We Do Brand campaign
"Is college worth it?" If you ask 56% of Americans, the answer is “No.” Why? Because of the perception that students graduate with a lack of job skills and a large amount of debt.* And yet, higher education advertising is stuck pairing drone shots of a sun-dappled campus with “follow your dreams” messaging.
That's why we ditched the picturesque-campus angle and cut to the chase, showing the value of a college degree in our own way.
Our graduates are educated, experienced and employed – so that's what we showed. The result was a visually striking campaign, built to capture teens' attention in popular digital spaces while driving home the university's key differentiator: a CMU education prepares you for a career.
*Wall Street Journal-NORC survey, 2023.
59%
increase in
ad clicks
39%
increase in
landing page sessions
110%
increase in landing page engagement
Streamlining the message
You won't find commencement ceremonies, scenic campus shots or stadiums in our commercials. Our digital campaign looks, sounds and feels unlike anything else in higher education advertising. We upload a surge of bluntness to the market and directly address a growing concern in higher education – the value of a college degree.
Our matter-of-fact, reassuring CMU host turns the conversation casual. The host delivers a key message about job placement, backed with facts, that our students can count on: Nearly 95% of CMU grads are employed, engaged in volunteer service or furthering their education within six months of graduation.*
Short. Sweet. Effective. We meet our audience where they are in the spaces they're already using, and provide content designed to blend in with the organic content in their feed.
*2022-2023 Career Outcomes Rate is calculated by standards set forth by the National Association of Colleges and Employers. Includes graduates who are employed, engaged in volunteer service or furthering their education within six months of graduation.
Built for social
Who wants to watch an ad while scrolling? No one. Especially teens! By creating ads that felt native to platforms like TikTok and Instagram Reels, we stopped the scroll and encouraged students to watch our ads all the way through.
Leveraging influencers
On top of our own social channels, we harnessed the power of influencers to amp up our online presence. What better way to show outcomes of a CMU education than by sharing the success stories of our alumni? Bonus points if they're already social stars.
@dietitian.em.b 10 years ago I made the choice to go to @CMUniversity! #ad This was one of the best decisions I have made, and it is a big reason for my success today. I got real life experience working with people to improve their nutrition, which helped me be more skilled and confident when it came time to start my career as a Registered Dietitian. #CMUniversityPartner #CentralMichiganUniversity #FireUpChips #registereddietitian #dietitiansoftiktok
♬ LoFi Hip Hop Commercial - Milan Paloyannidis
@connor__tv What are the students saying about @Central Michigan University ? I found out and so can you in the link in my bio. #ad #LifeAtCentral #FireUpChips CMUniversityPartner #fyp
♬ original sound - ConnorTV
@thalifeofrin Being a CMU grad = Doing big things!🔥👆 Exploring a career and a passion in college was key to my becoming who I am today and building the life I’ve created. Thanks to my unbeatable IPR degree and the incredible experiences I had with CMU’s Threads Fashion Show, life post-grad has been pretty sweet. ☺️ #ad @Central Michigan University #CMUniversityPartner
♬ original sound - Rin
Combating banner blindness
The use of high-contrast colors and animation endeavor to break through banner blindness, regardless of platform. Our audience will see blunt, impactful messages while streaming content, surfing social media or gaming online.
A mobile-first web experience
Because over 90% of visitors to the We Do campaign landing page are mobile users, the campaign is designed mobile-first, with scannable content and interactive elements.
Meeting the audience where they are
No matter where students interacted with the campaign, we delivered on our key message with a side of wit. When hands-on experience and job outcomes is the name of the game, the We Do brand delivers – with a gamified ad where the user collects experience, graduates and lands a job. This platform meets students where they are and provides new opportunities to engage with our brand message.
