Outperform / Planning That Performs.

Curated by your campaign partners

Successful campaigns form connection. They ignite a feeling or belief for an audience that prompts interest or action. But that feeling needs to be earned. Deep research, honest strategy, and integrated thinking uncover what truly drives people.

Connection begets connection. At SimpsonScarborough, our people and our work are connected. Brand and enrollment are connected. The short-term planning connects to long-term potential. Connection drives us. You can see it in our thinking and our results.

That’s why Outperform is here. To build connection with people who are curious about what drives connection, and how to turn that into meaningful, long-lasting results.

POINT OF VIEW

Where we stand on media, measurement and everything in between.

  • Media

Media performance is all in the 'AND'.

When teams, budgets, and metrics are built to compete, you get an incomplete picture and a slower path to impact.

by Chris Huebner, AVP, Media

PROOF

Campaigns we ran, and what they returned.

PERSPECTIVE

What we and our partners are paying attention to lately.

Chris Huebner

AVP, Media

Higher ed’s biggest media advantage isn’t always spending more. It’s breaking through. When every institution invests in the same platforms, impact may be in unexplored places.

  • Reading

    WARC’s Sightlines report

    Clear insight into how ad spend is concentrating. And yet, attention keeps fragmenting. For higher ed marketers, concentrated exposure leaves opportunity in the peripheral.

    Give it a read →
  • Watching

    APG’s School of Strategic Goodness

    Advantage also comes with asking better questions, which is why we’ve invested time in the fall semester courses. 10+ accessible courses that any leader can pull key team members into together.

    See the courses →
  • Listening

    The Publisher Podcast by Media Voices

    Profiles of the people building audiences in newsletters, podcasts, print and niche communities, the places most media plans overlook.

    Listen in →

Leslie Sharpe

Director, Media

Higher ed audiences are changing, and so are their expectations. Getting ahead isn’t just about reaching more people. It’s about delivering the right message at the right time.

  • Reading

    Spark451’s college search research

    Two different college searches are happening in the same household: students favor independent research and AI, while parents rely more on institutional communications. Same decision, different audiences.

    Read the findings →
  • Following

    NSC’s Fall 2026 enrollment preview

    Undergraduate enrollment is up slightly and master’s enrollment is declining, with notable differences across programs. Early shifts like these help us anticipate demand and sharpen targeting and messaging.

    See the report →
  • Listening

    Is Your Brand More Caring Than Your Campus?

    Jaime Hunt talks with Kevin McClure about the gap between what institutions promise and what students experience. The right message only matters if the institution can deliver on it.

    Listen to the episode →

Ready for media that outperforms?

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