Awareness. Enrollment. Alumni engagement.   

At your graduate school, these are just three major points of emphasis.  

But are you deploying thoughtful campaigns that command attention and inspire action? 
Are you creating opportunities for people to explore everything your school has to offer? 
Are you telling a compelling story that’s unique, authentic, and instantly recognizable? 

At Quilted Squirrel, we understand that your school’s success isn’t about selling a commodity. It’s not about hawking products or services to consumers. No, it’s about establishing trust with your audience. It’s about offering programs that set the stage for intellectual exploration and inspiration. It’s about sparking growth, igniting passion, and fueling change.  

With the right blend of tactics and creative, you can form a connection with your school community—however you define it. You can tell a brand story that truly differentiates your graduate program. Here’s how.  

Tactics + Creative = Success 

Creative content is more than just bells and whistles. In many cases, it’s really the nuts and bolts of your brand story. Without stunning websites, videos, digital viewbooks, and catalogues—how will you attract, engage, and retain your audience?  

Here’s a list of creative solutions to consider and how to execute them at your school:  

Concept Development & Creative Direction

This is the crux of your brand storytelling initiative.   

• Focus on campaign messaging

Are you talking to recent college grads? Adult learners? Retired veterans? Create an overall messaging strategy that best represents your school, and then “translate” it so it speaks directly to each member of your audience.

• Develop a creative strategy

Where is your audience? What are they looking for? Meet them where they are and then share stories that resonate with their own experiences, goals, and expectations.

• Reinforce your brand with digital marketing

All that creative you came up with… where is it going? Who’s in charge of fortifying your brand story online? How much does this cost, and is it yielding a favorable ROI? It’s time to put a proper plan in place.

Video Development

No surprises here. Video content isn’t just effective—it’s essential. 

• Develop a series of short videos

Is your graduate school a beacon of hope for a single mother? Another step closer to earning a doctorate degree? An affirmative boost up the corporate ladder? Showcase students and alumni who are living proof that your programs are definitively life-changing.

• Share your videos

It sounds obvious, but you’d be surprised how many good videos go to waste because they’re poorly placed. Feature your videos in paid social media ads, in organic social media posts, embedded on webpages or landing pages, or broadcast on television.

Landing Page

Your website is great, but sometimes certain campaigns require special attention. Promoting enrollment into a particular program, for example, often calls for its own landing page.  

• Engage visitors and capture leads

Make sure your landing page is short and sweet. Make it user-friendly. Add a form for people to enter their information so you can generate leads. 

• Mix in some multimedia

Write compelling copy, embed videos, and add design elements that capture your brand, educate your audience, and inspire action. 

Digital & Social Ads

How many programs are you promoting? Implement a specific digital and social ad campaign for each one. Make sure each ad is properly sized for its platform.  

Facebook — 1200 x 630 pixels
Twitter — 1024 x 512 pixels
LinkedIn — 1200 x 627 pixels
Instagram — 1080 x 1080 (standard square); 1080 x 586 (landscape); 1080 x 1350 (landscape); 1080 x 1920 (stories) 

Long-form Content Development

Blog posts are a versatile marketing tool. They can generate exposure, build trust, reinforce brand stories, and positively impact on–site SEO. Use your blogs to: 

• Answer questions 
• Offer resources 
• Entertain and educate at the same time 
• Share success stories 
• Feature faculty, staff, students, and alumni 
• Promote programs and boost enrollment 
• Include videos, infographics 
• Direct your audience to a website, landing page, and/or social media sites 

Creative marketing makes a difference.

If your team is looking for an extra edge in one or all of these areas, we’re here to help! Check out our commitment to higher education at edu.thequiltedsquirrel.com.

And don’t forget to follow us on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter.