Higher Ed Pulse

To text or not to text? That is the question. Actually, after some discussion, we decided that it’s not the first question you should be asking yourselves.  Texting is another layer of your recruitment strategy and should be weaved into the fold, not seen as a tactic you need to utilize just because others are. Tune in and see how Shane and Mickey would first approach texting, what the tool must b...

In the final installment of the Modern Student, Zach and Jeff take a deep dive into how institutions can reduce the complexity of their digital experience, DXP's , and explore the future of technology in higher ed.  About the Series The Modern Student is a special podcast series in collaboration with Squiz, exploring how technology is revolutionizing higher ed and engaging students.  Squiz is a te...

From impacting enrollment, to student success, to annual giving, keeping parents effectively engaged has proven to be critical for colleges and universities looking to better support their institutional goals.  On this week’s episode of The Enrollify Podcast, Zach sits down with Dave Becker, founder and CEO of CampusESP, to discuss how colleges and universities can better incorporate parents into...

This is the second episode in a special 4-part series between Enrollify and Unibuddy.  Join Zach Busekrus, Founder of Enrollify, and Nina Bilimoria Angelo, CMO at Unibuddy, for an extended conversation around the insights garnered from Unibuddy’s latest higher education pulse reports. Unibuddy surveyed over 1,200 prospective college students about their journey to college and close to 1,000 higher...

The need for testing is widely accepted, but what does “testing” mean in today’s landscape? In this week’s episode, Mickey, Zach, and a new co-host, Shane, discuss Jim Collins’ “fire bullets, then cannonballs” method.  This method, outlined in his book Great by Choice , details the importance of measurement and calibration as it pertains to testing. What does this mean for student recruitment effo...

This is the first episode in a special 4-part series between Enrollify and Unibuddy.  Join Zach Busekrus, Founder of Enrollify, and Nina Bilimoria Angelo, CMO at Unibuddy, for an extended conversation around the insights garnered from Unibuddy’s latest higher education pulse reports. Unibuddy surveyed over 1,200 prospective college students about their journey to college and close to 1,000 higher...

On episode 3 of The Modern Student, Zach and Jeff discuss how technology can help you develop a stronger enrollment plan and the value of having unified marketing and IT departments.    About the Series The Modern Student is a special podcast series in collaboration with Squiz, exploring how technology is revolutionizing higher ed and engaging students.  Squiz is a technology company that is revol...

On this week’s episode, Zach sits down with Ryan Wilson. Ryan is the founder of Team Trust Productions, which is a media company that specializes in creating inclusive content featuring individuals with disabilities.  In the episode the two discuss: How brands can work to be more inclusive of persons with disabilities How brands can strike the appropriate balance of being inclusive without being e...

In the final installment of Brand Camp, Zach and Ian discuss core values and put a bow on understanding the Brand Manifesto framework.  Key takeaways from this episode include:  How core values fit into the Brand Manifesto framework Why it is important for brands to articulate their values  How leaders can assess whether or not their brand values are "working" as intended Understanding "identity b...

The Great Resignation has hit higher ed with full force. Once a month for the next few months, we’ll feature individuals who have left higher ed to work in a higher ed adjacent role (think a marketing agency, edtech company, or consultancy).  In Chapter 1 we feature Carrie Barnett  — a content marketer at SimpsonScarborough who recently left her job at California Lutheran University as the Directo...

On this episode of The Modern Student, Zach Busekrus and co-host Jeff Dillon unpack how new technology can help institutions better recruit and engage the next generation of students.  This episode explores what is holding schools back and what tools are available when it comes to attracting the modern student and nurturing them through their enrollment journey.  About the Series The Modern Studen...

On episode three of Band Camp, Zach and Ian explore the purpose and value of vision statements.  The pair discuss how to create a meaningful vision statement and where it fits into your overall brand manifesto alongside your mission statement and core values.  This episode is sponsored by UNINCORPORATED (UN) - a higher education agency committed to building awareness, growing enrollment, and launc...

In episode one of The Modern Student, Enrollify Founder Zach Busekrus and Jeff Dillon of Squiz, discuss the modern college student and how their relationship with technology is shaping the future of higher education.  The modern student has always had technology as a part of their lives, and their education should be no exception. They come from a world of on-demand services, instant information a...

If you're like Zach, you may have never even clicked on a YouTube Short before. But in this week's episode, we break down how YouTube Shorts complement your YouTube channel and could even help you grow a massive following.  Tune in to hear what these three think is the golden ticket for awareness generation on YouTube Shorts.  This episode is brought to you by Doubletake - Doubletake is a team of...

On episode two of Brand Camp Zach and Ian get into the nitty gritty of how to create a killer mission statement. Takeaways from this episode include:  Defining the purpose of a mission statements What makes a great mission statement (and a bad one) How to write a mission statement from scratch that doesn't suck How to audit your mission statement and decide if it needs to be  improved Who should b...

In this hot-take-full conversation with Rob Biebly from Huron Consulting, Zach and Rob unpack the challenges and opportunities facing strategic enrollment managers in 2022.  Rob and Zach chat about: The biggest challenges facing staff retention right now The disillusionment of institutional leaders around enrollment growth rates Why leaning in to differentiation is the key to increasing enrollment...

Every school gives away t-shirts and pens, but what would actually help you generate quality leads who are more likely to apply and enroll at your institution?  Think through this with your team, see what’s feasible, and then execute!  The Brewstorm is a video first podcast. Watch this episode on the Enrollify YouTube channel ! This episode is brought to you by Doubletake - Doubletake is a team of...

In episode one of this special four part series on branding in higher ed, Zach and Ian Evenstar (founder and CEO of Unincorporated) unpack the importance of brand manifestos.  This episode is chalked full of knowledge and advice for higher ed. Some key topics covered include…  Defining brand in simple terms  Exploring the core components of a brand manifesto  Examining successful brands outside of...

In this fast-paced conversation, Ryan and Zach discuss: How to build your personal brand as a higher ed marketer on LinkedIn Why marketing attribution in 2022 is still so damn hard The pros of taking a channel-specific approach to your marketing What most schools get wrong about how to reach students in 2022 And lots more! Connect with Ryan on LinkedIn here . Need help with branding? Connect with...

This week, the guys discuss the real purpose of video, how it should be used to be most effective and efficient, and what separates a great video from another boring old trailer. With video moving from a nice-to-have to a need-to-have, this is an episode that’s definitely worth your time!  If you would prefer to watch as these three brainstorm, discuss, and laugh, please head over to the Enrollify...

We have hot takes galore this episode! The biggest one "TikTok for higher ed is just a hype train." Can it actually be used to recruit students? What should be measured? And what does it take to actually make good TikToks on a consistent basis?  Check out this episode and give us your thoughts on the world of TikTok in the higher ed space.  If you would prefer to watch as these three brainstorm, d...

In this episode of Attention Retention, Angie, Clayton, and Zach share new ideas for how enrollment marketers can leverage the latest tools, tactics, technologies, and strategies to attract and retain younger millennials and Gen Z. There’s so much conversation out there right now on where marketers and admissions teams should put their budget in order to garner the attention of prospective student...

In this episode of The Brewstorm, Shane, Dan, and Zach brainstorm what it would look like to flip the relationship between admitted students and admissions teams on its head.  How do we make prospects feel wanted, increase school affinity, and level the playing field for all? Tune in! If you would prefer to watch as these three brainstorm, discuss, and laugh, please head over to the Enrollify YouT...

In episode 5 of Attention Retention, Clayton, Angie, and Zach brainstorm ideas for marketing automation strategies and tactics that help empower enrollment marketers to create personalized experiences for the prospects that matter most. The trio walks through some examples of how schools are leveraging marketing automation in “beginner”, “intermediate”, and more “advanced” ways, and explores when...

On this episode of The Enrollify Podcast, Zach chats with Dr. Carrie Phillips — Chief Communications and Marketing Officer at University of Arkansas at Little Rock.  From defining the role of the marketing office in higher ed, to the impending enrollment cliff, to the future of student expectations, Zach and Carrie engage in a riveting conversation about how colleges and universities can change an...