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Higher Education Storytelling

Prospective students aren’t just choosing a degree. They’re choosing a future. But if your story sounds like every other college brochure, you’re just adding to the noise. We help smaller colleges and universities find the clear, human words that show students why your campus is where they belong.

We don’t do corporate higher ed speak. We use proven storytelling to guide prospective students from curiosity to commitment. Whether you need a student-focused website, authentic recruitment videos, or enrollment campaigns that actually resonate, we’ll help you stop selling features and start inviting students into a story they want to be part of.

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Listening

We start by understanding what makes your institution different: your culture, your students, your community. Before we write or film anything, we need to know what sets you apart from the big names down the road.

Creating

This is where it gets fun. We turn what we learned into the tools you need to connect with students: websites that feel real, videos that show (not tell), and campaigns that speak to the life they’re trying to build, not just the classes they’ll take.

Growing Together

We don’t disappear after launch. We help you track what’s working, refine your message as your campus evolves, and build on what resonates with each incoming class.

Our Projects

RRCAC Brand Refresh & WebsiteBrandingDesignNonprofitWeb

RRCAC Brand Refresh & Website

Mockup of brand refresh and website for Midwest Independent Living Services (showing on tablet, laptop, and mobile).
Midwest Independent Living Services Brand Refresh and WebsiteDesignNonprofitWeb

Midwest Independent Living Services Brand Refresh and Website

Mockup showing a laptop and smartphone displaying the \ website for Fargo Moorhead Choral Artists.
Fargo-Moorhead Choral Artists WebsiteNonprofitWeb

Fargo-Moorhead Choral Artists Website

Mockup showing a laptop with the screen displaying the website of Haven: Redefining Life After Loss.
Haven Brand RefreshBrandingDesignNonprofitWeb

Haven Brand Refresh

Theater sign that reads, "Fargo Docs. Presented by Tellwell."
Fargo Docs BrandingBrandingDesignWeb

Fargo Docs Branding

Mockup of business cards for Saving Smiles, showing the front design on a green background.
Saving Smiles Brand Refresh and WebsiteBrandingDesignWeb

Saving Smiles Brand Refresh and Website

Clear Message Crafting We help you cut through generic college marketing and find the honest words that describe your campus culture and student experience. Using the StoryBrand framework, we position your institution as the guide helping students become who they want to be.

Student-Focused Website Design We build websites that do two things really well: show students what life is actually like on your campus and make it ridiculously easy to apply or schedule a visit. Beautiful design, but more importantly, clear and conversion-focused.

Student Story Series Nothing sells your school better than your current students. We interview and film students from different programs and backgrounds, creating a library of authentic testimonials you can use across all your recruitment materials.

Email Nurture Sequences We build automated email journeys for prospective students from inquiry to enrollment. Welcome them, answer their questions, introduce them to campus life, and guide them toward application, all in a way that feels helpful, not pushy.

Authentic Recruitment Videos Forget the drone shots and stock music montages. We create real stories featuring your actual students talking about why they chose you, what surprised them, and where they’re headed. These are the videos prospective students actually watch all the way through.

Enrollment Campaigns We design multi-channel campaigns (digital, print, social) that speak to students where they are in their decision process. Instead of listing your programs and facilities, we invite them into a vision of their future self.

Campus Tour Videos Give prospective students a real feel for your campus before they visit. We capture the spaces, the energy, and the moments that make your campus feel like home, not just a collection of buildings.

Brand Identity & Positioning Your visual identity and messaging should reflect who you actually are, not who you think you need to be to compete with bigger schools. We help you own what makes you different and build a brand that attracts the right students.

Ready to tell your story?

Let’s talk about filling your next class with students who actually want to be there. We work with colleges and universities that know they have something special to offer but need help showing it. If you’re ready to stand out in a noisy market, we’d love to hear from you.

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