Survey Results on Use of Web-based Technology to Support Communications and Marketing at Educational Institutions

In March 2009 in preparation for the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) Communications, Communications, Marketing & Technology Conference, Cognitive Marketing, a brand development firm, developed a survey to gauge the level at which Internet‐based technologies are incorporated into the marketing practices of educational institutions. The range of technologies, from basic websites through to fully integrated social networking programs, was explored.

For those interested the full report from the survey can be downloaded.

#CASE CMT Wrap up

It’s thursday night and the CASE Communications, Marketing, and Technology Conference is over. #CASECMT was the hashtag check out the twitter stream.

I think our conference had the right mix of practical advice and nuggets to take back to campus and implement right away along with big picture strategy to think about for your instiutiton. Karlyn Morissette live blogged much of the conference if you missed it.

I thought I would put together 5 takeaways from the conference tonight. For those that attended feel free to add more.

1. Social Media is this generations word of mouth marketing

2. try and try and try even if you fail

3. collaborate

4. Web strategy is long term and not a project with a defined beggining and end

5. There are lots of professional to lean on for advice

CASE Communications Marketing and Technology Conference 2009

I am preparing to leave for Boston to attend the CASE Communications, Marketing, and Technology conference for 2009. (follow us the next few days on twitter at #CASECMT) After getting the kids up and the oldest to daycare I have now allowed myself to get excited for the conference. I hope travel is better this year than last year. I was in Dallas on an American flight on my way to the conference last year when they canceled most of the flights out of Dallas.

The conference offers a tremendous amount of information on a wide range of topics. Discussions and conversations will cover everything from an overview of general trends within the generations we are recruiting, brand, doing your own research on a shoestring budget, redesign, e-marketing, web strategy, and social media.

Feel free to follow the conversation on twitter and I if you are attending i look forward to meeting you!

Some brief questions related to the work of marketing and web communications at colleges and universities

Would you take a few minutes to answer some brief questions related to the work of marketing and web communications at colleges and universities?

Highlights from this survey will be shared during the keynote address by Josanne DeNatale and Peter Holloran of Cognitive Marketing Inc. (http://www.cognitivebrands.com) at the CASE Communications, Marketing and Technology Conference taking place April 15-16, 2009 in Boston, MA.

In order to participate:

Click on the following URL and enter the key information provided below:
http://research.zarca.com/static/surveykey.aspx
Key: RsVQSYsQsUTRWUsPsP

We appreciate your participation and hope to see you at the conference. If not, please let us know if you would like a copy of the findings, which we will make available after the conference.

Conferences this spring and fall

I thought it was a good time to post about some conferences that I am attending this spring and hope to attend this fall. With budgets tight I think conferences will have to innovate over the next few years. Here are 2 that I am attending and presenting at this spring:

CASE District II
(March 22-24 in Baltimore)

How to Build, Maintain, and Assess an Institutional Web Strategy
Barbara Fritze / Paul Redfern / Rodney Tosten

Session Description
In December, 2004 Gettysburg College’s president directed Information Technology and the Enrollment Division to collaboratively redesign the website. The strategy resulted in a collaborative non-traditional approach that reached past just the redesign but instead looked forward into the future. If the web is truly a reflection of who we are and who we want to be, an institutional unified web strategy is critical to all institutions. The project is a model of cooperation across divisions to maximize budget impact and broad based acceptance. The session includes Vice Presidents and Directors who were and continue to be key players in this cooperative strategy. It will review the strategy and decisions, their outcome and evaluation of their success, as well as future plans.

What Can Higher Education Learn from Barack Obama?
Paul Redfern / Liz Rotter

Session Description
The country just experienced what some would say was a transformational election. What can higher education learn from the way Barack Obama communicated in both a traditional print and web medium but also how he used social media and web 2.0 tools to carry his message and engage supporters. In an era where budgets are being tightened and organizations are being asked to me more efficient, how can your institution use some of these tools to accomplish your goals and communicate your messages?

CASE Communications Marketing and Technology Conference
(April 15–16 Boston, Mass)

I am the chair of this conference and we have great faculty and speakers lined up including:

• J. Todd Bennett Managing Partner decimal152
• Mark Greenfield Director of Web Services University at Buffalo
• Karlyn Morissette Web Producer Dartmouth College
• Luke Robinson Web Manager Calvin College
• Peter Holloran & Josanne DeNatale Cognitive Marketing Inc.
• Sree Sreenivasan Dean of Student Affairs  Columbia University Journalism School

The last conference to consider is taking place later this fall. I have always wanted to attend since I have heard such great things about it and am hopeful to get there this year.

The American Marketing Association Symposium for the Marketing of Higher Education: 2009
(11/15/2009   – 11/18/2009  in Boston MA)

The call for papers is now out and are due by April 3.