Overview

The NC State Online Strategic Marketing Partnership Program provides selected online programs with strategic marketing and communications support from DELTA’s Marketing and Communications team.

Through this application-based partnership, participating programs receive customized marketing expertise and implementation support to increase program visibility, strengthen their brand and support enrollment goals. By combining strategic planning with hands-on execution, we help programs achieve measurable results while building sustainable marketing practices for long-term success. These services are provided at no cost to the partner.

Apply for a Strategic Marketing Partnership

NC State Online programs are invited to submit a proposal outlining their marketing goals, opportunities and challenges. Rather than requesting individual marketing services, programs are applying to become strategic partners with DELTA’s Marketing and Communications team.

Selected programs will collaborate with our team to develop and implement a customized marketing strategy tailored to their objectives. Projects are selected based on their strategic alignment, potential impact and feasibility, ensuring DELTA’s expertise is focused where it can create the greatest value.

How the Partnership Works

This initiative operates on a service-based model. No monetary funds are transferred to individual programs or colleges. All services are provided without direct cost to the online program. DELTA’s MarComm team will determine the best mix of support based on your program’s specific goals. When appropriate, the partnership may include DELTA-funded digital advertising to support agreed-upon marketing objectives.
 

Types of Services Offered

Support is customized to each program’s goals and needs outlined in their application. The types of services requested may include:

• Strategic marketing planning
• Marketing and communications consulting
• Brand strategy and messaging
• Content strategy and copywriting
• Website strategy, optimization and user experience (UX)
• Search engine optimization (SEO) and AI search support
• Digital advertising (Google, Meta, LinkedIn and display)
• Email marketing campaign creation and automation
• Social media strategy
• Digital advertising campaign creation and management
• Creative design and campaign development
• Photography
• Communications planning
• Marketing analytics, reporting and performance optimization
• Enrollment marketing strategy
• Audience and persona research
• Marketing technology and workflow optimization
• AI-powered marketing strategy and implementation
• Project management and implementation support

Services are tailored to each participating program based on their application request, strategic priorities, available resources and expected impact.

Eligibility

We invite proposals from any NC State Online program.

Partner Selection Criteria

Proposals are evaluated based on four equally weighted categories:

1. Strategic Alignment:
   How well the project aligns with NC State Online’s enrollment goals and brand priorities, including factors such as program size, growth potential and market demand.
2. Feasibility:
   The project’s scope, timeline and resource requirements, as well as the likelihood of successfully implementing the proposed strategy and achieving measurable results.
3. Program Commitment:
   Willingness of the distance education program coordinator and other key stakeholders to actively participate throughout the partnership, including planning meetings, timely follow-up on prospective student leads (if applicable) and ongoing metrics tracking.
4. Measurable Impact:
   Demonstrated potential to achieve measurable outcomes, with clearly defined success metrics such as increased inquiries, applications, enrollments, conversion rates or other performance indicators.

Key Dates

• Program Proposal Application Release: Aug. 5, 2026
• Submission Deadline: Sept. 15, 2026
• Award Notification: Oct.1, 2026
• Kickoff Meeting with New Partners: October 2026

Have Questions?

KB

Katie Bean

Director, Marketing

kabean@ncsu.edu