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ALFU Brand Marketing
  • CASE STUDIES
  • CAPABILITIES
  • TEACHING PORTFOLIO
  • CONTACT

SecureSet Academy



“Secure the Future”

SecureSet Academy wasn’t just a cybersecurity school—it was a mission-driven movement to train the ethical hackers, digital defenders, and tech warriors needed to secure our world.


CLICK TO OPEN THE BRAND GUIDELINES IN ISSUU.

 

Brand Guidelines

The SecureSet brand was shaped from the ground up. The challenge: create a magnetic identity that would resonate with an audience of high-stakes thinkers—military veterans, career changers, code-loving misfits, and ambitious students hungry for impact.

 

 
 

Marketing Strategy

The strategy focused on positioning cybersecurity as an accessible, purpose-driven career path, while differentiating SecureSet through its immersive, instructor-led experience. We prioritized lead generation through confidence building educational events, email nurture, and paid search.

 
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Event Marketing

Events were more than awareness—they were engines of conversion. We built a strategic playbook for hosting info sessions, panel discussions, and immersive workshop experiences that showcased the SecureSet community. From branding to lead capture to post-event follow-up, every element was optimized to move prospects closer to enrollment.

 
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Digital Marketing

Website

KEY FEATURES

  1. Two program paths clearly explained: Technical and Analytical

  2. Advanced inquiry form for seamless sales enablement

  3. Events calendar integrated to drive lead nurture through in-person engagement

  4. Instructor profiles to spotlight faculty and build trust

  5. Tuition & financing education to help users feel empowered, not intimidated

RESULTS

  1. Created a conversion-focused, fully responsive site

  2. Strengthened SecureSet’s positioning as a first-mover in cybersecurity education

  3. Supported lead gen, sales enablement, and community building from day one

  4. Bounce rate dropped by 20%.

  5. Lead conversion increased by 30% due to events calendar, improved SEO, and paid search.


 

We launched SecureSet’s website from the ground up with a futuristic, high-impact aesthetic tailored to a tech-forward audience. Built to convert, the site featured sleek navigation, an interactive events calendar, and a custom-built application form that doubled as a lead-gen tool.

 
 

 

Email Nurture

Our email nurture strategy bridged the gap between interest and enrollment. We created segmented journeys that spoke to prospects’ motivations, answered tough questions about tuition and careers, and kept momentum strong. Each email was crafted to educate, re-engage, and convert.

  1. Monthly newsletter achieved a 75% open rate—well above industry benchmarks

  2. Primary nurture series funneled leads back to events and into 1:1 sales conversations

  3. Program-specific nurture demystified career paths by sharing “day in the life” insights for both cybersecurity analysts and engineers—roles many prospective students had never heard of.

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Paid Search + Social

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DIVERSIFIED MARKETING CHANNELS

When layered with our event strategy, paid media became a growth engine. After an early focus on in-person marketing, we added paid search and social—and saw our lead pool increase by 30%. These channels allowed us to expand our reach, target niche personas, and drive motivated traffic to both our website and in-person events. The combination of live experiences and digital precision created a powerful conversion loop.

 

“If you are willing to work hard and you are committed, there is no better option than SecureSet.”
— Student on SwitchUp Rankings
 

 

Referral Strategy

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Referrals and reviews were a cornerstone of our growth—driving 50% of all student enrollments. By cultivating strong relationships with current students and alumni, we created a trusted network that amplified our reputation organically. Positive word-of-mouth and authentic testimonials helped ease concerns, build credibility, and inspire confidence in prospective students considering a cybersecurity career.

 
 

 
 

Print Assets

In-person touchpoints were just as critical as digital ones. We developed high-impact print collateral—course guides, financing breakdowns, and educator profiles—to arm our sales team with materials that matched the sophistication of our digital brand. These tools helped clarify complex topics and build trust face-to-face.

 
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Want to build a brand this future-forward? Let’s talk.

 
Let's talk
 

Employer
SecureSet Academy (Acquired by WeWork in 2019)

Team
Director of Brand & Marketing: Alisha Fund
Graphic Designers: Alisha Fund, Alexa Veneziano, and Jacque Kemp
Copywriter: Alisha Fund and Joseph Davis
Web Development: Voltage Ad (Winter King) and Brian Hackett
Videographers: Voltage Ad (Justin Brunson)

Date
2015–2020


 
tags: Brand Strategy, Higher Education, Cybersecurity, Event Marketing, Funnel Design, Customer Journey, Personas, CRM, Creative Direction, Identity Design, Print Collateral, Graphic Design
categories: SecureSet Academy
Saturday 08.01.20
Posted by Alisha Fund
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