The Insight Series with Charlie Maughan – Why school marketing works differently – Orientation

Welcome to the first topic in The Insight Series. In this orientation episode, Charlie sets the context for why school marketing often feels harder than it should — and why that tension isn't accidental.

School choice is a high-stakes, identity-driven decision shaped by long timelines, multiple influencers and emotional weight. Parents are often well advanced in their thinking before they enquire, reshaping how marketing must work.

Charlie explores what this means for school marketers, often carrying responsibility without full authority, and why brand building in schools is less about promotion and more about reducing risk and building confidence.

This episode begins a five-part exploration of why school marketing works differently.

Episode Links:

• The B2B Buyer Experience Report – 6sense
• School Choice: A Research Report – Independent Schools Australia
• Parents often lack metacognitive insight into what drives school choice decisions. – PLOS ONE
• The B2B Buying Journey: Key Stages and How to Optimize Them – Gartner

Got more questions for Charlie and the team? You can ask them via the following:

• Email: [email protected]

Have you heard about imaginate? The bespoke video solution for schools. If you're ready to take your school's video to the next level, head to imageseven.com.au/imaginate

Introducing The Insight Series with Charlie Maughan

In the first episode of 2026, Charlie introduces a new format for SMC – The Insight Series. These short, focused mini chapters are designed to make big school marketing topics easier to tackle, with clearer priorities and practical next steps. Each topic follows a structured flow: Orientation sets the context, Reality names what gets in the way, Insights shares useful frameworks, What We See brings in what's happening in schools, and Applied turns it into next steps for you.

Got questions or feedback for Charlie and the team? You can send them via the following:

• Email: [email protected]

Have you heard about imaginate? The bespoke video solution for schools. If you're ready to take your school's video to the next level, head to www.imageseven.com.au/imaginate

School marketing and communications with Charlie Maughan, James Tindall and José Caceres

In the final episode of SMC for 2025, Charlie is joined again by Senior Account Manager James Tindall and imageseven's Director of Design — José Caceres — to discuss a new video content solution created to help schools produce consistent, high-quality content – imaginate. The team explores how imaginate supports schools by connecting overarching strategy with the demands of day-to-day content creation. In the Deep Dive, the team assess what makes a design feel truly balanced and 'just right', focusing on the importance of visual principles such as grids and structure to typography and colour schemes. In Rants and Raves, the trio dissect this year's Christmas ads and discuss those that created a compelling story and who missed out.

Episode links:

• imageseven.com.au/imaginate
• Good Visual Design, Explained – Neilsen Norman Group – Kelley Gordon
• The Worst and Best Christmas Ads in 2025 - Encodify

Got more questions for Charlie and the team or want to share what you'd like to see from the team in 2026? You can ask them via the following:

• Email: [email protected]
• Survey: imageseven.typeform.com

Here at imageseven, we are always on the lookout for great people to join the team and we have a few opportunities open. To view our available positions or enquire further, head to https://www.imageseven.com.au/work-with-us/

School marketing and communications with Charlie Maughan, Rita Kilroy and James Tindall

In this episode of SMC, Charlie and Rita are joined by Senior Account Manager James Tindall to chat about why it's time for school marketers to stop chasing clicks and start building brands that last. In Making News, the team first discuss fresh data showing CMOs shifting their focus from performance marketing to brand awareness and what schools marketers can take from this. In the Deep Dive, they explore why authentic, experience-led content cuts through digital fatigue, and how live events can spark a real connection with your community. In Rants & Raves, they celebrate Nike's Chicago Marathon campaign — a masterclass in smart, human, context-driven storytelling.

Episode links:

• Brand awareness, media investment, B2B customer journeys: 5 interesting stats to start your week – Marketing Week
• Brand experiences create social content algorithms can't ignore – The Drum – Joe Panepinto
• Nike hits stride with Chicago Marathon campaign that speaks fluent runner – Famous Campaigns – James Herring

Got more questions for Charlie and the team or want to share what you'd like to see from the team in 2026? You can ask them via the following:

• Email: [email protected]
• Survey: imageseven.typeform.com

Here at imageseven, we are always on the lookout for great people to join the team and we have a few opportunities open. To view our available positions or enquire further, head to https://www.imageseven.com.au/work-with-us/.

School marketing and communications with Charlie Maughan, Rita Kilroy and Harrison Shearn

In this episode, Charlie is joined by Rita and Digital Marketing Specialist, Harrison, to explore some eye-opening stats from the marketing world. From job-switching in the industry, to the surprisingly low awareness of brand purpose, and even why ads perform better when the weather changes. In the Deep Dive, the trio discuss imageseven's latest analysis of school website traffic and how AI is reshaping SEO for schools of all sizes. And, in Rants and Raves, the team rave about Wesley College's Centenary Project and its creative community engagement.

Episode Links:

• Switching roles, brand purpose, strategy disconnect: 5 interesting stats to start your week – Marketing – Niamh Carroll
• Wesley College Centenary Project Fly Through - Wesley College YouTube
• Is it a bird? Is it a plane? NO, it's a groundbreaking! - Wesley College
• The Smoking Ceremony - Wesley College YouTube

Got more questions for Charlie and the team? You can ask them via the following:

• Email: [email protected]
• Survey: imageseven.typeform.com

Here at imageseven, we are always on the lookout for great people to join the team and we have a few opportunities open. To view our available positions or enquire further, head to https://www.imageseven.com.au/work-with-us/

School marketing and communications with Charlie Maughan, Rita Kilroy and Harrison Shearn

In this episode of SMC, Charlie is again joined in the studio by Rita and Harrison. The team explores Meta's latest addition of Threads as a placement option and whether schools should consider advertising on Threads. In the Deep Dive, the trio dissect comments from Carlsberg's new CMO regarding their renewed commitment to brand purpose and the importance of clarity and value proposition, and discuss the similarities with school marketing and branding. Finally, in Rants and Raves, the team swoon over Edith Cowan University's latest project update video of its new city campus, and how schools can take inspiration when launching major projects to engage with their community.

Episode links:

• Trends Ads Expand to All Meta Advertisers - Andrew Hutchinson - SocialMediaToday
• 'Impossible to move away from': Why Carlsberg's CMO is doubling down on 'Probably the best' - Niamh Carroll - Marketing Week
• ECU City Campus Flythrough - LinkedIn

Got more questions for Charlie and the team? You can ask them via the following:

• Email: [email protected]
• Survey: imageseven.typeform.com

Here at imageseven, we are always on the lookout for great people to join the team and we have a few opportunities open. To view our available positions or enquire further, head to https://www.imageseven.com.au/work-with-us/

School marketing and communications with Charlie Maughan, Andrew Sculthorpe and Harrison Shearn

In this episode, Charlie is joined by imageseven Managing Partner Andrew 'Scully' Sculthorpe and Digital Marketing Specialist Harrison Shearn. The trio explore how AI-generated summaries are affecting website traffic and SEO, and how school marketers should adapt. In the Deep Dive, they explore key findings from the 6sense B2B Buyer Experience Report, highlighting strong parallels between the B2B buyer purchasing process and the prospective parent journey in education marketing. Finally, in the Rants and Raves, the team spotlight a school pushing the AI envelope with a conversationally aware virtual principal.

Episode links:

• Study: Fewer clicks on links with an AI summary – AdNews
• The B2B Buyer Experience Report – 6sense
• Westbourne Grammar – Home Page

Got more questions for Charlie and the team? You can ask them via the following:

• Email: [email protected]
• Survey: imageseven.typeform.com

Here at imageseven, we are always on the lookout for great people to join the team and we have a few opportunities open. To view our available positions or enquire further, head to https://www.imageseven.com.au/work-with-us/

School marketing and communications with Charlie Maughan, Rita Kilroy and Harrison Shearn

Charlie and Rita are again joined by imageseven Digital Marketing Specialist Harrison Shearn to assess Google's new 'AI Mode' and its implications for school marketers and digital marketing more broadly. In the Deep Dive, they explore how to brief your marketing agency or creative team effectively by discussing why a solid brief matters, and how to avoid miscommunication and misalignment to get the best results. Finally, they answer a listener's question about the fine line between inspiration and imitation, before raving about Canva's cheeky and out of the box outdoor campaign in London.

Episode Links:

• Google Is Now Rolling Out AI Mode In the US – Search Engine Roundtable – Barry Schwartz
• With 9 questions to the perfect briefing for agencies - awork
• Canva OOH Campaign - James Herring

Got more questions for Charlie and the team? You can ask them via the following:

• Email: [email protected]
• Survey: imageseven.typeform.com

Here at imageseven, we are always on the lookout for great people to join the team and we have a few opportunities open. To view our available positions or enquire further, head to https://www.imageseven.com.au/work-with-us/

School marketing and communications with Charlie Maughan, Rita Kilroy and Harrison Shearn

In this episode, Charlie and Rita are joined by imageseven Digital Marketing Specialist — Harrison Shearn — to discuss how school marketers can navigate Meta's increasingly AI-automated platform. In the Deep Dive, the team focus on solo school marketer and strategies to help keep all the plates spinning. Finally, the team get swept up in Adelaide University's recent 'Launch You' campaign and how the visuals got slightly carried away from the intended message.

Episode Links:

• Adelaide University creates LAUNCH YOU via Richards Rose - AdNews
• Adelaide University - We're here to help launch new futures - YouTube

Got more questions for Charlie and the team? You can ask them via the following:

• Email: [email protected]
• Survey: imageseven.typeform.com

Here at imageseven, we are always on the lookout for great people to join the team and we have a few opportunities open. To view our available positions or enquire further, head to https://www.imageseven.com.au/work-with-us/

School marketing and communications with Charlie Maughan, Rita Kilroy and Steph Wicks

In this episode, Charlie and Rita are joined by imageseven Marketing Manager — Steph Wicks — to discuss the announcement that Google is removing reviews from school associated Business Profiles. The team talks about how these changes can affect schools and their position in the market. In our Deep Dive, the team breaks down the essential strategies every new school marketer needs to know when stepping into the education industry. Finally, Charlie, Rita and Steph tackle QR codes and where they are appropriate in the context of the education industry and how poor execution can disrupt the entire customer journey.

Episode links:

• Google to Drop Reviews On School Business Profiles
• Deciphering the dilemma: The surprising impact of QR code menus on diminishing customer loyalty

Got more questions for Charlie and the team? You can ask them via the following:

• Email: [email protected]
• Survey: imageseven.typeform.com

Here at imageseven, we are always on the lookout for great people to join the team and we have a few opportunities open. To view our available positions or enquire further, head to https://www.imageseven.com.au/work-with-us/