Hyper-Personalized Marketing for Adults in Higher Education
Personalized marketing is a MUST when marketing to an adult population.
Lauran Hundshamer
1/27/20252 min read
Think back to the last thing you purchased that you were truly excited about. Was it the fabric of the sweater? The circuitry inside the smartphone? The leather on the seats of your new car?
No.
It was the feeling.
The excitement of unboxing it.
The confidence you felt wearing it.
The freedom that purchase represented.
In an era where consumers have unlimited options at their fingertips, price and features aren’t enough to create loyalty or drive action. Emotional connection is what turns browsers into buyers and buyers into lifelong fans.
When you market a product—whether it's a camper, a candle, or a college degree—you’re not selling specs. You’re selling what that product makes someone feel.
Does your product make them feel proud?
Does it make them feel safe?
Does it help them belong to something bigger?
Does it help them escape the stress of daily life?
Emotion is the bridge between your product and your customer’s life story. And the brands that win are the ones who tell that story well.
How to Tap Into Emotion in Your Campaigns
1. Start With Empathy
Forget your product for a minute. Step into your customer’s shoes. What are they struggling with? Dreaming of? Wishing for? Build your messaging around their emotions—not your product’s features.
2. Use Storytelling, Not Selling
Tell stories of real people using your product and what it helped them experience. Whether that’s a family roasting marshmallows around an RV campfire or a woman walking into her first leadership meeting with confidence, bring those moments to life.
3. Visualize the Feeling
Your imagery, colors, and design should make people feel something at a glance. Cozy. Adventurous. Free. Inspired. Ask yourself, “If I took the logo off this ad, would someone still feel the vibe I’m trying to convey?”
4. Speak to the Heart, Then the Head
Lead with emotion, back it up with logic. Customers often buy based on how something makes them feel—and then justify it with practical reasons.
5. Create Community, Not Just Customers
Invite people to be part of something bigger than a transaction. Build belonging. Celebrate their stories. Make your brand about the lifestyle, not just the purchase.