Test. Learn. Grow.

Join us for a landmark episode of Test. Learn. Grow. as we discuss the merger of Level Agency and WebMechanix. Hear from Level CEO Patrick Patterson and WebMechanix co-founders Chris Mechanic and Arsham Mirshah about how their shared values and complementary strengths are poised to transform performance marketing. Explore the cultural synergy and future strategies that will enhance their client se...

The enrollment cliff is looming for regional schools like the University of Akron. These institutions are among the most vulnerable, competing with big state schools for students and dwindling enrollments.   Steve McKellips, Vice Provost of Enrollment Management has worked tirelessly to reverse that trend, analyzing finance, retention, affordability, student experience, and enrollments.   Tune in...

With all the noise flooding today's B2B sales channels, even the savviest marketing teams struggle to connect with their best-fit accounts. Tune into this episode of Test. Learn. Grow to hear from our CMO guests on how Account-based Marketing (ABM) allows businesses to get more targeted in how they engage their dream accounts. By coordinating marketing and sales teams to focus on the accounts...

If you’re an executive implementing generative AI tools at your organization, congratulations! You’re ahead of most leaders, for now. The latest episode of the Test. Learn. Grow. podcast features a discussion with two leaders who are futher along than most — Tesa Burg is CTO at Mod Op, and Patrick Patterson, our own CEO at Level.    They’ve both embraced generative AI as a part of their ways of wo...

At Level, our Test. Learn. Grow. philosophy underpins everything we do. What exactly do we mean by this, and what makes it so effective? In short: it helps us find opportunity, focus our creativity and curiosity, and quickly adapt when needed.    Hear from three of our leaders as they illustrate ways that this methodology improves business outcomes, yields insights, and keeps us agile and learning...

For Chris Brussalis, President of Point Park University, it’s time to re-think higher ed. For him, this means program expansion to reach nontraditional students, especially adult learners. It means applying the university’s mission to its downtown Pittsburgh location, and involving students in the cultural life of its community. And finally, finding like-minded leaders who are ready to support a b...

In this episode of Test. Learn. Grow., we're joined by Joshua Berry to unpack the concepts featured in his new book, "Dare to Be Naïve: How to Find Your True Self in a Noisy World". Berry dismantles the notion that naiveté is a weakness in business, arguing instead for its power in driving innovative, impactful change. He emphasizes the importance of curiosity, authenticity, and opt...

It’s no secret that higher education institutions face an onslaught of challenges. Shifting demographics, hybrid learning models, shrinking budgets, and even a lack of trust in the education space overall. It’s time for a reimagining with a focus on access and affordability. What’s stopping you? Oftentimes, it’s the pressure to keep up with larger, more traditional institutions rather than emphasi...

In this episode, guest Jenna Bluedorn, Team Lead at Level Agency and Ph. D. candidate at Indiana University of Pennsylvania in Media and Communications Studies, joins us to explore insights around today’s video content trends and strategies. User generated content and short-form vertical videos are dominating social platforms right now. Consumer trust in polished ads is declining. Authentic, raw v...

In this episode of Test. Learn. Grow., host Dave Babst is joined by John Meyer, CEO and Founder of CompleteU, to discuss strategies for engaging and supporting adult learners pursuing higher education. As more adults return to school to upskill, finish a degree, or pivot careers, colleges and universities have a tremendous opportunity to meet their unique needs. Dave and John explore common barrie...

This episode explores why B2B marketing teams need to shift their success metrics from leads and MQLs to tracking real revenue impact and ROI. B2B marketing experts at Level explain how marketing and sales misalignment happens when teams have separate goals and metrics. They discuss why marketers need to analyze the full customer journey through hybrid attribution to demonstrate how their programs...

In this episode, our experts in higher education marketing share their insights on how getting beyond email into a dynamic, multichannel lead nurturing effort can make a huge impact on your enrollment rates.  Key insights from the episode: You want to be where your students are. Test into channels like social, video, and text messaging. Personalized experiences are crucial. Use segmentation and pe...

On this episode of Test. Learn. Grow. we dive deep into feed management and optimization, and its important role in the world of Ecommerce marketing. Starting off with a foundational understanding, we tackle the common pitfalls that businesses unknowingly step into, highlighting the ramifications on their performance. Special guest Jeff Bordeaux, Strategic Account Director at Feedonomics, joined u...

Dive deep with us as we unpack the transformative trends from the 2023 Forrester B2B Summit. As the B2B landscape rapidly shifts, are businesses truly prepared for what’s next? Growth via Customer Value – Discover why centering marketing, sales, and product around customer value is the new gold standard. We unravel Forrester's new B2B customer-obsessed growth engine. The Age of AI – If you ar...

Exciting times ahead: Level Agency and Becker Media have merged! We're combining two industry-leading digital marketing agencies to redefine performance marketing in the education sector and beyond.  In this episode, we discuss how this strategic move will: Expand Our Resources & Capabilities: We're enhancing our service delivery across all sectors. Foster innovation: Infusing fresh...

In this  episode, we unpack the changing landscape of the B2B buying process and how marketers need to navigate these changes to drive growth. Here's what we dive into: The transition of the B2B buyer's journey from a linear pathway to a complex, unpredictable cycle. The growing trend of self-service among modern B2B buyers and methods for supporting this shift. The necessity of creating...

In this episode, we unpack how to strategically craft a personalized B2B content strategy and offer actionable insights on how to execute it at scale.  Key Takeaways: The Power of Personalization: Get to know your audience segments' unique needs, motivations, and pain points. Audience Segmentation is Key: Slice your audience into distinct segments based on shared characteristics or needs to c...

Measuring brand awareness impact can often seem like an impossible task. In this episode, we tapped in our Education Team Lead, Geoff Roebuck, to demystify brand awareness and how to effectively measure it. Here’s what you’ll learn: 🚀 The tactics we leverage to grow brand awareness 🤔 Tackle concerns about investing in demand generation 📏 Reveal actionable strategies for effectively testing and...

In this episode, we dive into the critical role of ecommerce marketing and audience segmentation in formulating effective marketing strategies. The focus is on our advanced approach to audience segmentation, particularly at the pivotal consideration stage of the buyer's journey. We unpack the power of tailored messaging, showing how we've honed message development for various audience se...

Let's talk about the everchanging ecommerce landscape! Why Staying Updated Matters — In an era where Ecommerce is rapidly evolving, businesses need to keep pace with the latest trends to stay competitive. We'll discuss the importance of being informed and share a practical tip to help you stay updated. Troubleshooting Common Platform Issues — Ever faced issues with platforms like Perform...

In this episode, we navigate the complex landscape of Machine Learning (ML), Artificial Intelligence (AI), and Automation— specifically honing in on their pivotal role in higher education marketing. As these technologies become increasingly essential in a data-driven world, we highlight the necessity of adaptation and strategic innovation. Our attention then shifts to the specific applications of...

In this episode, we explore the distinct yet intertwined marketing strategies of demand generation and demand capture in the B2B space. Through expert insights, we reveal how demand generation, focused on raising awareness and interest, and demand capture, concentrating on leveraging existing market interest, function differently. Further, we underline the necessity of viewing these strategies not...

In this episode, we're taking a critical look at the current challenges in higher education marketing related to social platforms, particularly focusing on the declining performance of Facebook. As more users migrate their attention to new platforms, we're seeing a need for adaptation and strategic rethinking. The spotlight then turns to the rising stars of social media - TikTok and Snap...

In this episode we unpack the essentials of data strategy, its impact on your business, and the dynamic interplay between data science and data engineering. From understanding the balance between offensive and defensive data strategies to demystifying the Proof of Concept Approach, data modeling, and the pros and cons of data science investments, we delve into key elements that can help shape a ro...

In this episode, we explore the world of Ecommerce marketing, discussing 5 key focus areas for success: 1. The Ever-Changing Ecommerce Platform Landscape 2. Consideration-Stage Audience Segmentation & Messaging 3. Small Tweaks to Product Feeds Can Make a Big Impact 4. Daily Management & Weekly Reporting  5. Know Your Audience & How They Change Throughout the Year Learn from the experts...