Celebrating 'Talking Tactics': Top Higher Education Marketing Strategies to Boost Your Reach 🎉

As we celebrate the first anniversary of "Talking Tactics," we are excited to reflect on the impactful strategies our guests have shared over the past year. Hosted by Dayana Kibilds, Vice President of Strategy at Ologie, this podcast has become an essential resource for higher education professionals. Each episode of "Talking Tactics" is devoted to a single tactic that significantly impacted an enrollment metric—be it inquiries, booth visitors, completed applications, deposits, reach, engagement, registrations, or views. The catch? These tactics had to be executed with limited resources: by a single person, a small-but-mighty team, within a short timeframe, or on a tight budget. By focusing on these specific tactics from idea to results, each episode feels like something you can immediately implement yourself.

Over the next four weeks, we'll spotlight the remarkable tactics that have significantly boosted reach, reputation, engagement, and conversions. Today, we explore the strategies that have expanded reach.

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Boosting Admissions Social Content Views with an Intern (Ep. 2)

In Episode 2, Jacqueline Rowe shared an inspiring story about how an intern generated an astounding 150,000 views from just five videos. This episode is a masterclass in leveraging the fresh perspectives and digital savvy of interns. Jacqueline’s strategy involved granting the intern creative freedom and a clear understanding of the target audience. The results were not only impressive in numbers but also in engagement quality, highlighting the value of innovative, youthful energy in content creation.

The intern's approach emphasized authenticity and relatability, making the content highly shareable. By tapping into current trends and presenting them through the lens of student life, the videos resonated deeply with prospective students. This tactic underscores the importance of not just including interns in your strategy but empowering them to take creative risks that can lead to remarkable outcomes.

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Grow Your Followers with Student Stories (Ep. 5)

Episode 5 featured Gustavo Segui, who revealed a tactic that tripled followers and reach through the power of compelling student stories. By highlighting real-life experiences of students, Gustavo was able to create a genuine connection with the audience. These stories, shared across various platforms, painted an authentic picture of campus life, making the content relatable and engaging.

Gustavo’s approach involved not just telling stories but telling them in a way that showcased the diverse and dynamic student body. This human-centered content strategy helped prospective students see themselves in the stories, fostering a sense of belonging even before setting foot on campus. The dramatic increase in followers and reach is a testament to the effectiveness of using personal narratives to build community and engagement.

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Attracting Law Students on Reddit (Ep. 7)

In Episode 7, Ali Abel, MPR, CMP, detailed a unique strategy that led 15% of an incoming class to find their school via Reddit. Ali’s approach was all about meeting prospective students where they already are. By engaging with potential applicants on Reddit, Ali was able to provide authentic, valuable information in a space where users feel comfortable seeking advice and sharing experiences.

This tactic involved creating and participating in threads that addressed common questions and concerns about law school applications and life. By being a credible and approachable source of information, the school could reach and attract students who might not have considered it otherwise. This episode is a great example of how unconventional platforms can be powerful tools for recruitment when used thoughtfully.

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Key Takeaways

• Empower Interns: Allow interns creative freedom to bring fresh, authentic content that resonates with your audience.
• Leverage Student Stories: Use personal and diverse student narratives to create a relatable and engaging content strategy.
• Utilize Unconventional Platforms: Engage prospective students on platforms like Reddit to provide valuable information in a comfortable environment.

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"Talking Tactics" releases a new episode bi-weekly on Tuesdays and is made possible by Element451, the next-generation AI student engagement platform helping institutions create meaningful and personalized interactions with students. Learn more at element451.com.