Laura Schneider

In SimpsonScarborough's 2021-22 “State of Higher Ed Marketing” report, 60% of lead marketers at universities were part of the senior leadership team and reported directly to the president. This number continues to rise in Universities as institutions increasingly recognize the importance of brand management and strategic communication in navigating today’s competitive higher education landscape. Through my research and professional experience, I have seen how this dynamic plays out. Unfortunately, many leaders at the community college level still silo marketing and communications departments under other administrative units, often excluding them from the strategic decision-making process. This is a missed opportunity. Marketing isn’t just about promotion—it’s about aligning institutional strategy with the needs and perceptions of stakeholders. As my dissertation research confirmed, when chief marketing and communications officers are integrated into the highest levels of leadership, they significantly impact university performance, reputation management, and enrollment outcomes. If your CMCO isn’t sitting at the cabinet table and reporting to the president, you’re not just under-utilizing them, you’re undercutting your institution’s potential. This concludes my Monday evening stream of consciousness.

30

2 Comments

Quick read on how being in control helps your wellbeing. Need to park 2 cars in your 2 car garage but boxes, storage and that kids’ bike holding you back? Getting organized is more than the “stuff,” it's about how you FEEL when things are in order. Get control--Gain happiness.

3

Clarity and brevity are essential in today’s fast-paced world. Jim VandeHei’s TED Talk, The Art of Smart Brevity, offers powerful insights on how to communicate more effectively by saying less but meaning more. A must-watch for anyone looking to level up their writing and messaging skills: https://go.ted.com/Kn8g6. Also, check out our blog post "The Power of Simplicity in Higher Education Branding": https://lnkd.in/gNBKJuyW

7

1 Comment

These tips will make you more effective at what you do, no matter what kind of work it is. https://hubs.ly/Q02s3Jr50

11

1 Comment

Talking to your customers and extracting the motives, needs, and feelings they have toward your business, products, and services is critical to brand building. Interviewing just ten (10) customers this way can reveal some "ah-ha" insights. #Brand #Marketing #Customer #Insight #CMO #Fractional #Leadership

5

1 Comment

A Timely Direct Mail Reminder in Honor of National Poster Worker Day (July 1st) When your marketing efforts add up, so does your revenue. Our omnichannel solutions maximize your ROI by allowing you to reach your customers wherever they are - including in their homes. We're so grateful for the hardworking postal workers who help ensure our mail arrives at its destination! Check out our blog post to learn more about how direct mail can reinforce your advertising campaign. #DirectMail #Marketing #Omnichannel #NationalPostalWorkerDay

2

A “great” workplace includes three experience drivers: “beauty,” “welcoming,” and “inspires new thinking.” Design matters. Uniqueness matters as well. An “exceptional” workplace differentiates by including unique factors both in and out of the office. https://hubs.ly/Q02xmT4z0

13

While it is no longer National Library Week, libraries are not stopping their evolution. Check out KI's latest research on why, how, and what is changing in Higher Ed temples of knowledge!

9

Brand marketers, listen up..... you're missing out if you're ignoring women 40+ in your marketing: "Women drive 70-80% of all consumer purchasing, either through buying power or influence, and women older than 50 drive $15 trillion in spending power—which is 27% of all consumer spending in the U.S. By 2030, women are expected to control much of the $30 trillion in wealth that is soon to transfer from baby boomers to younger generations—namely millennials, who will all be in their mid-30s to late-40s by then." #fractionalCMO #brandmarketing

19

2 Comments

Learn how mobile-first branding is shaping the future of business in Charlotte, NC, and beyond. Discover key strategies and SEO tips for optimizing your brand's mobile presence in 2024. Check out the insights here: https://lnkd.in/eqXZpCs7

1

Over the years, we’ve worked with some big clients with DEI departments. The approach and the sincere commitment or purpose was different from one brand to the next. I found it a mixed bag, some encouraging and others cringey. What’s been some of your DEI experiences? What’s the state of DEI heading into 2025? https://lnkd.in/gFGURzHY #DEI #DEIstrategy #Brands #advertising

5

With so many service providers in the sustainability space, it can be challenging to find the right fit for your company, especially in an industry as broad and diverse as promotional products. One of the reasons we're so excited about our partnership with Green Business Benchmark° is their proven track record with Hit Promotional Products - check out this article and case study to learn more!

15

Keep your signage festive this upcoming holiday season. The below post has some great sign and graphics related ideas on how to make sure your holiday business sales stay on the nice list going into end of year! #HolidaySigns #BradySignsBlog

12

Originally reported in Fortune, this employee review study from Textio is chock-full of frustrating stuff. One primary takeaway: feedback given to high-performing women is often centered on "poor stereotypes of their personality" rather than their actual work. This nugget in particular got me: "The majority of high-performing women recalled also being told they’re unlikable—compared to just 16% of men." I can relate to this on both ends - as an executive feedback recipient, and as a supervisor. Horrifyingly, there have definitely been times when I've found myself doing similar things in reviews - namely, focusing more on interpersonal traits, both positive and negative, when reviewing women than I did when reviewing men. No matter your intention, the takeaways from this study are a powerful reminder that even those of us who care deeply about #equality in the workplace are probably unconsciously evaluating performance in unfair, gender-driven ways. https://lnkd.in/dT6C5Frx

7

If you want to hear a few tips on brands and the people who create them, give some attention here. My friends at DUFF!BEAR Advertising have a show that you may find entertaining. Was I prepared for this interview? What could go wrong? Watch here for some fun in the world of marketing. This is the trailer, a summary of the short video. https://lnkd.in/g5gCrcm7

9

1 Comment

Love to see this and super curious to see how the reusable cup experiment works...but also posting here because there's a lesson for anyone in #marketing or #changemanagement: you can't expect people to do what you want them to do just because you think it's the best thing; you have to (in the words of the great book SWITCH) shape the path--make it EASY to do the "right thing." https://lnkd.in/eRhnGE2u

3

1 Comment

5 Promotional Products that Give Back -Are you looking to capture people’s attention? For a promotion that really packs a punch, consider choosing a product that partners your organization with a social good program. #DonnaBender

Does your organization have a milestone year coming up? An anniversary logo can make it even more memorable. I’ve put together tips on how to design an eye-catching and engaging logo that highlights your brand’s past, present, and future—like the example below for the Axelson Center for Nonprofit Management's 25th anniversary this year. Read my tips at https://lnkd.in/gfjXEJYZ

2