Higher Ed Marketing Lab

Campus Visit Trends: Insights from the 2025 CIVSA Conference with Jeff Kallay

Just back from this year's Collegiate Information and Visitor Services Association (CIVSA) conference, Jeff Kallay joins the show to share what he heard and what campus visit professionals across the country are really struggling with right now. We talk about everything from declining visit volume and rising no-show rates to the challenge of rebuilding student ambassador programs and why some virtual tours just aren't cutting it.

Do You Actually Have a Strategy?

HEML host Jarrett Smith explores the essential elements of strategy. Learn how strategy differs from activities like planning and big-picture thinking, why strategy doesn't begin with goals, the importance of selective over-performance, and how to recognize a true strategy over something that merely sounds strategic.

Empathy-Driven Leadership with Jaime Hunt

Jaime Hunt, a veteran higher ed marketing leader, consultant, speaker, and author, joins the show to talk about the principles of empathy-driven leadership she outlines in her new book, Heart Over Hype. Jaime and Jarrett discuss: * Common misconceptions about empathy and why it's not about simply being nice * How psychological safety directly impacts a team's ability to generate innovative ideas * What it does and doesn't mean to bring "your whole self" to work * Tips for understanding your own leadership style * And an exercise you can use to begin applying empathy-driven principles in your own work. This was a fun and thought-provoking talk that's relevant to anyone in a position of leadership who wants to unlock their team's full potential.

High-Impact Podcast Storytelling with Alex Grodnik

Alex Grodnik joins the pod to discuss storytelling, podcasting, and how universities can create one-of-a-kind content that captivates audiences.

Banishing Blah Blah Content from Your .EDU

Host Jarrett Smith dives into the pervasive issue of 'blah blah content' on college and university websites. He identifies two main types of ineffective content: generic content that lacks creative punch and institutionally centric content that fails to meet user needs. He offers practical solutions for identifying and eliminating blah blah content, emphasizing the importance of a student-centric approach, usability, and making institutional claims real for students.