The Higher Ed Marketer

Alumni and students have so many incredible authentic stories to tell about their colleges and universities. But higher ed marketing teams can sometimes get in their own way by curating those stories till they're just another batch of overly processed advertisements. People want to hear about real experiences. But if schools want to share those stories, they first have to find them. Chris Miano, Founder of MemoryFox, shares with us why messy, organic stories are what audiences crave in today's attention-seeking social economy and how higher ed marketers can find them. Join us as we discuss: - Delighting audiences with authentic storytelling (5:59) - Why stories matter in spreading brand awareness (12:36) - The difference between self-promotion and a conversation (21:23) Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: - chris@memoryfox.io - MemoryFox To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website or search for The Higher Edge in your favorite podcast player. 

How much should colleges and universities lean on legacy branding? Advancement departments undoubtedly love promoting the “glory days” to their school alums, but should legacy be a major factor in your enrollment marketing strategy?    In the late 1970s, Indiana State University produced one of the most famous basketball players in NCAA and NBA history - Larry Bird. Jason Trainer, Vice Provost for Enrollment Management at ISU, shares how their school balances academic and athletic branding while giving students just the right dose of historical perspective. Join us as we discuss: Aligning marketing strategy with your institution's vision (3:54) Navigating school athletics history in enrollment marketing (13:18) Finding overlapping themes that excite your school's stakeholders (23:07) Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: jason.trainer@indstate.edu Indiana State University To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website or search for The Higher Edge in your favorite podcast player. 

Short-form video content has exploded on social media platforms over the last few years. Colleges and universities are scrambling to take advantage of these content marketing goldmines, but some are still missing the mark. But as Rob Clark, social media influencer and creator of That Tall Family, told us - it's not rocket science. You just have to put yourself out there. Rob shared the work he's now doing at Greenville University and how higher ed marketers can take advantage of short-form video content. Join us as we discuss: - The not-so-secret sauce in a good short-form video strategy (8:26) - Creating discoverable content for your school (21:43) - Predicting what social media platform will be trending in 2023 (33:01) Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: - That Tall Family - Rob Clark - Greenville University To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website or search for The Higher Edge in your favorite podcast player.  

Working in higher ed advancement can be discouraging when you hear the word “No” from potential donors. But by imprinting philanthropy on your student culture, you can encourage them to pay it forward to their future fellow alums the second they set foot on campus.      In this episode, the University of Findlay's Director Of Annual Giving, Amanda Nicol, and Assistant Director of Annual Giving and Stewardship Manager, Brittany Beltz, share their exciting advancement initiatives. Through education and volunteer programs, they're preparing the next generation of philanthropists.   Join us as we discuss: - Impassioning donors by making your campus a second home (2:15) - The components of Findlay's philanthropy cord graduation program (13:30) - The importance of communicating with your regular donors (23:09) Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: - The University of Findlay - thefindlayfund@findlay.edu - amanda.nicol@findlay.edu - brittany.beltz@findlay.edu  - Together We Will To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website or search for The Higher Edge in your favorite podcast player. 

Search engine marketing is top-of-mind for most higher ed marketers, but it's still a drastically underutilized marketing mechanism. In fact, according to our guest, Faton Sopa, co-founder and CEO of Manaferra, only three of the top ten websites that commonly show up from higher ed search terms are school websites. In Part Two of our discussion around search engine marketing, we address some common shortfalls in higher ed marketing SEO strategies. Join us as we discuss: - The marriage of technical web design and content (1:46) - Referral backlinks and the subtle art of link building (19:42) - Why colleges and universities are shorting their SEO potential (36:44) Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: - Faton Sopa - Manaferra To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website or search for The Higher Edge in your favorite podcast player.  

Search engine marketing is still considered a 21st-century mystery to many higher ed marketers. But the fact is that, with a solid content marketing strategy, any college or university can turn its website into an SEO darling. In part one of our interview with Faton Sopa, Cofounder and CEO of Manaferra, we discuss the sub-disciplines of search engine marketing and how to establish authority through content. Join us as we discuss: - The sub-disciplines of search engine marketing (4:50) - Establishing authority in your website's content (15:20)  - If gated content is appropriate in the conversion funnel (23:21) Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: - Faton Sopa -Manaferra To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website or search for The Higher Edge in your favorite podcast player.  

Despite fifteen percent of the world's population having a physical disability, the disability community of students is often an afterthought in DEI-focused higher ed marketing. While some schools have made massive strides in telling these students' stories, many others could do so much more - and it starts with building relationships. Ryan Wilson, CEO of Team Trust Productions, tells us how colleges and universities can make top grades in authentic storytelling for students with disabilities. Join us as we discuss: -Why higher ed is lagging behind in disability inclusion (8:54)   - Approaching storytelling for the disability community (20:00) - How schools can close the gap with students with disabilities (26:24) Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: - Team Trust Productions To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website or search for The Higher Edge in your favorite podcast player. 

Imagine a personalized website experience that adapts in real-time to the home region of prospective students who visit your homepage. We've seen the potential of geocaching with popular mobile applications like Pokemon Go. What if you could employ similar technology to customize your school website's visitor experience? Kyle Pucko, Owner of Geofli, tells us how colleges and universities can harness this exciting tech to enhance personalization on their websites. Join us as we discuss: - Why personalization in school websites matters (4:38) - Use cases for geocaching landing pages by region (15:52 - The future of online customization after third-party cookies (22:06) Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: - Kyle Pucko - Geofli - kyle@geofli.com To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website or search for The Higher Edge in your favorite podcast player.  

Imagine a personalized website experience that adapts in real-time to the home region of prospective students who visit your homepage. We've seen the potential of geocaching with popular mobile applications like Pokemon Go. What if you could employ similar technology to customize your school website's visitor experience? Kyle Pucko , Owner of Geofli , tells us how colleges and universities can harness this exciting tech to enhance personalization on their websites. Join us as we discuss: Why personalization in school websites matters (4:38) Use cases for geocaching landing pages by region (15:52) The future of online customization after third-party cookies (22:06)  Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: Kyle Pucko  Geofli  kyle@geofli.com  To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website or search for The Higher Edge in your favorite podcast player.

Too often, colleges and universities put themselves on a pedestal on their school website's homepage. Be it celebratory news stories, sporting events, or faculty profiles, higher ed institutions sometimes neglect the most important patrons of their website: prospective students. Bob Johnson, Ph. D. , Founder of Bob Johnson Consulting, LLC , tells us why every school should focus their website on enrollment marketing and what things they need to stop obsessing over. Join us as we discuss: Missed personalization opportunities in lead conversions (8:34) Three top information priorities for school website homepages (12:21) Why everyone needs to follow up on self-reported data (25:24)   Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: Bob Johnson, Ph. D.  Bob Johnson Consulting, LLC  Terminalfour  Funnelback  My Intuition Calculator   To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website or search for The Higher Edge in your favorite podcast player.

Technology-driven solutions in branding are remarkable tools. But shiny gadgets can make it easy to lose sight of your higher ed marketing team's ultimate goal: giving prospective students a quality value proposition. William Faust , Senior Partner and Chief Strategy Officer at Ologie , shares his insights on brand management and how smaller schools can raise the stakes in their branding game through differentiation. Join us as we discuss: Why branding is a constant evolutionary process (4:33) Branding for a mission-fit audience (12:03) Which KPIs actually matter for smaller schools (25:04)  Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: William Faust  Ologie  bfaust@ologie.com   To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website or search for The Higher Edge in your favorite podcast player.

In higher ed marketing, it can be a struggle to understand who our target audience is and what their needs are. Sometimes, that means pausing and stepping back to make space so we can meet them where they are through empathic storytelling. Cutler Andrews , Senior Associate Vice President for Engagement, Communications, and Marketing at Emory University , shares how his team elevates Emory's brand through impactful content. Join us as we discuss: Making digestible marketing content for your target audience (3:37) Redirecting focus to alumni affinity groups (19:20) Challenging assumptions and engaging communities through DEI (27:03) Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: Cutler Andrews cutler.andrews@emory.edu Emory University To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website or search for The Higher Edge in your favorite podcast player.

As Generations Z and Alpha transition into the college student ranks, it is multi-generational marketing's time to shine. Yet, as Jennifer McChord , Vice President of Enrollment & Marketing at Asbury University , tells us, traditional institutions tend to drag their feet when making big albeit necessary changes. Jennifer shares how corporate culture is helping speed up decision-making in her university's administration and giving their multi-generational marketing the tools to succeed. Join us as we discuss: Incorporating corporate culture into higher ed operations (6:33) Multi-generational marketing for traditional students (26:04) Why the ability to connect is greater than perfection (35:33)  Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: jennifermcchord@asbury.edu  Jennifer McChord  Asbury University   To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website or search for The Higher Edge in your favorite podcast player.

Diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) is top-of-mind for many colleges and universities today. Marketing inclusive content in a respectful manner requires a unique perspective, one that marketers who don't come from an underrepresented group can fully understand and appreciate. Katie Jensen , Associate VP of Insights & Analytics at University of St. Thomas , talks to us about the DEI Viewfinder: an incredible tool that helps empower inclusion at every level of higher education. Join us as we discuss: The DEI Viewfinder's function and purpose (2:13) How the Viewfinder influenced St. Thomas's marketing approach (12:10) Advancements in hiring practices and class diversity (19:18) Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: Katie Jensen katie.jensen@stthomas.edu University of St. Thomas Inclusive Marketing & Communications: A Practical Approach To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website or search for The Higher Edge in your favorite podcast player.

Marketing can be a difficult proposition for small institutions in higher ed, but intentional collaboration with vendors and other schools can add incredible value to their brand. Dr. Nathan Long , President of Saybrook University , gave us the secret sauce on how they found partners who helped double their enrollment in less than a decade. By coming together as collaborators rather than competitors, small schools can serve all their students better. Join us as we discuss: - Challenges facing smaller institutions and higher ed (6:30) - How intentional collaboration helped Saybrook boost enrollment (13:00) - Advice on social media opportunities for engagement (25:44) Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: - Dr. Nathan Long  - Twitter  - Saybrook Insights Podcast To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website or search for The Higher Edge in your favorite podcast player.

Whether you're a small faith-based college or one of the largest schools in the country, immersive storytelling is a powerful marketing tool. First-hand authentic accounts of student culture, the classroom, and your faculty give recruits exclusive insight into your school's vision. Terri Hughes, Director Of Communications at Michigan State University - College of Osteopathic Medicine shared with us how their students are crafting remarkable stories through their unique offerings. Join us as we discuss examine some of the challenges one of the nation's largest med schools is facing and how they're tackling them: - Mission-fit opportunities at MSU's College of Osteopathic Medicine (7:57) - The impact of the school's Street Medicine community outreach (12:47) - Why first-hand stories are critical to higher ed marketing (18:34) Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: - Michigan State University - College of Osteopathic Medicine - Spartan Street Medicine - hughes260@msu.edu To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website or search for The Higher Edge in your favorite podcast player.

A few months ago, we spoke with Shauna Davis and Mary Laphen Pope from the Lumina Foundation. They provided an overview of their Million Dollar Community College Challenge and explained why assisting community colleges with branding and marketing is so important. Shauna and Mary return for this follow-up episode along with Dr. Angel Reyna, President of Madera Community College - the proud winners of Lumina's Million Dollar Community College Challenge. Join us as we discuss: - Madera Community College's reaction to winning the challenge - Lumina's top-10 candidate selection process - Madera's immediate branding and marketing goals post-challenge Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: - Lumina Foundation Community College Challenge - Lumina Foundation Grand Prize announcement - Madera Community College watch party - Madera Community College submission - Contact Dr. Angel Reyna To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website or search for The Higher Edge in your favorite podcast player.

QR codes have made a furious comeback in business circuits over the last couple of years. The folks at spokenote saw a unique opportunity for marketers: embed QR codes with personalized videos for a targeted audience. We spoke with spokenote's CEO, John Weschler, and CMO, Mike Harmon, about the potential for personalized QR code videos in the higher ed space. In an age of short form content, can the humble QR code maintain its renewed momentum? Join us as we discuss: - How the pandemic revived QR code applications (5:15) - Practical applications of video QR codes in higher ed (14:02) - Spokenote's roadmap for enhancing the custom video experience (21:41) Check out these resources we mentioned during the podcast: - spokenote - john@spokenote.com - mike@spokenote.com To hear this interview and many more like it, subscribe on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or our website or search for The Higher Edge in your favorite podcast player.

University rankings play a big part in where a prospective student chooses to go to school, but most rankings focus on prestige and what other peers of institutions think of each other rather than the influence the university is making on the students and alumni.   Dr. Jed Macosko is the President and Research Director at Academicinfluence.com and a professor of Physics at Wake Forest University. At Academic influence, they use a ranking engine that assesses influence in the academic world by ingesting, analyzing, and evaluating huge amounts of data. Because of this, the data is less prone to bias and manipulation, giving accurate rankings to universities. In this episode, Dr. Macosko brings thoughtful insights and resources into how higher ed marketers can use rankings to tell their stories and show the value of their institution.   Join us as we discuss: How Dr. Macosko got involved in ranking universities and what data they use for academic influence What is important to future students and parents that the current ranking systems doesn't take into consideration The alternative solutions that academic influence offers that other ranking systems don't How higher ed marketers can use rankings to help market their school better 

Many marketers struggle to keep track of photo and video assets on campus, but with the proper techniques, you can implement a campus photography program that can enhance the experience of your university. Cindi Farmer is the Director of Strategic Marketing and Communication at Arizona State University. Cindi manages teams of designers, photographers, videographers, and writers to create content and tell stories. Her team is responsible for the multi-channel communications to prospective students and bases their work on data-based decisions and design thinking. In this episode, Cindi talks about the best practices for doing campus photography. Join us as we discuss: The power of faces and why authentic emotion is critical to storytelling The importance of protecting student's identity and keeping privacy of design in mind when using students in marketing Cindy's thoughts on campus photo programs

The most important part of storytelling in higher education is creating stories where students can easily insert themselves and be an active participant.    Chad Wilson is the Vice President and Executive Creative Director of Marketing at Grand Canyon Education, an education service company that provides an array of support services in the post-secondary education sector, including work with their key client, Grand Canyon University.   Chad oversees everything encompassing strategic work including creative vision, creative development and consumer research to dynamic media plans and multi-platform initiatives. In this episode, Chad breaks down purpose-driven branding, marketing, and storytelling and why it is important in higher education marketing.   Join us as we discuss: The definition of purpose driver marketing and what it means to Chad The importance of aligning the DNA of your brand with your students' values The importance of authentic storytelling in marketing  GCE Agency Vimeo showcase: https://vimeo.com/showcase/gceadagency 

The liberal arts education has evolved. Students not only need skills developed from classic education subjects for career readiness but also to be able to continuously adjust as the world around them changes. They need the ability to learn how to learn.  Dr. Lake Lambert began his tenure as the 16th President of Hanover College in 2015 and is the former Dean of the College of Liberal Arts at Mercer University in Macon, Ga. In this episode, Dr. Lambert outlines how Hannover College markets the concept of the liberal arts and gives examples of how to use statistics and stories to reach students.   Join us as we discuss: What does a well-rounded education mean for career readiness How to market to high school students and parents who are often focused on job readiness  Dr. Lambert's thoughts on the value of liberal arts curriculum 

While there are common elements across marketing (the 4 P's), higher education marketing presents some unique challenges with the diversity of audiences, the buying cycle, and the customer journey. Today we welcome Teresa Flannery to talk about her book, How to Market a University. In this episode, Teresa unpacks the language, frameworks, tools, and tactics that CMOs or aspiring CMOs will need to lead the world of marketing in higher education.  Teresa Flannery has spent her entire career in higher education. She was the first marketing director and chief marketing officer at the University of Maryland and the first Vice President of Communications at American University. Recently, Teresa accepted the role of Executive VP and Chief Operating Officer at CASE.   Teresa's book, How to Market a University, engages leaders and CMOs in discussing their work and its strategic nature and purpose.  The book has also been developed into a master course on Enrollify, a digital resource hub designed to empower the modern enrollment marketer.  Join us as we discuss: The idea for the first fully digital professional development experience for enrollment marketers through the book How to Market a University and master course.  Why are Higher Education organizations in the best position they've ever been in?  Why Chief Marketing Officers (CMOs) are coming from outside higher education to roles inside the sector?  How to Market a University: https://www.amazon.com/How-Market-University-Competitive-Environment/dp/1421440342/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1Q3DRFNNUQGIH&keywords=how+to+market+a+university&qid=1659357687&s=books&sprefix=how+to+market+a+uni%2Cstripbooks%2C114&sr=1-1  How to Market a University Master Course: https://www.enrollify.org/mastercourse/how-to-market-a-university?utm_campaign=EDU%20Marketing%20Minute&utm_medium=email&utm_source=Revue%20newsletter 

Since the pandemic, many higher ed marketers have gone to pay-per-click ads to generate leads. In the near future, Google is changing its cookie-based metrics andthe playing field will change significantly. Today's guests have a new approach to generating leads for institutions.  PJ Wenzel and Marty Gray are the President and Vice President of Ring Digital, and their goal is to help their clients efficiently and effectively reach their target audience without the reliance on PPC. PJ and Marty will explain these coming changes in PPC marketing and how higher ed marketers can effectively use their data.  Join us as we discuss: Why real-life targeting can be more effective than online behavioral targeting?  Different examples of how Ring Digital helps higher ed marketers reach their target audience PJ and Marty's advice that higher ed marketers can use immediately. 

Businesses and organizations lose the most impact and productivity by not working together. The same goes for higher education. To solve big problems, you must be able to cooperate with others.   Dr. Michael Horowitz is the President of TCS Education System. TCS is the community solution for higher education and is all about working collaboratively to advance institutional sustainability, student success, and community impact. Dr. Horowitz brings excellent insights into the ideas of collaboration and marketing within higher education.   Join us as we discuss:  What radical cooperation means in higher education.  How schools can better use benchmarking and KPIs to set and achieve goals.   Dr. Horowitz's advice to other colleges and universities. 

Many higher ed marketers think that paid media and PPC (Pay Per Click) ads are the answer to their problems, but most fail to realize that this is a long incubation process, and often, decisions won't be made from one ad. Our job as marketers is to create curiosity with our campaigns, and our guest today shows us how to do it. Today we talk with Matt Wszolek, the Senior Executive of Marketing & Media at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Matt runs the internal agency of the University of Illinois that helps with paid media. In our conversation with Matt, he unpacks the best practices and offers insights on how higher ed marketers can push the envelope forward with paid media. Join us as we discuss: The biggest mistake that people make when using paid advertising. Identifying goals and objectives for future ad campaigns. Creating curiosity with your ad campaigns.

The only way to truly impact is to align particular strategies with particular audiences. To continue pushing the needle forward as marketers, we must think strategically about why we do what we do.  Chris Bender, the Assistant Dean for Communications at the University of Maryland, joins us today to discuss why marketers should think more strategically. Chris brings a wealth of experience and knowledge in higher ed marketing and talks with us today about how our work as marketers can be strategic and move business forward.  Join us as we discuss:  How marketers can better differentiate themselves from other schools.   Why it is essential to present yourself in a way that is strategically linked to the universities goals.   Why you should let the audience dictate strategy, not tactics. 

As marketers, we cannot be short-order cooks just serving up dishes, but chefs who figure out what the consumer wants and create a meal.   Kymm Bartlett Martinez is the Chief Marketing Officer at the American Cancer Society. Before she took over this role, Kymm spent 20 years with General Mills before she took the Chief Marketing Officer position at the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota. Kymm brings an exciting perspective to higher ed marketing with her unique industry experience.   Join us as we discuss: Kymm's culture shock of moving from consumer goods marketing to higher education.  Marketing principles that translate across all industries and ones that don't.  How Higher ed requires multiple points of differentiation to stand out amongst universities. 

People often look at websites from just a technical or aesthetic point of view but overlook how a website can be an excellent marketing tool to help shape communications and marketing goals.   Joshua Charles, the Director of Web Strategy and Technology at Rutgers Business School, joins us to discuss how you can utilize your website to market your college. Joshua brings excellent insights from what they have done at Rutgers University to increase enrollment and retention through their website.   Join us as we discuss: How Rutgers Business School is positively affecting Recruitment and Retention via their websites.   How to better address the entire student life cycle through the website. Maximizing results while managing restrained resources.

The goal is not to be good at social media; the goal is to be better in Higher Ed because of social media.   Jay Bear, founder of Convince & Convert, a content marketing consulting and social media strategy company. Jay is also a bestselling author of 6 content marketing and customer experience, a hall of fame keynote speaker, and an emcee. Jay joins Troy and Bart to offer a wealth of knowledge on how successful content marketing can benefit higher ed.   Join us as we discuss: Alignment between enrollment and the student experience. Helping universities understand communication modalities. Helping universities understand market research, personal development, and the customer matching journey. 

If there was ever an episode to give you a roadmap to success in higher education, it's this one.   Kathy Payne, VP for Enrollment Management, and Kathy Howell, Associate VP for Marketing Communications at Delaware Valley University, join us today to talk about their roadmap to success by amplifying their students' voices.   Join us as we discuss: The two Kathy's road map to success at Delaware Valley. How the college tour played a role in the success of the school by emphasizing the students' journeys. How Delaware Valley has been able to differentiate itself with robust experimental learning systems. 

Since the pandemic began, we have had to adapt to a new online environment, but platforms like Zoom and Microsoft teams aren't giving us the human touch that we need. Remo is an interactive virtual event platform that empowers users to create natural interactions in online settings.  Hoyin Cheung is the Founder and CEO of Remo.co and is on a quest to humanize the virtual experience. In today's conversation, Hoyin talks about how Remo's immersive environment has found a way to increase engagement and create better experiences for online Higher Education events.   Join us as we discuss: How Remo works and how it differentiates from a platform like Zoom or Microsoft Teams.  How Remo is utilized in Higher Education and how it increases engagement between faculty, students, and alumni.  The challenges of Hybrid events and Remo's plans to overcome them. 

It's no secret that college athletics can play a role in deciding where a student will go to college. All across the country universities use different marketing strategies based on their athletic programs to help increase their enrollment.   Jim Carr, who is the President and CEO of the NAIA joins us to discuss how athletics programs can have a positive impact on your university and if marketed correctly, how these programs can help drive your universities enrollment.   Hear our conversation with Jim Carr, President at NAIA: How athletics can have a positive effect on campus broadly.  How marketing athletics properly can help drive a school's enrollment. Integrating athletics and enrollment together is the recipe for success   More information about Jim Carr and today's topics: LinkedIn Profile: Jim Carr  Company Website: NAIA  

In higher ed marketing, it is important to stand out from everyone else and create a sense of belonging for prospective students. One of the best technological tools for accomplishing this are live chat systems.   In this episode, Ben Congleton, CEO and CoFounder at Olark, talks about his journey to live chat systems from the early days of website chat providers and how they create a more accessible, seamless journey for prospective students.  Join us as we discuss:  How live chat differs from chat bots, automation, and AI  Where on your website to deploy live chat systems  What are best practices for staffing a live chat system 

How do you market a school that is in the process of being built?   Know your mission.   In this episode, Dr. Michael Rice details his next exciting opportunity: Director of Admissions at the Osteopathic Medical School at Duquesne University. The catch? The school is currently being built from the ground up and will start matriculating students in 2024. Dr. Rice shares the mission behind the school, the importance of connecting with underserved communities, and dismantling misconceptions about osteopathic medicine.  Join us as we discuss: What it looks like to build a school from scratch How to foster trust with potential students in underserved communities Why you should recruit a class faculty and staff that are reflective of society

Community colleges often operate with limited resources. This can result in prospective students not knowing that there is an affordable and accessible path to higher education within their community.   In this episode, Shauna Davis and Mary Laphen from the Lumina Foundation, provide an overview of what the Million Dollar Community College Challenge is and why helping community colleges brand and market aspirationally is so crucial.  Join us as we discuss: What the Million Dollar Community College Challenge is Why it's important to make higher ed accessible to adult learners Why aspirational branding is needed for community colleges

Higher ed marketing is a constantly evolving industry. From the early days of MySpace to connecting with prospects on WhatsApp today, the need for continuous learning is paramount.   In this episode, Stephanie Geyer, Director of Digital Strategy and Innovation at the University of Montana, shares how she has watched and contributed to the progression of higher ed marketing, why connection is so important, and the value of listening in conjunction with data collection.  Join us as we discuss:  How to use data for the betterment of the university  How higher ed marketing has evolved with the internet  Why meaningful connection is the most important

A small liberal arts college education comes with many benefits, but most also come with an expensive price tag. Does it have to be that way?  In this episode, Dr. Scott Feller, President at Wabash College, shares how to provide an elite education without an elite price tag. Dr. Feller explains the benefits leading with student outcomes, embracing comparison, and building a philanthropic alumni network.  We discuss: Why to lead with outcomes How philanthropy becomes self-perpetuating  How to be competitive with larger schools    To hear more interviews like this one, subscribe to Higher Ed Marketer on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred podcast platform.   Listening on a desktop & can't see the links? Just search for Higher Ed Marketer in your favorite podcast player.

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, international student applications have more than tripled, but the way to market to international students has significantly changed.  In this episode, Christian DiGregorio, Director of International Recruitment at York College of Pennsylvania, speaks to the new ways to successfully connect with and build relationships with international students.  We discuss: Using messaging apps to connect with students How to stand out and lead with your strengths Adapting your language to build relationships   To hear more interviews like this one, subscribe to Higher Ed Marketer on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred podcast platform.   Listening on a desktop & can't see the links? Just search for Higher Ed Marketer in your favorite podcast player.

We talk with a lot of guests about college admissions from the higher ed perspective, but what can we learn from having the conversation from a secondary school angle?   In this episode, Chris Cleveland, Principal at Wesleyan School, shares his perspective on how colleges can transparently and effectively market themselves to prospective students.    We discuss: How to effectively market to high school students and their families What the benefits are of a personalized approach Finding the balance between outcomes and experience     To hear more interviews like this one, subscribe to Higher Ed Marketer on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred podcast platform.   Listening on a desktop & can't see the links? Just search for Higher Ed Marketer in your favorite podcast player.

Student retention and graduation rates are common concerns in higher education. How do we improve the experiences of students, therefore increasing their future successes in life?  In this episode, Dr. Larry Johnson, College President at Guttman Community College CUNY, walks us through the unique model of Guttman Community College and how building a learning community brings successful outcomes to students.  We discuss: How to achieve higher graduation rates How community builds a stronger learning environment How to pivot when students are struggling  To hear more interviews like this one, subscribe to Higher Ed Marketer on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred podcast platform.   Listening on a desktop & can't see the links? Just search for Higher Ed Marketer in your favorite podcast player.

Finding your perfect prospective student will increase your enrollment numbers.  How do you find your perfect student?  In this episode, Tim Bohling, Chief Marketing and Graduate Enrollment Officer at University of Notre Dame - Mendoza College of Business, joins the show to talk about how an authentic brand narrative paired with data-driven marketing will increase your chances of connecting with your perfect fit prospective students.   We discuss: Building a brand narrative to find your prospective students Being authentic and distinctive in your messaging The importance of the enrollment journey  To hear more interviews like this one, subscribe to Higher Ed Marketer on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred podcast platform.   Listening on a desktop & can't see the links? Just search for Higher Ed Marketer in your favorite podcast player.

What sets your school apart from others?  It's a useful thing to know.  You can devise a powerful marketing strategy if you embrace what makes you unique and use it to attract prospective students.  In this episode, Lindsay Nyquist, Director of Marketing and Communications at Fort Lewis College, joins the show to talk about recognizing and marketing the uniqueness of your school.  We discuss: The experience of being featured in the first episode of The College Tour Strategies for ensuring you authentically reflect the makeup of your student body How to develop and refine a consistent school brand  Mentioned during the podcast: Ep. 47 - The College Tour: A Peek at Schools Across the Country w/ Alex Boylan  Ep. 55 - Leadership Lessons… w/ Dr. Mark Jobe   To hear more interviews like this one, subscribe to Higher Ed Marketer on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred podcast platform.   Listening on a desktop & can't see the links? Just search for Higher Ed Marketer in your favorite podcast player.

An essential part of a leader's job is setting a grand vision for the organization and imbuing its people with a shared purpose. That goes for any organization, whether it be a church or a higher ed institution. Dr. Mark Jobe, President at Moody Bible Institute, has experience leading both. In this episode, he shares what he's learned about leadership over the course of his career, including why clarifying vision and purpose is so important. We discuss: - How Dr. Jobe frames leadership in terms of growth and impact - The importance of proactively telling authentic stories - The Vision Script Initiative Mentioned during the podcast: - Bold Steps - PastorMarkJobe.com - Solving For the Right Things in the Right Way: IU Strategies to Retain Students w/ Eleanor Berman - How To Win The Loyalty of Your Students w/ Exceptional University Offerings w/ Ethan Braden To hear more interviews like this one, subscribe to Higher Ed Marketer on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred podcast platform. Listening on a desktop & can't see the links? Just search for Higher Ed Marketer in your favorite podcast player.

What do you do when your family has a combined height of nearly 36 feet? You become social media superstars. That's the journey of Rob Clark, Content Creator and Founder of That Tall Family. With over 1 BILLION views and nearly 1.4 million followers since March of 2021, Rob and his family have been taking social media by storm. In a previous life, however, Rob was a higher ed marketer. That's why we thought he would be the perfect person to discuss how higher ed institutions can make better use of social media. We discuss: - How Rob grew That Tall Family into a social media behemoth - Why higher ed needs to tap into story and emotions - On-campus influencers and social media scholarships - Advice on cadence and content for schools producing social media content Find That Tall Family on: - TikTok - Instagram - YouTube - Twitter Mentioned during the podcast: - The Authenticity of Peer-to-Peer: Influencer Marketing in Higher Ed w/ Lee Wilhite To hear more interviews like this one, subscribe to Higher Ed Marketer on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred podcast platform. Listening on a desktop & can't see the links? Just search for Higher Ed Marketer in your favorite podcast player.

College access is an issue in this country.  Many potential students simply don't believe higher education is within reach.   It's this inaccessibility and the lack of awareness of educational opportunities that is one of the leading causes of the declining perception of the value of higher ed.  Sujoy Roy, CEO of VisitDays, is aiming to change that. In this episode, he discusses how his platform strives to bridge the divide between higher education and high schools in more disadvantaged areas of the country.  We discuss: The problem of limited access to higher ed for lower socioeconomic populations What the team at VisitDays is doing to help overcome the problem The benefits of the platform for colleges and universities Where the future of higher ed is going  Mentioned during the show: Email Sujoy: sujoy@visitdays.com   To hear more interviews like this one, subscribe to Higher Ed Marketer on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred podcast platform. 

Our guest, Philip Dearborn, has spent over 25 years in biblical higher education serving in a wide array of roles—from student recruiter and registrar to provost and VP of student affairs. Today, he is the President of the Association for Biblical Higher Education. It's his extensive experience at both the collegiate and accreditation levels that makes him the perfect person to talk with about leadership and marketing strategies in higher education. In this episode, we discuss: - Why mission-fit student recruitment should be the highest priority - The need to break down silos and work across departments - Why it's important to understand your ROI by program - The prediction that today's students will likely have 10 different careers in their lifetime Mentioned during the podcast: - Ep. 43: Solving For the Right Things in the Right Way: IU Strategies to Retain Students w/ Eleanor Berman To hear more interviews like this one, subscribe to Higher Ed Marketer on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred podcast platform. Listening on a desktop & can't see the links? Just search for Higher Ed Marketer in your favorite podcast player.

The perceived value of higher education has declined in the last few years. It might seem like it's simply an issue of cost, but that is only part of the value equation. The truth? Linking the return on investment to fulfilling jobs and careers is the key to demonstrating value and driving enrollment numbers back up, especially for community colleges. In this episode, Terri Giltner, Chief Marketing Officer at Kentucky Community and Technical College System, explains how her team refocused marketing efforts on outcomes and switched from telling the story of current students, to the story of successful alumni. We discuss: - The progress made in higher ed marketing - The perceived declining value of higher ed and how to combat it - How to effectively market outcomes - The need to communicate the value of marketing Mentioned during the podcast: - Ep 41: How to Win the Loyalty of Your Students w/ Exceptional University Offerings feat. Ethan Brade - Email Terri To hear more interviews like this one, subscribe to Higher Ed Marketer on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred podcast platform. Listening on a desktop & can't see the links? Just search for Higher Ed Marketer in your favorite podcast player.

When Brian Kenny tells people he's the Chief Marketing and Communications Officer for Harvard Business School, they often say, “Why does Harvard need a chief marketing officer?” Yes, Harvard is a historic brand, and that might lead some to believe that it markets itself, but it turns out history can sometimes be a double-edged sword. In this milestone episode — our 50th! — we talk with Brian about the challenges of managing a well-known brand, including how to balance being seen as both historic and forward-thinking. We discuss: - How Harvard Business School uses a podcast for marketing efforts - Positive and negative perceptions of the Harvard brand - Advocating for marketing budget - Responding as a university to societal issues Mentioned during the podcast: - Reach out to Brian on Twitter: @hbscmo - Check out our nomination on Terminalfour  To hear more interviews like this one, subscribe to Higher Ed Marketer on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred podcast platform. Listening on a desktop & can't see the links? Just search for Higher Ed Marketer in your favorite podcast player.

The potential for getting roasted by Gen Z is high if you aren't adapting to the new expectations for higher education. Facebook is in the past—students are looking for more. More community, mental health sensitivity, and customization. How can we provide that? Our guest, Adam Metcalf, Co-Founder at ZeeMee, has the answers. In this episode, he explains why the key to Gen Z is community and how that unlocks a new level of engagement between schools and students. We discuss: - Community building - Mental health awareness - Generational differences - Leveraging Gen Zs communal leanings To hear more interviews like this one, subscribe to Higher Ed Marketer on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred podcast platform. Listening on a desktop & can't see the links? Just search for Higher Ed Marketer in your favorite podcast player.

Ever since the internet lowered barriers for fundraising, getting the attention of donors has gotten increasingly harder. Many colleges and universities have responded by making their capital campaigns bigger. However, our guest, Steve Brady, Vice President for Institutional Advancement at Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, believes they should get smaller. In this episode, he explains why higher ed institutions should turn to “mini campaigns” and how to get started. We discuss: - The state of capital campaigns - How the internet has changed fundraising - The benefits of mini campaigns - Finding small opportunities to thank donors To hear more interviews like this one, subscribe to Higher Ed Marketer on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred podcast platform. Listening on a desktop & can't see the links? Just search for Higher Ed Marketer in your favorite podcast player.