How can professors - regardless of field - be more creative? What are ways to use digital communications tools to enhance the student experience? How can professors become co-creators in the learning process with their students? How do we prepare students for jobs that don’t exist in the future due to advances in technology?These are among the questions that we delved into on episode 67 of FIR …
Podcast Episode #66: Using Instagram to Communicate Research
How do you communicate research visually for Instagram?Perhaps you have wondered about how to do this, whether you are a researcher or academic, or if you are a communicator supporting these audiences. I have grappled with this question as I have put together communications training materials for researchers and academics. I am not a visual learner per se, and am quick to hear complaints …
Podcast Episode #65: Thoughts on Revamping Your Bio
A researcher, academic or expert’s bio is important real estate that often times is neglected. A compelling bio can go a long way towards supporting strategic goals, both at the individual and organizational levels. On episode 65 of FIR on Higher Education, I highlight common mistakes to avoid and interesting examples to consider.Links highlighted on the episode:Example of a scannable …
Podcast Episode #64: Communicating Research via Video
How do you communicate complex ideas via video?If you are a researcher or communicator, perhaps this is a question on your mind. On episode 64 of the FIR on Higher Education podcast, guest Jonathan Ezer offers advice on how to communicate your research via video.Jonathan founded a company that helps researchers, scientists, innovators and educators communicate their work via video. He …
Podcast Episode #63: Christie Campbell on How to Integrate a Marketing Automation Program at a School
Has your school integrated a marketing automation program?If not, you should listen to the insights from Christie Campbell, Associate Vice President of Marketing at St. Edward's University. Christie led St. Edward's marketing automation program a few years ago. This year, St. Edward's University won the Best Marketing Automation in Content Marketing by the Content Marketing Institute. On …
Podcast Episode #62: How to Benefit from Medium
Have you experimented with Medium, the online publishing tool owned by Twitter? Not happy with your results? If that is the case for you and you want to discover how to change this narrative, then you will want to listen to FIR on Higher Education episode 62.Paul Redfern and Carina Situs from Gettysburg College delve into the strategies and tactics that have contributed to the school’s success …
Podcast Episode #61: Victor Jimenez on Using a Podcast to Sell a Program
Imagine being able to attribute the success of a podcast to over 3,000 sales of an online course. I certainly can’t vouch for this statement! However this is the reality for the guest on my latest podcast episode. Victor Jimenez is an entrepreneur whose Cycling 360 podcast has helped generate 3,000 sales of his online courses. On episode 61 of the FIR on Higher Education podcast, Victor explains …
Podcast Episode #60: IMD Professor James Henderson on How to Create a Compelling Lead Magnet
How do we get more butts in seats?This is a question many in marketing and admissions grapple with to some extent. A related question is how do we improve the quality of the students attending our school.Key to addressing these questions is lead generation. One way to generate new leads is by creating a compelling lead magnet: offering a valuable form of content in exchange for a new …
Podcast Episode #59: The Importance of Media Monitoring
The success of a PR program depends on monitoring. We need to have the tools in place to know not only what is being said about our brand, industries, competitors and audiences. We also need to have the appropriate systems to share intelligence with our different stakeholders, whether it be senior leadership, faculty, alumni, students and the communications team.Episode 59 of FIR on Higher …
Podcast Episode #58: Shel Holtz on Employee Advocacy Programs
Imagine the impact that can be generated when you have individuals who can share the brands content, respond appropriately to complaints and routinely advocate for the organization to their respective networks?On episode 58 of FIR of Higher Education, we delve into the topic of employee advocacy with Shel Holtz, an organizational communications expert and the founder of the FIR Podcast …
Podcast Episode #57: Research Impact Tips from Kudos Co-founders Charlie Rapple and Melinda Kenneway
How do you measure research impact? This is among the topics discussed on episode 57 of the FIR on Higher Education podcast with guests Charlie Rapple and Melinda Kenneway, co-founders of Kudos, a web-based service that helps researchers and their institutions and funders maximize the visibility and impact of their published articles.During the interview, we also discuss the genesis of …
Podcast Episode #56: Lessons from Ken Starr’s Media Interview Debacle
The media interview is not the right time to be reviewing answers and going over tactics! Ken Starr, the recently ousted president of Baylor University following an investigation into the mishandling of sexual assault at the school, and his media adviser Merrie Spaeth, founder of Spaeth Communications, learned this first-hand.In a KWTX News 10 interview from earlier this month, a journalist …
Podcast Episode #55: Steps to Conducting a Strategic Communications Review
Are you confident in your institution’s key messaging? Can you summarize it in a simple, clear and jargon free way to your different audiences? What about within your department? Do you know why the department for which you work exists? Do others know? Episode 55 of FIR on Higher Education will outline steps that you can consider adopting to answer these questions and gain clarity.Since …
Podcast #54: Book Marketing Tactics from Professor David Burkus
It is not enough to rely on your publisher or school communications department to market your book. You have to put in the leg work. So says David Burkus, a professor at Oral Roberts University and the author of two different books: The Myths of Creativity which came out in 2013 and Under New Management which was published earlier this year. On episode 54 of FIR on Higher Education, Burkus …
Podcast Episode #53: Communicating Your Unique Value Proposition Around Your Career
Communicating our unique value propositions as it relates to our careers can be challenging. It is of course very important, especially since we know that the days of staying at one job for life are long gone. Studies show that the average professional changes jobs seven times. We need to have a communications plan as we think about career transitions and opportunities. Dr. Heidi Scott Giusto is …