Brand Marketing and Communications

Brainstorm has had a great deal of success working with our higher education clients on admissions marketing. We have been utilzing branding solutions through various social media vehicles such as Facebook, custom Ning sites, and other web 2.0 means. Success tends to breed success and we have seen that happen through our efforts. In fact, one client had nearly 75% of their matriculated students participating in their official social network for admitted students. That effort also netted a +15% increase in matriculation over last year.

However, schools need to be aware that your brand will be carried into these social networks regardless of your proactive efforts. We have witnessed sevearl enterprising high school seniors organizing and promoting their own class pages within Facebook. While most of these efforts seem to be grassroots, Brad Ward at Squared Peg has taken notice that there are some strange things going on within Facebook admissions groups. His article is a good read to be proactive and embrace your social networking part of your overall integrated marketing solution.