds (VP of Strategy at Ologie) and Ashley Budd (Senior Director of Advancement Marketing at Cornell University) to talk about crafting higher-ed emails that build relationships, not just fill inboxes.

The duo shared insights from their Amazon bestselling book, Mailed It!

Key Takeaways:

✅ Email is a Relationship Tool, Not a Billboard

Too many higher-ed marketers treat email like a one-way broadcast. Instead, it should be about conversation and trust—or as Day put it, “Closer to a coffee chat than a roadside ad.”

✅ AI Will Force Us to Be Better Marketers

Email providers are using AI to filter what lands in inboxes. This means bad emails get buried faster. If your emails aren’t relevant, clear, and personalized, they won’t even be seen.

✅ Why “Email Blast” Needs to Die

If your strategy is still sending generic emails to everyone, you’re losing. The best emails are segmented, personal, and tied to what the audience actually cares about.

✅ The F-Pattern: Where Eyes Go First

Research shows that readers scan emails in an “F” shape—first the subject line, then the opening, a horizontal scan to a CTA, and a quick left-side skim. Use that to your advantage.

✅ Subject Lines: Drop the Gimmicks

Forget clever tricks—just tell them what’s in the email. 6-9 words. Clear, direct, no fluff. That’s what gets opened.

✅ Your Open Rate Might Be a Lie

ESP filters scan emails before they hit an inbox, inflating open rates. If you’re seeing 20% open rates or lower, you’re in trouble. Start cleaning your list, checking sender reputation, and tracking real engagement.

🎙️ Listen in to get the full breakdown.

📕 Want more? Grab a copy of Mailed It! and try their AI-powered email assistant at emailbook.co.

Subscribe to the Education Marketing Leader Podcast for more expert insights on higher-ed marketing.

In this special episode of the Education Marketing Leader Podcast, we're diving into the highlights of our Education Marketing Leader Book Club meeting, where we discussed the book Epic Content Marketing for Higher Education by Brian Piper! 📚

We were thrilled to have Brian Piper, Director of Content Strategy at the University of Rochester join us.

Brian answered questions and shared valuable insights on how higher-ed institutions can leverage content marketing to build trust, engage prospective students, and drive meaningful results.

Here's what you'll get in this episode:

✅ Key takeaways from Brian's book and how it's reshaping content strategies in higher-ed

✅ Real-world insights from book club members who are implementing these strategies at their institutions

✅ How content marketing can shift from "selling" to "serving" the needs of prospective students

✅ Practical tips on using storytelling to amplify your institution's impact

✅ A glimpse into Brian's next steps in content marketing and future projects

This episode is a must-listen if you want to elevate your higher-ed marketing game.

Whether you're part of a small team or a large marketing department, you'll find actionable advice on how to start thinking about content marketing as a long-term strategy, not just a quick fix.

Listen Now on the Education Marketing Leader Podcast and catch all the insights!

If you're in higher education and marketing, consider joining the book club.

https://www.linkedin.com/groups/13140172/

Until next time. ✌️

Higher education is facing a trust crisis.

Institutions are under scrutiny.

And instead of leaning into transparency, many are doubling down on restrictive social media policies for staff! 😲

But what if faculty and staff voices are exactly what’s needed to rebuild credibility and trust?

On the latest episode of The Education Marketing Leader, I sat down with Scott Cline, Ed.D., Founder of Scott Cline Consulting, to discuss why colleges should empower, not silence, their employees on social media.

Key Takeaways:

🔹 Trust in Higher Ed is at an All-Time Low

Research from Campus Sonar highlights that students and families are skeptical of institutions. The solution? Authenticity, not silence!

🔹 Restrictive Social Media Policies Are Backfiring

Limiting staff posts leads to disengagement. Instead of shutting down conversations, institutions should equip employees with tools and guidelines.

🔹 Staff Are the Best Brand Advocates

People engage more with humans than with brands. An official university page might struggle for traction, but when staff share their experiences, it resonates.

🔹 Authenticity Wins Over Highly-Curated Content

Prospective students want to know what life is really like at a university, not just the polished marketing version.

🔹 Training and Guidelines Over Scripts

Staff don’t need to go viral, but they do need encouragement, resources, and the freedom to showcase the work they do every day. Institutions can either embrace staff advocacy or continue losing trust.

Employees are already on social media.

The question is, will universities support them or stifle them?

👉 Follow the podcast for more insights from top higher-ed marketing leaders.

👉 Connect with Scott on LinkedIn and continue the discussion.

👉 Share this post with your network, and help elevate the voices shaping the future of higher ed marketing!

🎙️ Catch the full episode and never miss an insight.

Let’s lead the way in higher-ed marketing together!

In the latest episode of the Education Marketing Leader Podcast, I sat down with Granit Doshlaku, Co-Founder and Chief Strategy Officer at Manaferra.

We discussed how AI-powered search transforms SEO and what it means for higher-ed marketers.

Granit shared actionable insights to help you stay ahead in this rapidly evolving space.

Here are three key takeaways from the episode:

1️⃣ Expect Quality Over Quantity

AI-driven search is reshaping traffic patterns. While you may see fewer visitors overall, those who land on your site will have stronger intent. This shift makes it even more critical to optimize for conversions rather than chasing keywords and traffic volume.

2️⃣ Voice Search is Coming

With advancements in AI, voice search is finally becoming practical. Students will ask conversational queries like, “What’s the best cybersecurity degree program?” Ensure your content is optimized to answer these questions clearly and concisely.

3️⃣ Authority Still Matters

Backlinks remain crucial—even in AI search. Granit emphasized that building meaningful, relevant links can make a significant impact on your rankings. Focus on earning mentions from trusted sources in your niche to stand out.

As search diversifies with tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity, creating helpful, people-first content remains the cornerstone of a successful strategy.

👉 Don’t miss this episode!

Follow the Education Marketing Leader Podcast for more insights, and connect with Granit Doshlaku and me here on LinkedIn. Let us know your thoughts!

#HigherEdMarketing #SEO #AI #VoiceSearch #DigitalMarketing

Season 3 of Education Marketing Leader is here!

I kicked it off with Dan Giroux, former AVP at Drexel University and Principal at DJG Marketing LLC, to discuss a pivotal shift for advancement teams:

Evolving from reactive service providers to proactive strategic partners.

Dan predicts 2025 will be a defining year for higher-ed advancement.

Here’s how teams can adapt 👇

𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞: Advancement is a revenue-generating powerhouse.

𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Build cross-campus relationships to align on strategy.

𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐲: AI tools streamline workflows and free up time for strategic work.

𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐚: Metrics validate impact and refine strategies.

𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐬: Focus on what matters. Strategic clarity is non-negotiable!

𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩𝐬: Trust fosters collaboration and long-term buy-in.

💡 Actionable Tips for Leaders:

👉 Clarify team priorities aligned with institutional goals.

👉 Upskill staff and adopt AI tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity.

👉 Use data to measure success and secure leadership support.

👉 Break silos by collaborating with MarCom and stakeholders.

Dan also highlighted the value of co-ops and internships, which is a win-win for students and institutions. 🎙️

What’s Next?

Dan’s upcoming Enrollify mini-series on AI for advancement teams is a must-watch!

Follow the Education Marketing Leader podcast for more insights, connect with Dan, sign up to his newsletter, and listen to the full episode to transform your advancement strategy for 2025.

Until next time ✌

In this episode of The Education Marketing Leader, I talk with Mike Barzacchini, Director of Marketing Services at Harper College, about how to stop being seen as a service desk, and start being viewed as a strategic leader.

Mike shares how his team made that shift by putting strategy first, building credibility through clear planning frameworks, and creating a culture of collaboration with leadership.

One of the biggest takeaways:

Slow down to move smarter.

Key ideas you’ll hear:

• How Harper’s 55-page goals and outcomes doc keeps everyone aligned
• The value of creative briefs to control scope creep
• Why “more isn’t better. Better is better” needs to be your north star
• What it really takes to build trust with leadership and reset expectations

We also get into internal culture, onboarding for mindset alignment, and the power of informal channels like Microsoft Teams to build team cohesion in hybrid settings.

🎣 Bonus: Mike’s son runs the YouTube channel John B., with 1.8M+ subscribers. If you’re into fishing, check it out.

🎧 Listen now and follow The Education Marketing Leader for more real conversations with higher ed marketers who get it.

A special thank you to Mariah Tang of Stamats for the introduction.

🎙️ 𝐄𝐩𝐢𝐬𝐨𝐝𝐞 𝟏𝟎𝟎: Full-Circle Moment with Voltaire Santos Miran on Storytelling in Higher Ed.

In this milestone episode, I welcome Voltaire Santos Miran, Executive Vice President, Creative at Carnegie, the guest who unknowingly inspired this podcast’s creation and helped shape my approach to higher ed marketing.

Our conversation explores some powerful storytelling principles, here are a few:

🎯 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐚𝐬 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐨𝐞𝐬, 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

Voltaire stresses that while universities often focus on their own accolades, it’s the students who should be the true heroes of their storytelling.

Positioning the institution as the “guide” in each student’s journey resonates more deeply and creates lasting connections.

🎯 𝐁𝐞𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐞 “𝐒𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝟕 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐞𝐬”

Most universities share the same selling points—great faculty, strong alumni, and global opportunities—but Voltaire challenges us to go further.

Authentic, unique stories about real student experiences reveal what makes an institution genuinely distinct.

Want to elevate your storytelling?

🎧 Listen to the full episode for Voltaire’s insights, and connect with him on LinkedIn for more on human-centered higher-ed marketing!

#HigherEducation #Marketing #Storytelling

Breaking the Higher Ed Social Media Mold - A Conversation with Brianna Blackburn

This week on Education Marketing Leader, I spoke with Brianna Blackburn, Assistant Director of Social Media Brand Strategy at Bowling Green State University (BGSU).

BGSU's social media efforts ranked #6 nationwide (and #1 in Ohio) – outperforming much larger institutions like OSU.

Here's how they're doing it. 👇

𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐑𝐞𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 & 𝐄𝐦𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

Brianna's team excels at creating content that feels real. Rather than just highlighting achievements, they dive into stories that connect with audiences on an emotional level—be it humor, nostalgia, or campus pride.

𝐓𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐓𝐚𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐭

As a former student intern herself, Brianna believes in the power of student-driven social media. Her team includes Gen Z interns who know what resonates with their peers, bringing authenticity and insider knowledge to the brand.

𝐌𝐢𝐱𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐝𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐜, 𝐎𝐧-𝐭𝐡𝐞-𝐅𝐥𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭

BGSU balances professional video content with timely, in-the-moment updates (think iPhone photos of game days). This approach keeps the content dynamic and relevant, giving followers the best of both worlds.

𝐂𝐚𝐩𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐧 𝐓𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐝𝐬

From new album drops to pop culture moments, BGSU plans content around trending events to expand its reach. By posting at the right moment, the team keeps BGSU in the social media conversation, extending beyond the typical campus bubble.

𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 & 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠

Social media is a two-way street at BGSU. Brianna's team engages with commenters, sends out BGSU swag to loyal followers, and works to build a strong online community. It's more than content—it's connection.

Higher Ed Takeaway: Authenticity, emotional connection, and leveraging student talent are the keys to real engagement.

Don't miss this episode!

Subscribe to the Education Marketing Leader podcast for more insights, and connect with Brianna Blackburn to stay up-to-date on social media strategies that make a real impact.

#HigherEdMarketing #SocialMedia #EducationMarketing #BGSU

In the latest episode of Education Marketing Leader, I sat down with Tony Sheridan, Marketing and Communications Manager at KAUST (King Abdullah University of Science and Technology) in Saudi Arabia.

Tony’s journey from Ireland to leading marketing at one of the world’s most innovative universities offers valuable insights for higher ed marketers navigating change and building inclusive campaigns.

🔑 Key Takeaways for Higher Ed Marketers

♦ Unconventional Paths Are Powerful:

Tony’s transition from woodworking to social media and marketing demonstrates that non-linear careers can lead to success in higher education marketing.

🤝 Cultural Adaptation is Key:

Moving from Ireland to Saudi Arabia required a shift in brand voice. "Always engage a “cultural broker” to catch potential blind spots when entering new markets," Tony says.

🤜 🤛 Co-Created Content Drives Engagement:

Tony’s 6-step model—Recruit, Regulate, Resource, Reward, Reach, Repeat—empowers students and alumni to become storytellers, aligning authentic voices with institutional goals.

🏛️ Campaigns Must Align with Strategic Pillars: Tony learned the importance of diversity and inclusion firsthand: “We ran a campaign featuring 11 men and only one woman, and the backlash made it clear we needed to rethink our approach.”

KAUST: Innovation and Impact

♦ First mixed-gender university in Saudi Arabia.

♦ Ranked #1 globally for research citations.

♦ Technology partner with McLaren F1, without any marketing spend.

What’s Next for KAUST?

With a new leadership team and a focus on commercializing research, KAUST is shifting toward real-world impact and social relevance.

The future of marketing lies in storytelling that connects research to everyday lives. 💬 How is your institution leveraging authentic content?

👉 Connect with Tony on LinkedIn.

🎙 Don’t miss this episode for actionable insights on inclusive marketing, strategic storytelling, and driving engagement in higher education.

#HigherEdMarketing #InclusiveContent #CoCreatedContent #MarketingInnovation #EducationTransformation

This week on The Education Marketing Leader, I had the pleasure of speaking with Ryan Koral, founder of Tell Studios and Enroll Films.

Ryan is a video storyteller with a mission to reshape how higher education communicates.

If you care about authentic storytelling, student engagement, and video strategies that actually work, this episode is for you.

Here are 3 powerful takeaways:

📽 Embed Native Videos on University Sites

❌ Don’t funnel visitors to YouTube.

✅ Keep them on your homepage to control the experience and drive meaningful action.

Ryan explains that YouTube's "vortex" often sends visitors down unrelated rabbit holes—away from your enrollment funnel.

🫶 Story-Driven Video > Promo Video

❌ Forget flashy promos.

✅ The best video content captures transformation stories—like the one Ryan shared about his alma mater’s basketball coach, Garth.

These emotional narratives resonate with prospects, parents, and donors alike.

💸 Not Every Video Needs High Production Value

📹 Ryan believes there's a time for polished videos (like donor galas) and a time for authentic, raw content. 🤳

Sometimes, a well-timed, smartphone-recorded clip can engage Gen Z students better than a cinematic masterpiece.

Know your audience and plan accordingly.

Ryan also shared practical strategies for institutions with tight budgets:

♦ Use affordable tools like softbox lights, tripods, and mics.

♦ Build a dedicated content space on campus, ready to shoot at any time.

♦ Leverage tools like Descript for fast, efficient video editing without the steep learning curve.

Get Ryan’s Gear Guide & Strategy Checklist at enrollfilms.com/gear.

🤝 Connect with Ryan on LinkedIn here and learn more about how video storytelling can transform your institution.

🤔 What’s your current approach to video content?

Are you embedding videos on your site or still relying on YouTube?

Let’s talk about how higher ed can step up its video game.

Drop a comment below 👇

Until next time. ✌

#HigherEdMarketing #VideoStorytelling #EnrollmentMarketing

Higher Ed budgets are tight, but delivering a seamless user experience (UX) shouldn't be out of reach.

In this week's episode of the Education Marketing Leader podcast, I had the pleasure of speaking with Melanie Lindahl, Senior UX and Web Designer/Developer at The University of Texas School of Law and newly minted 2024 HighEdWeb Red Stapler Award winner. 🏆

Melanie shared key takeaways from her award-winning presentation, highlighting the power of low-budget UX strategies for universities and colleges of any size.

Below are the 3 most actionable insights from our conversation:

1️⃣ Start Small: You Don't Need a Big Budget

"Even with limited resources, UX work is still incredibly important," says Melanie. You don't need expensive tools to conduct user research—surveys and quick tests can be invaluable and require minimal budget.

👉 Pro Tip: Use a simple survey to identify user pain points at the beginning of a project—it'll save time and money down the line.

2️⃣ Test, Don't Assume

Melanie emphasized the importance of testing early.

"If you're unsure about a design decision, don't just rely on assumptions. Do quick tests with real users—even if it's over donuts!" 🍩

💡 Takeaway: Don't be afraid to ask students for feedback, no matter how small the test may seem.

3️⃣ Demonstrate the ROI of UX to Leadership

One of the biggest challenges Melanie highlighted is justifying UX investments to leadership.

Her advice?

Show how UX improves both user experience and business goals. The ROI is clear—better UX means less post-launch troubleshooting, saving both time and budget.

What's one small step you can take today to improve your university's UX?

For more on budget-friendly UX strategies that deliver real results, catch the full episode with Melanie Lindahl!

If you're in higher education marketing, this episode is packed with actionable tips you can apply right now.

Listen to the episodes now.

Until next time. ✌

In today’s episode of the Education Marketing Leader podcast, I spoke with Melissa Greiner, VP of Marketing at CampusESP, about the crucial role parents play in the entire student journey – from the college selection process to graduation. 🎓👩‍🎓

Here's what we uncovered:

👉 Parent Engagement is Evolving

Colleges are recognizing that families are central to decision-making. Today's students WANT their parents involved, so institutions must adapt to meet this need. 👪

👉 Finding the Right Communication Mix

Email remains the go-to for parents – it's where they spend the most time. But when urgency is needed, SMS texting breaks through the clutter and drives action. 📩📱

👉 Overcoming Challenges in Communication

Limited time, money, and people? We hear you! 📉

Institutions need tools that not only streamline communication but also offer content support, making it easier to connect with parents effectively without adding extra strain on resources.

👉 Tailored Content is King

Blanket communications just don't cut it anymore. ❌ Personalization is key. By leveraging CRM integrations, schools can ensure that newsletters and portals provide parents with only the most relevant information.

👉 Boosting Student Retention Through Parent Engagement

Parents often act as the first line of support when students face challenges, whether it’s academic struggles or navigating the complexities of campus life. 🧑‍💻📚

Data shows that students with engaged parents have up to an 8% higher retention rate.

"Today's students turn to their families as advisors. If schools aren't communicating effectively with parents, they're missing a key part of the decision-making process." – Melissa Greiner 🎯

Engaging parents is about more than just sending information; it's about delivering meaningful, relevant content that supports students from admission to graduation.

🎧 If you want to dive deeper into these insights, catch the full episode on the [Education Marketing Leader podcast]. 🎙️

👉 Follow Melissa Greiner for more on parent engagement strategies and subscribe to the show for the latest trends in higher ed marketing!

Until next time. ✌️

#HigherEdMarketing #ParentEngagement #StudentSuccess #EducationMarketingLeader

Marketing Non-JD Law Programs: Lessons from Wake Forest University School of Law

In the latest podcast episode of the Education Marketing Leader podcast, I spoke with Tara Ebrahimi, Executive Director of Marketing & Communications at Wake Forest University School of Law.

We covered how to market niche, non-JD programs effectively.

Here are the key takeaways for higher-ed law school marketers:

1️⃣ Quick and Clear Messaging is Essential

Tara emphasized that explaining the program's benefits in a few seconds is crucial for grabbing attention.

2️⃣ Different Programs, Different Strategies

MSL: Wake Forest uses a multi-pronged approach—digital marketing, B2B outreach, regional ads, and social media campaigns. The focus is on highlighting why someone needs this degree and why Wake Forest is the best choice.

LLM: For international students, her team relies heavily on partnerships with alumni networks. This builds credibility in markets where Wake Forest isn't as well-known.

3️⃣ Leverage Alumni Networks

Alumni success stories are a key component of marketing both programs. Wake Forest recently launched a LinkedIn group for LLM alumni, turning them into ambassadors and tapping into organic word-of-mouth marketing.

4️⃣ Prioritize the Right Metrics

Conversion rates (both RFIs and applications) are the main success metric. Tara also uses engagement data, like click-through rates, to assess what's working and where to make adjustments.

Connect Tara on LinkedIn to continue the conversation.

For more on Wake Forest's law programs, visit its website.

This episode is packed with actionable insights for marketing niche academic programs.

Don't miss it.

Until next time. ✌

#HigherEdMarketing #LawSchoolMarketing

Higher education websites are complex.

Outdated content mixed with new information makes it hard for visitors to find what they need.

In this episode of the Education Marketing Leader podcast, Sara Kelzer of Cludo shares how optimized site search can simplify this and help universities improve user experience.

Here are the highlights:

🚩 Challenges in Higher Ed Websites

Universities face hurdles like decentralized content management and complex structures.

Sara explains how this creates friction for visitors trying to find key information, especially students seeking details on tuition, programs, and more.

💡 Why Optimized Site Search Matters

Cludo's search tools help reduce friction, making it easier for users to find relevant content.

By prioritizing data-driven decisions, institutions can manage their site more effectively, reducing internal politics about what content should rank higher.

🔍 Leveraging Search Analytics

Key metrics like ineffective searches and zero-result searches help universities spot gaps in their content.

Sara shared how one institution used this data to redirect users to another college for a discontinued program, showing the power of smart search.

📱 Mobile Search Optimization

With 20-40% of searches happening on mobile, Sara emphasizes keeping filters simple and ensuring relevant content appears quickly on mobile devices.

🎓 Engaging Alumni

Site search isn't just for students—it can also boost alumni engagement.

Cludo allows cross-campus searches, helping alumni find relevant events or news that strengthen affinity with the institution.

💡 Key Takeaways:

1. Use search analytics to identify and fix content gaps.
2. Optimize mobile search for a seamless experience.
3. Leverage site search to engage both prospective students and alumni.

🔥 Actionable Tip:

Check your site search analytics today. Are visitors finding what they need?

Connect with Sara on LinkedIn to learn how Cludo can improve your site search.

Don't forget to follow the Education Marketing Leader podcast, share the episode, or leave a review of the show.

Until next time. ✌️

In this episode of Education Marketing Leader podcast, I interviewed Sherika Attipoe, Assistant Director of Public Relations and Digital Media at Calhoun Community College. Sherika shared insightful strategies on how the college has successfully used personalized digital advertising to boost enrollment.

Calhoun is a leading community college in Alabama.

Sherika explains how the institution's focus on personalization and targeted campaigns helps it stand out in a competitive higher education market.

She dove deep into the tactics and tools that work best for Calhoun's diverse audiences.

She highlighted how the college's partnerships, accelerated programs, and workforce development initiatives have become key selling points for prospective students.

Whether you're a marketing professional in higher education or simply interested in the power of digital ads in attracting your audience, this episode is packed with actionable insights and proven strategies that you can apply to your own campaigns.

Key Topics Covered:

[5:15] The unique partnership with Athens State University and how it enhances the student experience.

[10:20] How personalized digital ads and accelerated programs drive enrollment.

[18:00] Platforms that work best for Calhoun's digital ads: Facebook, YouTube, and Twitch.

[22:35] The power of personalization in marketing and how Calhoun uses student success stories in their ads.

[38:00] Advice for small marketing teams on enhancing their digital strategies.

"It's not just about advertising a program; it's about showing potential students that they belong here, that they can see themselves succeeding at Calhoun." – Sherika Attipoe

Connect with Sherika: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sherikaattipoe/

Resources Mentioned: Calhoun Community College: https://calhoun.edu/

Athens State University Partnership: https://calhoun.edu/calhoun-and-athens-state-sign-new-learning-assessment-mou-to-enhance-educational-pathways/

Subscribe and Follow.

Stay updated with the latest episodes of Education Marketing Leader by subscribing on your favorite podcast platform.

If you found this episode helpful, please leave a review and share it with your network!

How do you use digital ads in your marketing strategy?

Share your thoughts with Sherika and me on LinkedIn!

In the latest episode of the Education Marketing Leader, I interviewed Dustin Ramsdell, Client Success Manager at Direct Development and host of The Higher Ed Geek Podcast.

We dove into the evolving landscape of Online Program Management (OPM) services and what universities need to know as the sector faces growing challenges.

𝓚𝓮𝔂 𝓗𝓲𝓰𝓱𝓵𝓲𝓰𝓱𝓽𝓼:

𝐎𝐏𝐌𝐬 𝐋𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐆𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝

Universities are shifting away from the traditional OPM model due to rising costs and diminishing returns. The recent bankruptcy filing by 2U, a leading OPM, signals a broader trend where institutions are reconsidering long-term, revenue-sharing contracts.

𝐄𝐧𝐫𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐂𝐥𝐢𝐟𝐟 & 𝐂𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐬

Many institutions are opting to develop and manage their own online programs, avoiding the hefty fees OPMs require.

As Dustin points out, while building in-house capabilities is more resource-intensive upfront, it offers institutions full control over their programs and branding.

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐑𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐅𝐞𝐞-𝐟𝐨𝐫-𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞

The new model gaining traction? Online Program Enablers (OPEs).

Instead of long-term partnerships, universities are moving toward short-term, fee-for-service agreements to meet specific needs, like video production or instructional design, without sacrificing control or profitability.

𝐌𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐭𝐚'𝐬 𝐁𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐌𝐨𝐯𝐞

In a significant policy shift, Minnesota became the first state to ban OPM partnerships with public institutions, setting a precedent that could influence future federal regulations.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭’𝐬 𝐍𝐞𝐱𝐭?

Dustin believes the future of OPMs lies in a more flexible, service-based approach. Universities can use external partners strategically to scale operations without being tied to costly revenue-sharing contracts.

𝐌𝐞𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡

🔹 Cost of acquiring students

🔹 Program scalability

🔹 Quality control in in-house programs

🎙 Tune in for more insights on how higher-ed institutions are navigating the digital shift and what it means for the future of online learning.

Connect with Dustin on LinkedIn or check out The Higher Ed Geek Podcast for more discussions on the future of higher education.

Until next time. ✌

#HigherEducation #EducationMarketing #OPM #DigitalEducation #EnrollmentStrategies #MarketingInHigherEd

On the latest episode of the Education Marketing Leader podcast, I interviewed Laura Rudolph, founder of Square One Consulting and former higher-ed marketer at Transylvania and Marshall University.

We talked about the two audiences that are often overlooked in enrollment strategy: parents and high school counselors.

Laura put it plainly: "Parents aren't along for the ride. They're driving the car. Counselors? They're the GPS."

It's something we don't talk about enough in higher ed marketing.

We spend so much time crafting campaigns for students that we overlook the people shaping the decisions behind the scenes.

In this conversation, Laura shared practical strategies she's used at small, regional colleges, where teams are lean and time is tight, to engage parents and counselors in ways that actually move the needle.

A few takeaways that stuck with me:

▪️ Students will share parent contact info. You just have to ask and give a reason. "We want to send them info you might not care about, like billing, safety, or support services." That framing works.

▪️Parents don't need polished campaigns. They need clear, timely answers: What's this going to cost? Will my kid be safe? What's the return?

▪️Counselor newsletters aren't dead, but the old way of doing them is. Personalized student status emails with real-time application updates? That's what gets opened and acted on.

▪️Text reminders to parents before deadlines (like enrollment forms) are simple to set up and can drastically reduce melt.

Laura also brought up something I think more teams should consider: Surveying your own parents and counselors.

Ask what worked.

What didn't. What felt helpful or missing.

You don't need a 20-question Qualtrics form.

Even five quick questions can give you the insight to make next cycle smoother.

If you're trying to build stronger relationships with the people who influence your prospective students most, this episode is for you.

Follow and subscribe to the Education Marketing Leader wherever you get your podcasts.

In this episode of the Education Marketing Leader podcast, I sat down with Dr. Tim Collins, President of Walsh University, to explore the vital role university presidents play in shaping and executing effective marketing strategies.

Dr. Tim Collins is the President of Walsh University, with a distinguished background in the United States Air Force and a career dedicated to education and leadership.

His innovative approach to university marketing has made him a prominent figure in higher education, known for his commitment to developing leaders of character.

Whether you're a higher-ed marketer or a university leader, this episode is packed with actionable insights on leveraging leadership in marketing.

𝕂𝕖𝕪 𝕋𝕒𝕜𝕖𝕒𝕨𝕒𝕪𝕤:

𝐋𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: Dr. Collins views marketing as a crucial leadership tool, essential for aligning university values with public perception.

𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐈𝐬 𝐊𝐞𝐲: Authenticity in communication builds trust and credibility. Dr. Collins uses videos and public messages to consistently reinforce Walsh University's values.

𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Effective leadership requires time for reflection and strategic preparation. Give leaders time to reflect and craft messages that resonate.

𝐍𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐬: Communicating institutional values in a culturally sensitive environment is one of the biggest challenges in higher education today.

𝐄𝐧𝐠𝐚𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠: Dr. Collins encourages higher-ed marketers to involve their presidents in marketing efforts, starting with small, actionable steps.

𝚁𝚎𝚜𝚘𝚞𝚛𝚌𝚎𝚜 𝙼𝚎𝚗𝚝𝚒𝚘𝚗𝚎𝚍: 📹 Walsh University YouTube Channel – Watch Dr. Collins' videos to see how he integrates leadership into marketing. 🖥 Walsh University Website – Learn more about the university and its programs.

🤝 Connect with Dr. Collins on LinkedIn – Follow Dr. Collins for more insights on leadership and higher education. Don't miss out on future episodes.

Subscribe to the podcast on your favorite platform.

Reach out to Dr. Collins on LinkedIn or visit Walsh University's website to learn more about his work.

Enjoying the show?

Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts to help others discover the podcast.

Stay updated on all things higher-ed marketing by following the Education Marketing Leader podcast on LinkedIn and YouTube.

Until next time. ✌

In this episode of the Education Marketing Leader Podcast, I spoke with Drake DelosSantos, Public Relations Manager at Midlands Technical College, about a topic we can all get behind:

The value of internships for our students.

Drake made it clear—internships aren’t just a nice-to-have; they’re essential.

For students, internships offer a taste of the real world, helping them figure out if their chosen field is truly the right fit.

Drake’s internship experience was pivotal, guiding him from internal communications to a career in external media and community relations.

This is where students can really find their footing.

In higher-ed marketing, we know the importance of connections.

But are we teaching our students the same?

Drake’s mentor played a crucial role in his career, even helping him land his current job.

Internships allow students to build a network that can open doors long after graduation.

At Midlands Tech, they’re not just filling internship spots—they’re creating opportunities that elevate the college’s brand.

Drake highlighted a unique project where students send research to the International Space Station, a major PR victory that showcases the real-world impact of the college’s programs.

Drake shared some success stories, like the former intern who’s now Midlands Tech’s Digital Coordinator.

Her work in social media has significantly boosted the college’s presence.

We should aim to highlight these outcomes in our comms strategies—showcasing how internships lead directly to successful careers.

For those in higher-ed marketing, promoting internships isn’t just about filling a requirement—it’s about setting students up for success.

Internships give students the experience, skills, and connections they need to thrive in their careers, and they also provide our institutions with incredible stories to tell.

Want to connect with Drake and hear more?

He’s on LinkedIn: Drake DelosSantos.

Until next time✌️

#HigherEdMarketing #StudentSuccess #Internships #PR

College and university leaders increasingly consider mergers and acquisitions to address financial, demographic, and operational pressures.

But what happens when the dust settles and it's time to merge not just the institutions but their digital identities?

When Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania faced the challenge of consolidating three distinct universities—Bloomsburg, Lockhaven, and Mansfield—into one cohesive entity, unifying their websites was monumental.

My latest guest on the Education Marketing Leader podcast, Jacob Eiden, the university's former Web Content Specialist, helped spearhead this complex digital overhaul.

Key Insights from the episode:

𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐈𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐀𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐭𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐬

Each campus operated on different content management systems (CMS). The solution? Migrate everything to a unified CMS, ensuring a seamless user experience across all campuses.

𝐌𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐋𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐜𝐲 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐈𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐲

Despite the merger, each campus's individual identities were preserved. From mascots to campus colors, students and alumni still see the essence of their original institutions reflected in the new digital space.

𝐎𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐨𝐬

Jacob's team prioritized essential content, conducting rigorous audits to ensure only relevant and updated information made it to the new site.

𝐒𝐄𝐎 𝐎𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐳𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲

Redirects were meticulously planned, ensuring users searching for legacy URLs were seamlessly guided to the new content.

𝐀𝐝𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐅𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞

A university realignment required adjusting strategies mid-project, showcasing the importance of being nimble and responsive.

Jacob's story underscores the importance of adaptability, meticulous planning, and stakeholder communication in large-scale digital projects.

His advice for institutions facing similar challenges?

Engage stakeholders early, be transparent about changes, and always stay flexible.

💡 Are you facing a website consolidation at your institution? Connect with Jacob Eiden on LinkedIn to leverage his expertise.

He's currently #openforwork.

Listen to the full episode for more insights and strategies from Jacob Eiden.

Don't miss out on the valuable lessons for anyone navigating the complexities of higher education digital transformation.

Until next time. 🎙️

#HigherEd #WebDevelopment #DigitalTransformation #ContentStrategy #SEO #StakeholderEngagement #ChangeManagement

In the latest episode of the Education Marketing Leader podcast, I had the pleasure of sitting down with Jonathan Fonseca, Digital Marketing Specialist at Cape Cod Community College.

Jonathan's journey from the fast-paced world of television news to finding his passion in community colleges is a testament to the power of following your true calling.

Jonathan's career took a transformative turn when he moved from reporting and editing in television news to a role in digital marketing at Cape Cod Community College.

Here, he discovered the unique impact he could make by telling authentic stories that resonate with prospective students.

At Cape Cod Community College, Jonathan is deeply committed to a student-first approach on social media, particularly on Instagram, where the focus is on sharing real, unpolished experiences that offer a genuine glimpse into campus life.

For Jonathan, the key to managing the many hats he wears—from social media to video production and digital advertising—lies in staying organized and prioritizing authenticity over perfection.

He's a strong advocate for using tools like Notion to streamline his workflow, allowing him to keep everything in-house and maintain a consistent, authentic voice across all platforms.

One of Jonathan's most powerful insights was his perspective on the evolving nature of social media in higher education marketing.

He emphasized that today's audiences crave authenticity over polished, generic content.

"If you're posting graphics on your social media, stop. People want faces; they want authenticity," Jonathan advised, highlighting the shift toward more relatable, human-centered content.

Jonathan's story is inspiring and practical for higher-ed marketers looking to make a real impact.

His journey underscores the importance of staying true to authenticity and connection, especially in a digital landscape increasingly driven by real, relatable content.

If you're eager to elevate your digital marketing efforts with these principles, don't miss this insightful episode of the Education Marketing Leader podcast.

Until next time. ✌️

#marketing #highereducation #higheredmarketing #socialmedia #communitycollege

In the latest episode of the Education Marketing Leader podcast, I spoke with Ardis Kadiu, Founder and CEO of Element451, to debunk 10 common myths about AI in higher education marketing.

Ardis Kadiu is a leading expert in AI for higher education. Element451, his AI-first student engagement platform and CRM, enhances the student journey from initial contact to graduation.

His insights are invaluable for higher education marketing professionals. Ardis addressed the following myths in during the episode:

Myth 1: AI Will Replace

Our Jobs Ardis clarified that AI augments human capabilities, handling mundane tasks and allowing marketers to focus on strategic work.

Myth 2: AI is Only for Tech Experts

AI technology is highly accessible, with English as the primary "programming language" thanks to conversational interfaces.

Myth 3: AI Tools Are Too Expensive

Many advanced AI tools are free or low-cost, providing significant value to institutions of all sizes.

Myth 4: AI Can't Understand Human Emotions

Generative AI models can recognize and respond empathetically to nuanced human emotions, enhancing student interactions.

Myth 5: AI is a One-Size-Fits-All Solution

AI tools can be customized to meet specific institutional needs, making them versatile and adaptable.

To get answers to the following five myths, you'll have to listen in.

Number 8 is a game-changer!

Myth 6: Implementing AI is Too Complex and Time-Consuming

Myth 7: AI Lacks Creativity

Myth 8: AI Poses Significant Privacy Risks

Myth 9: AI Detectors Can Always Identify AI-Generated Content

Myth 10: AI Changes Too Quickly to Keep Up

To learn more about AI in higher education marketing, connect with Ardis on LinkedIn.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ardis/

Check out his Generation AI podcast on the Enrollify Network and follow Element451.

https://www.enrollify.org/podcasts/generation-ai-podcast

This episode is packed with practical insights and debunks many myths surrounding AI in higher education marketing.

Take advantage of this valuable discussion! Until next time. ✌️

In this episode of the Education Marketing Leader podcast, I spoke with Dan Baum, Executive Director of Strategic Communications at Anne Arundel Community College.

Dan shares his extensive experience in education marketing, the importance of building healthy and high-performing teams, and how to prepare the next generation of higher education marketing leaders.

Dan has been with Anne Arundel Community College for 13 years, bringing a wealth of experience from his background in education marketing.

Before joining AACC, Dan ran two education-focused non-profits.

He is a certified life coach and hosts the podcast "Redefine U."

Key Points Discussed:

1. Building a Healthy and High-Performing Team: Emphasizing collaboration, trust, support, and shared values within the team.
2. Cultural Fit in Recruitment: Importance of a team approach in the hiring process to ensure a good cultural fit.
3. Emotional Bonds and Farewells: Highlighting the importance of genuine connections and support within the team.
4. Evolving Leadership Styles: Transitioning from a traditional leadership approach to a more compassionate, human-centered style.
5. Encouraging Creativity: Supporting team members in pushing creative boundaries while maintaining institutional integrity.
6. Continuous Learning and Curiosity: Fostering a culture of ongoing learning and curiosity within the team.
7. Future Vision for Higher Ed Marketing: Embracing new technologies while maintaining fundamental values like relationships, integrity, and authenticity.

Notable Quotes:

• "Trust and collaboration are the cornerstones of a healthy and high-performing team."
• "A healthy team is built on open communication, shared values, and genuine support for one another."
• "Evolving as a leader means unlearning old habits and adopting a more human-centered approach."

Resources Mentioned:

• Podcast: Redefine U
• Book: Deep Work by Cal Newport
• CliftonStrengths Assessment: CliftonStrengths

Connect with Dan Baum:

• LinkedIn: Dan Baum at AACC

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review on your favorite podcast platform and share it with your network.

For more insights on education marketing, follow Chris Rapozo on LinkedIn.

Until next time! ✌️

My latest guest on the Education Marketing Leader told me, "I can't do anything for you," when I met her for the first time at NCMPR this March.

What she meant was she was no longer in the market.I was there as a vendor, and she, a retired higher ed marketer, was an attendee.

"You can talk with me," I responded, and that's what we did.

I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Sally Cameron, Communication Strategist at ThreeC Strategy and former VP of College Communications at Bristol Community College (31 years!).

She's also the former president of the National Council for Marketing & Public Relations (NCMPR).

Here's what you should know:

𝐌𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐢𝐬 𝐂𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥

Sally emphasized the importance of mentorship. Her own career was shaped by a mentor who taught her to think strategically and manage budgets. She passed on that legacy.

𝐇𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥

Sally often hired people who might not have had the most experience but had a strong passion and desire to excel.

𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

She used practical tasks like creating recruitment campaigns to assess potential hires. This approach helped her understand a candidate's creativity and decision-making skills.

𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐔𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝

Sally was a pioneer in adopting new technologies at Bristol Community College. She introduced the college's first Facebook page and emphasized the importance of staying updated with new tools and technologies. Her boldness earned her Paragon Awards.

𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐄𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭

Creating a supportive environment where effort is valued over perfection is key. Sally protected her team from the consequences of mistakes and encouraged learning from experiences.

𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐀𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐄𝐝 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬:

Always be learning. Stay curious and keep up with new trends and technologies.

Know your audience.

Communicate in a way that resonates with them and fulfills their needs.

Connect with Sally:

Email: SallyCC@comcast.net

LinkedIn: Sally Cameron

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review and share your thoughts.

Your feedback helps me improve and reach more highly educated marketing professionals.

Until next time. ✌️

"A well-structured content calendar is your secret weapon in higher ed marketing."

I recently had the pleasure of hosting Rita Winthrop, a talented Freelance Copywriter and former Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admissions at Salve Regina University, on the latest episode of the Education Marketing Leader podcast.

Rita's extensive experience in higher education and content creation made her the perfect fit to discuss establishing a successful content strategy via a structured content calendar.

Rita spent 7-8 years working in admissions and marketing communications at the university.

After transitioning to College Board and Element 451, Rita ventured into freelance content creation, focusing on higher-ed tech companies, amongst others.

I hired Rita as a contractor for Hannon Hill, where her exceptional content creation skills have been a great addition to our content marketing efforts.

Key Insights from the episode:

Importance of a Content Calendar:

• Planning Ahead: Rita emphasized the need for a structured content calendar to stay relevant and track performance.
• Data-Driven Adjustments: Reviewing past data helps refine strategies and ensure content remains impactful.

Understanding Academic Seasons:

• Admissions and Enrollment: Tailoring content to key academic seasons ensures effectiveness.
• Personalized Communication: Hyper-personalized content resonates well with prospective students, especially through text messaging.

Balancing Stakeholders:

• Cross-Department Collaboration: Regular meetings and shared calendars keep all stakeholders aligned.
• Utilizing Tools: Rita recommends using tools like Google Calendar to maintain a shared content calendar.

Final Advice:

• Start Small: Begin with a few key pieces of content each month and build out gradually.
• Leverage Community: Collaborate with colleagues to share ideas and best practices.

Get in Touch with Rita:

• LinkedIn: Rita Winthrop
• Email: rita.delrios@gmail.com

Tune in to the full episode for more insights.

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review and share your thoughts.

Your feedback helps me improve and reach more highly educated marketing professionals.

Until next time. ✌️