Whether your goal is to increase enrollment, showcase life-changing research or establish your school as the best option to earn a certificate or degree, having a well-rounded communications plan is a must as a higher education institution. We’re big believers in the EOP model (earned, owned, paid), so here are three must-do tactics to add to your strategic communications plan and why they work well for higher education. Earned Media: Media Relations Incorporating media relations into your communications strategy gives you the opportunity to raise…
Read MoreCollege campuses are rife with experts, whether it be the president, dean of admissions or faculty member who knows everything there is to know about the day’s big story. Newsjacking – what we call the practice of connecting experts to reporters covering trending news – often can enable their thoughts to be heard, but all too often their expertise goes unnoticed. The next time that happens, try getting opinionated. Opinions, or op/eds, can be a valuable part of your communications arsenal. While it takes some…
Read MoreWhether you’re new to your role or have managed university communications for a number of years, it’s always a smart move to take a step back and take stock of all external communications from your institution. It’s an opportunity to reflect, improve and uncover new opportunities to tell the university’s brand story. We call this kind of project Research and Insights or a communications audit at Hodges, and here are some of the areas we look at: Are all communicators … communicating? Depending on the…
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