What Higher Education Can Learn From Successful Consumer Brands

As students and families question the value of a degree and explore alternative paths to career advancement, colleges and universities face growing pressure to prove their relevance. Familiar promises of academic excellence and endless opportunity offer little distinction when every institution is making them.

In her latest Forbes Agency Council article, RP3 Founder and CEO Beth Johnson draws on the agency’s experience with consumer brands to explore three lessons for higher education:

• Understand what motivates learners. Look beyond demographics to uncover the ambitions, concerns, and barriers shaping their decisions.
• Evolve the offering. Reevaluate programs, delivery models, and student experiences to meet changing expectations for flexibility and career preparation.
• Make differentiation meaningful. Connect institutional strengths to the needs and aspirations that matter most to prospective students.

Through examples from Nike, Netflix, and Dove, Beth makes the case that relevance requires both a deep understanding of people and a willingness to adapt. For higher education, stronger marketing begins with an offering that meets learners’ needs and a clear story about why it matters.

Read Beth’s full article in Forbes.