How often do you find yourself wondering what your school’s marketing messaging should be? What are your prospective students interested in? What do they see that sets your institution apart? The easiest way to hear your students’ stories is from the students themselves. We’re chatting with Kathy Howell and Kathy Payne from Delaware Valley University on how they amplified student voices and implemented them into evergreen content. Join us as we discuss:  [10:20] Leveraging “The College Tour”...

In 2021, Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio, received a record-breaking $100 million gift from an anonymous donor. So how did Kenyon’s marketing department creatively share the story of this generous anonymous donor while emphasizing the importance of gifts at every level? Kenyon’s Vice President for Advancement, Colleen Garland, and Vice President for Communications, Janet Marsden, join us to talk about navigating donor gifts and making donors feel equally celebrated. Join us as we...

Take another trip back in time with us as we revisit another compelling episode of the Higher Ed Marketer Podcast. In 2022, Jay Baer, Business Growth and Customer Experience Researcher — and tequila sommelier — shared his three essential keys to marketing with us. By identifying audience personas and adapting your messaging accordingly, you can strategically align your enrollment and marketing departments. Not everyone opens their email – it’s time to think outside the inbox. In this episode,...

In early 2023, Bart’s mentor and a dear friend of the show, Tim Fuller, joined us for an insightful conversation about the demographic enrollment cliff.Tim unexpectedly passed away a few short months after this episode originally aired. As a lifelong advocate for higher education, Tim’s passion for helping academic institutions and the students they serve was evident to anyone who had the privilege of knowing him.His observations from our original discussion around the upcoming enrollment...

The Advancement team often wears many different hats across multiple departments, but one common goal is building relationships and raising funds. By walking through life with alumni via a mentorship program or sending out a QR code to find out generational preferences, you can understand your alumni and donors on a personal level. It’s time to level up the advancement experience. Kicking off our conversation is Maria Kuntz, the Communications Director at the University of Colorado Boulder,...

With the field of higher education changing day by day, it’s crucial to implement different strategies and initiatives to stay ahead of the enrollment cliff. By engaging faculty in yield efforts, geofencing, and keeping web pages up to date, you can set your institution to be ahead of the curve.  That’s why we’re joined by Kristin Nichols, the Founder of Nichols Higher Education, who takes us through innovative strategic initiatives and partnerships to find success in changing times. Join us...

Programmatic advertising is more than just finding those “watering holes” — the places your prospective students typically hang out. It takes locating where your audience is coming from, testing out new marketing, and exercising patience when waiting for the results. Programmatic advertising doesn’t reinvent the wheel. It still requires intentionality to know who and where your audience is and to be strategic in your marketing efforts. We’re getting our conversation on programmatic...

By surveying attending students and students who decided to go elsewhere, your institution can give your admissions team additional data to help streamline their processes.  But the research doesn’t stop there! Considering outside influencers like parents, coaches, and other trusted adults can bring a unique perspective of comparative analysis. We’re joined by Dave Burke, the President of Legacy Higher Ed, to talk about all things admitted students research, data analysis, and even what to...

Vanderbilt University is at the forefront of Generative Artificial Intelligence. AI is not going away, but it can be understood through intentional time and effort. By destigmatizing generative AI at your institution, you may just broaden your impact to set your students and staff one step ahead of the game. We’re joined by Jules White, the Senior Advisor to the Chancellor on Generative AI & Professor of Computer Science at Vanderbilt University, to discuss the ever-evolving realm of...

Our colleges and universities are educating the workforce of tomorrow, so it’s important that they understand the mechanics of strategic initiatives and corporate partnerships. We’re getting our conversation started with Bill Spiker, the President of The Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges (OFIC). OFIC works with independent colleges and universities to bridge the gap of information surrounding scholarship and employment opportunities for students and corporations...

Multicultural marketing means asking questions and being authentically involved in discovering and providing what different demographics need. It’s about making admissions information accessible to all despite language barriers or backgrounds. We’re getting our conversation started with Christian Ponce, the Associate Vice President for Marketing at Old Dominion University (ODU), who shares how multicultural marketing will soon be the norm in higher ed. Join us as we discuss: [1:45] Breaking...

Being assertive about getting involved as a senior marketing leader is essential to the prosperity of your institution's strategic plan.  It takes a courageous leader to have tough conversations about institutional futures. But with the enrollment cliff on the horizon, it’s crucial now more than ever to develop and implement a strategic plan.  We’re joined by Rob Zinkan, the Vice President for Marketing Leadership at RHB to discuss all things strategic planning, courageous leadership, and...

Is community outreach in higher ed really as simple as wearing your name tag? Taking a look at community needs through data can present partnerships you may have never anticipated. From Missouri Baptist University, Bryce Chapman and Brittany Sansagraw share their institution’s innovative strategies toward hospitality and partnership. In this week's episode of the Higher Ed Marketer podcast, we’re breaking down the hospitality playbook. Join us as we discuss: [4:59] The hospitality playbook...

Now more than ever, students and families are shifting their focus toward the return on investment in higher education. With prospective students shifting their focus, higher ed needs to be flexible to keep up with changing times. Respecting students’ time and crafting strategies to meet different life experiences takes time, but it can be done. Getting our student-centered conversation started is Anne Khademian, the Executive Director at The Universities at Shady Grove. Anne shares why...

Prospective students come from all sorts of backgrounds, communities, needs, and wants.  A diverse audience means your content must be flexible to meet the needs of your community. The first step to meeting your audience where they are is to dig deep for their why. Shaping your content to satisfy the needs of your unique audience is key to leveraging content across generations. Laura Alloway, Sr. Director of Marketing and Communications at Ohio State University College of Food,...

Some old-school higher ed professionals still balk at the idea of incorporating corporate e-commerce tactics into their digital marketing strategies. Yet the reality is that plenty of big box brands have become masters of meeting consumers where they are and delivering on their expectations. Kathleen Stockham, Chief Marketing Officer at South College, may have only been involved in the higher ed space since 2022. But she’s leveraging her experience with companies like Verizon to supercharge...

With the enrollment cliff on the horizon, change might be just what your school needs to survive the drop. But switching up your enrollment strategy doesn’t have to be a big scary beast. Reaching out and finding support for development and mentorship can help you stay afloat in turbulent higher ed waters. We’re joined by Bridget Kurkowski, the VP of Enrollment Services at Encoura, who emphasizes how even just one LinkedIn message can go a long way in professional development. Join us as we...

It’s all too easy in higher ed marketing to get caught up in chasing the next shiny object. Sometimes, bouncing from tactic to tactic without taking a step back or even reverting back to last year's plan may seem like the only option. We’ve got two words for you — “strategic communication.” In this episode, we take a look at starting with your school’s “why,” which starts with auditing all the tools in your kit. Kicking off our conversation is Eric Henry, the President of Carousel Digital...

Authentic engagement means more than just editing a template and calling it a day. It’s about sitting down with stakeholders and talking through the marketing process. It’s about getting to know your current and prospective students and learning about their journeys and schedules. It’s about taking risks and trying new projects – not reverting back to the comfort of the same old, same old. That’s why we’re talking to “Marketing Dude” Patrick Stone, the Director of Strategic Communications and...

Higher ed marketers, a digital watering hole has appeared on the scene that you should be taking advantage of. The ZeeMee app allows for authentic connections between your university and prospective students on their terms. This app is revolutionizing the college recruitment game by meeting students where they are. We’re joined by Olivet Nazarene University’s Executive Director of Traditional Enrollment, Luke Franklin, and Asbury University’s Vice President of Enrollment & Marketing,...

With a marketing world that feels like it's shifting every day, our teams need to be agile.  Having a team with a diverse background is paramount to handling whatever life throws your institution's way. Being intentional when building or integrating teams and having an understanding of everyone’s background is critical to team cohesiveness. It’s about finding the right seat on the team bus for the members of your unit. Kin Sejpal, the VP of Marketing and Communications at University of...

It’s time to switch from transactional to strategic. In an era where making your institution stand out is a top priority, raising the bar for Marketing and Communications is essential. By developing and implementing a maturity model, your university can start elevating the student experience.   Knocking down the silos and utilizing an integrated approach to marketing and communications can completely change the game. 2023 AMA Higher Ed Marketer of the Year and Senior Executive VP of RW...

Generating ownable brand ideas can spark from unique qualities hidden in plain sight — not taking the little things for granted. What may seem like an odd quirk could set your university apart. Strangers with experience can get the conversation started and completely transform your school's brand. We’re chatting with Brian MacDonald, the co-founder & CCO at Zillion. After working with big consumer brands, Brian wants to bring higher education institutions to the same level of branding...

On November 30th, 2022, ChatGPT changed the world. Just months before, Dave Hunt, Director of Digital Marketing Communications and Creative Director at Old Dominion University, had been developing a large-scale email marketing campaign at another university. Dave discovered that the months of work that went into creating it could all be done in minutes now. It hooked him into looking at how to use generative AI further to keep his new team at ODU doing the creative work instead of grunt...