About the Episode
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About the Episode:
After two years and 55 episodes packed with practical, joyful, and wildly clever ideas, as Talking Tactics with Day comes to a close. In this final episode, host Dayana Kibilds reflects on the “why” behind the show, shares her personal favorite tactics from past guests, and celebrates the everyday enrollment pros doing exceptional work in higher ed.
From transforming request forms and hacking Reddit to AI-powered emails and fundraising squirrels, this send-off is full of bite-sized brilliance you can still use — whether you're new to the podcast or have been tuning in since episode one.
Because while we may not keep talking the tactics together, I know you'll keep walking the walk.
Key Takeaways
- Why Talking Tactics Was Created: To fill the gap between inspirational content and tactical, implementable strategies for enrollment marketers.
- One-Tactic, Limited-Resource Rule: Every episode featured one tactic that had to be doable on a shoestring—perfect for lean teams.
- RFI Form Optimization: Two-step and gamified RFI forms led to 3X more data points and 192% increases in conversions.
- Reddit as a Secret Weapon: Organic Reddit engagement brought in up to 15% of an incoming class at one law school.
- AI in Enrollment Marketing: Automation boosted lead response time and filled full classes, while image generation sparked alumni engagement.
- Event Innovations: On-the-spot admissions events and swag-filled webinars supercharged enrollment and applications.
- Email Gold: Creative holiday emails and a student newsletter with 90% open rates show email’s staying power.
- Fun Drives Results: Naming squirrels and geese increased alumni donations by nearly half a million dollars.
Episode Summary: What Questions Does This Episode Answer?
Why Did Dayana Start Talking Tactics in the First Place?
Dayana launched Talking Tactics to stay sharp in the ever-evolving world of enrollment marketing. Moving from campus life to agency work meant she had fewer opportunities to test ideas herself. So, she turned to the real experts—practitioners in higher ed doing the work every day. What began as a personal learning tool quickly grew into a community-driven platform spotlighting grassroots ingenuity in higher education.
What Made Talking Tactics Different from Other Higher Ed Podcasts?
The show’s key differentiator was its laser focus on one tactic per episode, which had to be implemented with limited resources. That meant every idea was scalable and testable by any team, regardless of size or budget. The show also featured voices not often heard—folks who weren’t mainstage speakers or big-name execs but were achieving real results on the ground.
Which RFI Form Hacks Delivered Measurable Results?
Jackie Vio’s two-step form at UNC’s Kenan-Flagler Business School captured three times the data for 60% of prospects and helped identify high-intent leads. Lydia Fine’s gamified, quiz-like RFI form at Iowa’s Tippie College of Business boosted conversions by 192% overall and nearly 600% on mobile. These episodes prove RFI forms don’t have to be boring—and when they’re not, they perform.
How Are Schools Using Reddit to Engage Prospective Students?
Two episodes highlighted Reddit as a goldmine for organic engagement. Ali Abel from the University of Calgary used Reddit comments to boost awareness and influenced 15% of her incoming law class. Lucy Guest at the University of Warwick strategically shared academic research in relevant subreddits, boosting visibility and credibility. Reddit isn’t just for lurking—it’s a legit platform for student and research engagement.
What Are Some Smart Ways to Use AI in Higher Ed Marketing?
Kate Scott’s Zapier-GPT-CRM integration at a dental assistant school sent instant AI-generated email replies to prospects 24/7, helping fill the school’s first-ever class. Meanwhile, Andrew Cassel at Middlebury College used DALL·E to generate AI art from community-submitted prompts, increasing Pinterest followers by 50% and sparking nostalgic engagement on LinkedIn.
Which Events Made a Major Impact on Enrollment?
“Admission Accomplished” at Waukesha County Technical College let students walk in unregistered and walk out fully enrolled—75% did. At Butler University, Carrie Chambers transformed boring webinars into engaging experiences by giving away swag every 5-10 minutes, resulting in 4x more applications from attendees compared to typical webinars.
What Are the Best-Performing Email Strategies?
Laura Rudolph’s holiday gift guide for parents became a 70% yield predictor, identifying families who were truly bought in. Alexandra Noll’s student newsletter at Harvard College sees 80-90% open rates—a result of trust-building, intuitive design, and week-specific relevance. These aren’t just well-written emails—they’re behaviorally informed engagement tools.
Can Fun Actually Drive Results?
Absolutely. At Ohio University, letting donors name squirrels raised nearly $500,000 more on Giving Day. At Ball State University, naming campus geese turned into a viral donor engagement tactic. Both campaigns were creative, emotionally resonant, and wildly effective.
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