Insights - Marketing

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Digital skills for all starts with the basics article image. A group of office workers are walking upstairs with their backs to the camera, engaged in a discussion. The image has a subtle pink to yellow glow gradient overlay with abstract circuit patterns.

Digital skills for all starts with the basics.

As AI transforms the workforce, the greatest digital need might be the most overlooked: foundational skills for everyone.

Institutional Strategy /
By: Adi Gaskell
Rebuilding Higher Ed Brand Strategy Around Purpose article image. Split-screen illustration showing two gears. On the left, a cracked, blackened gear with loose bolts and steam represents a broken or overworked system. On the right, a golden gear labeled “STRATEGY” is being carefully oiled by a watering can, symbolizing nurturing, alignment, and effective planning.

Where your brand strategy falters — and how to rebuild it.

Institutions need to fix failing brand strategies as soon as possible. Marcomm leaders need to restore cohesion across functions and regain alignment. Here’s how.

Marketing /
By: Chris Huebner
PR Writing Tips for Great Pitches article title. Person typing on a laptop with a document open on the screen, showing a partially visible letter. The setting appears to be a dimly lit workspace with papers on the desk.

It’s never been more important for PR teams to get it right

With higher ed taking hits on all sides, PR pros need to craft pitches about their schools’ academic research that journalists will actually care about. Here’s how.

Marketing /
By: Adi Gaskell

Popular on Volt

Who Gets to Speak for Science article image. A woman in a blue blazer speaks into a microphone, facing forward with a serious expression, while a man in a dark suit stands with his back turned, also facing a microphone. The background shows a blurred laboratory setting, highlighting a contrast between public speaking and scientific environments.

Female researchers are bearing the brunt of advocating for science.

When science communication is treated as invisible labor, it’s often women who do the work and get left out of the spotlight.

Marketing /
By: Adi Gaskell
A brand-first strategy is your competitive edge article image. A collage-style image featuring a fictional university named "U University." In the center is a corkboard background with a shield emblem reading “UNIVERSITY” and “Since 1899.” Surrounding the emblem are torn paper photos: a scenic college campus with arched stone buildings, three smiling women posing together, a young woman presenting in a library, and a group of students walking energetically down steps. One torn paper segment includes text recognizing the university in the "Top College Awards of 2025."

Want a competitive edge in higher ed? Start with brand-first strategy.

When branding leads, integrated marketing communications in higher ed becomes more than coordination; it becomes a strategy with impact.

Marketing /
By: Jamie Ceman
Your school magazine matters article image. A two-page magazine spread features a stylized roadmap illustrating the journey of alumni. The dark, winding road with dashed yellow lines with small icons, such as a graduation cap, briefcase, handshake, and diploma. Two simplified human figures appear walking along the paths, symbolizing different alumni experiences. The layout combines text with visuals in a neutral and warm color palette.

Your school magazine matters.

A well-crafted school magazine can deepen alumni connections in ways broader university communications often can’t.

Marketing /
By: Katherine Primus
We're still not talking enough about adult learners.A close-up of a young woman with curly red hair writing in a notebook with a pen. She is wearing a beige long-sleeve shirt. The background, intentionally blurred, shows a university campus with a large historic building, trees, and a small group of people walking.

We’re still not talking enough about adult learners.

With traditional enrollment declining, adult learners represent a crucial opportunity for colleges—it’s time to rethink recruitment and embrace this growing demographic.

Marketing /
By: Shane Baglini
Aligning higher ed marketing and alumni relations teams to build stronger partnerships article image. A marble chessboard with black and white pieces set up for a game. The board is labeled diagonally with "DEVELOPMENT TEAMS" on one side and "CENTRAL TEAMS" on the other.

How can marketing and alumni teams collaborate?

Aligning goals and sharing resources between marketing and alumni teams can elevate engagement, enhance donor relations, and maximize institutional impact.

Marketing /
By: Katherine Primus
A split graphic with a social media influencer on the left side in front of a college building, and on the right side, a robotic android reminiscent of AI.

Are we ready for the social media influencer takeover?

Influencer marketing and AI are shaping social media in 2025—and higher ed must navigate these trends carefully to stay authentic and effective.

Social Media /
By: Kellen Manning
Using the Psychology of Persuasion to Boost Higher Ed Marketing article image. A black-and-white profile portrait of a bearded man overlaid with digital data visualizations, including graphs, session metrics, and percentages. Swirling blue and pink smoke surrounds the left side, creating a contrast between analytics and creativity, symbolizing data-driven decision-making and human intuition.

Using the Psychology of Persuasion to Boost Higher Ed Marketing

Higher ed marketers can leverage System 1 and System 2 thinking to create emotionally resonant and effective campaigns.

Marketing /
By: Chris Huebner

Impactful storytelling elevates marketing, but where do you start?

Actionable strategies for uncovering transformative higher ed stories to create powerful marketing campaigns that resonate and drive results.

Marketing /
By: John Azoni
Breaking Down Silos: Secrets to Collaboration in Higher Ed Teams article image. A diverse group of professionals collaborating around a wooden table, surrounded by laptops, tablets, and documents with charts and graphs. Speech bubbles are overlaid on the image, symbolizing communication and teamwork.

Want to know the secret to collaboration in higher ed teams? Breaking down silos.

Here are three strategies for fostering collaboration through clear goals, open communication, and strong leadership.

Marketing /
By: Joshua Charles
You’re cute when you care. How emotional storytelling transforms donor appeals article image. A joyful embrace between two graduates in academic robes outdoors, symbolizing achievement. The scene transitions into a historical university building overlaid with a filmstrip.

You’re cute when you care. Emotional storytelling transforms donor appeals.

Emotional storytelling bridges the gap between donors and institutions, creating meaningful connections that drive impactful giving.

Marketing /
By: Kim Hallman
A male runner with short dark hair and beard, wearing a white and black striped shirt and black shorts running through a race banner with the word "Myth" written across it multiple times.

Breaking Barriers: 3 Persistent Media Myths That Limit Potential

These media myths constrain higher ed marketing, but breaking the barriers can lead to more effective campaigns, even with limited budgets.

Marketing /
By: Chris Huebner
Three keys to turn students into stakeholders by humanizing the experience article image. Collage of four images, top left: A close-up of a hand signing a document with a pen. Top right: two students smiling and collaborating outdoors. Bottom left: a professional standing outside a university building, holding a tablet. Bottom right: a classic stone university building with an arched wooden door, surrounded by greenery. White circular arrows overlay the images.

Humanize the experience. Three keys to turn students into stakeholders.

What if, instead of focusing solely on retention rates, higher ed gauged success by the generational impact of student stakeholders?

Marketing /
By: Elliot Lollis
What speaks to your donors? Emojis, GIFS, smoke signals? article image. A woman is seated at a desk, working on a laptop in an office setting. She is surrounded by floating icons of envelopes with red dollar signs, symbolizing email fundraising or alumni giving donations.

What speaks to your donors? Emojis, GIFS, smoke signals?

One preparatory school did the leg work to find out what works best to solicit alumni giving. The answer may surprise you.

Marketing /
By: Danielle Hladky
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