About the Episode
“We need this to go viral” sounds like a clear request. In higher education marketing, though, it can point to several very different goals. Does the institution need greater brand awareness? More engagement from prospective students? More qualified leads? A newsworthy moment? Or does someone simply want to see a bigger number on the social media report?
In the first episode of What Do We Really Need?, Ologie Marketing Director Erin Fields talks with Alicia Camden, Ologie’s Associate Vice President of Digital Creative, about what leaders are really asking for when they want a piece of content to go viral. Drawing from Alicia’s experience leading organic social strategy and developing new content formats, they examine what virality can accomplish, what it cannot guarantee, and why reaching millions of people means very little if those people have no context for the brand.
They also look at the work hidden behind a breakout post. The content itself may take 20 minutes to create, but the conditions that make it successful can take years to build. That includes a clearly defined brand, a distinct voice, a deep understanding of the audience, trust in creative talent, room to experiment, and a social media strategy connected to the institution’s larger enrollment and marketing goals.
For higher ed marketers and social media professionals, the episode offers a practical way to respond when “make it go viral” lands on their desk. Erin and Alicia discuss how to uncover the real objective, ask questions without sounding resistant, and help leaders define what success should look like before anyone starts creating. Alicia also shares an important reminder for early-career marketers: being closer to the platforms, audiences, and daily work gives you expertise worth bringing into the conversation.
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