You just launched a new website! Now what? Who will add and update content? What will the approval processes and publishing workflow look like? Do you have clear rules and style guidelines for content contributors to follow? Do your content developers have a clear content strategy that consistently reinforces the values and brand of the institution? What happens when someone breaks the rules (or breaks the website)?

Learn How to Protect Your Investment

Attend our upcoming free webinar How the 5 R’s Protect You from the ‘Frankensein-ing’ of Your Website to learn how to establish a governance plan that defines the rules and procedures around how your organization manages and publishes content to the web -  and how to ensure those procedures are followed.

During this live webinar, Tony Poillucci, Vice President of Strategy and Creative and our friends at Percussion Software will address content creation and publication across various levels of responsibility for content creators, editors and unit leaders, among many others. 

Attendees of the webinar can expect the following takeaways:

• A step-by-step approach to create your own website governance plan
• Defined roles and responsibilities for those contributing content to your website
• Phased approach to roll out your plan
• How to get internal stakeholders to not only buy into the policy, but to truly own it

Register for free!

We just got back from a successful trip to the NAGAP Annual Conference in Orlando. Since this was our first time at NAGAP, we decided to take the opportunity to do what we do best: listen...and also to give away an iPad Mini...

Those of you who stopped by our booth know that we were busy interviewing attendees about marketing challenges and trends in their respective markets. BIG thanks to the following people (in no particular order) for sharing their thoughts!

• Jason Clark - University of Colorado Denver School of Education and Human Development
• Kevin Roane - Monmouth University
• Stephanie Hill - University of Texas at Austin College of Education
• Matt Manz - Champlain College
• Barbara Gnatovich - Sierra Nevada College
• Misty Stewart - Missouri State University
• Naronda Wright - Georgia Southern University
• Anna Jordan - Marymount University
• James Crane - Brigham Young University
• Dave Fletcher - Barry University

What did we learn?

At VisionPoint, we believe the best way to understand people is to listen. We’re so committed to this idea that we wrote it into our company values: Knowledge is both given AND received. In the spirit of shared learning, here are a few themes we heard:

1. The economy is a challenge

There’s an overarching concern for the state of the economy and how its lack of stability impacts graduate degree enrollment. Prospective students are financially savvy; more than ever, they’re seriously considering the economic value of a obtaining a graduate degree. While some may argue that a shaky economy is a good thing for graduate enrollment (by encouraging students to further their education in search of jobs) not all graduate degrees lead directly to higher salaries...and for some, the financial impact is somewhat tenuous.

2. People like NAGAP

When asked if people had previously attended a NAGAP conference, most said yes. When we asked what brought them back, we heard praise for the professional development and the opportunities to share experiences with peers from across the country. Kudos to NAGAP for continuously creating an environment of openness and empathy.

3. Quality over quantity

Graduate admissions programs are striving to build applicant pools that aren’t just full of eager students, but are full of ‘right-fit’ students. Since most schools strive to create graduate programs of real consequence, they need students who can actually bring something to the table. Getting programs to buy into this concept can be difficult - especially when budgets are tight and every student impacts the bottom line.

4. Personal touch is still valuable

While many graduate programs have embraced emerging media such as social media, web and online advertising, there’s still significant value in personal connections. However, finding the right venues for making these intimate connections remains a challenge.

5. Everyone is facing the same (or similar) struggles

Given the competitive nature of graduate admissions, many programs find themselves facing the same challenges. We spoke to several attendees who feel their struggles take the backseat to those of their respective undergraduate programs. However, there’s something about having an entire national association behind you (and sharing in the same struggles) that’s validating. NAGAP provides a very unique opportunity to share struggles and collaboratively find ways to conquer them.

And the iPad winner is...

Congratulations to Dave Fletcher from Barry University who won our iPad Mini giveaway. Everyone who signed up for eduInsights, stopped by our booth or participated in the video survey received an entry. Thanks to everyone who entered to win!

If you haven’t already, take a second to sign up for our monthly newsletter by visiting visionpointmarketing.com/eduinsights

What did YOU learn at NAGAP?

For those of you who attended the conference, what was the best (or most useful) thing you learned (or overheard) while in Orlando? Please share your thoughts in the comment section below.

See ya’ next year!

VisionPoint Marketing will be attending and exhibiting at the National Association for Graduate Admissions Professionals (NAGAP) 26th Annual Conference in Orlando next week.

Not only are we excited at the opportunity to soak up some sun in the theme-park capital of the world (Orlando has 7 of the top 10 theme parks in the US!) ...we’re also pretty stoked at this year’s line-up of speakers.

We’re giving away an iPad Mini!

If you’re an attendee, be sure to sign up for your chance to win an iPad Mini from VisionPoint Marketing. Swing by booth #30 (look for the orange floor) to sign up or visit visionpointmarketing.com/nagap. All you have to do is subscribe to eduInsights, our monthly newsletter, and you’re entered to win. You can also tweet us (@vispoint) during the conference and we’ll make sure to find you.

Don’t miss your chance to impress your peers. 

NAGAP is your chance to share your institution’s best practices and recruitment successes with your peers from across the country. Throughout the conference, VisionPoint will be conducting live interviews about what specific marketing outreach tactics are working (and not working) in your respective markets. The results from this video survey will be shared with the NAGAP conference committee and used to plan successive conferences.

Have something to share? Let’s hear it. Stop by booth #30 for your chance to shine. As an added bonus, all interviewees will receive an extra entry into the iPad Mini giveaway.

Not attending NAGAP this year?

Those of you not attending NAGAP can follow our adventures by using the conference hashtag (#nagap) or by following @ahatony, @dianeyoshi and @ZHHender.

Disclaimer: Must be a registered NAGAP 13 attendee to win the iPad Mini (we want to see your smiling face).

VisionPoint Marketing will be speaking and exhibiting at the District III Conference for the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) on February 17 - 19.

CASE conferences are always a great mix of people, backgrounds and ideas that can inspire just about anyone. That’s why we’re excited to join higher ed leadership from throughout the southeast at the four-diamond Omni Hotel at CNN Center in Atlanta.

Our own Tony Poillucci will present “Winning the Web Battle: A Hero’s Guide to Large Scale Website Redesign and Migration” with our friends Richard McDevitt and Cindy Jones of UNC Charlotte. The session recounts how the university migrated its entire web presence (that’s over 166 sites on countless content management systems) to a centralized technology platform with consistent, brand-compliant visual templates.

Sound compelling? If yes, we’ll see you Tuesday at 2pm.

We’re Giving Away an iPad Mini!

If you’re an attendee, be sure to register for a chance to win an iPad Mini from VisionPoint. Swing by our booth (look for the orange flooring) or sign up by visiting visionpointmarketing.com/casethree.  All you have to do is subscribe to eduInsights, our monthly newsletter, and you’re entered to win. You can also tweet us (@vispoint) and we’ll give you the inside scoop on our location.

Those of you not attending can follow the conference action using the official Twitter hashtag #caseinspires or by following @ahatony and @ZHhender

See you in Atlanta!

Disclaimer: Must be a registered CASE III attendee to win the iPad Mini (we want to see your smiling face).

Have you seen the Carolina Ballet lately?

If you haven’t, you really should. This comes from a guy who’s not exactly the ballet type. Actually, before Carolina Ballet became a client of ours I would have preferred doing just about any form or manual labor over going to the ballet. You know, manly stuff like oiling the chainsaw, painting the garage, fixing the sink, installing a hot water heater, etc. Anything but the ballet. The ballet’s for ladies.

My first experience was a bit of an eye opener. My second and third just confirmed the first. I was wrong about the ballet. The ballet is strong. It’s bold. It's athletic. It’s masculine.

I mention this because my colleagues at VisionPoint Marketing recently announced the launch of Carolina Ballet’s new web presence. Much like the ballet itself, this website is truly stunning. To put it in ballet terms, this website is a real pas jeté (pah zhuh-TAY).*

Is it worthy of being associated with one of the top ballet companies in America? You decide. Visit carolinaballet.com or see our portfolio and let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.

*A pas jeté refers to a style of upward leap in which the dancer jumps from one leg to the other in a sweeping motion. 

Thanksgiving noun [thangks-giv-ing]: the act of giving thanks; grateful acknowledgement of benefits or gifts; a public celebration in acknowledgment of divine favor or kindness.

As we near the holidays, I’m reminded of the need to give thanks for all the good things in my life - be they benefits, gifts, divine favor, acts of goodwill, advantages, perks, etc.

Here at VisionPoint, we’ve had one hell of a year (and we have much to be thankful for in 2012).

A few statistics:

• 3 weddings
• 2 pet adoptions
• 9 “new” clients
• 2 new team members
• 3 promotions
• 3 national higher ed conference presentations
• 1 cross-country move
• Countless new projects

Surely, lady-luck is on our side.

To better understand what my fellow VisionPointers were thankful for, I polled the entire team. I didn’t tell them I was writing a blog post. I just asked them to complete the following sentence: “In 2012, I’m most thankful for....”

Here’s what I heard.

Justin
Being gainfully employed at age 23 in a field I genuinely enjoy at a time when many of my peers are struggling to find their place.

Diana
2012 was a big year for me. I’m thankful to have gotten married (and survived my wedding) and also for the health of my family, friends, dog, cats and the fact that the world did not end in 2012.

Samantha
The state of North Carolina. Being a recent transplant from Iowa, I’ve enjoyed seeing this beautiful Fall weather. Not to mention I can actually enjoy the season without the fear of the impending winter.

Tony
The opportunity to raise my kids in Raleigh where the weather is warm and the trees are lush. Additionally, I’m just so proud of our team and the work we’ve accomplished in 2012, specifically our presentations at the AMA Symposium for the Marketing of Higher Education, EduWeb and CASE.

Chris
Having a healthy beard (even though my wife dislikes it).

Dwight
The holiday party my friends and I are throwing which is called the holiday hoepocalypse. Not to be confused with last year’s holiday hoedown.

Erik
My new wife, Sarah. [Disclaimer: Erik was actually out of the office getting married during this survey]. Congratulations Erik and Sarah!

Cory
Being alive after working full-time and pursuing a full time masters program in interactive media

Diane
The health of my family and friends because it’s the one thing that cannot be replaced. Luck and business come and go; I care most about the wellness of my loved ones.

Carissa
So many things this year! But here's my short list: pillows, libraries, dinosaurs, iTunes, Aaron Rodgers and popcorn.

Turner
The fact that every day I can smile and be happy with my life when so much of the world cannot.

Gail
For the health of my family and the fact that we all live close enough to visit during the holidays. I’m also very thankful to have a job I enjoy, especially during a time when many people are unemployed.

Azmeena
My family, my friends and the ability to get a great education when so many people don’t have that chance. And for my new blue heels. 

Chelsea
The opportunities that have come my way as a result of my education. And for the Wolfpack finally getting some respect - and deserving it.

Yours truly? (Zac)
Clients. For enabling us to come to work everyday to a place we enjoy; and then go home and provide for our families. Most recently I’m thankful for our new partnership with the University of Maryland and our continued relationship with Wake Tech.

Your Turn (tell us how you feel) 

Have you been fortunate professionally this year? How’s your health and family life? Did you reach a milestone birthday, get promoted, receive a raise, have a child, have a grand-child, buy a home, sell a home, start a business, get a job, keep a job, buy a car, survive a major illness, get lost in the woods and find your way out?

Or maybe you’re just glad to be alive and doing what you love with the people you love?

Share what you’re thankful for in the comments section below. Let's share our feelings. Get a little sappy. What are you most thankful for?

We’re thrilled to announce our newest client: The University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business.

One of twelve schools and colleges within the University of Maryland, the Smith School is the largest business school in the D.C metropolitan area. With 150 full-time faculty, 3,000 undergrads, 1,400 grad students and over 50,000 living alumni, the Smith school is one of the most well-respected business schools in the country.

Needless to say, we’re proud to call them our newest client-partner.

Over the next nine months, we’ll be collaborating with Director of Online Strategy, Alissa Arford and her team to re-invent the school’s existing web presence located at rhsmith.umd.edu. The scope of work includes:

• Extensive research and identification of an overarching website strategy
• Architecture of the entire site’s navigation and content structures
• Visual design and usabilty testing
• Collaboration with Smith School staff to generate compelling, brand-supporting website content
• Development and implementation of a new content management system (CMS)
• Training and support for internal IT personnel for an extended period

The Smith School competes with top institutions like Georgetown, Duke and Carnegie Mellon (among many others). By investing in a new web presence, our client hopes to embrace their university’s bold, transformative brand while further distinguishing themselves as an internationally recognized leader in business education and research.

It’s a big project with a big impact (and we like that).

So stay tuned! We’re just now getting started on the initial research tasks - and there’s a lot of work to do - but 9 months will fly by (we’re sure of it).

We had a great time hanging out with our new friend Jeffrey Papa of SimpsonScarborough this week. Even with his insanely busy travel schedule, Jeff still found time to break bread with us at Porter's Tavern in Raleigh. It's always refreshing to reflect and share insight on the many challenges we encounter in higher ed marketing with an esteemed colleague.

Thanks Jeff. We hope you enjoyed your visit and look forward to our upcoming presentation together.

Today we’re at {NAME OF SCHOOL REMOVED} making an oral presentation to their website committee to win a really exciting project. We're putting our best foot forward, as always, and we think we’re doing a great job.

Which is good because we pulled out all the stops for this project. We think we’re the right strategic fit for {NAME OF SCHOOL REMOVED} and we want them to know how much we appreciate this opportunity.

We’ve also noticed DC’s a little quieter today because all the politicians are back in our neck of the woods in North Carolina.

My name is Zac; I'm an addict.

I recently made a weekend trip to the fabulous city of Shelbyville, Illinois (If you've never been to Shelbyville, you’re not missing much). However, my adventure did give me a chance to finally realize the magnitude of my addiction.

My trip

It started the night before my flight, when I'd asked Siri to wake me at 5am. She politely told me I already had an alarm set, but that she'd turn it on for me.

The next morning, packed and ready to fly, I used Maps to procure directions to Fast Park and Relax (where I left my car for the weekend - fantastic service by the way...).

On the shuttle, I used my American Airlines app to check into my flight and access my mobile boarding pass.

Not needing to check a bag, I strolled directly to security, scanned my mobile boarding pass (AA app) and made my way to gate G7.

It was an early flight, so I stopped at Starbucks for a tall coffee and a chicken sausage wrap. I paid with my Starbucks app.

With about an hour to kill, I grabbed my earbuds and enjoyed my coffee while watching a podcast of the first episode of Weeds season 8.

When they called my group, I double-checked my mobile boarding pass and flashed my screen to the gate attendant. she smiled, scanned the phone and waved me through.

Here I am sitting on the plane, listening to my Avett Brothers collection and writing this blog post on Evernote (another app that changed my life).

When I land, I'll probably throw up a Facebook status letting my family and friends know I made it safely to Shelbyville. I'll snap a few pictures with Instagram too.

As I looked around the airport I noticed many others like me. Sure, there were a few doddering old fools still using paper boarding passes (who does that?) but slowly more and more people are joining the ranks of the technologically advanced.

Why Is This Relevant?

So hey there, marketers! Let's put on our marketing caps and think about this for a sec. The phone is by my side 24/7. It's a necessary commodity in my life. We keep no secrets from each other; we have a trusted partnership.

I recently read in The Atlantic that consumers are spending 10% of their media attention on their mobile devices. Comparatively, print media accounts for only 7% of media-time. What's astonishing about these figures is that advertisers spend a mere 1% of their marketing dollars on mobile compared to 25% on print advertising. THAT'S 25 TIMES MORE MONEY SPENT ON PRINT THAN MOBILE!!

What gives?

If you ask me, advertisers should be allocating more dollars toward creating mobile-optimized brand experiences. This is especially true for traditional colleges and universities, where you KNOW your audience is emotionally attached (read: addicted) to their iPhones and Androids. This is a generation who suffers from withdrawal symptoms similar to those seen in drug addicts when kept away from their mobile phones.

I would argue that the brand experience I had with American Airlines (for example) as a result of their mobile app is far more valuable than their most brilliant ad campaign. What do you think?

And by the way, there are nowhere near enough charging stations in airports. God forbid I run out of battery power next time...

VisionPoint Marketing is pleased to receive the Greater Raleigh Chamber’s Pinnacle Award for Steady Growth and Profitability for the fourth time.

The Pinnacle Business Awards recognize the best of the best in the Triangle’s business community. We’re in good company.

So raise your glasses (as they say) to our financial success because that’s what this award is all about - the proverbial “making it rain.”  Kudos! Way-to-go! Mozel tov! Boom-shaka-laka!

All gloating aside, we’re very humbled to be financially stable in a somewhat wobbly economic environment. Moreover, being recognized by our peers for such stature is by no means taken lightly around here.

If you ask our CEO, she’ll say the secret is our people. If you ask our people, we’ll say the secret is our CEO. I suppose we’re both right. Watch the video to learn more. 

Visionpoint Marketing from Three Post on Vimeo.

College and University marketing folks have tough jobs. Despite solid goals and positive intentions, they often struggle to gain buy-in from their higher-ups. 

Mobile doesn’t need to be fancy. It just needs to accomplish a goal—a conversion. 

Last week I attended SWaMfest, a conference by the Virginia Association of State College and University Procurement Professionals.  

Recently, VisionPoint Marketing celebrated our ten year anniversary by thanking clients who helped us carve our niche in higher education web marketing. Equally important however, is the need to thank ourselves.

Over the past few years, search has become a highly targeted, efficient, and localized form of advertising.  No other tactic allows advertisers to track and measure results so directly. Google constantly changes their offering, creating additional opportunities for advertisers to convert their media budget into sales revenue.

VisionPoint Marketing is ten years old this week. We've spent these years polishing our processes and strategic focus, defining ourselves and our vision of the impact we want to make.