The art and science of higher ed blogging

Andrew CareagaDirector of Communications

Missouri University of Science and Technology

Rolla, MissouriSummer Seminar Pre-conference Workshop: The Art & Science of Social Media Marketing in Higher Education | June 8,

2011Photo by Andy Piper via Flickr (www.flickr.com/photos/andypiper/341429556)

Blogs @ Missouri S&T

More blogs@ Missouri S&T

www.mst.edulinks to blog posts

Image via Anna Vignet, www.flickr.com/photos/annnna/2228189828/

1. To humanize your institution

Image via www.chilloutpoint.com/featured/human-and-robots-visions-of-the-future.html

Communicating in a human voice adds a sense of personal and sociable human contact to the interaction with the public.

… [P]erceived conversational human voice may promote trust, satisfaction, and commitment in relationships between an organization and the public, which in turn results in favorable behavioral intentions toward an organization.

Hyojung ParkMissouri School of Journalism

Source: MU News Bureau, “Use of Human Voice in Social Media Can Help Organizations Build Relationships,” May 18, 2011.

2. To facilitate conversations

3. To extend your reach

Image via msspider66 www.flickr.com/photos/msspider66/44397492/

4. To put yourself in control

Image via Ben McLeod www.flickr.com/photos/benmcleod/523653908/

10 steps to successful blogging

1. Evaluate how blogging fits with your overall communications strategy.

2. Find your niche. Blogging should complement what you already do well.

3. Fully commit to blogging.4. Plan your blogging effort. Include goals

and measurement.5. Follow through on your plan.

6. Empower your bloggers to blog freely.7. Be responsive to comments – quickly.8. Maximize your reach by leveraging

other social media.9. Promote your blogging efforts the old-

fashioned way.10.Evaluate your efforts – again and again.

10 steps to successful blogging