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	<title>Boal Media</title>
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	<link>https://www.boalmedia.com/</link>
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	<title>Boal Media</title>
	<link>https://www.boalmedia.com/</link>
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		<title>How Student Testimonials Can Transform Your Marketing Funnel — And How to Use Them to Their Full Advantage</title>
		<link>https://www.boalmedia.com/how-student-testimonials-can-transform-your-marketing-funnel-and-how-to-use-them-to-their-full-advantage/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Christina Brannon]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 16 Jun 2025 01:59:02 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Higher Education]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.boalmedia.com/?p=14219</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Students trust students. No surprise there. Whether it’s a TikTok about late-night study snacks or a quote about why they chose your nursing program over others, authentic peer voices cut through the noise in a way traditional marketing never can. These stories build connection, credibility, and confidence—and they have a measurable impact on everything from inquiries to enrollment. But collecting [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.boalmedia.com/how-student-testimonials-can-transform-your-marketing-funnel-and-how-to-use-them-to-their-full-advantage/">How Student Testimonials Can Transform Your Marketing Funnel — And How to Use Them to Their Full Advantage</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.boalmedia.com">Boal Media</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<img fetchpriority="high" decoding="async" width="1000" height="662" src="https://www.boalmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Screenshot-2025-06-15-at-9.58.22-PM.png" class="attachment-large size-large wp-post-image" alt="" style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;" srcset="https://www.boalmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Screenshot-2025-06-15-at-9.58.22-PM.png 1000w, https://www.boalmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Screenshot-2025-06-15-at-9.58.22-PM-300x199.png 300w, https://www.boalmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Screenshot-2025-06-15-at-9.58.22-PM-768x508.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Students trust students. No surprise there.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Whether it’s a TikTok about late-night study snacks or a quote about why they chose your nursing program over others, authentic peer voices cut through the noise in a way traditional marketing never can. These stories build connection, credibility, and confidence—and they have a measurable impact on everything from inquiries to enrollment.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But collecting testimonials is just the beginning. What matters most is how you use them.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">That’s where Boal Media comes in.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Why Student Testimonials Are Marketing Gold</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When used well, testimonials do more than fill space on your website. They:</span></p>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Build trust and answer real questions from prospective students</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Drive higher engagement across email, web, and social</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Increase conversions during key phases of the decision journey</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Create an emotional connection that helps prospects picture themselves on campus</span></li>
</ul>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Students don’t want just a polished brochure—they want to know what it </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">actually</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> feels like to be there. Your current students are your most powerful storytellers. We help you turn that into strategy.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">What Boal Media Does Best</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">We don’t run your testimonial program—we amplify it. Whether you’ve got a folder full of quotes, a handful of great videos, or plans to start gathering stories soon, Boal Media helps you turn those assets into a powerful marketing engine.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Here’s how we help you use testimonials to their best advantage:</span></p>
<p><b>Strategic Content Planning</b><b><br />
</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">We map your testimonials to the student journey, using micro-quotes, videos, student takeovers, and peer-to-peer emails to meet prospects where they are—emotionally and strategically.</span></p>
<p><b>Content Enhancement &amp; Branding</b><b><br />
</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">We polish without overproducing. Our team helps you edit for clarity and tone while keeping the authenticity intact—and ensures every piece matches your visual and messaging standards.</span></p>
<p><b>Multi-Channel Integration</b><b><br />
</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">Student stories shouldn’t live in one place. We help you integrate testimonials into key touchpoints:</span></p>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Website program pages</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Email nurture sequences</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Social content calendars</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Paid ads</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Admissions events and presentations</span></li>
</ul>
<p><b>Performance Tracking &amp; Optimization</b><b><br />
</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">We analyze which types of stories perform best on which channels, then optimize placements and formats to keep your funnel moving.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Real Funnel Impact, Powered by Peer Content</span></p>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><b>Website</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">: Embedding authentic video testimonials boosts time on page and drives program interest.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><b>Email</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">: Quotes and short videos in nurture flows improve open and click-through rates—especially during high-stakes moments like deposit deadlines.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><b>Social</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">: Real student voices stand out in feeds saturated with stylized marketing.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><b>Paid Ads</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">: Retargeting with testimonials creates relevance and trust—critical for conversion.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><b>Events</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">: Live student panels and social takeovers make prospective students feel like insiders, not just applicants.</span></li>
</ul>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Why It Works</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It’s not just about the testimonials—it’s about knowing what to do with them. Boal Media brings:</span></p>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">A sharp eye for story and authenticity</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Experience mapping content to the enrollment funnel</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Creative muscle to elevate your existing materials</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Strategy that turns student voices into measurable results</span></li>
</ul>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Your students already have the stories. We help you make them matter.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ready to put your testimonials to work?</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br />
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Boal Media helps you build a content ecosystem that brings student experiences to life—at every stage of the journey.</span></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.boalmedia.com/how-student-testimonials-can-transform-your-marketing-funnel-and-how-to-use-them-to-their-full-advantage/">How Student Testimonials Can Transform Your Marketing Funnel — And How to Use Them to Their Full Advantage</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.boalmedia.com">Boal Media</a>.</p>
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		<title>The Real Look of Campus Life (Not Just the Sunny Day on the Quad)</title>
		<link>https://www.boalmedia.com/the-real-look-of-campus-life-not-just-the-sunny-day-on-the-quad/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Christina Brannon]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 16 Jun 2025 01:57:15 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Higher Education]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.boalmedia.com/?p=14216</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Let’s be honest: every college has a campus photo strategy. Perfect lighting. Perfect smiles. Perfect weather. If you’ve seen one “student laughing under a tree” shot, you’ve seen them all. But students today aren’t buying it. They know marketing when they see it—and they want something more than an airbrushed version of campus life. They want the real feel. The [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.boalmedia.com/the-real-look-of-campus-life-not-just-the-sunny-day-on-the-quad/">The Real Look of Campus Life (Not Just the Sunny Day on the Quad)</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.boalmedia.com">Boal Media</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<img decoding="async" width="1000" height="665" src="https://www.boalmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Screenshot-2025-06-15-at-9.56.28-PM.png" class="attachment-large size-large wp-post-image" alt="" style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;" srcset="https://www.boalmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Screenshot-2025-06-15-at-9.56.28-PM.png 1000w, https://www.boalmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Screenshot-2025-06-15-at-9.56.28-PM-300x200.png 300w, https://www.boalmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Screenshot-2025-06-15-at-9.56.28-PM-768x511.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Let’s be honest: every college has a campus photo strategy. Perfect lighting. Perfect smiles. Perfect weather. If you’ve seen one “student laughing under a tree” shot, you’ve seen them all.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But students today aren’t buying it.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">They know marketing when they see it—and they want something more than an airbrushed version of campus life. They want the </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">real feel</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">. The moments that aren’t staged. The energy between classes. The weird little corner in the library where someone always naps. The actual, lived-in charm that makes a place feel like home.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Because yes, aesthetics matter. But not just the glossy kind.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Why Real Aesthetics Work</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Gen Z doesn’t just want to hear your school’s values—they want to </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">feel</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> them. And nothing communicates that faster than what your campus actually looks and feels like on a regular Tuesday in February. Not just fall leaves and aerial drone shots, but the beat-up couch in the student center, the mural a senior painted three years ago, the bike rack that’s overflowing before 9 a.m.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">These things don’t look polished. But they </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">look true</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">. And that’s what creates connection.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">What to Show Instead</span></p>
<p><b>Architectural Personality</b><b><br />
</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sure, your buildings matter—but skip the postcard-perfect angles. Show the staircase students always sit on between classes. The hallway with the best light for selfies. The spot where people write messages in chalk.</span></p>
<p><b>Seasonal Realness</b><b><br />
</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">Yes, students love fall and spring, but also: show the gray days. Show the campus under a blanket of snow. Show students in puffer jackets trudging to class with coffee. That’s life—and it builds trust.</span></p>
<p><b>Human Scenes, Not Just Pretty Backdrops</b><b><br />
</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">Students lounging in grass, skateboarding to class, doing a late-night walk-and-talk to the dining hall. Show movement, messiness, personality. Show the weird and wonderful stuff that makes your campus </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">yours</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p>
<p><b>Little Charms</b><b><br />
</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">A professor’s dog napping under a tree. A milk crate turned into a drum outside the arts building. The view from the quietest study spot on campus. These are the things students tell their friends about—not the quad from 300 feet up.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">How to Build It Into Your Marketing</span></p>
<p><b>Website:</b><b><br />
</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">Make a “Real Campus Moments” gallery or video diary. Let students submit photos or videos they take. Build a digital lookbook that’s less “brochure” and more “IG story.”</span></p>
<p><b>Email Marketing:</b><b><br />
</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">Instead of stock photos, use real campus shots as email headers and footers. Include lines like “What does your Tuesday look like?” and link to a student-run photo blog or day-in-the-life video.</span></p>
<p><b>Social Media:</b><b><br />
</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">Loosen up the grid. Mix high-quality visuals with in-the-moment, student-taken content. Create a hashtag or dropbox where students can share what campus feels like to </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">them</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p>
<p><b>Print Materials:</b><b><br />
</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ditch the handshake shots. Your brochures should feel like they were created </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">on</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> your campus, not in a stock photo library. Include handwritten notes, quotes, or scanned drawings from students.</span></p>
<p><b>Admissions Presentations:</b><b><br />
</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">Open with a student-led video tour. Not just the polished kind, but one where they say, “Okay, this building is ugly, but it’s where all the best classes happen.” That honesty hits.</span></p>
<p><b>Storytelling Tip:</b><b><br />
</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">Pair every photo with a micro-story. Instead of a sweeping shot of the gym, include a quote from the student who hits the treadmill every morning at 6 a.m. to train for their first 5K. These are the stories that stick.</span></p>
<p><strong>Make It a System, Not a One-Off</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">At Boal Media, we help colleges move beyond the curated and toward the </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">credible</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">. Because students don’t need another shiny version of a campus—they need to feel like they’re already part of it. We help you find those lived-in visuals, and build a system to share them—across digital, print, and video—so every touchpoint reflects what makes your campus </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">real</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.boalmedia.com/the-real-look-of-campus-life-not-just-the-sunny-day-on-the-quad/">The Real Look of Campus Life (Not Just the Sunny Day on the Quad)</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.boalmedia.com">Boal Media</a>.</p>
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		<title>Move Over Influencers—Your Students Are the Real Marketing Team</title>
		<link>https://www.boalmedia.com/move-over-influencers-your-students-are-the-real-marketing-team/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Christina Brannon]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 16 Jun 2025 01:53:32 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Higher Education]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.boalmedia.com/?p=14213</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>What if your next brand campaign didn’t come from a strategy document, but from a sophomore with a ring light sharing their favorite things about their dorm room? In a content-heavy landscape, today’s students want realness. They want peers they can relate to, not polished scripts or staged testimonials. That’s where user-generated content (UGC) shines—it builds trust, drives engagement, and [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.boalmedia.com/move-over-influencers-your-students-are-the-real-marketing-team/">Move Over Influencers—Your Students Are the Real Marketing Team</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.boalmedia.com">Boal Media</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<img decoding="async" width="1000" height="666" src="https://www.boalmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Screenshot-2025-06-15-at-9.52.32-PM.png" class="attachment-large size-large wp-post-image" alt="" style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;" srcset="https://www.boalmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Screenshot-2025-06-15-at-9.52.32-PM.png 1000w, https://www.boalmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Screenshot-2025-06-15-at-9.52.32-PM-300x200.png 300w, https://www.boalmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Screenshot-2025-06-15-at-9.52.32-PM-768x511.png 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><p><span style="font-weight: 400;">What if your next brand campaign didn’t come from a strategy document, but from a sophomore with a ring light sharing their favorite things about their dorm room?</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a content-heavy landscape, today’s students want realness. They want peers they can relate to, not polished scripts or staged testimonials. That’s where user-generated content (UGC) shines—it builds trust, drives engagement, and tells the campus story from the inside out.</span></p>
<p><b>Why UGC Works</b></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">UGC performs better than brand-created content across almost every channel. It’s honest, spontaneous, and student-driven—exactly what prospective students are scrolling for. From messy dorm tours to real conversations about homesickness, UGC shows the good, the awkward, and the human.</span></p>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><b>Trust &amp; relatability:</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Prospective students are more likely to believe peers than paid ads.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><b>Performance:</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> UGC leads to higher engagement and lower cost-per-click across paid and organic channels.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><b>Scalability:</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> You don’t need a production budget—just the right prompts and a phone.</span></li>
</ul>
<p><b>5 Prompts to Inspire Content</b></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">These simple ideas spark authentic stories:</span></p>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">“What I wish I knew before choosing this school.”</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Top 3 hidden gems on campus.”</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">“A real day in my life here.”</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">“My favorite professor and why.”</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Something I didn’t expect—but love.”</span></li>
</ul>
<p><b>Where UGC Fits Into Your Marketing Funnel</b></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Use these across your </span><b>Instagram Stories</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><b>TikTok</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><b>YouTube Shorts</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">, or even email drip campaigns. Bonus: repurpose the content in your admissions presentations and print collateral.</span></p>
<p><b>Website:</b><b><br />
</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">Embed short-form student videos on program pages, admissions pages, and campus life sections. Let a real student answer “Why this school?” right where the question is being asked.</span></p>
<p><b>Email Strategy:</b><b><br />
</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">Feature UGC in admitted student nurture campaigns. A subject line like “A student’s take on campus dining ” or “Why I almost didn’t choose [School]—and why I’m glad I did” drives curiosity and opens.</span></p>
<p><b>Social Strategy:</b><b><br />
</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">Create a weekly content spotlight (“Student Story of the Week”), and let real voices drive engagement and reach.</span></p>
<p><b>Events &amp; Virtual Tours:</b><b><br />
</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">Use UGC as supporting material in both live and virtual admissions events. Instead of just listing features, show students living them.</span></p>
<p><b>Paid Ads:</b><b><br />
</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">UGC is ideal for retargeting ads. Students who’ve visited your site are more likely to click on authentic student content than a generic banner ad.</span></p>
<p><b>Curation, Not Control</b></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The secret to strong UGC is to guide it—without overproducing it. Offer brand-aligned prompts, maintain light visual standards, and moderate for tone and values, but don’t strip away the rawness that makes it work.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">At </span><b>Boal Media</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">, we help colleges build strategic UGC ecosystems: from prompt ideation and student outreach to moderation systems and brand integration.</span></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.boalmedia.com/move-over-influencers-your-students-are-the-real-marketing-team/">Move Over Influencers—Your Students Are the Real Marketing Team</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.boalmedia.com">Boal Media</a>.</p>
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		<title>One Brand. One Journey. Why Unified Marketing Matters More Than Ever in Higher Ed</title>
		<link>https://www.boalmedia.com/one-brand-one-journey-why-unified-marketing-matters-more-than-ever-in-higher-ed/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Christina Brannon]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 24 May 2025 02:34:30 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Higher Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Unified marketing]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.boalmedia.com/?p=14196</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>One Brand. One Journey. Why Unified Marketing Matters More Than Ever in Higher Ed &#160; Here’s the truth: students don’t think in channels. They don’t care whether the ad they saw came from paid search, or whether the landing page they clicked is managed by a different department than the application portal. To them, it’s all you. Your college. Your [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.boalmedia.com/one-brand-one-journey-why-unified-marketing-matters-more-than-ever-in-higher-ed/">One Brand. One Journey. Why Unified Marketing Matters More Than Ever in Higher Ed</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.boalmedia.com">Boal Media</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1000" height="667" src="https://www.boalmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/blog.png" class="attachment-large size-large wp-post-image" alt="" style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;" srcset="https://www.boalmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/blog.png 1000w, https://www.boalmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/blog-300x200.png 300w, https://www.boalmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/blog-768x512.png 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><h2><strong>One Brand. One Journey. Why Unified Marketing Matters More Than Ever in Higher Ed</strong></h2>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Here’s the truth: </span><b>students don’t think in channels.</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> They don’t care whether the ad t</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">hey saw came from paid search, or whether the landing page they clicked is managed by a different department than the application portal.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">To them, it’s all </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">you</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br />
</span><b>Your college. Your brand. One experience. One shot to get it right.</b></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But behind the scenes?</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br />
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">Most schools are still operating like silos.</span></p>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Paid media and organic content are speaking different languages</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Landing pages feel disconnected from the brand students meet on Instagram</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The application portal looks and functions like it belongs to another universe</span></li>
</ul>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The result? </span><b>Confusion, drop-off, and missed opportunity.</b></p>
<p><strong>The Student Journey Should Feel Like a Story—Not a Puzzle</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When your brand feels fractured, your audience feels friction. That’s when interest fades and trust breaks down. But when everything feels aligned—when every touchpoint builds on the last—you create something powerful: </span><b>momentum.</b></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">At Boal, we help you build that kind of momentum. We design </span><b>unified digital ecosystems</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> that move students forward—with intention, consistency, and clarity.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">What a Unified Experience Looks Like</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When you work with Boal Media, you’re not just getting another campaign—you’re getting </span><b>a student-first system</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> that connects strategy, storytelling, and design. Here&#8217;s what that looks like in action:</span></p>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">One Brand, Everywhere</span></li>
</ul>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">From TikTok ads to tuition pages, your brand identity is consistent: colors, tone, messaging, and purpose. We make sure everything speaks in one voice.</span></p>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Paid Media that Feels Native</span></li>
</ul>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">We drive traffic to landing pages that match the energy and promise of the ad—no jarring transitions or generic third-party templates. Every click feels like progress.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"> UX That Removes Friction</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">We audit and optimize each step of the user journey: page speed, mobile responsiveness, accessibility, form design. The easier it is to act, the more likely students are to do it.</span></p>
<p><strong>From Disconnected to Seamless—That’s the Boal Difference</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Your prospective students don’t see departments, platforms, or internal org charts.</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br />
</span><span style="font-weight: 400;">They see </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">a story they want to step into—or not.</span></i></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">At Boal, we function like your </span><b>in-house digital team</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">—combining strategy, creative, and execution under one roof. That means fewer handoffs, fewer silos, and a tighter feedback loop for performance and iteration.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">We help you deliver an experience that’s not just seamless—it’s </span><b>measurable, meaningful, and memorable.</b></p>
<p><strong>One Brand. One Experience. Lasting Impact.</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">When you unify your digital presence, you do more than reduce friction—you build trust, boost engagement, and increase conversion at every stage of the funnel.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Because when students feel like they’re part of a well-told, well-designed journey, they’re more likely to stick with you until the very end.</span></p>
<p><b>Boal Media helps make that journey real.</b><b><br />
</b></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Let’s build something seamless together.</span></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.boalmedia.com/one-brand-one-journey-why-unified-marketing-matters-more-than-ever-in-higher-ed/">One Brand. One Journey. Why Unified Marketing Matters More Than Ever in Higher Ed</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.boalmedia.com">Boal Media</a>.</p>
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		<title>Don’t Underestimate Email: The Most Trusted Channel in Higher Ed Still Works</title>
		<link>https://www.boalmedia.com/dont-underestimate-email-the-most-trusted-channel-in-higher-ed-still-works/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Christina Brannon]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 24 May 2025 02:33:09 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Email Marketing]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.boalmedia.com/?p=14194</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Don’t Underestimate Email: The Most Trusted Channel in Higher Ed Still Works &#160; Email Isn’t Dead. It’s Your Most Underrated Enrollment Tool. Spoiler alert: Students do read their email. In fact, it’s one of the most trusted and effective channels in the entire college decision process. But most higher ed emails? They fall flat. Generic. Boring. Forgotten. At Boal Media, [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.boalmedia.com/dont-underestimate-email-the-most-trusted-channel-in-higher-ed-still-works/">Don’t Underestimate Email: The Most Trusted Channel in Higher Ed Still Works</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.boalmedia.com">Boal Media</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1000" height="667" src="https://www.boalmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/blog2.png" class="attachment-large size-large wp-post-image" alt="" style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;" srcset="https://www.boalmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/blog2.png 1000w, https://www.boalmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/blog2-300x200.png 300w, https://www.boalmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/blog2-768x512.png 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">Don’t Underestimate Email: The Most Trusted Channel in Higher Ed Still Works</span></h2>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Email Isn’t Dead. It’s Your Most Underrated Enrollment Tool.</span></p>
<p><b>Spoiler alert: Students </b><b><i>do</i></b><b> read their email.</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> In fact, it’s one of the most trusted and effective channels in the entire college decision process. But most higher ed emails? They fall flat.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Generic. Boring. Forgotten.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">At Boal Media, we believe email should be your </span><b>most powerful tool</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> for building trust, nurturing interest, and moving students toward enrollment—with clarity, creativity, and intention.</span></p>
<p><strong>Why Email Still Wins (When You Use It Right)</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Despite all the buzz around TikTok, texts, and DMs, </span><b>email remains the one place students expect to hear from you</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">—especially when it comes to admissions, deadlines, and financial aid information. But that doesn’t mean they’ll engage with just anything. Here’s what we know:</span></p>
<ol>
<li><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Students want answers, not fluff.</span></li>
</ol>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Can I afford this? Will I get in? What happens after I apply? Your emails should cut through the noise with helpful, human answers—</span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">not</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;"> institutional jargon or pretty brochures disguised as HTML.</span></p>
<ol start="2">
<li><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Segmentation is everything.</span></li>
</ol>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A high school junior exploring liberal arts isn’t the same as a transfer student’s parent or an adult learner in a nursing program. Different audiences need different stories, sent at the right moment, with a CTA that feels like it’s </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">for them</span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p>
<ol start="3">
<li><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Email is where the journey is built.</span></li>
</ol>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Think beyond “send date.” Email is where you </span><b>guide someone through your funnel</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">—from first interest to application to orientation. A smart sequence of emails can remove friction, build emotional connection, and deliver the information students actually need to take action.</span></p>
<p><strong>How Boal Builds Email Campaigns That Work</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">At Boal Media, we treat email like a living, breathing part of your enrollment strategy—not an afterthought. We design </span><b>modular, story-driven email ecosystems</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> that:</span></p>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Personalize content based on behavior, segment, and funnel stage</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Reinforce key themes from your paid media, organic content, and video</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Drive action while saving your team time and energy</span></li>
</ul>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Every subject line, CTA, and content block is intentional. Every campaign is built to plug into your CRM and marketing automation—so you’re not just sending email. You’re building a system that works around the clock.</span></p>
<p><strong>Quiet Power, Loud Results</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In a world of scrolls, swipes, and disappearing stories, email gives you </span><b>a rare opportunity to speak directly and intentionally</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">. No algorithms. No guesswork. Just a direct line to the students (and parents) who are deciding where to spend the next four years—and tens of thousands of dollars.</span></p>
<p><b>Email isn’t just alive. It’s one of your greatest enrollment assets.</b><b><br />
</b></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Let’s make it unforgettable.</span></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.boalmedia.com/dont-underestimate-email-the-most-trusted-channel-in-higher-ed-still-works/">Don’t Underestimate Email: The Most Trusted Channel in Higher Ed Still Works</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.boalmedia.com">Boal Media</a>.</p>
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		<title>How Higher Ed Can Lower Cost Per Application from Paid Media</title>
		<link>https://www.boalmedia.com/how-higher-ed-can-lower-cost-per-application-from-paid-media/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[Christina Brannon]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Sat, 24 May 2025 02:31:18 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Higher Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Paid Media]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.boalmedia.com/?p=14192</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>How Higher Ed Can Lower Cost Per Application from Paid Media &#160; In higher ed marketing, the phrase “low cost per lead” gets tossed around like a trophy. And sure, bringing in leads for under $30 looks great on a dashboard. But if those leads never apply—or worse, never enroll—then what are you really paying for? At Boal Media, we [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.boalmedia.com/how-higher-ed-can-lower-cost-per-application-from-paid-media/">How Higher Ed Can Lower Cost Per Application from Paid Media</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.boalmedia.com">Boal Media</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1000" height="667" src="https://www.boalmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/blog3.png" class="attachment-large size-large wp-post-image" alt="" style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;" srcset="https://www.boalmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/blog3.png 1000w, https://www.boalmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/blog3-300x200.png 300w, https://www.boalmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/05/blog3-768x512.png 768w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px" /><h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">How Higher Ed Can Lower Cost Per Application from Paid Media</span></h2>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In higher ed marketing, the phrase “low cost per lead” gets tossed around like a trophy. And sure, bringing in leads for under $30 looks great on a dashboard. But if those leads never apply—or worse, never enroll—then what are you really paying for?</span></p>
<p><b>At Boal Media, we believe in lowering CPL the right way.</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> That means smarter targeting, stronger creative, and strategic optimization that drives </span><b>actual student conversions</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">—not just empty clicks.</span></p>
<p><strong>The Real Problem with Most “Cheap” Leads</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">If you’re only focused on CPL, you’re probably missing the full story. And in our experience, schools that chase the lowest possible lead cost often end up with:</span></p>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><b>High lead volume, low intent:</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Casting a wide net might get you more names in your CRM, but most of them aren’t truly interested—or qualified.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><b>Mismatch between ads and landing pages:</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> A paid search ad may promise “affordable programs” or “flexible scheduling,” but if the landing page doesn’t back that up, prospects bounce.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><b>Short-sighted conversion tracking:</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> If you’re measuring success at the form fill, you&#8217;re stopping too soon. The real ROI is in applications, deposits, and enrollments.</span></li>
</ul>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">That’s why low CPL alone isn’t a win. </span><b>You need low-cost leads that actually convert.</b></p>
<p><strong>How Boal Does It Differently</strong></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">We don’t believe in trade-offs between cost and quality. Boal Media campaigns are engineered to </span><b>lower CPL while increasing lead quality and funnel performance.</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> We do that by focusing on three core pillars:</span></p>
<ol>
<li><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Smarter Targeting from the Start</span></li>
</ol>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Our paid search and display campaigns go beyond the basics. We build detailed audience profiles based on:</span></p>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Program-level search intent</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Demographic and geographic data</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Keyword performance trends</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Behavioral signals from current students and prospects</span></li>
</ul>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This ensures we’re not just getting clicks—we’re attracting </span><b>the right students</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p>
<ol start="2">
<li><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Creative That Converts</span></li>
</ol>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Every campaign we run is backed by testing. We constantly A/B test:</span></p>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Headlines and CTAs</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ad copy tone and format</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Value propositions (cost, prestige, flexibility, outcomes)</span></li>
</ul>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">We then match this messaging to </span><b>post-click landing pages</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> designed for speed, clarity, and action—minimizing friction and dropout.</span></p>
<ol start="3">
<li><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Full-Funnel Conversion Optimization</span></li>
</ol>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This is where most higher ed campaigns fall short—and where Boal shines.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">We build custom tracking systems that follow the student journey from </span><b>first click to enrollment</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">, integrating:</span></p>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Dynamic UTM tracking</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">CRM, marketing automation, and ad platform syncing</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Lead scoring to prioritize high-intent actions</span></li>
</ul>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This lets us optimize for what matters: </span><b>real outcomes, not vanity metrics</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Boal Media Bottom Line</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A low CPL only matters if it leads to a student in a seat. Our approach blends </span><b>media strategy, creative direction, and data insight</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> to build paid search campaigns that don’t just lower your costs—they raise your enrollment impact.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">So if your current campaign is getting leads that look great on paper but ghost your admissions team, it’s time to ask:</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"><br />
</span><b>Are you paying for performance—or just paying for clicks?</b></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Let Boal Media help you do both—better.</span></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.boalmedia.com/how-higher-ed-can-lower-cost-per-application-from-paid-media/">How Higher Ed Can Lower Cost Per Application from Paid Media</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.boalmedia.com">Boal Media</a>.</p>
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		<title>3 Examples of Infographics in Email and Why They Work</title>
		<link>https://www.boalmedia.com/3-examples-of-infographics-in-email-and-why-they-work/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[cwiedemann]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Mon, 25 Apr 2022 01:37:06 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Email Marketing]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.boalmedia.com/?p=14085</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://www.boalmedia.com/3-examples-of-infographics-in-email-and-why-they-work/">3 Examples of Infographics in Email and Why They Work</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.boalmedia.com">Boal Media</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The post <a href="https://www.boalmedia.com/3-examples-of-infographics-in-email-and-why-they-work/">3 Examples of Infographics in Email and Why They Work</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.boalmedia.com">Boal Media</a>.</p>
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		<title>Is Your Website ADA Compliant?</title>
		<link>https://www.boalmedia.com/is-your-website-ada-compliant/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[cwiedemann]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 21 Apr 2022 18:13:56 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Website Best Practices]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://www.boalmedia.com/?p=14083</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Did you know that a website must comply with specific criteria from the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)? It’s essential to have your website audited for ADA compliance to:  make sure you’re providing a good experience for all your visitors, and  to avoid a costly lawsuit (on average a $50,000 settlement). Some disability figures to consider are: One billion people [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.boalmedia.com/is-your-website-ada-compliant/">Is Your Website ADA Compliant?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.boalmedia.com">Boal Media</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="500" height="200" src="https://www.boalmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/email-image-3.png" class="attachment-large size-large wp-post-image" alt="" style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;" srcset="https://www.boalmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/email-image-3.png 500w, https://www.boalmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/email-image-3-300x120.png 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px" /><p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><strong>Did you know</strong> that a website must comply with specific criteria from the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)? It’s essential to have your website audited for ADA compliance to: </span></p>
<ol>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">make sure you’re providing a good experience for all your visitors, and </span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">to avoid a costly lawsuit (on average a $50,000 settlement).</span></li>
</ol>
<p><strong>Some disability figures to consider are:</strong></p>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-weight: 400;">One billion people (15% of the world&#8217;s population) experience some form of disability, and an estimated 20% globally (110 million to 190 million people) experience significant disabilities. (Source: Disability Inclusion Overview &#8211; World Bank Group)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-weight: 400;">The worldwide disabled community’s collective discretionary spending power is more than $8 trillion, with $4 trillion of that in the USA. (Source: The Return on Disability Group)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-weight: 400;">Approximately 75% of disabled consumers will walk away from a business because of inaccessibility. (Source: Data and Strategy Survey, Cygnal)</span></li>
</ul>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><b>The ADA and website usability/accessibility</b></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The ADA has helped many millions of people worldwide gain improved access to buildings, public transportation, and support services since it began rolling out in 1992. At the time, no one was thinking about websites.</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">Although there is no definitive final rule (yet) from the Department of Justice, decisions have been handed down that extend ADA criteria to all publicly accessible websites by companies that qualify as “places of public accommodation.”</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Aside from potential litigation from users (especially if this matter becomes law in relation to websites), businesses are wise to implement compliance measures as inclusive partners in business with their website visitors. Aside from matters of inclusivity, corrective accessibility measures are far less costly than a lawsuit.</span></p>
<p><b>What does ADA compliance have to do with websites?</b></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Over the past two decades, there have been an increasing number of significant lawsuits and settlements that could have been avoided by getting ahead of the problem. In general, complying with ADA criteria helps you prevent a potential (and very expensive)</span><a href="https://www.glowrecipe.com/"> <span style="font-weight: 400;">floodgate of suits</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> before reparations can be made. </span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For websites, this means ensuring that you are doing all you can to make the content available to those with vision or hearing disabilities, mobility limitations, and cognitive or neurological impairments.  It’s also simply a good business practice to treat all of your site visitors with respect for their needs and can only help your company cater to more people.</span></p>
<p><b>Boal Media ADA website audits</b></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Boal Media has a CPACC certified accessibility team; this certification is provided by the International Association of Accessibility Professionals, a respected organization working in the field of accessibility. (CPACC stands for certified professionals in accessibility core competencies.)</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">These professionals will review and test your website and provide a detailed report including all identified ADA compliance issues. In testing a web application for accessibility, a tester needs to act as a real end-user to provide realistic feedback, using the following tools:</span></p>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-weight: 400;">Screen reader testing using JAWS (Windows desktop), iOS VoiceOver on Mac  and other Apple devices, NVDA, and TalkBack on Android devices</span></li>
<li><span style="font-weight: 400;">Keyboard-only testing</span></li>
<li><span style="font-weight: 400;">Color contrast testing</span></li>
<li><span style="font-weight: 400;">High contrast testing</span></li>
<li><span style="font-weight: 400;">Text-only zoom testing </span></li>
<li><span style="font-weight: 400;">Full browser zoom testing</span></li>
</ul>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Boal Media audits your website for errors, issues, and warnings using our auditing tools and manual checks. Through this website audit and testing, you will receive a detailed list of the issues and recommendations of the corrective steps necessary to achieve WCAG 2.0 Level AA web content (that’s website content accessibility guidelines for the rest of us).</span></p>
<p><b>Schedule your ADA compliance audit</b></p>
<p><a style="color: #090099;" href="https://www.boalmedia.com/contact-us/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Contact Boal Media</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> to have your site audited; it’s an important step toward ensuring your digital presence is welcoming to all users looking for your goods and services. If it’s been several years since your last website update, we can also address adding features that make your website more dynamic to improve your digital footprint and conversions.</span></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.boalmedia.com/is-your-website-ada-compliant/">Is Your Website ADA Compliant?</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.boalmedia.com">Boal Media</a>.</p>
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		<title>Improving Email Marketing Response Rates With Persuasive Copywriting</title>
		<link>https://www.boalmedia.com/boosting-your-email-marketing-response-rates-through-persuasive-copywriting/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[cwiedemann]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Thu, 16 Sep 2021 02:32:08 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Email Marketing]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">https://boalmedia.com/?p=14047</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>10 Essential Ingredients for Email Copywriting That Work Over the years, myths and misconceptions have led many marketers to adopt bad habits and the wrong ideas about how to write effective, persuasive email marketing messages. We’ve often heard people say “don’t use the word ‘free’ in the subject line” or “the shorter the better,” but those are not always helpful [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.boalmedia.com/boosting-your-email-marketing-response-rates-through-persuasive-copywriting/">Improving Email Marketing Response Rates With Persuasive Copywriting</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.boalmedia.com">Boal Media</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="1024" height="769" src="https://www.boalmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/email-marketing-copywriting-tips-1024x769.jpg" class="attachment-large size-large wp-post-image" alt="" style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;" srcset="https://www.boalmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/email-marketing-copywriting-tips-1024x769.jpg 1024w, https://www.boalmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/email-marketing-copywriting-tips-300x225.jpg 300w, https://www.boalmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/email-marketing-copywriting-tips-768x577.jpg 768w, https://www.boalmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/email-marketing-copywriting-tips-600x450.jpg 600w, https://www.boalmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/email-marketing-copywriting-tips.jpg 1150w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><h2>10 Essential Ingredients for Email Copywriting That Work</h2>
<p>Over the years, myths and misconceptions have led many marketers to adopt bad habits and the wrong ideas about how to write effective, persuasive email marketing messages. We’ve often heard people say “don’t use the word ‘free’ in the subject line” or “the shorter the better,” but those are not always helpful or correct rules of thumb. At Boal Media, we’ve been studying what works for years and are happy to share what we’ve found to be the most important ingredients for strong email copywriting that drives results.</p>
<ol>
<li><b><b>Get people to open up. It’s the first crucial step towards having a successful email campaign. If your reader doesn’t open, then they will never see the rest of your message nor take any of the intended calls to action you included in your email. Invest the time to get it right.</b></b>It’s helpful to think of the email FROM NAME and SUBJECT LINE as a mailing envelope and the email message as a letter. Then you can apply the same tried and true practices that direct mail has tested and applied for years.
<ul>
<li>Your “From Name” will help your open rates if your brand has a reputation of reliability, honesty, and quality. Another reason why it’s important to nurture and protect your brand equity.</li>
<li>The “From Name” is different from your email address and is what most people see in the name field when your email arrives in their inbox.</li>
<li>Be consistent once you pick a “From Name” to continue building your brand reputation. Your “From Name” should be one your audience will recognize, be consistent with the brand they subscribed to, appear legitimate, and reflect your company’s name or a highly recognizable figure within your company.</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ol>
<p>When writing the subject line, here are a few guidelines:</p>
<ol>
<li style="list-style-type: none;">
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><b>Word order matters. Front load your most important message as </b><span style="font-weight: 400;">most people’s inboxes cut off your subject line at about 60 characters</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><b>Be direct and allude to the message content.</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> Clever but vague subject lines are generally less effective.  </span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><b>Avoid asking Yes or No questions. </b><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Find out” or “How to” approaches are stronger ways to entice readers to view your email content.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><b>Take advantage of the preheader</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">, which will appear in people’s inboxes at the end of your subject line, to build on your subject line’s message.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><b>Deliver your subject line’s promise in the body copy. </b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> If your subject line over promises on what is in your message, overall conversions will suffer and you’ll lose audience trust.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><b>&#8220;Dear Jane&#8221; is okay, but don’t overuse it. </b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> When you use first name personalization, make sure the message contents are well targeted so people feel you are sincerely starting a conversation and have tailored your message to their needs or interests. [Avoid being overly salesy.] First name effectiveness will only boost your open rate the first time you try it if you abuse it.</span></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ol>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<ol start="2">
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><span style="font-weight: 400;">When writing the central body copy:</span>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2"><b>Keep it simple</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> and straightforward using as few words and sentences as possible to grab people’s attention quickly. </span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2"><b>Break up copy with headlines. </b><span style="font-weight: 400;">Since most people scan, headlines should summarize the main point of each section. As on a website, this helps people to instantly understand your message. Dense paragraphs without headlines put a strain on your readers’ patience and interest.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2"><b>Include clear calls to action, such as buttons.</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> With longer copy, it’s fine to include multiple calls to action or repeat the call to action in slightly different ways throughout the message.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2"><b>Be specific with your “call to action,” avoiding “click here” or “learn more.” </b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> A more tailored “ask” helps people to instantly understand why they should want to keep reading and further clarifies your message.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2"><b>Prioritize message flow, </b><span style="font-weight: 400;">so that your main points are read first. See item number 4.</span></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ol>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<ol start="3">
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><b> Create a strong opening. </b><span style="font-weight: 400;">Each sentence should be persuasive and build upon the main message. </span></li>
</ol>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<ol start="4">
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><b>Long copy or short? </b><span style="font-weight: 400;">If you’re introducing a new product or service, a longer email can work well, similar to a long scroll website that:</span>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Quickly and clearly states the primary problem you solve or the benefit your business will provide.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Defines the features and ties back to the overall benefit.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Includes “proof points” such as testimonials, third-party validation (awards, ratings, etc.), testing results, statistics are all good examples.</span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Makes your “ask” and “call to action” uber-specific.</span></li>
<li aria-level="2"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Communicates your message as a compelling story.</span></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ol>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<ol start="5">
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><b>Focus on answering “what’s in it for them?” </b><span style="font-weight: 400;">Each line should address this for your audience. If it doesn’t, leave it out. Take note of how often you’re using “me” and “I” vs. “you” and “your.”  Talk to and about them, not about you. </span></li>
</ol>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<ol start="6">
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><b>Be direct, informative, fun, and speak to the heart.</b><span style="font-weight: 400;">  Some people try to lead with clever, fun copy which doesn’t actually persuade them to read on. Being clever is not the same as inciting curiosity, so be sure your main message is clear and compelling from the start and conveys urgency. Then look for ways to incorporate some fun into your writing that enhances the main message. A little bit of humor helps humanize your message.  Appeal to their emotions by tapping into their hopes, dreams, and fears.</span></li>
</ol>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<ol start="7">
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><b>Don’t worry about avoiding “spam filter” words. </b><span style="font-weight: 400;">Spam filters have become much more sophisticated than in the early days of email.  Emails are most often flagged as spam today not because of the language you use, but because of how engaged your audience is with your message.  If you send highly relevant, targeted messages, you’ll be fine using the word “free” as much as you need.</span></li>
</ol>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<ol start="8">
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><b>Test and target! </b><span style="font-weight: 400;">Start your testing with the subject line. </span>
<ul>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2"><span style="font-weight: 400;">We prefer split stream tests where a percentage of your list receives each version (A/B) and the remainder of the list receives the top performing option. This works best when your email subscriber list includes 5,000 emails or more since you&#8217;re then more likely to get results that are statistically significant.  Be sure to measure the level of confidence using a statistical significance calculator.  </span></li>
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="2"><span style="font-weight: 400;">The more targeted you can be with your messaging, the better performance you’ll see. Personalize the messaging with their interests, profile, and anything else that’s going to make the message more relevant to your audience.</span></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ol>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<ol start="9">
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><b>P.S.: Take advantage of the power of the P.S.</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> to reiterate your message. This is another direct mail tactic that works well in emails.  </span></li>
</ol>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<ol start="10">
<li style="font-weight: 400;" aria-level="1"><b>The same proven direct mail copywriting principles also apply to email copywriting.  </b><span style="font-weight: 400;">Study the early trailblazers, such as John Caples and his classic </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Advertising-Methods-Prentice-Business-Classics/dp/0130957011"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Tested Advertising Methods</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> for insights. Other books with spot-on insights include </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Adweek-Copywriting-Handbook-Advertising-Copywriters/dp/0470051248"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Adweek Copywriting Handbook</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00EMXBZKA/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ogilvy On Advertising</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">, and </span><a href="https://www.amazon.com/Scientific-Advertising-Annotated-Claude-Hopkins-ebook/dp/B012H36OJS/ref=sr_1_3"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Scientific Writing</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> by Claude Hopkins.  </span></li>
</ol>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Reach out if you’d like to discuss how your brand can improve their email marketing effectiveness. Each business has its own unique value proposition, voice, and messaging strategy that works best. Copy is just one of the key components of email marketing success. We’d love to help you tap into your winning formula.</span></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Happy writing!  </span></p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.boalmedia.com/boosting-your-email-marketing-response-rates-through-persuasive-copywriting/">Improving Email Marketing Response Rates With Persuasive Copywriting</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.boalmedia.com">Boal Media</a>.</p>
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		<title>Boal Media has turned five</title>
		<link>https://www.boalmedia.com/boal-media-has-turned-five/</link>
		
		<dc:creator><![CDATA[cwiedemann]]></dc:creator>
		<pubDate>Wed, 20 Jan 2021 03:17:29 +0000</pubDate>
				<category><![CDATA[Boal Media news]]></category>
		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://boal.soundlining.com/?p=14019</guid>

					<description><![CDATA[<p>Boal Media is celebrating our five year anniversary.  We’re thrilled to to have reached this momentous milestone and are proud of everything we&#8217;ve accomplished. It&#8217;s been a wonderful run so far with amazing clients, lots of hard work, fun, and results that we&#8217;re extremely proud of.  The future looks bright; we&#8217;re excited about new projects, campaigns, and innovations in the [&#8230;]</p>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.boalmedia.com/boal-media-has-turned-five/">Boal Media has turned five</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.boalmedia.com">Boal Media</a>.</p>
]]></description>
										<content:encoded><![CDATA[<img loading="lazy" decoding="async" width="600" height="448" src="https://www.boalmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/BOAL_emailtemplate_01.png" class="attachment-large size-large wp-post-image" alt="" style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;" srcset="https://www.boalmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/BOAL_emailtemplate_01.png 600w, https://www.boalmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/BOAL_emailtemplate_01-300x224.png 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" /><p>Boal Media is celebrating our five year anniversary.  We’re thrilled to to have reached this momentous milestone and are proud of everything we&#8217;ve accomplished. It&#8217;s been a wonderful run so far with amazing clients, lots of hard work, fun, and results that we&#8217;re extremely proud of.  The future looks bright; we&#8217;re excited about new projects, campaigns, and innovations in the works.  Thank you to all who have been a part of our growth.</p>
<h2>Here&#8217;s a summary of the last five years by the numbers</h2>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-14024" src="https://www.boalmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/BOAL_emailtemplate_04.png" alt="" width="33" height="34" /> Over 363 million emails sent</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-14023 alignnone" src="http://boalmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/BOAL_emailtemplate_07.png" alt="" width="33" height="33" /> More than 750 email campaigns designed, coded and deployed</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-14022" src="http://boalmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/BOAL_emailtemplate_09.png" alt="" width="33" height="34" /> Over 158 million Google and Facebook ad impressions managed</p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-14021" src="http://boalmedia.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/BOAL_emailtemplate_11.png" alt="" width="33" height="33" /> Work with dozens of amazing brands</p>
<p>Cheers to the next five years!</li>
</ul>
<p>The post <a href="https://www.boalmedia.com/boal-media-has-turned-five/">Boal Media has turned five</a> appeared first on <a href="https://www.boalmedia.com">Boal Media</a>.</p>
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