Thriving Together

Test Post for Vine Embeds

2013-05-13T18:34:43Z

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Facebook Pages Get Timeline

2012-02-29T16:00:13Z

If you are an active Facebook user, you have likely seen the new Timeline format for profiles. The Timeline was a dramatic shift in how information is displayed on personal profiles. It has been speculated since Timeline’s launch that Facebook pages would follow along and get the new format as well.

Well, that time has come as Timeline is now available for all Facebook pages. However, unlike Timeline for profiles, there won’t be a long time frame for the feature to be rolled out. All Facebook pages will be converted to the new format on March 30, if you don’t do it before then.

I have converted the ISU Extension and Outreach page to the new Timeline format, so you can get an idea of how it works. Some features to keep in mind as you convert your pages to Timeline are:

New cover photo — this large photo displays at the top and is a great way to creatively mark your page.
Timeline of posts — the actual Timeline makes it easy to go back and find old content, or to retroactively add events, photos, etc.
New names and locations of features — some items have been renamed, others have been moved, but everything from you old page should still be there. For example, the “Info” tab no longer exits, but has been replaced by an “About” section with the same information.
Admin Panel — all of the administrator controls are now located in an Admin Panel, that appears at the top of the page and can be hidden from view. It provides more info at a quick glance than before, with additional info available with a click.

There’s still a lot to learn and discover with Timeline, and I’ll be working on it with the main ISU Extension and Outreach page. If you have questions about converting your pages, please contact me at cweishaa@iastate.edu. One way to get used to the new view and features is to use your own profile’s Timeline format, if you haven’t already converted and used it.

-Chris

Timeline format on the ISU Extension and Outreach page

Extension Week 2011

2011-02-02T15:53:34Z

There’s a statewide celebration of Iowa State University Extension planned for March 21-25 – and we hope you’ll be part of it!

Help shine the spotlight on ISU Extension and share how “It Starts With Extension” by celebrating Extension Week. Whether you serve a county office or conduct research on campus, it is up to each of us to tell the story and highlight the many ways we serve Iowans.

Extension Week can be celebrated in a variety of ways. Think about how you might thank program partners or reconnect with the media in your community. What is “it” to you and how might you tell others? Host a client appreciation reception or work with your local chamber to have an open house. The possibilities are endless. What have you done in the past or how might you celebrate Extension in 2011?

It’s not too early to begin planning. Have a conversation with your office mates, your regional or program director, and your council members to brainstorm ideas and action plans. You’ll find Extension Week ideas and tools on the campaign resources web page. New support materials such as radio scripts and customizable newspaper ads will be added, so check the site regularly.

Let the rest of us know how you plan to take these ideas and make them your own and don’t forget to call on your External Relations Specialist for ideas or assistance!

This blog is designed for and available to ISU Extension staff. Post your comments on this blog and subscribe to the RSS feed so you’ll know when others have shared an idea. Let’s get the conversation going!

Writing for the Web = Writing for “Scanners”

2010-08-23T19:00:00Z

Reading on the web is very different from reading a printed piece. Online readers only read about 20% of a web page. Why so little? It’s because online readers don’t read. They scan. They scan for:

Meaningful headings
Keywords
Links
Bullets
Bolded words

Notice that paragraphs were not listed. Typically, users will not read a large paragraph unless the heading indicates the paragraph contains the information they were looking for or the first sentence tells them enough to read on.

So how do you get people to read your content?

You need to write for how people read. Easier said than done, right? Well, here are a few tips to help you write for the web (or for email).

Keep it short and sweet – Use ½ the word count you would use for print.
Limit internal lingo or jargon – We might know what CIRAS means, but the user probably doesn’t.
Write for the user – Tell the user “What’s in it for me?”
Write in the inverted pyramid style – Put the most important information at the top.
Use headings and subheadings – Allow users to scan the information quickly by giving headings to your sections of content.
Write MEANINGFUL headings – Use keywords and simple, concise text (shoot for 5 words or less).
Break up paragraphs into bullets when possible
Write meaningful or actionable links – Give context to the link and use an action word. Tell the user what they will get when they click on the link. For example, “Contact the Poultry Extension veterinarian” vs. “Poultry Extension”.

For more information on writing for the web, check out Jakob Nielsen’s research on reading and writing on the web.

For information on writing blogs, read the Best Practices for Blogging & What Makes a Good Headline (PDF).

Have questions about writing for the web?

We can help you! Contact myself, Molly Doolittle (mollyd@iastate.edu) or LaTosca Goodwin (Latosca@iastate.edu) and we will help you make your content more web and user-friendly.

Your next stop: the Social Web

2010-06-25T17:40:18Z

You’re traveling through another dimension — a dimension not only of sight and sound, but of mind. A journey into a wondrous land whose boundaries are that of imagination. That’s a signpost up ahead. Your next stop: the Twilight Zone!

One could easily replace “the Twilight Zone” with “the social Web” and you’d have a good idea of the seemingly limitless possibilities of today’s hyper-connected world. I doubt Rod Serling had this in mind, but it certainly fits.

As I discussed in my last post, social media can be a powerful tool for connecting to your audience. And, as more ISU Extension staff want to use this, more questions continue to come into the Communications and External Relations (CER) team as to how, exactly, to get started.

Truth is, statistically speaking, you are likely already participating in this form of communication — you’ve already made that first step. Maybe you don’t tweet or check-in, but more than 125 million of you already have a Facebook account. Then there’s the 83.5 % of Internet users that view online video and helped YouTube surpass 2 billion views daily. Or, maybe you’ve read a blog, commented on a news article or browsed a discussion forum.

While being a user of social media and using it to promote ISU Extension are definitely two different worlds, it helps to be an active user just to understand the platforms and what you can do. I can’t stress this enough: participation is key. Be a participant of social media outside of your role with ISU Extension and over time you’ll gain a much better understanding, and some new ideas.

But for your role with ISU Extension, I am here to assist you with your social media communication efforts. I’ve recorded what will be the first in a series of social media presentations covering a wide range of topics. To kick things off, my presentation “Introduction to the Social Web” starts with the basics, discussing what social media is, why it is important, what the platforms behind it are, and how ISU Extension is already using it. My goal is to help you generate interest in using social media, help you get your toes wet, and generate ideas for how you can utilize it for your communications and outreach efforts.

As you dig deeper into the world of social media, check this blog often for more topics, ideas, best practices, etc. Also, feel free to contact me with questions and let me know what you are still scratching your head about and would like to see covered.

–Chris

ISU Extension social media resources:

“Introduction to the Social Web” presentation
“Social Media Communications Plan” — documents how the CER team is currently using social media
“Social Media Policy” — helps to guide your communications in the social media realm

Writing the Future in My Swagger Wagon

2010-06-07T20:27:46Z

It’s nearly impossible to navigate today’s media without running into “social media.” Facebook, Twitter and YouTube are all household terms and even old industry giants are accepting and normalizing these new communication lines.

Social media can be a powerful marketing, research, education and communication tool. It turns old advertising and marketing techniques into new, interactive campaigns. Take for example two of my favorite recent viral videos. It used to be that people avoided advertising. But with the Internet and social media, people not only seek out these campaigns, but share them with friends and talk about them. Word-of-mouth marketing at its best.

Toyota Swagger Wagon

Nike’s “Write the Future”

But, if you have not dug deeper than playing FarmVille on Facebook, figuring how to use these exciting mediums can be a daunting task, especially with multiple platforms to navigate and a unique culture that has written its own rules on how, when and why to do it.

That’s where I come in. As a member of the Communications and External Relations team, I manage ISU Extension’s social media efforts. I am also here as a resource to help people navigate the world of social media and figure out what works best and how to do it.

I’ll be posting here regularly, as well as creating presentations and guides to help you launch and manage your social media efforts. I am also actively updating ISU Extension’s efforts and will be helping integrate content into those.

As I roll out new resources, I’ll post about them. In the meantime, if you have questions or concerns, or suggestions for topics you’d like to see covered, please contact me:

Christopher Weishaar
515-294-1327
cweishaa@iastate.edu

–Chris

No spaces on the Web

2010-03-04T17:30:44Z

I have run across numerous files on our server where the authors have included spaces in the names.

Newer browsers will usually fix the issue by adding %20 in the place of a space, because they are smart enough to compensate for our mistakes. We do have staff and clients that are still using older browsers, though and they will get an error when trying to view your files.

These files: Word, images, HTML, zip, pdfs and any other files that will have links referred to on the Web should not include spaces. This is a rule of thumb that is tried and true.

Some naming conventions that work:

name_name.html
nameName.html
name-Name.html

Numbers are also acceptable in names.

So when you’re creating files from now on, it’s a good idea to follow the above naming conventions in order to keep a clean house. If you have files that have been created in the past with spaces, you should try to clean these up. Remember: you will need to change the links on any pages that refer to these files.

If you have any questions about this or need help, feel free to comment below or contact me directly: latosca@iastate.edu.

Training for Email Campaign Software

2010-03-02T15:03:17Z

One way to lower costs while maintaining effective communication and marketing efforts is to build your campaign around email messages. Not only will you save on the cost of postage and paper, but you will be able to reach clients faster and more efficiently.

There have been several requests from extension External Relations Specialists as well as REEDs, counties and campus staff for options to create and mail newsletters, e-blasts, invitations and holiday cards. Well, the solution CER has decided to support is the Gammadyne Mailer.

Using Gammadyne is affordable and easy. The package costs about $160 for the full version and there are some educational discounts that apply. This price includes three licenses so you are able to download the tool on three seperate computers. Gammadyne Mailer requires an Internet connection and Windows® 95, 98, NT4, 2000, ME, XP, 2003, Vista, 2008, or 7.

Gammadyne also allows you to deliver beautiful, full-color pieces like any web pages right to your clients’ email accounts.

In order to keep Iowa State University Extension branding consistent, CER has also prepared templates for you to use. There is a county newsletter template. The banner is customizable with the use of Adobe Fireworks or by contacting La Tosca Goodwin in CER. There is also a new template for the ERs to use for new video announcements along with REED templates for regional updates on the new email templates page.

Watch this short tutorial on using the software to get started (you can also follow along with the guide). There is a free trial version of the software you can download at http://www.gammadyne.com/mmail.htm#download in order to test drive it before you purchase.

Why the Web?

2010-03-02T15:04:32Z

In our organization we are looking to improve our efforts on the web in various program areas. Managing Tough Times is an attempt to start giving our clients information over the web–better with more relevancy.

So why the concentration on the web? We have relationships built where face-to-face is a staple in our communications with our clients.

It’s all about making information available.

We use the web to distribute information in a medium that can deliver your content to anyone, anywhere with the means to make that communication a relationship. This can all occur without physical interaction. I can view your content, interact with it—fill it out, mail it, read it, digest it, comment on it, watch it, listen to it, laugh with it, cry with it, return to it, relate to it.

We can hold virtual conversations with anyone at anytime about anything—literally.

Are we using the web for what it was intended?—not just putting flat print on the internet, but to link to the world. Using hypertext as our virtual passport, we can see the world, experience it in living color—its languages, traditions, customs and ideas.

The web gives us the capacity to foster relationships that are lasting and built on commonalities, or to have those that would otherwise lack enough substance for endurance in traditional relationships. In some cases, we can build communities, yet we are still free in others to glean without commitment.

Think of the possibilities.

There are actually quite a few possibilities and even more options for these possibilities.

That brings me to distributing this content well. How well do we do this? Are we using the web or are we giving our users word docs in hypertext? A lot of people can make web pages, but a lot of them shouldn’t. This is true of any profession.

Also, a web site is an organism of sorts. It should live and change as your audiences do. You’re not done when you put these pages on the web.

So then we are at this place. We are either building a new web site or rebuilding what we have. Where do we start?

We start with the content.

What do you have, what do you know? What can you share?

Audience

Then you start with who do you know that wants what you have, wants to know what you know and wants to share in it with you. These are your audiences.

Functionality

Don’t put bells and whistles on your site because you can. Research how these audiences want to receive what you have, what you know. How do they want to share in it with you? This is the way your site should function.

The best place to start is with your own personal experiences with content.

How do you like to receive information?
When you are searching for something on the web what are you looking for, where do you go, what do you expect when you get there.
And, then you go see who gives it to you the way you want it. Jot down these sites and what it is they’ve done that gave you the experience you were wanting.
Then, explore how content is presented. Be your first test subject.
Next, go from experience with your audiences.
Last, test your actual audience.

This quote sums it up nicely, “The web is content. The rest is window-dressing. You know something, made something, or have done something that no one else can do quite the same way. Share it. Put it on your web page.” CJ Silverio.

I’d add to that, though. Even if it is not your idea originally and it’s a good one, share it. But, remember to always give credit where credit is due. The best way to do this is to crosslink the information instead of re-doing it.

I’ll end with this quote to illustrate how people use the web today with social media and Web 2.0:

“We should not strive to make of them mere consumers of information, rather, the true power of the technology lies in their power to produce, to communicate through the internet with other folks. People don’t want to be spoon fed, even if they can choose the spoon. They want to talk to each other.” Justin Hall.

–La Tosca Goodwin, Web Content Coordinator (CER)

You told us times were tough across Iowa

2009-04-14T14:34:06Z

That you needed a collection of resources to help citizens.
That you needed a way to promote extension’s accumulated resources.

The collection of research and information is at www.extension.iastate.edu/answers.

And the resources to promote that site are in the communications tool kit in the ‘for staff’ section of the ISU Extension webpages. www.extension.iastate.edu/forstaff/staffprogram/toughtimes.htm.

‘Managing Tough Times’ has information for families, businesses and farmers in these difficult economic times. You know the hot buttons and issues in your communities so select the pieces and highlight the information that works best for your area at any particular time.

If you want or need assistance on how to use these items, contact your external relations specialist. We’re counting on you to help spread the word about ISU Extension’s newest Web site, Managing Tough Times.

–Your Extension External Relations Specialists
Julie Hlas, Northwest Iowa
Clark BreDahl, Southwest Iowa
Natasha Forsythe, Central Iowa
Jolene McCoy, Central Iowa
Judy Isaacson, Northeast Iowa
Amber Bisinger, Southeast Iowa