Luke McClelland’s Post

Universities across the country -- beset by controversies and legal challenges -- are reassessing their PR capabilities and bringing in strategic communications advisors. This is a good thing. Many top universities have been deploying scrambled messaging that lands with a thud. A good comms advisor isn't focused on "spinning" the narrative, but rather ensuring that the institution communicates authentically and in alignment with its values. We need more of that. #PublicRelations #CrisisCommunications #HigherEducation

How do campuses use social intelligence to make transformative changes? - Duquesne University uses it to inform cabinet-level decision making, build brand alignment, and use data-informed communication strategies to expand strategic capacity. - Society for College and University Planning (SCUP) is using a data-informed process to build a transformation strategy centered on the needs of its current and future members. - Utah Valley University is focused on expanding brand awareness and developing a mission-aligned, outcome-driven strategy. - The University of Arkansas - Fort Smith is building a shared understanding of their brand value and leveraging opportunities to differentiate their campus. Read about our work with these campuses and more. https://hubs.li/Q02tt6Hv0

Life on campus moves quickly, and dealing with external forces can feel overwhelming. Crafting press releases, managing social media channels and engaging with the media are all crucial efforts for #HigherEd marketers and communicators. In our latest blog post, Morgan Aguilar, MPA makes the case for internal communications and highlights three reasons colleges and universities should also invest in communicating with their own audiences. Read on: https://lnkd.in/gXKAEMvz

Communicate with your people! In my strategic communications work with several colleges and universities, much of the time and resources are spent on external communications and marketing. However, a good internal communications strategy is critical and, when done well, supports all your external efforts. I shared some of my thoughts and feelings on the topic:

Strategic communications teams hold many critical responsibilities like branded content creation, executive speech writing, media relations, and issues management. With such large and never-ending obligations, internal communications is often overlooked and underutilized, to the detriment of institutions. Here are three reasons colleges and universities must invest in internal communications. 1. Institutional Cohesion and Morale 2. Crisis Management 3. Professional Development and Organizational Growth See the benefits of each here: https://lnkd.in/dY84HJmf #HigherEducation #Communications #InternalCommunications #StrategicCommunications

Given the heightened focus on higher education, campuses are feeling the pressure of increased scrutiny. Geoff Gutgold shares some timely thoughts about that in his High Impact Practitioners blog post, "The Optics of Your Campus Are Always On." Let us know your thoughts. #futureofeducation #highereducation #campuscommunication #highimpactpractitioners https://lnkd.in/gUf65ACE

NEWS UPDATE - Get Ready to Witness History Unfold! We are bursting with pride as we mark our inaugural graduation ceremony, celebrating the remarkable achievements of our students who have triumphed in their professional marketing qualifications exams across diverse levels. They are poised to unleash their marketing prowess onto the world stage. Join us this morning via Facebook Live at 10:00 am, from the British Council to applaud their accomplishments. #marketinggraduation #marketing #ProfessionalDevelopment #QUALIFICATIONS #explore #success #proudmoment #celebration #newsfeed #NewsUpdate

How We're Helping Duquesne: Read more in our case study! A key goal for the Duquesne team is finding ways to develop effective collaboration across campus. They’re proactively trying to overcome silos while trying to speak with a coherent voice and message. *Monthly insights inform reporting, surface brand connections, and facilitate communicating relevant findings with leadership and key campus partners.  *Support enrollment management with first-person admissions insights, competitive intelligence, and engagement opportunities.  *Optimize sharing forum insights with relevant parties across campus.  *Activate campus-wide collaboration strategies and create a culture of mutual support with established working groups.  *Train auxiliary communicators on DMC best practices. *Plan a biannual executive briefing with partnership experts on the value of social listening and Duquesne’s conversation trends. https://lnkd.in/eJQeUQXD

Exciting news from Teneo! They have just bolstered their team with two high-profile experts Rory Cooper and Kevin Seifert to broaden their service offerings. #BusinessConsulting often overlooks the value of navigating the political and policy landscape, especially in complex markets. Ever wondered how the convoluted world of policymaking and government affairs could affect your business? These uncertainties can have significant implications for your business strategy and market decisions. Leveraging the expertise of consulting professionals well-versed in fields like crisis management, corporate communications, and public affairs, can provide critical insights and make all the difference. Now might be the perfect moment to reflect on your current strategies, and consider the potential benefits of expert strategic advice. If you’re left with lingering questions or uncertainties about your business and its place in the constantly changing political or policy environment, feel free to get in touch. Let's strategize and navigate through this complex world together. #Teneo #BusinessStrategy #GovernmentAffairs #CorporateCommunications

📢 Our world is changing, and so is the professional landscape for marketing, communications, and creativity. There has been a worldwide pandemic, economic ups and downs, political movements and advancement in tech. To that end, The Communicator Awards’ inaugural 2024 “Scope of Work” Report seeks to gauge the impact of these shifts to our professional lives through a comprehensive survey of the members of the Communicator Awards' jury. Download the report at the link here to discover how the expert jurors are navigating the challenging market and how they might connect you to your next career move: https://vist.ly/3mifadg