Partner Update · 2026 Survey Results

Thank you for your trust, partnership, and candid feedback.

We read every single response. Here's what you told us — and what we're doing about it.

One thing was very clear across every response: you aren't looking for more reports, more metrics, or more acronyms. You want smart guidance, help understanding what's working, confidence in your return on investment, and practical advice for navigating the wild world of private school enrollment marketing.

What was equally clear is what you value most about our partnership. Again and again, our schools described Truth Tree as an extension of their team — a trusted advisor invested in their success, with people who genuinely understand independent schools, admissions, and enrollment. You reinforced something we've long believed: successful enrollment marketing isn't just about running ads. It's school-specific expertise, strategic advice, and a strong partnership working together.

Much of your feedback validated initiatives we've already been building behind the scenes — new tools, reporting capabilities, consulting resources, and AI-focused services designed to help you understand performance, make smarter decisions, and stay ahead of changes in search and enrollment marketing. Here's what's coming.

You Asked

For more strategy

Many of you told us you want more guidance, more recommendations, and more help understanding what to do next. As a result, our monthly strategy meetings are becoming even more consultative and enrollment-focused, with more of our baked-in consulting front and center.

Ad campaign performance and SEO/AEO/GEO will always be part of the conversation — but we'll spend more time on the broader factors that influence enrollment success. Over the coming year, we'll explore:

Digital advertising is just one piece of the enrollment puzzle. By expanding our conversations beyond campaigns, we hope to give you the insight and strategic guidance to make smarter enrollment decisions all year long.

You Asked

For better ROI visibility

Many of you want a clearer understanding of how your digital marketing is contributing to enrollment. No agency can responsibly guarantee inquiries or enrollments — but we're leveling up how we measure and explain marketing's influence throughout the enrollment journey.

Over the past 18 months we've significantly expanded our measurement capabilities, and we're doing it again. You'll begin seeing enhanced reporting around meaningful website engagement, including:

•  Inquiry form and application button clicks

•  External and email link clicks

•  File downloads and video plays, when relevant

•  Form submissions and thank-you page conversions

•  Phone calls

We'll also spend more time helping you read the leading indicators of enrollment intent: search visibility, AI visibility, website engagement, returning visitors, content interactions, and campaign performance. Our goal is to spend less time reporting on what happened, and more time helping you understand why it happened — and what to do next.

You Asked

About AI, AEO & GEO

Many of you asked what AI means for enrollment marketing, and how your school can position itself for the future of search. We're asking those same questions every day — search is evolving fast, and it's our job to stay ahead of it so you don't have to.

With Rich leading organic search strategy, we're building on our existing SEO, AEO, and GEO investments. Our expanded services now include:

Google Business Profile optimization

Technical SEO and schema implementation

AI citation strategy and monitoring

AI visibility enhancements

Quarterly performance reporting

Ongoing recommendations as search and AI platforms evolve

If you're already an SEO client, these enhancements are being incorporated into your existing service — no action needed on your part.

The most encouraging finding from this survey was that schools continue to value what has always been at the heart of Truth Tree: our deep understanding of schools, enrollment, and the unique challenges admissions and marketing leaders face every day. Thank you for trusting us to be part of your team.

The Truth Tree Team