Transcript
WEBVTT
1
00:00:02.919 --> 00:00:07.280
You're listening to the Higher Ed Marketer, a podcast geared towards marketing professionals in
2
00:00:07.360 --> 00:00:12.480
higher education. This show will tackle
all sorts of questions related to student recruitment,
3
00:00:12.720 --> 00:00:16.359
donor relations, marketing trends, new
technologies, and so much more.
4
00:00:17.079 --> 00:00:21.480
If you're looking for conversations centered around
where the industry is going, this podcast
5
00:00:21.559 --> 00:00:30.440
is for you. Let's get into
the show. Welcome to this week's edition
6
00:00:30.480 --> 00:00:35.359
of the Hired Marketer podcast. Today, Bart and I speak with John Westler
7
00:00:36.079 --> 00:00:41.799
and Mike Harmon. Both of them
are from Spoke Note and with full transparency,
8
00:00:42.320 --> 00:00:47.280
Bart has relationships going back to them
along ways Mike and John have come
9
00:00:47.320 --> 00:00:52.320
together. They have a new product
that when Bart described it to me,
10
00:00:52.520 --> 00:00:58.000
I was excited. We started brainstorming
of how it could be implemented within higher
11
00:00:58.119 --> 00:01:02.799
ed marketing circles and and that's the
reason why we are bringing them onto the
12
00:01:02.840 --> 00:01:07.280
podcast today. And let me say
that if you've listened all the way to
13
00:01:07.319 --> 00:01:11.519
the end, you will have four
or five nuggets that you can implement immediately.
14
00:01:11.599 --> 00:01:15.040
And I should shut up part because
I'm so excited. Please take it
15
00:01:15.120 --> 00:01:19.000
over before I talked for thirty minutes. Troy, You're right it's such an
16
00:01:19.040 --> 00:01:25.079
exciting episode. I've known John and
Mike for probably twenty to twenty five years.
17
00:01:25.280 --> 00:01:27.480
Mike worked with me at a previous
place that I was an owner at
18
00:01:27.560 --> 00:01:32.879
and uh and and we were doing
websites in the late nineties together. He
19
00:01:32.920 --> 00:01:34.799
had done a lot of work at
our c A and and launching the r
20
00:01:34.840 --> 00:01:40.799
c A dot com website and had
a tremendous work ethic and we hadn't brought
21
00:01:40.840 --> 00:01:44.640
on and we did some work with
Notre Dame and and Anderson University and others
22
00:01:44.680 --> 00:01:48.079
early on. But Mike and John
have kind of come up with this idea
23
00:01:48.120 --> 00:01:52.280
of QR codes and video, and
we've had a lot of conversations about video,
24
00:01:52.319 --> 00:01:55.599
We've had conversations about personalization. A
lot of that comes together in this
25
00:01:55.640 --> 00:02:00.760
episode. It's been featured on My
Friday finds of cost effective ideas for under
26
00:02:00.760 --> 00:02:04.159
five dollars that you can implement to
make a big impact in your highered marketing.
27
00:02:04.280 --> 00:02:07.840
And so let's bring him in.
Here's John Wesler and Mike Carmen of
28
00:02:07.919 --> 00:02:14.719
Spokene. John and Mike thank you
for joining the podcast today. And before
29
00:02:14.759 --> 00:02:20.719
we get into the conversation on how
to effectively utilize QR codes and video together
30
00:02:20.840 --> 00:02:23.800
to make impressions within higher ed.
I would like to know if one of
31
00:02:23.840 --> 00:02:29.439
you could share something that you've learned
this week that would either be interesting,
32
00:02:29.560 --> 00:02:34.439
unique, or surprising to you.
Yeah, thank you both for inviting us
33
00:02:34.439 --> 00:02:37.120
to be on the podcast. It's
great to be here and to be with
34
00:02:37.159 --> 00:02:39.800
you all today. The thing that
I learned most recently, I was at
35
00:02:39.840 --> 00:02:45.639
a an event up in Madison,
Wisconsin on the university campus and it was
36
00:02:45.719 --> 00:02:50.360
a pitch review from a an accelerator. They're called Generator and one of their
37
00:02:50.439 --> 00:02:54.280
portfolio companies is involved in producing a
new form of grain called Karnsa and it
38
00:02:54.400 --> 00:03:00.120
is this intermediate wheat grasp product that
has a lot of tributes that people are
39
00:03:00.120 --> 00:03:05.560
getting excited about as a as a
perennial grain. So here in the Heartland,
40
00:03:05.719 --> 00:03:08.639
those sorts of things are important to
us and I was I was happy
41
00:03:08.639 --> 00:03:13.280
to learn about it. We also
learned something today, so thank you.
42
00:03:13.400 --> 00:03:19.280
We're excited to have you and that
both of you have a product called Spoke
43
00:03:19.360 --> 00:03:23.479
note I guess that's the company and
you'll explain the product. But what intrigued
44
00:03:23.520 --> 00:03:30.000
Barton I is how you're able to
combine video and QR codes and make the
45
00:03:30.080 --> 00:03:36.479
experiences for your customer, enabling them
to better connect, better make first,
46
00:03:36.599 --> 00:03:40.759
second, and third impressions with the
people with whom they're sending correspondence to.
47
00:03:42.199 --> 00:03:46.159
Before we get into the nuts and
bolts, John, if you would tell
48
00:03:46.199 --> 00:03:52.520
everyone about spoke note and a little
bit how it combines video and QR codes
49
00:03:52.520 --> 00:03:58.000
together for excellent customer experience. Thank
you, Troy. What we do is
50
00:03:58.080 --> 00:04:00.759
spokenote is we give you the ability
to add video to anything. The way
51
00:04:00.759 --> 00:04:05.039
it works is you scan our code, you record or upload a video,
52
00:04:05.159 --> 00:04:09.800
and then wherever you put that sticker
or the code, your video plays.
53
00:04:10.199 --> 00:04:14.800
So we are the utility for the
creation and sharing of ad hoc video at
54
00:04:14.800 --> 00:04:15.720
the end of the day, and
we do it right now with these little
55
00:04:15.720 --> 00:04:19.399
stickers. That's pretty exciting. And
I know that when I first saw it
56
00:04:19.480 --> 00:04:24.040
on LinkedIn and I recognized you guys
as behind it, I knew that it
57
00:04:24.040 --> 00:04:26.639
was going to be pretty exciting because
I know some of the back story of
58
00:04:26.920 --> 00:04:29.199
you guys, and we might get
into that, we might not, but
59
00:04:29.279 --> 00:04:31.040
I think that one of the one
of the cool things that I just want
60
00:04:31.079 --> 00:04:34.079
to kind of tease out with both
of you is the idea that, you
61
00:04:34.079 --> 00:04:38.600
know, I think that two thousand
nineteen, I was still kind of telling
62
00:04:38.600 --> 00:04:41.000
people, hey, you ought to
you ought to do some things with QR
63
00:04:41.120 --> 00:04:44.439
codes, and and and I was
seeing my kids use them at school and
64
00:04:44.439 --> 00:04:46.279
and do some things with that.
And I kept getting people like, well,
65
00:04:46.399 --> 00:04:49.600
isn't that so two thousand ten?
I mean, that's kind of come
66
00:04:49.639 --> 00:04:53.279
and gone, what's the deal?
Who cares? And then we had the
67
00:04:53.279 --> 00:04:56.279
pandemic, and all of a sudden, every restaurant in the world's using them.
68
00:04:56.279 --> 00:04:59.240
So tell me a little bit about
the backstory of of QR codes and
69
00:04:59.240 --> 00:05:02.519
and that research. It's funny that
you mentioned that, Bart, because you
70
00:05:02.560 --> 00:05:05.920
know, I have often called,
or since the pandemic, really called the
71
00:05:06.040 --> 00:05:11.279
QR code the comeback technology of the
pandemic. Right it was. It was
72
00:05:11.839 --> 00:05:15.560
it was on its way to just
a slow and steady decline, and all
73
00:05:15.600 --> 00:05:21.360
of a sudden, we needed a
mechanism for contactless sharing of information, links
74
00:05:21.399 --> 00:05:27.560
to websites, menus, et cetera. And uh, you know, surprisingly,
75
00:05:27.600 --> 00:05:30.519
the QR code has not really been
around that long in terms of technology
76
00:05:30.800 --> 00:05:35.079
per se. I think it was
a mid nineties, uh invention of a
77
00:05:35.079 --> 00:05:41.000
company in the automotive industry, and
it was a way to locate, uh
78
00:05:41.079 --> 00:05:45.600
something or get a quick link out
to another piece of data. And so
79
00:05:45.800 --> 00:05:47.279
you know, it kind of run
its course, and I think when you
80
00:05:47.319 --> 00:05:50.839
look at where we were over the
last couple of years with menus, you
81
00:05:50.839 --> 00:05:54.759
know, then we started getting into
some special offers and ways to kind of
82
00:05:54.759 --> 00:06:00.120
connect with consumers. We're all now
pretty comfortable pulling our camera out, you
83
00:06:00.120 --> 00:06:03.079
know, our smartphone and scanning a
code, and so you know, that
84
00:06:03.240 --> 00:06:09.720
is unquestionably one of the drivers I
think of the adoption of SPOKENOE. When
85
00:06:09.720 --> 00:06:15.199
you look at the ability to scan
our code and without an app a download
86
00:06:15.319 --> 00:06:19.480
or registration record or link a video
to that sticker, that's a truly unique
87
00:06:19.560 --> 00:06:25.879
value proposition, And the comfort of
the general public with the QR code is
88
00:06:25.959 --> 00:06:30.959
really that big driver. It's always
had this unique ability to kind of bridge
89
00:06:30.079 --> 00:06:35.920
physical space and digital space. But
I do think that that awareness of the
90
00:06:36.160 --> 00:06:40.879
and the availability of the scanning technology
on the phone. You used to have
91
00:06:40.959 --> 00:06:44.360
to have you just have to load
a QR reader onto your phone, and
92
00:06:44.399 --> 00:06:46.560
now it's just embedded within most of
the cameras, at least in the new
93
00:06:46.600 --> 00:06:51.920
models. So you know, it's
It is kind of that comeback technology because
94
00:06:53.040 --> 00:06:57.199
of the awareness of it, the
availability of it, and people starting to
95
00:06:57.199 --> 00:07:01.560
see these interesting and important connections between
physical and digital space. You think about
96
00:07:01.560 --> 00:07:05.160
it too. You know, my
wife and I watch a Hulu episode every
97
00:07:05.199 --> 00:07:09.160
evening. They all have QR codes
now, and you know, you're supposed
98
00:07:09.199 --> 00:07:12.199
to be sitting there you either you
know, use your row code remote and
99
00:07:12.240 --> 00:07:14.759
click on it, or you can
scan it. I know the big Super
100
00:07:14.759 --> 00:07:16.800
Bowl ad this year with with the
QR code, and you know, a
101
00:07:16.839 --> 00:07:20.639
lot of things have come back,
and so I mean basically we've got this
102
00:07:20.720 --> 00:07:26.600
perfect opportunity that's come up. So
tell us about you know, with this
103
00:07:27.079 --> 00:07:30.319
you know, technology comeback, with
the change, with the importance of personalization,
104
00:07:30.720 --> 00:07:36.279
with video, tell us a bit
about how Spoken got started. Yeah,
105
00:07:36.360 --> 00:07:40.600
it's uh, it's an interesting story. A friend of mine had a
106
00:07:40.639 --> 00:07:45.319
brother that was serving overseas in the
military, and and he used to send
107
00:07:45.360 --> 00:07:49.199
care packages to his brother, and
and my friend wanted the ability to somehow
108
00:07:49.240 --> 00:07:54.160
get a video in that box.
And he had always had this desire to
109
00:07:54.199 --> 00:07:57.439
be able to show his brother what
was going on at home, or share
110
00:07:57.439 --> 00:08:01.079
a story, or make some kind
of connection that would be meaningful. And
111
00:08:01.160 --> 00:08:05.240
so he really came up with this
idea six or seven years ago, and
112
00:08:05.279 --> 00:08:09.519
he was thinking, I wish I
could get a QR code but then link
113
00:08:09.519 --> 00:08:11.279
it to a video so that when
he got the box on the other side,
114
00:08:11.319 --> 00:08:15.399
he could open it and scan it
and and I could share a story
115
00:08:15.399 --> 00:08:18.759
with him. And for years he
sat on that idea. And if if
116
00:08:18.759 --> 00:08:24.839
you rewind the clock from today back
to kind of spring of of twenty one,
117
00:08:24.519 --> 00:08:28.199
he and I were at coffee and
we're talking about life and where we
118
00:08:28.240 --> 00:08:33.440
are and startups and just in general. And my buddy said, you know,
119
00:08:33.639 --> 00:08:37.600
I've had this one idea and I've
always wanted somebody just to run with
120
00:08:37.600 --> 00:08:39.399
it because I'm never gonna do it. I don't know how to do it.
121
00:08:39.960 --> 00:08:43.480
And he explained this concept for the
code and the video, and I
122
00:08:43.519 --> 00:08:46.759
thought, first of all, I'm
really surprised that doesn't exist. Let me
123
00:08:46.799 --> 00:08:50.679
look into it and and and I
got back to him over the weekend and
124
00:08:50.720 --> 00:08:54.360
I said, surprisingly, there's nothing
out there. I cannot find anything that
125
00:08:54.440 --> 00:09:01.519
does what you're saying. Do you
want me to invent one? And seriously,
126
00:09:01.960 --> 00:09:05.399
over the weekend, I used some
some components and a little bit of
127
00:09:05.399 --> 00:09:09.279
hacking, and and that's kind of
what I do. I'm kind of like
128
00:09:09.320 --> 00:09:13.879
the mcdiver of some early tech where
I can rubber band and a and a
129
00:09:13.120 --> 00:09:18.559
piece of bailing wire and and some
bubblegum and make something happen. And so
130
00:09:18.799 --> 00:09:26.519
I built a demonstration example of scanning
a code on an independent little sticker that
131
00:09:26.639 --> 00:09:30.159
you could then link to a video, and and I proved how this would
132
00:09:30.200 --> 00:09:33.159
work. And I started showing that
to people, including my buddy, and
133
00:09:33.480 --> 00:09:37.799
everybody was just amazed with it and
like, this is really a cool idea.
134
00:09:37.960 --> 00:09:41.440
And so we socialized it a little
bit further, and my buddy and
135
00:09:41.480 --> 00:09:45.840
I made a handshake deal and we
said, all right, I'm if you
136
00:09:45.879 --> 00:09:48.759
want me to all do this.
I'm not in the business of taking anyone's
137
00:09:48.799 --> 00:09:50.440
idea, but if you want me
to take this and run with it,
138
00:09:50.519 --> 00:09:54.240
I will, and actually made him
a part of the team. So he's
139
00:09:54.519 --> 00:09:58.759
he consults with us a little bit, and he's a shareholder in the enterprise.
140
00:09:58.200 --> 00:10:01.480
But that is how it got started. And it's further proof that every
141
00:10:01.480 --> 00:10:05.080
one of us have great ideas for
businesses, right, all of us.
142
00:10:05.639 --> 00:10:11.919
But it really boils down to somebody
taking an action and and I'm the one
143
00:10:11.960 --> 00:10:16.120
that took the kind of the impetus
to move forward and kind of start this
144
00:10:16.200 --> 00:10:20.200
thing. And then we've attracted an
amazing team, including Mike and others,
145
00:10:20.399 --> 00:10:22.200
and you know, we're now building
a company a year and a half year.
146
00:10:22.679 --> 00:10:26.279
A year and a half later.
I remember when Bart first came to
147
00:10:26.399 --> 00:10:33.360
me with spoke Note, and our
initial conversation was how it really gets people's
148
00:10:33.399 --> 00:10:39.480
attention, and then immediately went to
what types of applications this could have within
149
00:10:39.639 --> 00:10:45.279
higher ED because one of the challenges
that high ED marketers have is getting gen
150
00:10:45.480 --> 00:10:48.840
Z's attention. So Mike would like
to know, either from experience or from
151
00:10:50.240 --> 00:10:54.840
ideas that you have, of how
spoken Note can be be implemented within the
152
00:10:54.960 --> 00:11:03.799
higher ED marketing space. I am
unbelievably excited about the all sorts of applications
153
00:11:05.240 --> 00:11:11.279
of Spokenoe within the higher ED UM
experience. UM. There are a few
154
00:11:11.320 --> 00:11:16.080
stories that I can share, UM. You know one right now, we
155
00:11:16.159 --> 00:11:22.159
have a campus in uh in Indiana
using the product as part of the admissions
156
00:11:22.200 --> 00:11:30.320
process, and they're using student ambassadors
UM to record a message to an incoming
157
00:11:30.440 --> 00:11:33.720
student to give them some tips or
you know, help build up build a
158
00:11:33.720 --> 00:11:37.879
bridge as they make this important transition
in their life. UM, I've seen
159
00:11:37.960 --> 00:11:43.480
spokenoes. There was a hilarious example
the other day. One of our customers,
160
00:11:43.799 --> 00:11:48.480
UM, he's a parent and his
daughter. He was outside of his
161
00:11:48.559 --> 00:11:52.840
daughter's dorm rooms and he posted a
spokenoe on the door, UM, insisting
162
00:11:52.879 --> 00:11:58.519
that there be no boys in the
room. UM, which we'll share it.
163
00:11:58.559 --> 00:12:00.960
We can share that or pop that
in a think if anybody wants to
164
00:12:01.000 --> 00:12:03.960
see it. But it was it
was really clever. But you know,
165
00:12:03.960 --> 00:12:07.000
on the flip side, you could
also use those for folks to make introductions
166
00:12:07.039 --> 00:12:11.159
about themselves, you know. And
and what I have UM seen and experienced
167
00:12:11.559 --> 00:12:18.639
QR codes are gen z catinet.
They are very very curious about what's behind
168
00:12:18.679 --> 00:12:22.360
that, what's the prize behind that
code, and they engage with it.
169
00:12:22.480 --> 00:12:28.759
And when they get something on the
other side that is personalized at them,
170
00:12:28.799 --> 00:12:33.440
regardless of what type of impact you're
trying to make, whether it's an expression
171
00:12:33.559 --> 00:12:39.639
or an instruction or whatever, there
is absolutely that um, that magic moment,
172
00:12:39.840 --> 00:12:46.080
and and they're ready to engage.
Ring Digital is a digital marketing firm
173
00:12:46.159 --> 00:12:50.080
that specializes in boosting lifting yield for
higher education. They start with a list
174
00:12:50.120 --> 00:12:56.039
of your interested students and send specialized
messages directly into the devices inside their homes,
175
00:12:56.679 --> 00:13:03.120
nurturing them through the entire stan's funnel. If you're looking to better maximize
176
00:13:03.120 --> 00:13:07.679
your top of funnel list or increase
you're accepted to deposit yield rings, cutting
177
00:13:07.759 --> 00:13:13.360
edge technology makes digital marketing transparent and
accurate. Not only can they put you
178
00:13:13.399 --> 00:13:18.080
in front of your exact audience,
but they also demonstrate who is responding.
179
00:13:18.559 --> 00:13:22.120
In the end, they can prove
a real rate of return on your AD
180
00:13:22.159 --> 00:13:31.000
spend. Go to Ring That Digital
and check out their case studies. I
181
00:13:31.039 --> 00:13:33.799
think that's really cool and and I
think that you both know. I think
182
00:13:33.799 --> 00:13:37.039
I've actually introduced you guys to Ethan
Butte from bom Bomb, and we had
183
00:13:37.120 --> 00:13:39.480
him on the show, you know
last year talking about you know, the
184
00:13:39.559 --> 00:13:46.559
humanization of of of communication and how
you know, personalized videos and kind of
185
00:13:46.559 --> 00:13:50.759
what you're just saying, they're the
idea that there's something behind this QR code
186
00:13:50.759 --> 00:13:54.480
and if it's personalized for me,
wow, all the better and and how
187
00:13:54.519 --> 00:13:58.759
exciting that is. And it makes
me think about just as as the use
188
00:13:58.799 --> 00:14:01.559
of video and higher AD I'm seeing
a lot more schools kind of leaning toward
189
00:14:01.639 --> 00:14:07.639
that video email delivery with with bom
bomb, or they might be doing it
190
00:14:07.720 --> 00:14:09.399
on their own. I know that
there's a president at West Texas A and
191
00:14:09.559 --> 00:14:15.480
M Inside Higher Education had an article
about him sent out third three thousand videos
192
00:14:15.519 --> 00:14:18.279
congratulating the acceptance of their students,
and so, you know, I think
193
00:14:18.279 --> 00:14:22.600
about the way higher it is starting
to use video, but then also to
194
00:14:22.600 --> 00:14:24.919
recognize the fact that, you know, being able to use QR codes and
195
00:14:24.919 --> 00:14:28.480
then personalize it. You know,
I imagine just like an admissions counselor being
196
00:14:28.519 --> 00:14:33.080
able to send out a quick,
you know, birthday card and you know,
197
00:14:33.279 --> 00:14:35.279
do something with a with a spoke
note on that card just to kind
198
00:14:35.279 --> 00:14:39.440
of get it out the door and
and communicate in a personal way that it's
199
00:14:39.480 --> 00:14:41.919
different than you know, maybe three
other schools are sending out the same birthday
200
00:14:41.919 --> 00:14:46.440
card, but this one had his
personal video from the person. I just
201
00:14:46.480 --> 00:14:50.279
think that's really an incredible way to
go with that. And I'm guessing you
202
00:14:50.279 --> 00:14:54.519
guys are seeing those kind of applications
and even more with some of your customers
203
00:14:54.519 --> 00:14:58.120
and the folks you're talking to.
One one thing, Bart, You're right,
204
00:14:58.200 --> 00:15:05.279
one thing we did see that I
thought was really an amozing application high
205
00:15:05.320 --> 00:15:09.960
school here in Indiana that was using
our spoke note stickers to recognize and honor
206
00:15:11.440 --> 00:15:16.799
their student of the month. And
each teacher in the high school sent a
207
00:15:16.879 --> 00:15:20.679
postcard home recognizing the student of the
month. And and the thing that was
208
00:15:20.720 --> 00:15:24.840
different about it is that, you
know, our daughter has been student of
209
00:15:24.879 --> 00:15:28.279
the month before, and it's a
great honor and it's it's really cool to
210
00:15:28.320 --> 00:15:33.039
see. But when that happened,
we we got a letter from the school
211
00:15:33.039 --> 00:15:37.240
on their letter head that was signed
by the principle amazing honor, right,
212
00:15:37.639 --> 00:15:39.639
and that stayed on the fridge for
you know, probably a few weeks,
213
00:15:39.639 --> 00:15:45.080
maybe a month. We celebrated it
as it should be. But what I
214
00:15:45.120 --> 00:15:50.399
saw these other students received with a
personalized video from their teacher was a a
215
00:15:50.639 --> 00:15:56.360
very heartfelt message about why that student
was the student of the month and how
216
00:15:56.440 --> 00:16:02.320
their compassion for others or they're in
ventiveness or their creativity, and they're looking
217
00:16:02.399 --> 00:16:07.200
right in the camera, and I
was putting myself in the in this chair
218
00:16:07.279 --> 00:16:11.679
of the recipient parent and thinking how
cool must that be to hear that heartfelt?
219
00:16:12.159 --> 00:16:17.720
Uh, Like we had one French
teacher that that did the the entire
220
00:16:17.799 --> 00:16:21.759
thing in French and I was like, I don't know what she's saying,
221
00:16:21.799 --> 00:16:26.919
but it's really cool and she really
means it. And so the point there,
222
00:16:26.960 --> 00:16:29.759
I think it's long form way of
saying that, you know, if
223
00:16:29.759 --> 00:16:32.159
a picture is worth a thousand words, I don't know what a video is
224
00:16:32.200 --> 00:16:36.200
worth, but it there's some real
heartfelt connection that can be made. And
225
00:16:36.240 --> 00:16:40.679
there it transcends the written word or
you know, a tax or an email
226
00:16:40.960 --> 00:16:44.159
to be able to say something in
video to someone and and that to me
227
00:16:44.240 --> 00:16:48.080
is really powerful. It reminds me
of the of the past that I think,
228
00:16:48.080 --> 00:16:49.000
you know, as a gen x
er, you know, and I
229
00:16:49.039 --> 00:16:52.759
think that you know, we all
have different experiences, but I still have
230
00:16:52.799 --> 00:16:56.600
a few either notes or letters of
you know, of significance to me in
231
00:16:56.639 --> 00:17:00.639
my life, whether it was a
high school teacher wrote me a note or
232
00:17:00.039 --> 00:17:04.640
you know, someone else. This
is kind of the currency of this generation.
233
00:17:04.799 --> 00:17:07.839
I mean, it's it's that same, that same idea. I mean,
234
00:17:08.279 --> 00:17:12.079
they don't get mail, they don't
get letters, nobody sends letters anymore.
235
00:17:12.119 --> 00:17:15.160
It's all electronic. But this is
a way to kind of have that
236
00:17:15.240 --> 00:17:18.240
same momento, to be able to
kind of stick, you know, keep
237
00:17:18.480 --> 00:17:22.319
keeping their keepstake box to build on
what you just said, Bart, I
238
00:17:22.359 --> 00:17:26.519
mean it also helps, you know, folks who are competing for students to
239
00:17:26.599 --> 00:17:30.160
get outside of the main stream,
to get outside of that flow and have
240
00:17:30.440 --> 00:17:34.160
a differentiated moment um. You know
that that is outside of that. But
241
00:17:34.279 --> 00:17:38.920
with respect to video, um,
you know, we have to recognize and
242
00:17:40.240 --> 00:17:42.119
that that this is the way of
life, This is the way content is
243
00:17:42.119 --> 00:17:48.599
both created and consumed, especially for
this generation. And so you know,
244
00:17:48.720 --> 00:17:52.680
having a platform that does that,
that hits them with the type of content
245
00:17:52.839 --> 00:17:59.000
that they're most likely to enjoy,
but getting it into a different stream of
246
00:17:59.039 --> 00:18:04.279
communication has the opportunity to have that
breakthrough moment where you're you're just trying to
247
00:18:04.279 --> 00:18:11.319
get someone's attention. And ultimately,
as I've been thinking about and building Spokenotes
248
00:18:11.400 --> 00:18:15.519
brand, you know, what we
really do is we solve the problem of
249
00:18:15.559 --> 00:18:19.200
attention. It's the currency of this
generation. I mean, you think about
250
00:18:19.240 --> 00:18:22.559
TikTok. More people go to TikTok
than they do to Google, which just
251
00:18:22.680 --> 00:18:26.400
blows my mind and I can't get
over that. But that that tells you
252
00:18:26.480 --> 00:18:33.599
how important video is. And I
saw a Pew Research UM study that came
253
00:18:33.599 --> 00:18:37.519
out last week about higher ed and
they were talking about the students and the
254
00:18:37.640 --> 00:18:41.160
social media channels that they use,
and they obviously were tracking TikTok and Instagram,
255
00:18:41.279 --> 00:18:45.359
you know, sixty. But the
outlier that they didn't talk about was
256
00:18:47.440 --> 00:18:51.519
YouTube. I think people don't think
about YouTube being a social media channel.
257
00:18:51.559 --> 00:18:53.440
They don't think about it. They
just think it's it's like the utility,
258
00:18:53.480 --> 00:18:57.759
it's like water. And I think
that that right there, that of gen
259
00:18:57.839 --> 00:19:00.759
z s use YouTube. That's the
way they learn, that's the way they
260
00:19:00.799 --> 00:19:04.079
go and research, the way they
do different things. As we think about
261
00:19:04.079 --> 00:19:07.799
that, tell me a little bit
about what does this roadmap look like.
262
00:19:07.839 --> 00:19:10.279
I mean, we talked a little
bit about Okay, you admissions counselor is
263
00:19:10.319 --> 00:19:12.880
gonna put a sticker on a birthday
card, or maybe the the the advancement
264
00:19:12.920 --> 00:19:18.039
officer is going to drop something with
a major donor. Uh, there's a
265
00:19:18.079 --> 00:19:21.359
lot of applications in that. But
when we start looking at it from a
266
00:19:21.720 --> 00:19:25.240
you know, when I'm talking about
an institution that has you know, ten
267
00:19:23.759 --> 00:19:29.000
fifty students, you know, maybe
even a lot more than that, as
268
00:19:29.000 --> 00:19:33.559
far as you know applicants and accepted
students, how does that start to scale
269
00:19:33.359 --> 00:19:37.799
for for you guys? As you
start looking at the roadmap for spokenote.
270
00:19:37.480 --> 00:19:42.079
It's really exciting for us because,
as I mentioned at the beginning of our
271
00:19:42.119 --> 00:19:48.160
discussion, our focus is becoming the
utility for the creation and sharing of ad
272
00:19:48.160 --> 00:19:53.359
hoc video. So the infrastructure that
we are building is really agnostic as to
273
00:19:53.359 --> 00:19:56.640
where that code goes, whether it's
on a sticker, whether it's on a
274
00:19:56.680 --> 00:20:02.680
sticky note, whether it's digit produced
and then set somewhere else and printed,
275
00:20:03.039 --> 00:20:07.880
or whether it's purely digital asset you
know from the outset and always stays that
276
00:20:07.920 --> 00:20:14.119
way. And so we are looking
at ways to enable organizations to to do
277
00:20:14.160 --> 00:20:17.759
this and do it at scale.
Uh, some of it I'd file away
278
00:20:17.839 --> 00:20:21.799
under trade secrets and some of the
special sauce that we're trying to build.
279
00:20:22.319 --> 00:20:26.519
But I guess the confidence that I'd
like to engender with any listener or someone
280
00:20:26.599 --> 00:20:32.160
thinking about spokenote is that it transcends
the sticker. It's well beyond just the
281
00:20:32.240 --> 00:20:37.319
sticker. That's our first entry point
in helping people understand how you create and
282
00:20:37.319 --> 00:20:41.480
share video. So our our next
product actually that we're launching is a card.
283
00:20:42.200 --> 00:20:45.240
Think of it as a high end
stationary item, and so you would
284
00:20:45.240 --> 00:20:49.720
have a card with your branding on
it your institution, your university, your
285
00:20:49.759 --> 00:20:55.839
brand, your club, your team, and and then our code is on
286
00:20:55.920 --> 00:21:00.599
that card printed and it's it's stationary
grade, uh, really premium feel that
287
00:21:00.720 --> 00:21:06.480
gives you the ability to kind of
combine a written note with activation of a
288
00:21:06.559 --> 00:21:10.319
video. That's kind of that's the
next step in the progression. And we're
289
00:21:10.359 --> 00:21:15.039
actually beginning to launch that now with
some of our early customers. And we
290
00:21:15.160 --> 00:21:18.920
kind of launched it earlier than we
expected because we do thank you notes to
291
00:21:18.960 --> 00:21:22.880
all of our customers and of course
they have spoke notes in them and build
292
00:21:22.920 --> 00:21:26.599
into them. And our customers would
get our stickers and they say the stickers
293
00:21:26.599 --> 00:21:29.720
are awesome, I want to buy
more, but how do I get these
294
00:21:29.720 --> 00:21:34.680
cards? And so we very quickly
are you know, being quite entrepreneurial as
295
00:21:34.680 --> 00:21:38.599
a core value of the company.
Um, we listened to the marketplace that
296
00:21:38.680 --> 00:21:41.440
we said, you know what,
we'll get back to you, and we
297
00:21:41.480 --> 00:21:45.599
got back to those people and they
actually bought our cards. And so we're
298
00:21:45.640 --> 00:21:49.559
starting to introduce new products and other
products that will use the Spokene engine that
299
00:21:49.599 --> 00:21:55.079
will power that creation and sharing a
video. And there's a whole lot more
300
00:21:55.119 --> 00:21:56.359
to come in that space, so
we're spending a lot of time on the
301
00:21:56.440 --> 00:22:00.680
roadmap. I will tell you that
I just see it as being a really
302
00:22:00.680 --> 00:22:04.559
really powerful UM tool and and there's
sort of like that. And one more
303
00:22:04.640 --> 00:22:10.960
thing about this that I'm excited about, which is, you know, how
304
00:22:11.039 --> 00:22:15.079
often do you get to use a
product that the intended recipient will look at
305
00:22:15.079 --> 00:22:18.799
it and be like, well,
I want to use that product. You
306
00:22:18.839 --> 00:22:21.920
know, I've got ideas for this. I can make use of this.
307
00:22:22.400 --> 00:22:25.960
You know, this is this is
aimed really at me. And there's that
308
00:22:25.960 --> 00:22:30.359
that personal relevance UM that I think
is really special and really rare and and
309
00:22:30.440 --> 00:22:33.920
really something that I'm super excited about, you know, having spoke not as
310
00:22:33.960 --> 00:22:37.759
part of or within higher ed.
Yeah, I agree with you on that,
311
00:22:37.839 --> 00:22:41.400
Mike, And that's I think that's
what got me so excited when I
312
00:22:41.400 --> 00:22:44.880
first saw it. I mean,
I all of a sudden my head exploded
313
00:22:44.920 --> 00:22:47.640
with youth case ideas. And I
think that the day that I saw it,
314
00:22:47.640 --> 00:22:49.960
I wrote a LinkedIn post with you
know, a bunch of ideas,
315
00:22:49.960 --> 00:22:52.200
and I've I've put it in a
couple of newsletters, and I know that
316
00:22:52.480 --> 00:22:56.480
the three of us had coffee with
the with the fourth individual, just who
317
00:22:56.559 --> 00:23:00.480
was also in education, and just
I think we spent the whole our coming
318
00:23:00.559 --> 00:23:03.519
up with ideas of of how this
could really apply to us to hire ED.
319
00:23:03.599 --> 00:23:07.279
And so I love the fact that
you guys not only are doing something
320
00:23:07.319 --> 00:23:12.000
creative and innovative, but you also
are coming with the ideas for how it
321
00:23:12.079 --> 00:23:15.640
can work for higher ED and actually
making it work. And I appreciate that.
322
00:23:15.720 --> 00:23:19.000
So that's been great, Mike and
John. Before we move on,
323
00:23:19.240 --> 00:23:23.599
I also want to let you know
another reason Bart and I were so excited
324
00:23:23.640 --> 00:23:30.400
about spoken Note is that we both
realized that gen Z is very used to
325
00:23:30.480 --> 00:23:36.440
being communicated to in a customized way, and you're providing college, universities and
326
00:23:36.559 --> 00:23:42.039
really anyone to be able to communicate
either one on one to the masses,
327
00:23:42.200 --> 00:23:48.519
but in a unique and very customized
way through video via QR code, and
328
00:23:49.039 --> 00:23:56.720
uh, we want we just want
to help spread the word. Well,
329
00:23:56.759 --> 00:24:00.640
and we've heard it called actually kind
of the Dickey note, uh to the
330
00:24:00.680 --> 00:24:06.680
TikTok generation. You know, so
this is the again you get into kind
331
00:24:06.720 --> 00:24:11.519
of hey, and oh, by
the way, quick message, a really
332
00:24:11.599 --> 00:24:17.519
quick serve video message, and it
seems very kind of relatable to to that
333
00:24:17.599 --> 00:24:22.240
audience and that generation that you just
scan this really quickly, you smile and
334
00:24:22.319 --> 00:24:26.720
share and there you go, and
they're very very prone to consuming uh this
335
00:24:26.759 --> 00:24:30.960
type of message. Well, we're
happy to be able to spread the word
336
00:24:30.640 --> 00:24:33.359
before we move on, Mike,
did I interrupt you on a point you
337
00:24:33.400 --> 00:24:38.720
were making? Well, I was
just um excited to share that. You
338
00:24:38.720 --> 00:24:45.079
know, we we feel very confident
that that engagement will take place. And
339
00:24:45.119 --> 00:24:49.079
then you know what you have done
by um not only getting the attention,
340
00:24:49.559 --> 00:24:53.400
having the code scanned, having that
personalized video experience. You know, there
341
00:24:53.400 --> 00:25:00.839
are then follow on experiences that we're
starting to make available based on whatever objective
342
00:25:00.920 --> 00:25:03.279
is that that marketing group is trying
to achieve, whether it's a sign up
343
00:25:03.319 --> 00:25:07.880
or an application or um you know, attending an event or something along those
344
00:25:07.920 --> 00:25:15.200
lines. So you know you can
um it does nest nicely into all sorts
345
00:25:15.200 --> 00:25:19.440
of different campaigns inside that prospect funnel. Thank you. Yeah. So that
346
00:25:19.440 --> 00:25:25.000
that custom, that custom call to
action is a really really big thing that
347
00:25:25.079 --> 00:25:29.440
people have been asking for. So
if if I'm on video talking to you
348
00:25:29.480 --> 00:25:36.440
about a great program or a special
event or donations we're trying to fundraise for
349
00:25:36.480 --> 00:25:41.720
a particular organization or even broad university
outreach. You can have a call to
350
00:25:41.759 --> 00:25:45.839
action at the end of the video, which would be a donate now button.
351
00:25:45.400 --> 00:25:49.319
And that's something that we are seeing
getting tremendous traction, and we've had
352
00:25:49.319 --> 00:25:55.400
a lot of interest from from the
higher ed world. Thank you, John,
353
00:25:55.640 --> 00:26:00.079
And with that, that was an
excellent segue. We love leaving our
354
00:26:00.160 --> 00:26:06.400
episodes or closing our episodes by asking
the question of our guests, is there
355
00:26:06.599 --> 00:26:12.240
some piece of advice that our listeners
can receive that could be implemented right away
356
00:26:12.279 --> 00:26:15.799
that you would give to both of
you? And I guess I'll start with
357
00:26:15.920 --> 00:26:19.200
John. If there is a piece
of advice please let us know, or
358
00:26:19.279 --> 00:26:23.480
maybe something we didn't touch on during
the episode that you want to make sure
359
00:26:23.519 --> 00:26:30.200
to include. Yeah, I would
first of all, I love I love
360
00:26:30.240 --> 00:26:34.240
the idea that give actionable, quick, quick hit opportunities to everyone to learn
361
00:26:34.319 --> 00:26:38.960
something. I learned something here about
my new brain. Um. But I
362
00:26:38.960 --> 00:26:45.119
would say, you know, in
our perpetual research of QR codes and and
363
00:26:45.759 --> 00:26:48.640
you know, looking into just ways
you can use them, I actually did
364
00:26:48.720 --> 00:26:52.680
uncover, uh, something that I
thought I remembered seeing before, but I
365
00:26:52.680 --> 00:26:56.599
still haven't seen it really in widespread
use, So I'll throw this one out.
366
00:26:57.079 --> 00:27:03.599
You can actually configure a QR code
to enable log on to a WiFi
367
00:27:03.640 --> 00:27:08.680
network. So what that does is
eliminates the signs that are everywhere. Typing
368
00:27:08.759 --> 00:27:17.279
in a password that's upper case W, lower case jtilt, the dollar sign,
369
00:27:17.599 --> 00:27:19.720
comma, all these like. You
know how hard it is. Anytime
370
00:27:19.720 --> 00:27:23.079
you visit someplace and you want to
get on the WiFi, you can actually
371
00:27:23.119 --> 00:27:29.279
configure a QR code to do that. And so it's a simple single scan.
372
00:27:29.839 --> 00:27:33.279
It drops the WiFi on your phone
and there you don't thank you,
373
00:27:33.640 --> 00:27:38.160
John, That is awesome. And
when we have an opportunity to have people
374
00:27:38.359 --> 00:27:41.559
or for you to give people your
contact information, I'm sure you will get
375
00:27:41.640 --> 00:27:45.640
questions about that, Mike before we
go, do you have anything you would
376
00:27:45.680 --> 00:27:49.920
like to offer? Yeah, Well, first, thank you both for having
377
00:27:51.039 --> 00:27:53.400
us on um This has been a
real treat. I'm going to be slightly
378
00:27:53.400 --> 00:28:00.759
more self serving as the person responsible
for marketing spokenoe um Bart. You have
379
00:28:00.839 --> 00:28:03.920
a piece of communication that you send
out to your audience of low cost things
380
00:28:03.960 --> 00:28:07.559
you can test. Right here are
things you can see and try and do.
381
00:28:08.119 --> 00:28:11.720
And I just think that spoke note
is a perfect example of that,
382
00:28:11.920 --> 00:28:15.799
right, you can buy start with
a pack of ten for ten dollars and
383
00:28:15.799 --> 00:28:18.599
buy him on spoke note dot com. And maybe you can take a student
384
00:28:18.720 --> 00:28:23.000
inside your funnel and and send him
a personalized note and see what the impact
385
00:28:23.079 --> 00:28:29.000
is. UM. This is eminently
testable and triable and doable, and UM
386
00:28:29.039 --> 00:28:33.119
I think that's what makes it UM
such a powerful product. Yeah, thank
387
00:28:33.160 --> 00:28:37.920
you, Mike. While we have
everyone's attention, would like to give both
388
00:28:37.920 --> 00:28:41.799
of you the opportunity to share your
contact information in case any of our listeners
389
00:28:41.839 --> 00:28:48.200
would like to reach out to connect
Mike if you would please sure anyone can
390
00:28:48.200 --> 00:28:56.119
reach me at Mike at spokenote dot
com. And Troy Bart, thank you
391
00:28:56.200 --> 00:29:00.559
very much for having us on.
John Wexler's my name lad seem a spell
392
00:29:00.759 --> 00:29:03.799
W E C H S S and
Sam L E. R. And I
393
00:29:03.839 --> 00:29:08.079
am John at spokenote dot com.
Thank you both, and it's a pleasure
394
00:29:08.079 --> 00:29:11.519
of having you on. And actually
Bart and I were excited because we feel
395
00:29:11.640 --> 00:29:18.599
this is something that is very usable
for our hired marketing listeners that they can't
396
00:29:18.599 --> 00:29:22.200
implement right away. Bart, do
you have any final thoughts you'd like to
397
00:29:22.200 --> 00:29:26.119
share before we end the episode?
Once again, thanks guys for being on.
398
00:29:26.240 --> 00:29:29.000
It's been a pleasure and an honor
to kind of get reconnected with you
399
00:29:29.039 --> 00:29:30.880
guys. I've I've I've been honored
to know you for so long and really
400
00:29:30.920 --> 00:29:33.920
respected what you've done over the years, and so thanks. I guess a
401
00:29:33.920 --> 00:29:37.799
couple of things that I would leave
my audience with as we kind of wrap
402
00:29:37.880 --> 00:29:40.720
up the show and think about things. I really liked what Mike said there
403
00:29:40.720 --> 00:29:44.000
at the end. Um, you
know, go on spokenoe dot com and
404
00:29:44.000 --> 00:29:45.839
and grab a grab a pack just
so that you can try it out.
405
00:29:45.880 --> 00:29:48.680
I mean, you can even pick
the color that's closest to your school colors.
406
00:29:48.680 --> 00:29:52.079
I mean, they've got to think
about six or seven different colors that
407
00:29:52.079 --> 00:29:55.400
you can choose from, try them
out and and kind of get a feel
408
00:29:55.440 --> 00:29:57.160
for it and start to kind of
experiment with yourself. I mean that's the
409
00:29:57.200 --> 00:30:00.640
way we all learn is experimenting a
little bit. And I think that's,
410
00:30:00.799 --> 00:30:03.920
you know, even more the case
here. And then I think as you
411
00:30:03.039 --> 00:30:07.039
as you do that, you know, provide them some feedback. I mean,
412
00:30:07.160 --> 00:30:08.640
you know, I think that these
guys are open to that. I
413
00:30:08.680 --> 00:30:11.839
think that you guys are going to
be in the trenches, whether you're an
414
00:30:11.839 --> 00:30:15.519
admissions counselor or whether you're vice president
enrollment, when your presidents listening to this.
415
00:30:15.920 --> 00:30:18.279
There's a lot of different ways that
you can try those out and provide
416
00:30:18.319 --> 00:30:22.680
some feedback. And I think that
as you start to do that, get
417
00:30:22.720 --> 00:30:26.440
comfortable with with filming yourself and being
on on video and being authentic on video.
418
00:30:26.480 --> 00:30:29.680
I think that's one of the skills
that we can all learn and and
419
00:30:29.720 --> 00:30:32.480
try to do a little bit better. And I think that's something that's gonna
420
00:30:32.559 --> 00:30:34.440
give you some practice as you do
that. And so a lot of great
421
00:30:34.480 --> 00:30:37.440
comments in this in this episode,
you might even want to rewind and listen
422
00:30:37.480 --> 00:30:41.519
to some of them, um,
But I think overall, I really want
423
00:30:41.559 --> 00:30:45.599
to encourage everyone to kind of lean
into some of these new things. While
424
00:30:45.720 --> 00:30:48.720
you might say, well, it's
not that big a deal for me to
425
00:30:48.119 --> 00:30:52.160
you know, click on a QR
code and watch a video, it is
426
00:30:52.200 --> 00:30:56.319
for your perspective, students, and
so we have to stop thinking like you
427
00:30:56.319 --> 00:30:59.559
know, you're the audience, because
you're not. And so I I really
428
00:30:59.599 --> 00:31:02.680
appreciate it again you guys being on
the show. Um, we're gonna put
429
00:31:02.720 --> 00:31:06.680
some notes in the in the podcast
show. And then also Mike had referenced
430
00:31:06.680 --> 00:31:10.519
the what I'm calling the Friday Finds. Once a month, I send out
431
00:31:10.599 --> 00:31:14.200
kind of the you know, latest
ideas that I'm finding for under five hundred
432
00:31:14.200 --> 00:31:18.079
bucks that could impact your enrollment or
your advancement. This was in my inaugural
433
00:31:18.200 --> 00:31:21.559
issue. If you go to digest
dot Keiler's dash solutions dot com, you'll
434
00:31:21.599 --> 00:31:25.359
find all of my newsletters and you
can sign up there. But those are
435
00:31:25.359 --> 00:31:29.039
gonna come out each month and you're
gonna discover things like Spokenoe and bomb Bomb
436
00:31:29.079 --> 00:31:30.920
and other things that are gonna cost
you that much but can make a big
437
00:31:30.960 --> 00:31:33.960
impact in what you're doing. So
guys, thanks again, Troy. It's
438
00:31:33.960 --> 00:31:37.799
been a pleasure having you with me
as well, and so thanks guys,
439
00:31:37.680 --> 00:31:44.319
Thank you all, Thank you.
The High Rate Marketer podcast is sponsored by
440
00:31:44.359 --> 00:31:51.039
Kaylor Solutions and Education Marketing and Branding
Agency. Thank you everyone for joining this
441
00:31:51.119 --> 00:31:57.160
week's episode. You've been listening to
the Higher Ed Marketer. To ensure that
442
00:31:57.200 --> 00:32:00.920
you never miss an episode, subscrib
ib to the show in your favorite podcast
443
00:32:00.960 --> 00:32:06.279
player. If you're listening with Apple
Podcasts, we'd love for you to leave
444
00:32:06.279 --> 00:32:08.799
a quick rating of the show.
Simply tap the number of stars you think
445
00:32:08.839 --> 00:32:12.440
the podcast deserves until next time.