By Amanda Charney Every year, I give a donation to my alma mater, the University of Missouri. And small though it may be, I get not one or two, but THREE thank-yous for my donation. They come in different forms—a link to a video from a student who received a scholarship, a postcard hand-signed by …

By Christy Kingsbury Consumer expectations are at an all-time high, and it’s a challenge to not only keep up, but to stay ahead. One of the most reliable ways to earn a customer’s loyalty is by delivering a positive user experience (UX). Users are looking for brands to improve their lives and don’t have time …

How a team-building effort can illuminate staff strengths. Throughout the year, we try to find ways to let loose—game nights, happy hours, etc. You know the drill because you do it, too. During these breaks, we get to know our team beyond daily work habits—for instance, we have a movie buff, a beer snob, a …

Persona marketing helps organizations get closer to their audiences through personalized content. During the National Apartment Association’s (NAA) student-housing event, CampusConnex, I joined Kristi Fickert of 30 Lines to present a session on persona marketing. We discussed how this personalized approach can deepen a customized resident acquisition strategy to ensure you’re messaging the right ideas …

Happy new year! We say this with real optimism for the year ahead, and a sigh since we’re already late on another blog post. As I started the obligatory year-end blog post in early December, I found myself putting it off, deleting drafts and generally rolling my eyes at my own copy. Why? In part …