Newsletter #25: Hallmark lecturer gesture; what unis did in 2020; University advent calendar special
This is the last Education Marketer newsletter for 2020.
Since our first publication in April, we now have more subscribers than there were Pokémon in 1998. Call it a Pokémilestone.
This newsletter started as a publication between friends, but it turns out we have more friends than we originally thought. Friends like you.
So, thank you for your support. Thank you for your feedback and for helping turn an idea into something more.
I wish you all the best for 2021 and kudos to the work you have done this year to keep your campaigns, content and comms moving. Your university couldn't have done it without you.
See you on January 5 and Merry Christmas.
All the best,
Kyle
🎆 What unis did in 2020
“What unis are doing” is Education Marketer’s most popular content. So, before we all shut off our computers for the first time since March, I’ve pulled together the 33 highest performing posts from 2020. My key takeaway: you love inspiration, but you equally love it when things don’t go quite to plan… Read
📰 HE news
Students at Chapman University in California left their lecturer crying after a Hallmark movie-like gesture of gratitude on Zoom. My faith in humanity is restored. Look
Meanwhile, over in New York, thousands of Columbia University students are threatening to withhold fees as a result of reduced face-to-face tuition. Good luck with that - competing Schools Dartmouth College, Cornell University, and Stanford University have all increased tuition fees between 3% and 5% this year. Read
The results of lateral flow testing are in: Only 0.2% of students tested positive. Fancy that. After months of being HAMMERED by the media, students can now enjoy their Christmas break knowing that the snowman outside their window isn’t a local news journalist ready to pounce. Read
💻 Digital marketing news
Google Chrome has started blocking ads that are “resource-intensive”. This is fine in theory, but when you’re a huge publisher like The New York Times and champion first-party advertising, does Google have the right to block content that appears on your homepage? The same goes for rival ad networks too - this feels criminal to me. Read
Just in time for the holiday season… Google updates its algorithm and steals Christmas from marketers, some seeing dips in site traffic of up to 25%. Read
Instagram has introduced timers to stories in a classic FOMO tactic. Interesting one this. My feeling is that it will increase engagement but may delay views of your content. People may skip the post that has 22 hours remaining in favour of another with thirty minutes left. Look
Natives showcases the best creative it has worked with in 2020. Love the sketchy feel of Carnegie Mellon University’s video - maybe it’s because I haven’t used a piece of paper since I was last in the office. Look
🏫 🎄What unis are doing - digital advent calendar special
When the University of Nottingham’s Digital Team was asked to make an advent calendar, their response was inspired. Look
Gonzaga University's advent calendar looks better than its virtual tour pages. Priorities? Nice creative and it’s responsive (😱). Points for making it snow on the page, which is something I haven’t seen since the 90s. Look
If the task of advent calendar lands on your desk in late November then MyAdvent (bookmark that) is your weapon of choice. University of Kent has had a good go. There’s zero polish and its one snowy picture of campus is fuzzy, but you cannot deny that this meets the criteria of “advent calendar”. Look
Non-advent calendar bonus: I’m in awe of the lengths Seattle Pacific University went to digitally reimagine its Christmas concert. It’s broadcast quality. Three weeks filming well spent and I imagine they will do it again next year. Look
🧑🎓 What students are saying
“I don’t think I could deal with the knowledge I brought the virus home to a fragile and precious community, and to my family.” Students on lateral flow testing and returning to uni after Christmas. Read
"It starts with the smaller things, by people not taking us seriously when we talk about racism. Questioning us if racism even exists on campus." Edinburgh University students speak out after a racist attack on a student last week. Read
👾 Culture shock
AI girlfriends in China are capturing hearts and saving lives. Read
15.3 million people joined forces on Fortnite to defeat Galactus with 3.4 million cheering from YouTube and Twitch. The real world sucks. Read
Famous paintings extended by an AI. Look
Amazon is now the biggest advertiser in the world. Merry Christmas. Read
