Brand Updates

Recap: Social media for all

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Missouri State University is committed to developing digital content that anybody can access and understand, regardless of their physical abilities. MSU’s information should be equally available to people who have disabilities including (but not limited to) visual, auditory and cognitive.

Social media for all

Accessible content helps everybody, even people who have no disabilities. Whether you’ve experienced a slow internet connection at home, accessed information on a mobile device or wanted to watch a video with the sound off, accessible practices make those tasks easier.

And it helps Missouri State enroll students, ensure legal compliance and support the public affairs mission.

Kevin Agee, a content strategist from the office of university communications, presented “Social media for all: Creating accessible content” via Zoom on Dec. 2. The presentation slides are now available.

Download the presentation slides (PDF)

Learn how to tell MSU’s story at MarCom Training Week

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Here’s the perfect New Year’s resolution: Serve your Missouri State audiences better than ever. We can show you how in just one week.

The division of marketing and communications will present the first MarCom Training Week Feb. 3-7, 2020, at Plaster Student Union 308. All sessions are free. Registration is required on My Learning Connection via My Missouri State.

Register now

The schedule

Feb. 3

How to sound like Missouri State, 9-10 a.m.

  • How to write about Missouri State within brand.
  • Assistance available within the brand website.
  • What style to use when writing for the university.
  • Best practices for readability.

How to look like Missouri State, 10:15-11:15 a.m.

  • Brand visual guidelines.
  • What brand resources are available.
  • How to use university logos and branding elements.
  • Best practices for designing within the brand.

Feb. 4

Making your statement with video, 2:30-4:30 p.m.

  • The goals of using video.
  • How to plan your video shoot.
  • What techniques you can use to improve your video quality.
  • How and when to live-stream.
  • Resources to help you shoot, edit and release your videos.

Feb. 5

Making your statement with social media, 9-11 a.m.

  • Choosing and creating a profile.
  • Discovering what content works best on each platform.
  • Branding your department or college across channels.
  • Delivering good customer service.
  • Effective tools.

5 blogging tips for beginners, 1-2 p.m.

  • Getting started (creating a blog, adding users and roles).
  • What to post on your blog (news, profiles/features, events).
  • Visuals (photos, video).
  • Text (readability, headings, linking).
  • Sharing and promoting your blog (social media, email, analytics).

Feb. 6

Publicizing your event with calendars and social media, 9-10 a.m.

  • Best practices for using Missouri State’s online calendar.
  • Keys to sharing events on social media.
  • Where to find other community calendar resources.

How to be a Web Press star, 10:15-11:45 a.m.

  • Which Web Press content groups to use.
  • Making your website usable and accessible for all.
  • How to create an action-oriented website.

Making your statement with photography, 1-2 p.m.

  • How to best utilize the office of visual media and make your photo request productive.
  • Ways to use your own camera or cell phone to get great photos.
  • How to work with people, lighting, handling releases and setting the stage for a beautiful image.

Feb. 7

Making your statement with media relations, 1-3 p.m.

  • Ways to prepare and practice for media interviews.
  • Why a strong appearance in a newspaper or on TV reflects well on you, your department and the university.

Improve your digital content strategies

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You’re invited to Making Your Statement in a Digital World on Feb. 8.  Join us as we cover best practices for websites, blogs and social media.

Please register on My Learning Connection via My Missouri State. You’re welcome to bring a laptop and/or mobile device.

This is a terrific opportunity for MSU faculty, staff and students who haven’t previously attended this training session.

Key details

About the session

You’ll learn practical strategies for managing websites, blogs and social media. We’ll answer questions like:

  • How do we repurpose our website and blog content and distribute it on social media?
  • What do users want my website, blog or social media to provide?
  • How do we become better strategic storytellers?
  • What are some tips and tricks we can use to make sure our site is accessible and readable for all users?
  • How do we manage messaging on multiple social media channels?
  • What are some advanced strategies to increase our effectiveness on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram?
  • How can we best leverage photo and video content?

Meet the trainers

Erika Brame, web strategy and development

Kai Raymer, web strategy and development

Recap: Making Your Statement in a Digital World

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Marketing and communications staff members Kevin Agee and Erika Brame delivered a half-day training session on digital marketing Aug. 30. Whether you attended or couldn’t make it this time, here’s a recap and a chance to download slides from Making Your Statement in a Digital World.

Key takeaways

Accessibility

  • Accessibility helps people with disabilities or limited abilities better use the web.
  • There are legal, ethical and beneficial reasons to maintain an accessible website. Accessibility makes your website better.
  • Three staples of accessibility: alt text, headings and descriptive links.
    • Alt text is the text equivalent of a photo. Imagine you were describing the image to someone via text message or phone call.
    • Headings are vital for screen readers and give all visitors an easy outline of your website.
    • Descriptive links explain what the link offers. You shouldn’t have to read surrounding content for context. Don’t write “click here” for your links.
  • Use tools like WAVE and the Web Press accessibility checker. They’ll find accessibility issues on your website.
  • Follow our ongoing Accessibility blog series for the latest tips and strategies.

Download accessibility slides (PDF)

Readability

  • Write less. People will read more. Focus on short paragraphs, sentences and words.
  • Remember that 70 percent of Americans read at an intermediate level, and 97 percent can’t understand 11th grade-level text.
  • Use the Hemingway App and install Yoast SEO on WordPress to gauge how readable your content is.
  • Know that readable content can help you:
    • Reach more people
    • Increase what they understand
    • Get them to act
    • Save money
  • Don’t assume your CEO, vice president or dean wants hard-to-read content. (They don’t.)

Download readability slides (PDF)

Social media

  • Photos and videos drive Instagram. Use this platform if your department has a visual story to share.
  • Casual, quick, coffee shop conversation drives Twitter. Loosen up and engage with your audience. Talk to them.
  • Stories about people drive Facebook, which remains king of all social media networks. Use it to share photos, videos and links to tell your story.
  • Customer service is one constant across each platform. Be there to help your customers and stakeholders when they ask for it.
  • Be true to your brand. Know who you are, and be consistent with that story.

Download social media slides (PDF)

Video

  • Video is a great way to engage your audiences and tell a story in a new way. It doesn’t have to be complicated or scary. But, first ask yourself:
    • Does this story have visuals?
    • Are the visuals interesting enough to engage my audience
    • Decide where, when and how you want to capture the visuals.
  • Figure out where you get the best light, make sure you can hear your subjects well and keep the video short (less than 60 seconds for Instagram publishing). Don’t forget to add captioning or text overlays to help increase your views.
  • Before you livestream think about the purpose, engaging the audience and focus on the what’s happening not the person talking.
  • You don’t have to be a major videographer with lots of equipment to tell a visual story. All you really need is a cell phone​ or video camera​. Here are some extras to get you that Scorsese look.
    • Gimbal​ camera stabilizer
    • External microphone​
    • Tripod
  • Here are some online resources to help you get started making engaging videos of your own.

Download video slides (PDF)

Sign up for Making Your Statement in a Digital World

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You’re invited to join us for a free half-day session about best practices for websites, blogs and social media.

Who: Missouri State bloggers, website editors, social media managers and content creators

What: Making Your Statement in a Digital World

When: 1-5 p.m. Aug. 30

Where: Karls Hall 101

You’ll learn practical strategies for managing websites, blogs and social media. We’ll answer questions like:

  • How do we repurpose our website and blog content and distribute it on social media?
  • What do users want my website, blog or social media to provide?
  • How do we become better strategic storytellers?
  • How can we utilize the newest features of the upgraded blog themes?
  • What are some tips and tricks we can use to make sure our site is accessible and readable for all users?
  • How do we manage messaging on multiple social media channels?
  • What are some advanced strategies to increase our effectiveness on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram?
  • How can we best leverage photo and video content?
  • What can we do immediately to make our digital communications more strategic?

Meet the trainers

Please register on My Learning Connection via My Missouri State. You’re welcome to bring a laptop and/or mobile device.