Celebrating 10 years of higher education digital marketing insights

It's our birthday!

This year, we celebrate 10 years of sharing higher education digital marketing insights.

When we published our very first blog post in 2014, our goal was simple: to create a space where we could share insights, trends, and best practices in higher education digital marketing and build a strong community for higher education marketers.

Over the last decade, our blog has evolved into a rich resource for professionals in the field, providing valuable information on everything from web content management to student engagement strategies.

From the rise of AI-powered automation to the shift toward first-party data, we've witnessed a transformation that has left no stone unturned.

Which trends became the norm? Which didn't? What can we glean from the hundreds of articles we've shared?

As we mark the 10th anniversary of our blog, we'll be sharing some of the significant changes that have shaped the higher education digital marketing landscape.

Today, we're looking back at the most popular articles that were read and re-read over the years. (It surprised us, too!)

1. Ten things you need to know about TikTok in 2020

In this article, we looked at how you can harness TikTok’s potential. We talked about TikTok’s rise as a popular platform for short-form videos, discussed who uses it and how, and offered some practical tips for creating engaging content on this fun platform.

We also mentioned the impact of TikTok on branding, privacy considerations, and highlighted examples of successful educational campaigns that we loved.

You did love TikTok! Other TikTok articles that featured prominently on your reading list included:

2. Eight differences between today’s students and students back in the 90s

Back in our day, students walked uphill both ways… or did they? Take a nostalgic stroll down memory lane as we compared Gen Z with their Gen X counterparts. From tech savviness to study habits, you loved finding out how today’s students stack up against those who rocked the '90s.

3. The best higher education digital marketing campaigns of 2017 - Parts I and also Part II

Lights, camera, action! We stepped behind the scenes of these award-winning campaigns that set the bar high in 2017. From viral sensations to heartfelt stories, you wanted to know why these campaigns captured hearts and minds across campuses.

4. Seven of the best university Instagram feeds of 2019

Instagram was a thing back in 2019. How to best use it to engage students was a hot topic, and you checked out how Instagram feeds were redefining campus cool. From stunning visuals to strategic storytelling, check out how universities made Instagram an art form back in 2019.

5. Five of the best social media commencement campaigns

These articles have always been popular through the years. Grad caps were off to these ingenious social media campaigns celebrating milestones with style. We gave the spotlight to the creative ways universities bid farewell to graduates on social platforms.

6. The best and worst times for universities to post on social media

Timing is everything. We first looked at this back in 2019, revealing when universities should hit ‘post’ for maximum impact—and when to steer clear of the digital rush hour. And of course, things move fast in the higher ed digital marketing world, so we revisited this article in 2023.

7. Five creative websites from art & design schools

Inspiration comes in many forms, and art and design schools always have a distinctive way of designing their websites. From interactive galleries to avant-garde aesthetics, we highlighted how creativity can take center stage in higher education web design.

8. Digital Governance: getting everyone singing from the same hymn sheet

Navigating digital governance in higher education can feel like conducting a symphony. From establishing clear policies to ensuring compliance across diverse departments, we discussed a difficult topic: the essential strategies that universities need to use to maintain good governance on their website and digital assets and foster collaboration, enhance security, and maintain consistency in a complex digital landscape.

9. Good to be back: some of the best higher education conferences in 2022

As conferences cautiously resumed post-COVID, 2022 marked a pivotal year for higher education gatherings. This was one of our most popular articles throughout the years 2014-2024, showing us how keen we were to get together again in the higher education community. From inspiring keynotes to interactive workshops, we all hungered to be back not just for the vital forums that conferences offer but also for the in-person reunions that built the higher education community in a post-pandemic world.

Note: Since 2022, we've continued to share our top picks for higher education conferences every year.

See the Best Higher Education Conferences of 2023 and the top unmissable higher education digital marketing conferences of 2024.

10. Using journey mapping to optimize the student experience

This article—still a highly popular topic in 2024 in higher education—explored the critical role of journey mapping in enhancing the student experience for your school. We shared best practices and practicable advice to plot each interaction, from initial enrollment inquiries to post-graduation support, to foster personalized engagement and also improve retention rates. Still highly relevant, see how effective journey mapping can transform student experiences and elevate educational outcomes.

Did you have a favorite blog article since you subscribed? Share it with us in the comments below or on social media.

We'll share more insights, trends, and hot topics that stuck around into 2024 as we look back at a decade of higher education digital marketing blogging.