The Higher Ed Marketer

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 th...

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...

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...

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 &...

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 surroundi...

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 mu...

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 Ma...

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...

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...

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....

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...

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...

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 too...

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...

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 Enr...

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...

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 complet...

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 con...

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 u...

The enrollment cliff is real, and it will be here before you know it. If small and medium-sized higher ed institutions want to survive this drastic dropoff in traditional-aged college students, marketing teams will need to prove their brands’ value. For the introductory episode in our weekly review series of Bart Caylor’s book, Chasing Mission Fit , we’re joined by Chris Rapozo , Marketing Special...

Higher education has been known for its slower pace of adoption and for often resisting change. With approaching headwinds, including the enrollment cliff, disruption of generative AI, the negative public perception of higher ed, and competition with outside players (Google, Amazon, etc.), it is more critical than ever to lean into the mission-fit marketing.    That’s why many institutions are tur...

Personalized AI chatbots used to be a muse for science fiction writers. But with the rapid rise of these sophisticated AI tools, the possibilities for how these bots can augment the prospective student journey seem endless. You can certainly hear the enthusiasm in the voice of Ardis Kadiu , the founder and CEO of Element451 , as he talks about the capabilities of these futuristic assistants. Ardis...

It’s time for schools to embrace the big, audacious goals and put together a strategy to accomplish them.  That’s what the University of Kentucky did. They’re implementing programs that will advance student success at their institution.  It’s never too late to go for the challenge. We’re talking to Kirsten Turner, the Vice President of Student Success at the University of Kentucky . Through partne...

Teaching critical thinking is the first step to media literacy in the digital age. With varying perspectives, social channels, media outlets, and technological advancements knocking at our door every day, we have to remember the bigger picture. Being able to have challenging conversations with people with opposing views and critically analyze information allows us to grow as marketers. Joining our...

When was the last time you were at a college fair and students immediately walked away after seeing your price tag? It’s time to be transparent, intentional, and communicative about available resources. We’re challenging misconceptions and unlocking the value and opportunity of higher ed. Getting the ball rolling is Ken Sigler , the Director of Enrollment Management at Mount Carmel College of Nurs...