Web Strategy and Development Blog

Update the COVID-19 messaging on your website

by

Web Press editors:

Have you posted a COVID-related notice or update on your website in the last 15 months?

It’s probably time to remove that messaging.

With campus returning to normal this fall, COVID policies are expiring.

You’re encouraged to review your site and assess any COVID-related messaging. This may include mask requirements, virtual appointments, online classes and more.

Contact us if you need help.

Removing or updating your COVID messaging is a great way to keep your audience and website visitors informed.

Other best practices

The latest on academic website redesigns

by

Over the past year, many of Missouri State’s academic websites have undergone redesigns.

Here’s a recap of what we’ve done and what’s ahead.

MCHHS websites

As part of a comprehensive marketing project with the college, many of the redesigns have focused on the McQueary College of Health and Human Services and its departments.

We started with the college site and went from this:

Homepage of former McQueary College of Health and Human Services website.
Previous MCHHS homepage.

To this:

Homepage of McQueary College of Health and Human Services website.
New homepage highlights MCHHS’s degree programs.

The new MCHHS website went live last fall.

By the numbers

The success of the MCHHS redesign is shown in the numbers.

Through Google Analytics, we compared a three-period for the website: pre-redesign and post-redesign.

Highlights include:

  • The removal of outdated pages cutting down on unwanted or misguided traffic.
    • Bounce rate is down from 83% to 28%.
    • Session duration is up from 1:09 to 1:32.
  • Site traffic is more qualified. Our users are more likely to find what they need. Top page views were:
  • Major reduction of bounce rates on all devices. Especially mobile (reduced to 29% from 87%).
  • Pre-redesign, there were top referrers that looked to be internal (Word, Teamwork) and now those referrers are what they should be: Google, search.missouristate, direct, Twitter, Facebook.

Going forward, we plan to continue emphasizing analytics in our redesign strategy.

More on MCHHS

We’ve also completed recent redesigns for two MCHHS departments: the School of Nursing and the new public health and sports medicine department.

These new websites feature the key aspects of our redesign strategies over the past 12 months:

  • Concise, SEO-friendly messaging (using terms like “major” and “degree” more often) on the homepage and program pages. Example: BSN-Completion for nursing.
  • Prominent call-to-action (CTA) buttons.
  • Less clutter overall and a more more-friendly website.

Over the next 18-24 months, all department websites under MCHHS will undergo redesigns.

Other redesigned websites

Key highlights for journalism program on media, journalism and film website.
The journalism section of the redesigned media, journalism and film website. Each degree program on redesigned sites has a “Why earn this degree?” section that uses photography to highlight its unique aspects.

Through the academic website project, several other departments and programs have undergone redesigns over the last year as well.

Defense and strategic studies got a much-needed refresh. The new website highlights DSS’s unique programs and location (Washington, D.C.)

Other redesigns since 2020 include:

What’s ahead

The COVID-19 pandemic has slowed down our redesign workflow.

In the coming months, we’re hoping to pick up our usual pace and continue these redesigns, which we normally rotate among Missouri State’s eight colleges.

Learn more about the Academic Website Project.

Discover the power of analytics in higher ed

by

Want to have a better sense of what analytics can do for your website and marketing strategies?

Then join us Feb. 12 at the Meyer Alumni Center for the 2020 Higher Ed Analytics Conference.

Web Strategy and Development will host a live stream of the conference in Meyer Alumni Center, room 505 . There is no cost to attend, but let us know if you’re coming. Seating is limited.

RSVP via email to attend

The conference starts at 10 a.m. and features a dozen, 10-minute sessions.  You can attend any session(s) and stay as long as you’d like.

There will be breaks and a question-and-answer session at the end.

Key details

Faculty and staff free portrait days are Sept. 4-5

by

Update your MSU employee photo during faculty and staff free portrait days, September 4-5 at Plaster Student Union.

From 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Room 317, the office of visual media will take your photo, free of charge.

Attending this event ensures you have an appropriate profile photo on university websites. This is a great opportunity for new faculty and staff members to have their pictures taken.

Contact Chuck Busby, office of the provost, if you have any questions.

Key details: Free portrait days

  • Who: Missouri State University faculty and staff
  • When: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., September 4-5
  • Where: Plaster Student Union, Room 317
  • About: Professional or business casual attire preferred. No pre-registration or cost required.

Choose the photo you want

MSU employee posing for photo during free photo days
MSU employees have the opportunity to get a professional headshot taken by the office of visual media during faculty and staff free portrait days.

You’ll review and select your photo on-site at the event.

Then, web strategy and development uploads your photo to the university directory – with no extra effort on your part.

Within a few days, you can download your photo per instructions provided at the event.

Your photo is free. You can use it for other professional purposes.

Social media kit: Collaborative Diversity Conference

by

Shed labels. Stand up to racism and bias. Act with moral courage.

Empower yourself at the Collaborative Diversity Conference. The event runs April 24-26 at Plaster Student Union on the Missouri State University campus.

MSU employees can attend for free April 25-26. Register through My Learning Connection via My Missouri State. You’ll earn professional development credit.

You can also attend a pre-conference session on April 24 for $150.

April 27: Just for students

Students lead the way on April 27. The MoState Student Summit is a student-only conference and part of the Collaborative Diversity Conference.

Workshops for MSU students, led by other MSU students.

Key details

  • What: Collaborative Diversity Conference
  • When: April 24-26, 2019; Student summit April 27
  • Where: Plaster Student Union, Missouri State University.
  • Who: Diversity experts, including plenary speaker Irshad Manji. Review the conference schedule for a full list of speakers and sessions.
  • Tickets:
    • Free admission for MSU employees; register through My Learning Connection to receive professional development credit
    • Standard registration: $250, or $200 if you register by April 8
    • Pre-conference: $150
  • Sponsors
    • Bass Pro Shops
    • Central Bank of the Ozarks
    • City of Springfield
    • College of Business, Missouri State University
    • Commerce Bank
    • Community Foundation of the Ozarks
    • Community Partnership of the Ozarks
    • CoxHealth
    • International Institute Business Solutions Center
    • John Deere Reman
    • Mayor’s Commission on Human Rights and Community Relations
    • Med-Pay, Inc.
    • Networking and Telecommunications, Missouri State University

Share your story

If you attend the Collaborative Diversity Conference, we want to hear about your experience!

Join the online conversation during the event. Post about it on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram and tag your posts with the official hashtag: #Diversity19.

Make your post social media savvy

  • Tag your post with the official Collaborative Diversity Conference hashtag: #Diversity19
  • Whenever possible, tag Missouri State University or @missouristate; Division for Diversity and Inclusion or @DiversityMSU
  • If applicable, tag the post with the Springfield, Mo., hashtag: #SGF
  • If you would like to provide a link for more information on the event, please link to: Collaborative Diversity Conference
  • Nothing beats a first-hand perspective! If you attend the Collaborative Diversity Conference, consider sharing a photo from or quote about your experience

Photos

Sample social media posts

Sample tweets

  • The Collaborative Diversity Conference is April 25-27. Plan your events: https://bit.ly/2GcDdiw #Diversity19
  • How to be a #CitizenBear: Attend the Collaborative Diversity Conference. Registration: https://bit.ly/2HUb9wE #Diversity19
  • The Collaborative Diversity Conference welcomes Professor Irshad Manji on April 26. https://bit.ly/2pHhSDs #Diversity19

Review our steps for turning a link into a tweet.

Sample Facebook posts

Example 1

Plenary speaker Irshad Manji

URL: About the plenary speaker

Text: Professor Irshad Manji is an author, educator and advocate for the rights of women and minorities. She’s the founder of the award-winning Moral Courage Project, based at the University of Southern California.

Example 2

Woman speaking at 2018 Collaborative Diversity Conference.

URL: Division for Diversity and Inclusion Facebook event

Text: Act with moral courage and empower yourself at the Collaborative Diversity Conference.