I have found The Lawlor Group to be professionals of the highest caliber: dedicated, intelligent, creative, honest to a fault and fun to work with. John's team encompasses solid, well-grounded individuals who listen, yet speak from and share years of experience for the benefit of the client.

— Ralph Wagoner
President
Lutheran Educational Conference of North America
Sioux Falls, South Dakota

The Smarketplace

5 Social Media Lessons for College Admission Officers

Posted August 6th, 2010, by Amy

The Lawlor Group invited chief enrollment management and higher education marketing officers from several of our client institutions throughout the country to hear from social media thought leader Brian Solis at a Minneapolis event hosted by Kane Consulting on July 27. As Solis shared insights from his new book, Engage: The Complete Guide for Brands and Businesses to Build, Cultivate and Measure Success in the New Web, our guests considered several of his remarks to be directly relevant in applying social media best practices to the college recruitment process.

Combat attrition with superior service

Posted July 28th, 2010, by Susan

The time between the start of classes and Thanksgiving break is critical for retaining first-year students (not to mention generating positive word of mouth). How can you not only meet but exceed the expectations of your new students?

Whither the “Next Big Idea”?

Posted July 6th, 2010, by Susan

Last month’s Summer Seminar provided plentiful food for thought, although the excellent presentations may have had some participants reaching for antacid. Attendees were reminded by virtually every speaker of the need for constant innovation in the face of mounting pressures on educational content, cost, delivery, and value. The situation is reminiscent of the old printer’s maxim: You can have a job done “fast, cheap, or good,” but never all three at once.

Fast Company's newsletter features The 10 Commandments of Social Media

Posted June 10th, 2009, by John L.

Today's Fast Company magazine's daily e-newsletter featured "The 10 Commandments of Social Media" by Lon Safco, author of The Social Media Bible. Good advice.

Delivering content quality in a Web 2.0 marketplace

Posted June 10th, 2009, by John L.

Business & Leadership.com, a wonderful information destination based in Ireland, just published a story about the future of newspaper journalism in light of the rise of Web 2.0 readership habits. Although the model or format for quality journalism may be changing, there is still a need for our colleges and universities to graduate intellectually curious writers who are effective communicators.

Summer Seminar 2009 begins this week

Posted June 8th, 2009, by John L.

Summer Seminar 2009 begins this week in Minneapolis. Described by past participants as "one of the best private college enrollment management conferences," the seminar will welcome over 100 guests from throughout the country. Roger Goodman, vice president of Moody's Investors Services, will kick off this year's Summer Seminar conference, which is focused on the theme of Asserting the Value of Private Higher Education in an Age of Frugality.

If you only focus on the fall harvest, you are going to miss spring planting opportunities

Posted May 1st, 2009, by John L.

Everyone I talk to says that this recruiting year has been one of the most challenging years ever. I agree, but next year is going to be even more challenging. My concern is that with so much focus on bringing in this year's class, people aren't focusing on planting seeds for the class of 2010. Strategic marketing informed by research has never been more important.

Success is the residue of persistence

Posted May 1st, 2009, by John L.

Today has historically been that magical "postmark" date that is an indication of a job well done and mission accomplished. May 1, 2009 and the week ahead will be different. Many colleges are down in deposits. Word of multiple deposits is spreading. Summer melt is a serious concern. Yield will be crucial this fall. To that end, it is an absolute necessity that colleges focus on yield activities during the next several months. Success is the residue of persistence.

May 1: "Possibly, Maybe"

Posted May 1st, 2009, by John L.

May 1. Big day today in college admissions. 2009 though is full of consternation. Concern about deposit counts, multiple deposits, summer melt, the economy, and overall yield. Bjork's song "Possibly, Maybe" seems to capture the moment.

A culture of deleveraging

Posted March 26th, 2009, by John L.

Deleveraging. I heard the word used twice last week to describe how people are approaching the "new economy." Savings are on the rise and prudent frugality is the new badge of honor. As Mohamed El-Arian states in this week's Newsweek cover story by Daniel Gross, "We've gone from an age of entitlement to an age of thrift."