Aha! :: Elliance Blog

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Why some colleges thrive while others coast and dwindle?

Not a week goes by that we don’t see the news of a college closing, merging or downsizing. Unfavorable demographics and remote locations are purported to be the primary reasons for their troubles. We believe that the following reasons are the key drivers that put colleges in distress:

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What my three teens and their friends have taught me about Gen-Z?

I have read dozens of reports on Gen-Z (born between 1996 and 2010) including those from Pew, HubSpot, SHRM, and other credible sources. But watching my own three teens and dozens of their friends has given me a nuanced understanding of Gen-Z. Here are my observations:     They are race-blind, faith-blind and gender-blind As […]

Liberal Arts or STEM: A False Choice
Liberal Arts or STEM? A False Choice.

If the 20th century was the century of specialization, then the 21st century is becoming the century of integrative thinking. In the past century, colleges and universities offered choices of majoring in professional, STEM or liberal arts disciplines. In the first two decades of this century, there is now a discernible movement towards creation of […]

Five Competencies of Liberal Arts Graduates
Five Competencies of Liberal Arts Graduates

Although the future of work has become increasingly technical and vocational, the future of innovation and leadership remains solidly in the hands of people who majored or minored in liberal arts and humanities. There is a good reason for this paradox: liberal arts teach people how to learn, think, create, communicate, connect the dots, handle […]

great college magazine covers
Intentionality and the art of great college magazine covers

The golden age of print magazines long ago expired (Time once reached 20 million readers a week at peak circulation). Still, writers, editors and photographers charged with producing a college or university magazine juggle the same risk/reward choices as their predecessors when it comes to creating memorable cover art.   Whether your college magazine comes in […]

High Fidelity Content Marketing
High-Fidelity Content Marketing

The primary goal of digital content marketing is to earn attention and grow brand reputation by providing valuable content – that informs, persuades, engages and delights prospects and customers. However, delivering on this goal has turned into an all-out arms race, with three distinct generations of content marketing.   First Generation: Core Content In the […]

content Release plan
Higher education content marketing: 3 Keys for ensuring your content gets the most exposure

Creating a well-thought-out content release plan can help you get the most exposure for your content marketing efforts and ensure that your hard work pays off.

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Brand Discovery: How to Design for Signal Over Noise.

As revenue pressures grow across higher education, so do board- and cabinet-level imperatives to “define the brand.” Easier said than done, true. But also worth every ounce of effort. At its best, a brand discovery should yield an authentic and durable brand position (with a 10-year shelf life). Better yet, a brand discovery (well planned […]

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Ten Common Marketing Mistakes Industrial Companies Make with Global Marketing

The path to global marketing success is fraught with peril. There are hundreds of potential pitfalls…and a few right paths. The Internet has lowered the cost of entering new global markets. However, unlocking global demand requires a new global mindset, toolkits and dexterity for industrial marketers. Here are some common marketing mistakes we see industrial […]

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Reversing The Decline in Alumni Giving Rates

Alumni giving rates have dropped by more than 50% in the last twenty years. Mega-gifts continue to expand while the number of donors has declined primarily because philanthropic support from millennials has decreased. The net impact of all this is that while the total dollars raised has increased, the total number of donors has declined. […]