In this conversation, Christine Albano discusses her journey in social media management within higher education, particularly at Felician University. She shares insights on the importance of social media as a research tool for prospective students, the creative processes behind successful campaigns, and the challenges of managing a student content team. Christine emphasizes the need for authenticity in content creation and the role of AI as a supportive tool in marketing strategies. The discussion also covers engagement strategies, including giveaways and contests, and the future direction of Felician's content strategy, including a new podcast initiative.

Key Takeaways:

1. Social media is how prospective students research colleges: Platforms like Instagram and TikTok function as search engines, giving students a real look at campus life before they ever visit a website.

2. Strong engagement comes from relevance and creativity: Content performs best when it highlights real experiences, hands-on learning, and student voices rather than polished marketing clichés.

3. Student content teams need structure, trust, and training: Clear guardrails, hands-on coaching, and shared creative processes help students contribute effectively while staying on brand.

4. Giveaways and interactive formats can drive real momentum: Well-designed campaigns (like Felician’s anti-melt giveaway) can sustain interest, boost engagement, and support enrollment goals.

5. Authenticity and smart use of AI strengthen content strategy: Honest storytelling resonates most, while AI works best as a supportive tool for ideation, captions, and efficiency—not a replacement for human creativity.

Relevant links:

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/felician_university/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@felicianuniversity
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@FelicianUniversity

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/school/felician-university/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/felicianuniversity

In this episode, host John Azoni sits down with Dan Giroux, independent consultant and former senior advancement communications leader at Drexel University, to explore why Advancement Marketing & Communications (MarCom) is one of the most overlooked — yet most critical — functions in higher education today.

Dan shares insights from his three-act career journey (agency, in-house, and independent consulting), discusses the structural challenges holding advancement teams back, and outlines practical, realistic ways institutions can create more authentic, impactful content — even with limited resources. The conversation dives deep into storytelling, leadership alignment, donor engagement, and why higher ed can learn a lot from modern creators like MrBeast when it comes to community-driven philanthropy.

This episode is a must-listen for advancement leaders, MarCom professionals, and anyone navigating fundraising, alumni engagement, or institutional storytelling in a rapidly changing higher-ed landscape.

Key takeaways:

1. Advancement MarCom plays a bigger role than many institutions realize: When it’s treated as tactical support instead of a strategic function, schools miss opportunities to drive engagement, loyalty, and giving.
2. Collaboration starts with leadership alignment: Strong partnerships between Central MarCom and Advancement leaders make cross-team collaboration possible; misalignment at the top creates silos everywhere else.
3. Authentic storytelling comes from specificity, not polish: Donors and alumni connect more deeply with real, detailed stories than with highly produced, generic campaign messaging.
4. Stewardship is a growth strategy, not an afterthought: Post-gift communication and impact storytelling strengthen relationships and increase long-term support.
5. Limited resources don’t have to limit impact: Small teams can scale by prioritizing the right work, using freelancers strategically, and building repeatable content systems.

In this episode, Ross Simmonds, CEO of Foundation Marketing and Distribution.ai, unpacks why Reddit has become one of the most influential platforms in the student decision-making process—shaping search rankings, AI responses, and campus reputation in ways most institutions aren’t tracking. He explains how universities can strategically participate without sounding promotional, how to build karma and credibility, and why owning your subreddit is now essential brand hygiene. Ross shares practical steps for teams of any size to start distributing content effectively, encourages leveraging student-generated stories, and highlights how repurposing existing assets can drive massive impact. He also discusses his book, Create Once, Distribute Forever, and offers low-lift strategies to help higher ed marketers turn Reddit from a risk into an unmatched opportunity.

Links:

Ross’ book: Create Once, Distribute Forever
Ross’ companies: Foundation Marketing and Distribution.ai

Key takeaways:

1. Reddit now shapes both search results and AI-generated answers used in the college search.
2. Universities must own and actively manage their subreddits to influence student perception.
3. Zero-click storytelling outperforms link-dropping and builds trust on Reddit.
4. Studying subreddit culture and tailoring content to it prevents bans and boosts engagement.
5. Consistency—15 minutes a day of authentic activity—compounds into real visibility and impact.

In this conversation, Erin Fields, the marketing director at Ology, discusses her journey in higher education marketing, emphasizing the importance of authentic content and understanding student needs. She shares insights on leveraging LinkedIn for thought leadership, the role of Reddit in gathering student feedback, and effective strategies for email marketing and blog content. Erin highlights the significance of spotlighting real student stories to build trust and relatability, and encourages higher ed professionals to embrace experimentation in their content creation efforts.

Key takeaways:

1. Authentic, human-sounding conversations should lead higher ed marketing.
2. Student needs and real questions must drive all content decisions.
3. Platforms like LinkedIn and Reddit are essential for understanding student sentiment.
4. Content should prioritize clarity, simplicity, and genuine value.
5. Building helpful, student-centered resources strengthens brand trust over time.

In this engaging conversation, Dr. Dérecco Lynch shares his insights on transforming higher education through innovative marketing strategies, storytelling, and building brand affinity. He emphasizes the importance of engaging students and stakeholders by simplifying messaging and creating a culture of collaboration. Drawing parallels with Apple's approach to product launches, Dr. Lynch discusses the need for higher education institutions to adapt to market changes and actively engage with their communities. He also highlights the significance of celebrating wins to foster a positive organizational culture and motivate staff.

Student stories landing page referenced in episode: https://www.uc.edu/news/articles/2023/11/beyond-the-classroom-with-5-real-uc-students-around-the-country.html

DéRecco's Linkedin post about the Apple Keynote: https://shorturl.at/AyYrY

Key takeaways:

1. Story-driven messaging helps higher-ed institutions communicate real impact.
2. Simple, clear pillars make institutional visions easier to align around.
3. Activations and experiences are more effective than emails or PDFs for spreading vision.
4. Building brand affinity early leads to stronger long-term loyalty and advocacy.
5. Higher ed must innovate and adapt to stay competitive in a shifting market.

In this episode, John Azoni interviews Cory Glover, a Marketing Cloud Manager at the University of Michigan Dearborn, about reducing friction in email campaigns. They discuss the importance of personalization, the challenges of managing email communications, and the impact of strategic changes in messaging. Cory shares insights on improving student engagement through dynamic content and storytelling, emphasizing the need for clear, actionable communication. The conversation also touches on the role of technology in enhancing the student experience and the significance of creating a seamless journey for prospective students. They also review slides from a presentation that demonstrate the effectiveness of visual changes, such as adding icons, in improving email readability.

To view the presentation slides referenced in this episode click here.

Takeaways:

1. Personalization in email campaigns can significantly enhance student engagement.
2. Dynamic content and storytelling are effective in reducing friction in communication.
3. Clear, actionable communication is crucial for improving student experience.
4. Strategic changes in messaging can lead to increased application and deposit rates.
5. Technology plays a vital role in enhancing the student journey.

Chris Rapozo shares his journey from Germany to the United States, discussing his experiences as an international student and the cultural challenges he faced. He emphasizes the importance of addressing the emotional needs of international students and the role of content in supporting their retention. The conversation also touches on the significance of personal connections and the impact of life decisions.

Key takeaways:

1. Invest in yourself for a 100% return.
2. Repurpose long-form content into short-form videos.
3. Address the fear of looking stupid in new environments.
4. Loneliness is a big deal for people moving to a new country.
5. Life decisions often lead to unexpected and rewarding outcomes.

In this conversation, Cheryl Broom, a leading expert in higher education marketing communications, discusses her experiences and insights into the challenges and strategies in marketing for community colleges. The discussion covers the importance of branding, the nuances of RFPs, and the parallels between student recruitment and online dating. Cheryl also reflects on the role of LinkedIn as a powerful networking and marketing tool, and on her viral “Don’t Tell Marketing” series, which underscores the risks of inconsistent branding. Throughout, she emphasizes the need for effective communication and collaboration between marketing and admissions departments to improve student engagement and enrollment processes.

Key Takeaways:

• Perseverance from surfing – Since age 12, Cheryl has learned patience and resilience through surfing, lessons she carries into her professional life.
• LinkedIn as a growth engine – She views LinkedIn as essential for brand building, networking, and driving opportunities in higher education.
• Brand consistency matters – Her “Don’t Tell Marketing” series highlights how off-brand colors, DIY logos, or rogue flyers can damage institutional credibility.
• RFP frustrations – Many higher ed RFPs already have a pre-selected partner, wasting valuable time and resources for other vendors.
• The student journey is like dating – Colleges must follow up with urgency and personalization; ignoring inquiries is the equivalent of “ghosting” a potential student.

In this conversation, John Azoni discusses the challenges and strategies of video content creation in higher education. He emphasizes the importance of a unified video strategy, intentional content creation, and the concept of 'going long to go short' to maximize engagement and meet institutional goals. Azoni also highlights the need to empower non-professionals in video production to enhance content quality and reach.

Key Takeaways:

• ​​Colleges often struggle with a scattered approach to video content.
• Intentional content creation is crucial for meeting institutional goals.
• Filming for posterity can lead to wasted resources.
• Short form video is essential for engagement on social media.
• Transforming events into engaging content can maximize impact.

In this episode, John Azoni discusses the integration of AI tools in video production, focusing on how they enhance workflow, improve collaboration, and streamline the creative process. He shares insights on using AI for transcriptions, casting, scripting, and audio cleanup, emphasizing the transformative impact of these technologies on content creation.

Key Takeaways:

1. AI accelerates video production workflows — Tools like ChatGPT streamline scripting, storyboarding, and editing by extracting insights from transcripts and organizing raw content efficiently.
2. Transcripts + AI = Actionable Insights — Transcribed client calls and interviews are used to generate creative briefs, map messaging pillars, and identify the strongest story arcs.
3. Custom GPTs enhance brand consistency — For recurring clients, tailored GPTs help maintain messaging tone and speed up ideation by “remembering” previous projects and goals.
4. Voice cloning and generative visuals save time — AI voiceovers (via 11 Labs) and tools like Google VO or Photoshop’s Generative Fill reduce production delays and increase flexibility without compromising quality.
5. Experimenting with AI leads to real production breakthroughs — From rethinking episode formats to saving damaged audio, testing AI tools has resulted in both creative and practical wins.