Podcast

smj podcast social icon

196: How communication drives thriving school communities – Interview with Ashley Fell

In this special interview episode, we are joined by Ashley Fell, the Director of Advisory at McCrindle, to discuss the tool they have developed, the Thriving Schools Index. This tool delves into understanding the school experience from a range of stakeholder perspectives, to give a score across a number of areas. She also shares how school Heads can use communication as a tool to move the needle on these indicators, to ensure your school is perceived as positively as possible.

Read More »

Managing your digital reputation, an AI Granbot and that Jaguar ad [225]

In this episode of SMC, Charlie and Rita are joined by imageseven Account Manager James Tindall, to discuss the impact of reviews on consumers’ purchasing decisions. In an extended Rants and Raves, Jaguar’s controversial new rebrand is put under the microscope as the team share their thoughts. Finally, the team rave about ‘Daisy’, an AI ‘Granbot’ designed to combat scammers by mimicking the conversational style of a grandmother, wasting their time and resources.

Read More »
smj podcast social icon

195: Reimagine the school business model – interview with Peter Barron

In this special interview episode, we are joined by Peter Barron, who served as the Chief Member Relations Officer for the US Enrollment Management Association, directing their marketing and communications, member recruitment and retention, leadership training programs, and research. He introduces us to his new business, MoonshotOS, which is designed to help education leaders to reimagine the independent school business model. We also discuss the findings of a survey Peter conducted on school leaders, including eight business competencies that directly affect school leaders.

Read More »
smj podcast social icon

194: From challenge to clarity: Enrolment insights

Managing enrolments is about more than just filling seats. It’s about building a secure and sustainable future for your school, and that takes an approach that goes beyond surface level fixes. Introducing imageseven’s newest offering: the Enrolments Practice. In this episode, we are joined by imageseven’s Belinda McCubbin and Pauline Shuttleworth, to take you through the rationale behind the Enrolments Practice, why now is the right time for this service, and how it can help Heads confidently move from challenge to clarity.

Read More »
smj podcast social icon

193: Keep your brand promise

In this episode, we discuss the importance of delivering on your brand promise. Prompted by a case study of a school in America, we explore how moving away from your brand promise as a school, risks losing its distinctiveness in this increasingly competitive market. We also share some tips to help you get on the front foot to ensure that what you are communicating as your promise, matches your school’s offering.

Read More »
smj podcast social icon

192: Discovering your differentiators – Interview with Clayton Johnston

In this special interview, we dive into a case study of how one school has successfully differentiated itself from the competition. Clayton Johnson, Director of Admissions at Brentwood College in British Columbia, Canada, shares the College’s journey of developing 11 differentiators which align with the College’s values, enabling Brentwood to clearly define who they are and what they stand for.

Read More »

The UK’s most consistent brand and the latest AI developments [224]

In this episode of SMC, Charlie and Rita are joined by returning guest, imageseven Digital Specialist Harrison Shearn, to discuss the latest advancements in AI and LinkedIn’s new AI models. In the Deep Dive, we explore the surprising brand labelled as the UK’s most consistent, and explore how they have established their brand consistency over time. Finally, we share our thoughts on Instagram’s announcement of their changes to the privacy of teenage users’ accounts.

Read More »
smj podcast social icon

191: Lights, camera, enrolments! – Introducing imageseven’s new video service

Heads of independent schools confront a conundrum: how do you introduce change and innovation while preserving the traditional values that resonate with their community? How can you strike a perfect communications balance between progress and maintaining a reassuring sense of stability? In this episode, we discuss the MAYA (Most Advanced Yet Acceptable) principle and how it applies to school communications, offering a framework to help Heads craft communications that cut through day-to-day school life.

Read More »
smj podcast social icon

190: Communicating change: a framework

Heads of independent schools confront a conundrum: how do you introduce change and innovation while preserving the traditional values that resonate with their community? How can you strike a perfect communications balance between progress and maintaining a reassuring sense of stability? In this episode, we discuss the MAYA (Most Advanced Yet Acceptable) principle and how it applies to school communications, offering a framework to help Heads craft communications that cut through day-to-day school life.

Read More »
smj podcast social icon

189: Leading change in school marketing

School communication and marketing is changing, and whether you like it or not, this means your school marketing will need to change. However, the most significant barrier to your school’s adaptation to this new landscape is not the customers nor the technology, it’s managing the change required. This episode, we discuss how we believe you can lead your school through change effectively, and share some common reasons why school marketing change initiatives falter.

Read More »