Web Strategy and Development Blog

Maximize the potential of websites, blogs and social media

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Writing for the Web

If you’re in charge of a website, blog, social media platform — or all three — you’ve likely asked the following questions:

  • What do users want my website, blog or social media to provide?
  • How do I organize content on my website so that users can find the information they want?
  • What should I be communicating on a website vs. a blog? How do the two relate?
  • How do I repurpose my website and blog content and distribute it on social media?
  • What can I do immediately to make my digital communications more strategic?

The office of Web and new media is offering a free, interactive training session that will address each of these questions. The workshop will also provide tips and techniques that can be implemented right away in order to make your digital communications more efficient and effective.

A session of Short and Snappy: Writing for the Digital World will be held on Oct. 28Workshop details

Who should attend

This session is open to University faculty, staff and student employees who are responsible for University websites, blogs or social media accounts.

Free registration

Registration is requested via My Learning Connection (on the Profile tab of My Missouri State).

 

Mobile-friendly academic website conversions: Summer 2015

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Mobile usage is growing exponentially — particularly among our largest demographics of prospective students, Millennials and Gen Z.

Google recently experienced two mobile milestones:

  • The mobile tipping point, in which the number of mobile searches in the U.S. surpassed searches on PCs
  • Mobilegeddon, a change to the Google search algorithm that benefits mobile-friendly websites over their non-mobile-friendly counterparts

Missouri State content viewed on a smartphoneAcademic websites converting to mobile

Our office began the process of converting all academic department websites to a mobile-friendly format early this year.

The conversion process is not a complete redesign. Instead, it converts each site to the mobile template and reorganizes existing content for consumption on mobile devices.

Like the academic website redesigns, conversions are funded by the provost’s office and processed on a college-by-college rotation according to the deans’ prioritization.

Websites that are converted to the mobile-friendly template will later undergo redesign, during which new content, multimedia elements and design elements will be created. This two-step process allows our office to optimize all academic websites for mobile consumption as quickly as possible.

Summer 2015 progress

Over the summer, we completed and published the following mobile-friendly website conversions:

An additional 13 websites are currently in conversion and will be published in the mobile-friendly format this fall. The conversion process will continue until all academic departmental websites are optimized for mobile consumption.

Free photo opportunity for faculty and staff

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Free Portrait Days will be held on August 25-26. This event is open to all Missouri State faculty and staff, and it’s a great opportunity to ensure that University websites and publications are using your up-to-date, professional headshot.

Faculty and staff participating in a Free Portrait DayKey details

Select your photo on-site

This event will feature a new, streamlined photo selection process. You will review and choose your photo on-site at the free portrait event. This photo will then be uploaded to the University directory – with no additional effort on your part.

Within a few days of the event, you will receive the photo you selected via email. This photo is provided at no charge; you are free to use it for other professional purposes.

Free photo opportunity for faculty and staff

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A Free Portrait Day will be held on July 1 in the office of photographic services. Participating in a free photo opportunity is the best way to ensure you have an up-to-date, professional headshot for use in University websites and publications.

Faculty and staff participating in a Free Portrait DayKey details

  • Who: Open to Missouri State faculty and staff
  • When: 9:30 a.m. – 4 p.m. on Wednesday, July 1
  • Where: The office of photographic services, which is located in the Meyer Alumni Center at 300 S. Jefferson, Suite 504. The Bear Line stops in front of the Morris Center (just across the street from the Meyer Alumni Center). There is also a parking garage attached to the Alumni Center; access it via McDaniel Street. Photographic services is on the fifth floor.

Streamlined photo selection process

In one change of note, you will be asked to make your photo selection on-site. The photo will then be loaded to the University directory.

This change means there is no additional effort required (once you’ve attended the Free Portrait Day). You will not need to submit your photo selection to Web and new media.

Within a few days of the event, you will receive the photo you selected via email. This photo will be yours to use for other professional purposes and platforms.

The streamlined photo selection process means you’ll receive your image in less time. It also aids marketing and communications staff in making timely updates to images in the University directory system.

Academic Website Project: Converting to mobile FAQ

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Website viewsThis semester, the office of Web and new media began converting all departmental websites to the mobile-friendly template.

As part of the Academic Website Project, this effort is funded by the office of the provost. Websites will be converted according to the deans’ prioritization on a college-by-college rotation.

Frequently asked questions

Why are we converting to mobile?

Smart phone and tablet usage continues to grow exponentially — particularly with our largest target demographic. In addition, last month Google updated its search algorithm, expanding its use of mobile-friendliness as a ranking signal in organic search results.

What’s involved in the mobile conversion process?

Conversion rather than redesign

The mobile conversion process is not a redesign of your website.

Certain academic websites (Examples: marketing, hospitality and restaurant administration, area studies) have been redesigned according to mobile-friendly specifications; during the redesign process, these sites received new content — including text, design elements, photos and videos. But during a conversion process, new content will not be created for your website.

Incorporating existing multimedia content

However, we will be looking for ways to incorporate content that has already been created for your program. Whenever possible, we will add multimedia pieces such as Mind’s Eye and spotlight videos, provided that they support your program’s recruitment goals and meet other content guidelines.

If you know of existing multimedia content you’d like to add to your website, please feel free to let us know about it once we begin your conversion process.

Future redesign

In the future, any academic website that goes through the mobile conversion process will also receive a complete redesign as part of the Academic Website Project. At that point, we will be creating new content.

Student looking at mobile phone

I represent an academic department. How do I get the process started?

Commencing the conversion

You don’t need to do anything.

  • The conversion process is funded by the office of the provost.
  • Your department has already been prioritized by your dean.
  • Web and new media will contact you via email when your website is entering conversion.

During the conversion

While your website is being converted, you will not be able to edit your live website. Instead, you’ll send updates to webpress@missouristate.edu. We will make updates on your behalf.

Following the conversion

  • Once the conversion is complete, you’ll be notified that your website is ready for your review.
  • At this time, you’ll have the opportunity to send feedback and request changes.
  • Please keep in mind that we will not be revising your content during this process. (If you’d like to make content revisions, you will have that opportunity once your mobile-friendly website has been launched and you have resumed responsibility for maintaining it.)
  • Your website will be launched four weeks after the date you are notified that it’s ready for review.

Once it’s converted, will we still be using Web Press?

Yes, you’ll continue to manage your website through Web Press.

I’m part of a University unit that isn’t an academic department. How do we start the mobile conversion process?

Mobile conversion isn’t fully available to non-academic departments yet. We are working through that process and will post when available. You’re welcome to email web@missouristate.edu if you’d like to be an early conversion client.