Evidence-Based Innovation Blog

In a recent YouGov BrandIndex survey, 600,000 American consumers were asked their perceptions of brands to determine which ones had the best reputations.

It has been a stratospheric rise for the former daytime queen of talk show.  From humble beginnings and hardship, Oprah went on to achieve super-stardom as the world’s most powerful celebrity – not to mention a net worth of $2.7 billion.  But perhaps her most shining moment came on a bright day last month when the media mogul addressed graduates at Harvard University's 362nd commencement.  And here in Harvard Yard she pauded at the incredible awesomeness of it all. 

“Oh my goodness.  I'm at HAAAARVARD!  Not too many girls from rural Mississippi have made it all the way here to Cambridge. ... I consider today to be a defining milestone..."

We call it “social” media, but make no mistake. It’s business. And that’s certainly the case for 87% of Fortune 100 companies who use social media to engage with customers.   

An essential part of an inbound marketing strategy, social media enables marketers to attract prospects where they are online. And for potential MBA students, that means on top social media sites.

There are a lot of headlines coming out of Washington D.C. lately, but you could say the most important revelation for business school recruiters and marketers took place last week in a hotel conference room in our nation’s capital. 

Here business leaders gathered for a Corporate Visions sales and marketing presentation. The lessons I learned were captivating and can easily be applied to the business school classroom as well as the corporate boardroom. 

So here are some applied ideas from the session to capture the attention of MBA prospects and convert more candidates into applicants.

Fans of F. Scott Fitzgerald’s The Great Gatsby frolicked by the millions to see the latest Hollywood adaption of this classic Jazz Age novel. This lavish drama roared like its depicted decade to exceed box office expectations on opening weekend. It's no surprise. The previews showcased glitz and glamour, sumptuous costumes, and the always debonaire DiCaprio portraying the mysterious millionaire. 

While a film about over-the-top decadence and bootlegging business dealings seems an unlikely reference for business school recruitment, there are some take-away lessons when it comes to marketing your MBA program.