My latest guest on the Education Marketing Leader told me, "I can't do anything for you," when I met her for the first time at NCMPR this March.

What she meant was she was no longer in the market.I was there as a vendor, and she, a retired higher ed marketer, was an attendee.

"You can talk with me," I responded, and that's what we did.

I recently had the pleasure of interviewing Sally Cameron, Communication Strategist at ThreeC Strategy and former VP of College Communications at Bristol Community College (31 years!).

She's also the former president of the National Council for Marketing & Public Relations (NCMPR).

Here's what you should know:

𝐌𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐩 𝐢𝐬 𝐂𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥

Sally emphasized the importance of mentorship. Her own career was shaped by a mentor who taught her to think strategically and manage budgets. She passed on that legacy.

𝐇𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐏𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐥

Sally often hired people who might not have had the most experience but had a strong passion and desire to excel.

𝐏𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐄𝐯𝐚𝐥𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

She used practical tasks like creating recruitment campaigns to assess potential hires. This approach helped her understand a candidate's creativity and decision-making skills.

𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐲𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐔𝐩𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝

Sally was a pioneer in adopting new technologies at Bristol Community College. She introduced the college's first Facebook page and emphasized the importance of staying updated with new tools and technologies. Her boldness earned her Paragon Awards.

𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐄𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭

Creating a supportive environment where effort is valued over perfection is key. Sally protected her team from the consequences of mistakes and encouraged learning from experiences.

𝐀𝐝𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐀𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐄𝐝 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐤𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬:

Always be learning. Stay curious and keep up with new trends and technologies.

Know your audience.

Communicate in a way that resonates with them and fulfills their needs.

Connect with Sally:

Email: SallyCC@comcast.net

LinkedIn: Sally Cameron

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review and share your thoughts.

Your feedback helps me improve and reach more highly educated marketing professionals.

Until next time. ✌️

"A well-structured content calendar is your secret weapon in higher ed marketing."

I recently had the pleasure of hosting Rita Winthrop, a talented Freelance Copywriter and former Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admissions at Salve Regina University, on the latest episode of the Education Marketing Leader podcast.

Rita's extensive experience in higher education and content creation made her the perfect fit to discuss establishing a successful content strategy via a structured content calendar.

Rita spent 7-8 years working in admissions and marketing communications at the university.

After transitioning to College Board and Element 451, Rita ventured into freelance content creation, focusing on higher-ed tech companies, amongst others.

I hired Rita as a contractor for Hannon Hill, where her exceptional content creation skills have been a great addition to our content marketing efforts.

Key Insights from the episode:

Importance of a Content Calendar:

• Planning Ahead: Rita emphasized the need for a structured content calendar to stay relevant and track performance.
• Data-Driven Adjustments: Reviewing past data helps refine strategies and ensure content remains impactful.

Understanding Academic Seasons:

• Admissions and Enrollment: Tailoring content to key academic seasons ensures effectiveness.
• Personalized Communication: Hyper-personalized content resonates well with prospective students, especially through text messaging.

Balancing Stakeholders:

• Cross-Department Collaboration: Regular meetings and shared calendars keep all stakeholders aligned.
• Utilizing Tools: Rita recommends using tools like Google Calendar to maintain a shared content calendar.

Final Advice:

• Start Small: Begin with a few key pieces of content each month and build out gradually.
• Leverage Community: Collaborate with colleagues to share ideas and best practices.

Get in Touch with Rita:

• LinkedIn: Rita Winthrop
• Email: rita.delrios@gmail.com

Tune in to the full episode for more insights.

If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review and share your thoughts.

Your feedback helps me improve and reach more highly educated marketing professionals.

Until next time. ✌️

🎙 In the latest episode of the Education Marketing Leader, I had the pleasure of hosting Blair Lee, the Director of Marketing and Communications at Colorado State University and Special Assistant to the President for Brand Advancement at the Community College of Aurora.

Blair has extensive experience in higher education marketing, having taken several institutions through brand overhauls.

His expertise and leadership have driven enrollment and increased impact, making him a key figure in the field.

Blair shared valuable insights on how higher education institutions can successfully navigate a complete brand overhaul, such as:

🔍 Indicators for a Brand Overhaul: When people have different perceptions about your institution, you have an identity crisis. Ensure your brand is synonymous with a clear, unique identity.

🤝 Importance of Leadership Buy-In: Executive support is crucial for the success of any brand overhaul, and leaders must set clear expectations while providing autonomy to their marketing teams.

👣 Initial Steps for a Brand Overhaul: Empower your creative team and trust their expertise while hiring the best talent, even from the private sector, for a fresh perspective. Engage all stakeholders, including students, faculty, and staff.

❌ Common Pitfalls: Ensure robust systems and project management are in place, and avoid trying to handle the overhaul without support.

📈 Measuring Success: Track increases in enrollment and advancement dollars while monitoring the growth in your institution's recognition and reputation. Position your institution to meet future demands and changes in the educational landscape.

💡 Advice for Higher Ed Marketers: Approach the overhaul step by step, starting with digital assets, as they are the first point of contact for many.

Connect with Blair:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leeblairt/

Instagram: @thehigheredcreative

Website: higheredcreative.net

Blair's expertise and actionable insights are invaluable for any higher education institution considering a brand overhaul.

Don't miss this episode to learn from one of the best in the field.

Until next time. ✌️

P.S. A special thanks to Jeff Ebbing for the recommendation.

#marketing #highereducation #branding