Market Research & Brand Strategy

Insights are the catalyst for sound strategy.

Our team helps clarify your question, collect the right information, translate data into actionable insights, and develop a road map for future success.

In Partnership With

Meet Your Expert Team

With more than 75 years of practitioner experience,

Our brand strategy and market research team brings deep sector-specific knowledge across enrollment strategy, market research, and brand development. With past roles including Associate Director of Admissions, Director of Enrollment Marketing Strategy, Enrollment Data Scientist, we’ve been in your shoes. We understand the challenges you face and we’re ready to partner with you to turn insight into action. Together, we bring grounded, data-informed guidance shaped by real-world experience.

Explore Our Thinking

Our Approch

FRAMING & REFINEMENT

The most complex challenges often begin with an unformed question. First we’ll identify, frame, and refine the question. Then, we’ll break it down to determine the data we need to find solutions.

DATA COLLECTION

We collect the right information in the right way. Our primary and secondary research dives into your market landscape to find thorough data relevant to your unique challenge.

INTERPRETATION

Through meticulous analysis and a holistic perspective, we translate volumes of raw data into clear, actionable insights, crafting a roadmap tailored to your brand’s success and growth.

STRATEGY

With a clear understanding of the findings and their implications, we work collaboratively with you to create customized, results-driven strategies for navigating challenges with clarity and confidence.

Offerings

Market Research

  • Academic Program Demand

  • Brand Assessment

  • Brand Perception & Positioning

  • Competitor Analysis & Benchmarking

  • Enrollment Trend Analysis

  • Market Opportunity Assessment

  • Tuition Pricing Analysis

Brand Strategy

  • Brand Guidelines & Toolkits

  • Brand Positioning & Architecture

  • Brand Voice and Messaging

  • Visual Identity Development

Brand Marketing

  • Brand Activation

  • Branded Collateral

  • Brand Communication Planning

  • Digital Marketing Strategy Optimization

  • Video Production

  • Website Assessment

  • Grinnell College

    “We worked with Grant on a price sensitivity study in order to bring discipline to institutional conversations about setting the comprehensive fee for tuition, fees, room and board.

    Understanding our brand value among competitors proved to be a critical component of a price-setting strategy. Now, instead of simply looking to the competition to help us set our price, our decisions are grounded in market research. The team offered us an impressive combination of methodological insight, expediency, flexibility, and user-friendly deliverables.”

    – Joseph Bagnoli, Ph.D., Vice President for Enrollment, Dean of Admission & Financial Aid

    Full Case Study

  • Earlham College

    "It was clear from the start of our branding work with ADV that Chuck Reed and Grant DeRoo understand our value proposition. But more important, they understand our campus culture and our people. Their personal investment in the work, coupled with deep expertise in market research, has inspired confidence among our faculty and staff. Today, we consider Chuck and Grant to be a trusted extension of our in-house team, whether we need a zinger of a copy line or strategic counsel on program development."

    — Kristen A. Lainsbury, Vice President, Marketing and Communications

    Full Case Study

  • Elon University

    “ADV did some critical work for us. ADV’s data analysis acumen and knowledge of higher education made them the ideal partner to advise us on strategies to offset the approaching ‘demographic cliff.’ Grant’s research is thorough, timely and exhaustive. It resulted in critical findings which he expertly and professionally presented to the university senior staff and president. We are executing ADV’s recommendations and will work with ADV again knowing the exceptional work they do."

    — Greg Zaiser, Vice President for Enrollment

    Full Case Study

  • University of Minnesota Mankato

    "It was absolutely the right decision to work with ADV throughout this rebranding process. They took the time to really get to know our university and distilled our identity beautifully. ADV went well above and beyond in this process to not only bring us and our team along, but really the whole university. Through extensive sessions with faculty, staff, students, and alumni, they incorporated feedback and generated critical buy-in for this process. We needed a strong external partner to carry through this process and ADV was clearly the right choice."

    – Sara Frederick | Senior Director, Marketing and Communications

    Full Case Study