Insights and Inspiration

Schools often ask us which should happen first: strategic planning or branding? Our answer is they should happen in tandem. If you know you need more right-fit families; if you know you need stronger messaging; and if you know you need a brand refresh—doing both projects in synchronization is the most efficient way to get it done.

Campaigns are complex. They are a significant undertaking with numerous components and moving pieces, and they are critical to the growth and vitality of an institution. So how do you articulate campaign complexity?

The official start of summer brings sun and surf, but it also means that advancement teams are eagerly kicking off their planning for the new academic year. It is critical to be strategic about your annual programming from the onset to maximize your fundraising success.

Is your school community having trouble communicating its core strengths in a consistent, concise way? Do you need a tool to help everyone get on the same page from a marketing perspective? If so, the solution is a verbal identity.

Are you communicating on repeat? Constantly spinning your wheels to get the right message out there—one that you haven’t said in slightly different ways several times already?

A name change can be daunting. People are emotionally attached. Not everyone will agree with the final choice. Your new name must authentically reflect your school's identity. Otherwise, the new name can cause confusion, which may create even bigger problems.