EDUniverse launches in one week!

EDUniverse is launching next week. Help us celebrate!

The launch party is a celebration of the people who work in education, from student affairs to alumni and development to marketing professionals and everyone in between, who are helping shape the future of this industry. We hope you will join us.

When: Friday, February 24, 5:30 – 7:30 PM
Where: SCVNGR Headquarters, 175 Second Street, Cambridge, MA 02142

RSVP soon, spots are limited!

Posted by Mallory Wood
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EDUniverse Launch Party!

And you’re invited.

EDUniverse is a site for you. For education professionals who are looking to make their life easier, spend less time searching the web, and who want to discover relevant industry-related content. This party isn’t just a celebration of a site launching. It’s a celebration of the people who work in education, from student affairs to alumni and development to marketing professionals and everyone in between, who are helping shape the future of this industry.

We hope you will join us. This party and EDUniverse will only be successful if you attend.

When: Friday, February 24, 5:30 – 7:30 PM
Where: SCVNGR Headquarters, 175 Second Street, Cambridge, MA 02142

Please RSVP by February 15 via our Evite invitation.

Since the announcement of EDUniverse our team has been working hard to get the site ready for beta users. Interested in getting early access? Sign up at EDUniverse.org.

Questions? Email Mallory Wood, Marketing Manager. Or leave a comment!

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mStoner’s top picks for 2011

For my last blog post of the year I have enlisted the help of the mStoner team to bring you mStoner’s top picks for 2011. In this post you will find the sites, tools, and designs we fell in love with this year. Picks include everything from iPad apps to our favorite uses of social media in higher education.

Without further ado…

Design

Moment Skis
We think this site is cool because of the way it uses horizontal and vertical scrolling to fill the landcape of the screen. It layers several carousels of different types of content including profiles, video, products, and slideshow based photography. The design uses texture and a muted color scheme to give it a mountainy-vintage feel. This is future forward design that’s breaking the boundaries of link by link categorized navigation and molds well to any mobile device. Now, where are my Rossignols?
– Anne Glista and Kevin Rieg, Interactive Designers

Ampersandbox
My favorite project of 2011 was the “Ampersandbox” undergraduate enrollment project we did for the College of William & Mary. They wanted a new viewbook with a dedicated web component that together would capture the personality of William & Mary and set it apart from its peers and competitors. We gave them a box of postcards that superimposed funky, evocative word pairs over photos we pulled from their Flickr feed. I liked it because it was a former client coming back to us for more work, which is always validating. I liked it because the William & Mary client trusted us and was bold enough to consider ideas that were designed to appeal to the right prospective students rather than the most prospective students. I liked it because the creative process was fun and very collaborative. And I liked it because it was successful. William & Mary’s admission counselors tell us the cards have been a hit at college fairs, and the web component, a site that allows visitors to create their own word pairs, photos and stories, has had lots of traffic.
-Mark Sheehy, Creative Director

Blogs and other online tools

The Project Management Hut
As a project manager, this site is very useful to me. I like that articles are contributed by many people, so you aren’t stuck with only one person’s point of view. In addition, the articles are based off of experience and not just what the “tech books” say.
– Beth Lee, Project Manager

Disqus
The slickest snippet for enhancing the social media aspects of your website for 2011 is not up for discussion. It is, in fact, Disqus. Disqus is a unique tool allowing a developer to place a small snippet in any page or template. This quick inclusion immediately allows for inline commenting. It has support for nested responses, a sweet “ajaxy” style, as well as a back end administration site which includes: reporting, user management, moderation, ranking, and much more.
– Kevin Zink and Jim Johnson, Senior Technology Consultants

Seth Godin’s Blog
This year I discovered the writings of Seth Godin. I am currently working through his books and his blog is one of my favorites. Godin’s posts might vary in topic and length but these daily updates never lack inspiration. His stories are relevant, his ideas are thought-provoking, and his encouragement to become a linchpin is motivating. I’m better at what I do because this blog challenges me to think in new ways, work harder, and take risks.
– Mallory Wood, Marketing Manager

Social media in higher education

University of Nottingham’s Election 2010 blog
My hands-down favorite is the University of Nottingham’s Election 2010 blog and social media initiative, which won a CASE Gold in 2011. This is an incredibly smart blend of social (using a blog, Twitter and YouTube) and traditional PR outreach to bloggers and traditional reporters and newscasters with the goal of sharing insights from the University of Nottingham’s political scientists about the 2010 election in the UK. The results are impressive: those experts were quoted in every item of national election coverage on Election Day 2010 and the effort resulted in exceeding all the objectives created for the campaign.
– Michael Stoner, Co-Founder and President

UT Austin’s Know
The best content hub that I’ve seen in 2011 is UT Austin’s Know. This site offers a substantial stream of content, including a way to submit your own. The site navigation is exceptional, the structure is driven by both topics and mediums, and the design supports the comfortable consumption of a wealth of information. The Know social media directory is extensive and likely represents the future for higher ed social media.
– Susan T. Evans, Senior Strategist

Apps for the iPad and iPhone

Dropbox
Is this the most original choice on this list? Not by a long shot! Is Dropbox the one app that has changed the way I work most? Absolutely. This year I had an onsite client visit where I was able to use the iPad to read my usability testing script, revise the site IA, review the project timeline, and make minor edits to a change order. Because of Dropbox I could easily access, edit, and change those documents. My iPad has turned into the swiss army knife of productivity toolsets. And that is largely thanks to Dropbox.
– Jeremiah Worth, Project Manager

Flipboard
The app I used on my iPad more than any other in the last year is Flipboard, the pocket-sized social magazine. It’s a place to discover new, curated content and it connects to many of the social networks I use every day. Flipboard connects with my Facebook account to keep me up to date on my friends and family. I use Twitter as a way to keep up with industry thought leaders, and I can view their tweets from the app. I can share content, save it to Instapaper for later, and keep up with my Google Reader. Even better? A new iPhone version was released this week!
– Rob Cima, Co-Founder and CFO

Books

Steve Jobs
Steve Jobs defined innovation for our generation. This book is fascinating.

Mobile First
A terrific case for inverting the traditional approach to designing websites as more people use their smartphones and tablets as alternatives to laptops and desktops.
– Voltaire Miran Santos, Co-Founder and CEO

Do you have a top pick for 2011 that you would like to share? Leave a comment.

On behalf of the entire team at mStoner, there is no time more fitting to say “thank you” for everything you do for the education community and to wish you a happy holiday season. See you in 2012!

Posted by Mallory Wood
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How to do Facebook tabs right: Inspiration from outside .edu (Part 4 of 4)

I have thoroughly enjoyed writing this series of blog posts on Facebook tabs. It has been fun to explore how other industries are engaging their customers, viewers, and supporters in social spaces. Sadly enough, all good things must come to an end.

The Book of Mormon on Broadway



You probably know that Facebook users no longer need to “like” your Page before they interact with wall content. But, did you know that Facebook tabs have a nifty feature where you can limit tab content to those who have not “liked” your Page? Encourage the “like” by telling potential-fans the value that exists under the hood, the value they can only get by clicking the “like” button.

The Book of Mormon, NYC’s hottest show on Broadway, gets your “like” by allowing you to stream the cast recording for free. And there are few things better than free, especially when it comes to streaming music.



See how the tab changed after I “liked” the Page?

The ability to listen to the soundtrack for free is a great way to introduce the show to the un-initiated or give super fans a reason to keep coming back to the Page. Book of Mormon identified the number one value-add they could provide their Facebook community and they were smart enough to require you to “like” their Page first. Kudos!

How do we make this apply to .edu?
I rarely see .edu Pages taking advantage of this feature. The tough part is figuring out what value you can offer to your audience.

If you have a Page just for your institution’s alumni you could place videos from reunion or information about upcoming events under the hood. Or draw inspiration from Indiana State’s approach and offer a roommate finder to your incoming class.




What are your favorite Facebook tabs from outside .edu? We’d love to hear your thoughts and see your examples.

Posted by Mallory Wood
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EDUniverse: Discover, Learn, Engage.

Are you a web developer, designer, social media strategist, PR person, marketer, or alumni relations or admission professional working in higher education? If you answered “yes” then you know that there’s a lot of valuable content that can provide insights, examples, and inspiration for your own initiatives. What has always impressed me most about the higher education industry is the passion of the people working in it and their willingness to share “insider secrets” to those working at other institutions.

While there is no shortage of interesting content, the problem is finding it. I’d bet that you use Google Reader to keep track of the many blogs authored by industry thought leaders, follow #highered on Twitter, check SlideShare for the slide decks of sessions you attend (or miss!) at conferences, and sign up for email newsletters. The list grows daily and the content only gets more scattered.

We have the solution. Enter, EDUniverse.

EDUniverse, a website designed and built by mStoner, will serve as the goto destination for those who want to find out about the latest innovations in higher education communications and marketing. The website is designed as a hub where professionals can find and share inspiration, learn how others have solved problems, and network with each other.

We put together a quick video to show an overview of what EDUniverse can do for you.

Anyone can visit EDUniverse to learn about current thinking and find out what solutions might have worked for others. By creating a profile on EDUniverse, a contributor will be able to share content from their blog, Twitter, YouTube and Slideshare accounts, and will be able to upload content like video and white papers directly to EDUniverse.

Contributors will also be able to comment and rank content shared by others and tag content for sharing with people who have similar interests like design, social media, fundraising, research, or public relations. By ranking and commenting on content that is shared on the site, EDUniverse participants can endorse thought-provoking ideas and noteworthy posts or presentations. The home page and other areas of the site will feature this user-curated content.

EDUniverse is anticipated to launch in February 2012. In the meantime, you can sign up at EDUniverse.org to ensure that you are among the first to gain access.

Posted by Mallory Wood
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How to do Facebook tabs right: Inspiration from outside .edu (Part 3 of 4)

Third in a series about drawing inspiration from outside .edu for Facebook tabs. Heads up, this is my favorite example.

Rue La La



Discount shopping sites have revolutionized how American consumers are accessing designer brands. Rue La La isn’t the only one in the marketplace, but they are by far the most interesting when it comes to their social presence. I’m often tweeting about how innovative and engaging they are and recently I featured their blog in a guest lecture to a business class at a Vermont college.



A month ago Rue La La did it again, showing their social media prowess with a brand new “Inside Rue” Facebook tab. The goal is clearly to introduce you to the fabulous team at Rue. I think they nailed it. The tab is clean and full of interactive and sharable content. It incorporates video, quizzes, and calls out to various twitter accounts. There are at least five ways within the tab where you can share content you find interesting with your Facebook friends and Twitter followers.



How do we make this apply to .edu?
I hope you can imagine the endless ways this example could be translated to .edu Pages! Feature admission counselors on twitter and their territories. Incorporate your institution’s branding and messaging into fun wall post sayings. Highlight the videos your marketing team spent long hours creating in an easy to view and easy to share format.

My favorite idea to pull from Rue is the interactive quiz. How easy would it be to put together a five-question quiz for prospective students to take so they can figure out what “type of student” they would be?

What ideas are you inspired to try after seeing Rue La La’s tab? Share your thoughts with us!

Next up: Broadway, of course.

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How to do Facebook tabs right: Inspiration from outside .edu (Part 2 of 4)

This is the second in a series about Facebook tabs. Read the first post.

The Simpsons


To gear up for the fall season premiere, the Simpsons asked viewers to vote on whether or not Ned and Edna (Nedna) should stay together. Who doesn’t enjoy sharing their opinion? Fun and interactive, this is something that will engage a casual viewer to the most passionate fans of the show.

The Nedna tab keeps it simple. Watch two 50 second videos to determine whether you are pro or no Nedna and then cast your vote. (My only complaint is that the voting redirects you to the Simpson’s website versus voting within the tab.)


How could this apply to .edu?
Research continues to show that your constituents enjoy viewing web video. The 2011 E-Expectations Report from Noel-Levitz highlights that the majority of prospective students and their parents will watch videos about your institution if they are considering you. Comscore reports that in August Facebook was the third most popular site for unique video views.

Is your campus holding a contest? Maybe you are searching for a new mascot or elections for student body president are coming up. Taking the Nedna-approach you can showcase the options with video and then let the students vote.

Many institutions host video contests, asking students to submit videos highlighting their favorite place on campus. Have you thought about letting students vote on the winner? Put the top three videos on a Facebook tab and let the students decide.

Have you experimented with video in a Facebook tab? Leave a comment and share your example.

Next up: Online shopping goes social.

Posted by Mallory Wood
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mStoner lands in Austin!

Are you attending the sold out HighEdWeb conference in Austin, Texas next week? We bet you are already packed, following the #heweb11 hashtag, and counting down the minutes until Sunday night’s welcome reception kicks off.

mStoner will be presenting on topics that include mobile, social media, and building a creative services team. Check out the sessions below and we hope to see you there.

“Creative Services, Anyone?”
to be presented by Senior Strategist Susan Evans on October 24, 8:30–9:15AM in the Marketing, Management, and Professional Development Track

This session will cover what it takes to set up a unit on your campus that operates like a successful in-house creative agency. Susan will share her experience establishing and building a creative services team at the College of William & Mary.

“Beyond Blogging: Create an Integrated Online Student Ambassador Program”
to be presented by Marketing Manager Mallory Wood on October 24, 9:30-10:15AM in the Social Media Track.

The presentation focuses on how to expand, integrate and manage your institution’s student bloggers’ presence across multiple social networking platforms.

“On Your Mark, Get Set, Mobile”
co-presented by Tiffany Broadbent of the College of William & Mary and mStoner Creative Director Doug Gapinski on October 25th, 8:30–9:15AM in the Content Track.

This session is a primer for thinking about an institutional mobile site and covers the types of information you should offer in mobile format, the decision to create a mobile app or a mobile website, trends and guidelines for styling and coding, and examples of mobile content from colleges and universities.

If you can’t make it to Austin this year, you don’t have to miss out! Check the mStoner blog next week for our slide decks.

Posted by Mallory Wood
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How to do Facebook tabs right: Inspiration from outside .edu (Part 1 of 4)

It is important to provide your audience with a cohesive web experience. Customized tabs on Facebook can help achieve that goal, but they can do so much more! In the coming weeks I will highlight examples of compelling Facebook tabs from outside .edu that encourage your audience to “like” your Page and will keep them coming back.

Barack Obama – Are You In?



No surprise here, the Obama campaign is well-respected for using social media in new ways to inspire supporters.



I love the idea behind the “Are You In?” tab. First, you show your support by clicking “I’m in!” (simple, quick, and really what could be easier?) and then you are given the option to connect your Facebook account to see if your friends are in too. You are prompted to share that you “are in” on your wall and encouraged to invite your friends to join. Obama wants his supporters to spread the word for him, clearly aware that Americans trust friends and online recommendations far more than advertising messages.



How could this apply to .edu?
Envision “Are You In” as “Are You Applying?” Once you click “I’m Applying” the tab allows you to connect your Facebook account so you can share the good news with your friends. The tab then morphs into a place where you can invite your friends to join and interact with others who are also applying. Keep it social by giving prospective students a place to offer each other essay writing tips or ask current students questions about campus life.

Is your institution doing something new or different with Facebook tabs? We’d love to hear from you.

Next up: A favorite cartoon.

Posted by Mallory Wood
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Intelligence relaunched!

We are excited to announce the relaunch of mStoner’s e-newsletter Intelligence.

What is Intelligence about?
Intelligence will highlight content, events, and other edutrends that are relevant to you. Each issue will contain innovative ideas, interesting links, and other resources relevant to professionals in education, no matter what your job title is or what office you work in.

Why should you sign up?
The goal of Intelligence is to provide the education community with ideas that can help you be more effective. We don’t want to clutter your inbox with junk, so each issue will be carefully written to be useful and informative.

Did you miss out on the September issue? Don’t fret, you can read it here and sign up so you won’t miss out next month.

We invite your feedback about what we’ve covered or comments about what we should address in upcoming issues. Just email us. Believe it or not, we will actually read your emails and respond if you write to us.

Posted by Mallory Wood
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