Higher Voltage

Ep24. Iterative Web Design Like a Maverick - Jason Buzzell - University of Nebraska Omaha

Ahh, the website. At once an essential element of your marketing strategy and a massive resource hog. Jason Buzzell, Director of Digital Communications at the University of Nebraska Omaha, knows the conundrum well. Five years ago, he was tasked with updating a website that desperately needed an upgrade. But at an organization that prides itself on lean operations, devoting resources to a full-blown redesign wasn’t an option. His solution: iterative web design. In this episode, Buzzell shares how the University of Nebraska Omaha redesigned their website using a phased approach, how his team prioritizes projects, the key to avoiding a Frankenstein website, and the “next big thing” that might require a change in their approach.

Ep23. The Business of Social Platforms - Matt Hames

You know your way around Facebook, Linkedin, and Google. But are you using their business platforms to their full potential? In this episode of the Hashtag Higher Ed podcast, higher ed marketer extraordinaire Matt Hames joins the show to talk about the business platforms offered by Google, Facebook, and Linkedin and why your institution should be using them. We also discuss Google’s new product announcement, and why it’s a game changer for higher education searches.

Ep22. Becoming a Content Counselor - Michael Powers - IUP

On campuses across the country, content strategists and creators are sharing new and exciting ways to communicate with key online constituents. And yet, those ideas often fall on deaf ears when working with internal campus stakeholders, who just want to do the same thing they've done for the past 10 years. Why won't they listen to you? In this episode of the Hashtag Higher Ed Podcast, Michael Powers, Executive Director of Marketing and Communications at Indiana University of Pennsylvania, shares the value in moving from a conformance mindset to a collaboration mindset, turning client relationships into real collaborations.

[Rebroadcast] Start Storytelling like Notre Dame

Andy Fuller, Director of Strategic Content, and Liz Harter, Social Media Manager, join the Hashtag Higher Ed Podcast to discuss Stories at Notre Dame, a strategic storytelling endeavor that shares long-form content through a variety of mediums, raising awareness for the lesser-known aspects of a University famous for faith and football.

Ep21. Rethinking What Matters in a Website Redesign - Mike Petroff - Harvard University

Is your next website redesign project about new features and functionality? Or is it more about an internal culture shift in how and why you create content? In this episode of the Hashtag Higher Ed podcast, Harvard University Director of Content Strategy Mike Petroff shares insights behind the decision to redesign Harvard’s digital newsroom, the Harvard Gazette. We also discuss the challenges of scaling 1:1 communication in light of Facebook’s recent algorithm adjustment, choosing the right metrics for reporting and analytics, and the surprising new way Harvard is planning to make their content discoverable.

Ep20. Bringing Levity to the College Search Process - Rick Clark - Georgia Tech

What does airport security have to do with application requirements? What can prospective college students and their parents learn from head lice? For Georgia Tech’s Director of Undergraduate Admissions, Rick Clark, blogging has been a consistent part of his job since 2015, and each week is a new opportunity to use personal anecdotes to share valuable insights into the college admissions process. In this episode of the Hashtag Higher Ed Podcast, Clark joins the show to share stories behind some of his best posts, the surprising activity that helps him conjure up fresh topic ideas, and the altruistic nature of blogging.

Ep19. The Internet is Iterative - Amanda Costello - University of Minnesota

If you work on the web for your institution, you've undoubtedly fielded a request to "put this on the website" or been asked "when the website will be done." In this episode of the Hashtag Higher Ed Podcast, Amanda Costello, Lead Content Strategist and Editor at the University of Minnesota College of Education and Human Development, stops by to share how she views the role of a content strategist, reveals her best advice for working with stakeholders on publishing requests, and discusses why the perception of the website as a product is so rampant in higher education.

Ep18. This is Fierce - Melissa Richards, Janika Carey - Sweet Briar College

In 2015, Sweet Briar College was on the brink. In March, its board of directors announced that the school would close its doors in August, citing overarching and insurmountable challenges. But the college's alumnae famously saved the school, and in the time since, Sweet Briar has roared back to life. In this episode of the Hashtag Higher Ed podcast, Vice President for Communications and Enrollment Management Melissa Richards and Assistant Director for Content Strategy Janika Carey join the show to discuss Sweet Briar's new brand, the benefits and challenges of communicating with a female-only audience, and the role their admissions blog plays in attracting prospective students.