Blogs and Chats: Catch the Wave 2'0

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Blogs and ChatsCatch the Wave 2.0

• Dan Crouch, Web Services Manager, Enrollment
  Management, Oregon State University
• Blake Vawter, Associate Director of Admissions,
  Marketing and Communications, Oregon State
  University

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Who are we?

• Oregon State University is a comprehensive,
  public, research-extensive university
• 19,000 students
• 12 academic colleges
• Located in Corvallis, OR

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History of the Internet

• Pages that are connected with links
• Pages get fancy
• Flash
• Proprietary browser requirements
• Everyones got one, the search revolution
• Everyones got one, whos got the best
  information Communities of Experts or Why Blogs
  are Popular?

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History of Blogs

• Where did the term come from?
• Weblogs, journals
• Paul Bausch (http//www.onfocus.com)
• in Corvallis, home of the Beavs!
• Personal blogs (http//oregonstate.edu/crouchd/bl
  ogger.html)
• Business blogs (http//fastlane.gmblogs.com/)

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Intro to Business Blogs

• Target an audience
• Carefully choose authors!
• Be mindful of legal implications
• Opinion

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Technology Requirements

• Blogging tool summary
• Web hosting options
• Server requirements
• The more integrated, the more complicated
• But templates are provided

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Technology Features

• Compliant and 504 Accessible Coding
• XML based .rss feed included
• Easy file and image uploading
• WYSIWYG editor (e.g. Microsoft Word)
• Database driven

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Benefits Search Friendly!

• Google Loves Blogs
• GET TO KNOW SEO (Search Engine Optimization)
  http//blog.eduinsight.com/
• Compliant, Accessible, and .css coded
• Targeted Messages

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Benefits Mini Content Management System

• Self Managed
• No HTML skills required
• Each entry can be categorized
• Unique URLs
• Everything is customizable through the interface
• Appearance is .css based allowing site wide
  changes

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Benefits The Web 2.0 tool you can implement
yourself

• .rss feeds come standard!
• Feedreader example
• OSU Admissions ticker
• .rss feed example
• Advanced use requires some coding

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Benefits Its all about Community and Content!

• Reach diverse audiences
• Web page, rss feed, email notification
• Comments
• Ability for the audience to actively participate
  with the author
• A successful blog is one with many comments!
• Targeted messaging
• Timely announcements
• Marketing campaigns
• News outlet
• Personal face on business
• The behinds the scenes inside access
• New Communication Channel

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Examples of Use

• Authoring styles
• Student blogs http//oregonstate.edu/uhds/prospe
  ctive_students/blog.php
• http//bamalog.ua.edu/
• Newsletter style http//oregonstate.edu/admissions
  /blog
• Upper Management http//www.presidentcaret.org/
• Useful links/pointers

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Examples of Use

• Blogs in Higher Education (google search
  examples)
• Harvard Law/Wharton School of Business
• University of Alabama http//bamalog.ua.edu/
• Furman University http//www.engagefurman.com/Vie
  wJournal.asp?ID129FirstNameRachael
• Seattle University http//www.seattleu.edu/http
  //community.seattleu.edu/blogs/Bloggers.aspx?Grou
  pID3

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Best Practices

• Actively use SEO
• Descriptive anchor tags
• Encapsulate content with meaningful headers
• Keyword integration
• Analytics analysis
• What are people reading
• What are people coming back to
• Trackbacks, pingbacks, auto-link exchange
• What search terms are people using to find your
  pages
• Live examples

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Live Blogging Example

• http//oregonstate.edu/admissions/blog

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Other 2.0 Tools

• Intelligent forms Web Applications
• Wikis
• Podcasting vidcasting
• Coding for everyone on any device
• Integrated chat clients

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Special Thank Yous

• Eric Stoller, Graduate Student Extraordinaire
• Marketing and Publications
• Anvil Media http//www.anvilmediainc.com
• AACRAO Conf. Presentations Cmte

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• To download a copy of this presentation and to
  hear a podcast (MP3) of our conversation today,
  go to
• http//oregonstate.edu/admissions/blog