Upgrade School Marketing
Does Your School Have a Market or a Marketing Problem? | Dana Nelson-Isaacs
Does Your School Have a Market or a Marketing Problem? | Dana Nelson-Isaacs When enrollment numbers dip, it’s tempting to throw more marketing at the problem, but what if that’s not the right fix? In this episode, Matt and Angie sit down with Dana Nelson-Isaacs, an enrollment strategy expert with more than 25 years of experience advising schools on market research, enrollment feasibility, and strategic planning. Dana walks through the crucial distinction between a market problem (think: demographic shifts, psychographic mismatches, or a saturated competitive landscape) and a marketing problem (think: messaging that doesn’t resonate, families dropping out of your funnel, or your school being the “best kept secret” in town). She shares how schools can use data they likely already have, decline surveys, newly enrolled family interviews, accreditation self-studies, and more, to diagnose what’s really going on. Whether your school is facing summer melt, a shrinking applicant pool, or a perception gap, Dana offers clear, actionable guidance on where to start and when to bring in outside support. CoHosts & Guests Matt Soule | Chapel Hill-Chauncy Hall School Angie Ward | Enroll Media Group Dana Nelson-Isaacs | DNI Consulting | LinkedIn Resources Data & Research: NAIS Demographic Center (for NAIS member schools) NAIS MarketView U.S. Census Bureau Upgrade School Marketing now on Apple Podcasts , and Spotify Related Episodes Does Your School Have a Market or a Marketing Problem? | Dana Nelson-Isaacs by Upgrade School Marketing | Jun 23, 2026 | Is your school struggling with enrollment, but not sure if it’s a marketing issue or something bigger? In this episode, enrollment strategy expert Dana Nelson-Isaacs helps school leaders diagnose whether they’re facing a market problem or a marketing problem, and outlines the practical steps schools can take to address both. A must-listen for heads of school, admissions directors, and school marketers. Do School Websites Still Matter? | Jamie Giblett by Upgrade School Marketing | Jun 8, 2026 | Do School Websites Still Matter? | Jamie Giblett In this episode, Matt and Angie sit down with Jamie Giblett, Sales Manager for Digistorm's American operations, to tackle a question on every school marketer's mind: do school websites still matter in the age of AI and... How to Bring School Storytelling to Life | Emily Cretella by Upgrade School Marketing | Feb 7, 2026 | How to Bring School Storytelling to Life | Emily Cretella In this episode, Emily Cretella, founder of Cursive Content, shares her proven framework for helping schools tell stories that actually connect with families. Drawing from nearly 20 years of marketing...
