Build Better Personas: Three Habits to Break
I had lunch recently with a professional colleague who said that he used personas heavily in the redesign of an international news site. He told me how the project team created names, faces, histories,...
View ArticleFive Essential Questions That Academic Program Pages Must Answer
What’s the state of your academic program pages? Do you have two sets of pages — one at the top level of your site that marketing owns, and one within each academic department that departmental...
View ArticlePrint is a Gift: How to Make Your Print Pieces Unforgettable
When creating materials for your institutions, it can be easy to fall back on the familiar. Perhaps you have a tried-and-true format that’s flexible enough to apply to many different projects. And that...
View ArticleTools of the Information Architecture Trade
Building a well-structured information architecture (IA) is one of the most important steps when redesigning your higher education website. Beautiful pictures and action-driving content mean nothing if...
View ArticleThe Secrets of User Testing: Part 1
mStoner uses a variety of user testing methods throughout our design process, and we’ve been doing it for 15 years. We know that testing solutions with real users before public implementation provides...
View ArticleMythbusting Admissions: The Sequel
PARTICIPATE IN NEW RESEARCH ON TEENS’ USE OF COLLEGE WEBSITES. Are you one of those people who believes that it’s valuable to find out all you can about the behavior and motivations of your target...
View ArticleGetting the Budget for a Website Redesign and New CMS
You know what you need to do. You know how you need to do it. You just don’t have the money to pay for it. Sound familiar? A website redesign project requires funds. Usually, you need a budget for...
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Free Webinar: Mythbusting Admissions
Register now for this free webinar. We know that teens are connected, that they love their devices, and that they look at our websites on their smartphones. But does that mean that they want to be...
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Free Webinar: Storytelling to Nurture Loyalty and Increase Support
Register now for this free webinar. Session Description What stories raise pride among along and inspire donors to give? Using an active support experience map as our guide, we’ll review three...
View ArticleFive Ways to Rock Your Brand Experience
Brand builders realize the need to develop their stories for audiences over time and across multiple channels. In the past two years we’ve seen publishers such as BuzzFeed and Vox Media make moves...
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Free Webinar: Visual Design for Digital Stories
Register now for this free webinar. Session Description How does strong visual design support storytelling? In this webinar, we’ll explore principles for creating visual interfaces that encourage...
View ArticleHow to Build A Creative Culture At Your Institution
More than ever, colleges and universities are looking for ways to innovate and attract the most creative workforce. The importance of creativity and design thinking is paramount for producing work that...
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Comic Books + Web Design: The Art of Storytelling
I have been a fan of Marvel Comics since I can remember. If I wasn’t watching the 90s cartoons on Fox Kids, I was reading the volumes of Spider-Man my mom bought me for my birthday. The way they use...
View ArticleIt’s Not About Print Versus Web. It’s About Reinforcing a Consistent Message.
Do conversations on your campus still revolve around print versus web? At mStoner we believe that print and web are key elements of an effective marketing strategy. First, let’s summarize the facts: We...
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Webinar Series: Google Analytics and Tag Manager for Higher Education
Learn more or register now for this webinar series. Series Description: Session #1: Google Analytics for Higher Education When: Tuesday, Aug. 16, at 2 p.m. EDT / 1 p.m. CDT This webinar will last 90...
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Free Webinar: Illustrations and Infographics for DIgital Storytelling
Register now for this free webinar. Session Description Illustrations and infographics bring digital stories to life. They can illuminate complex concepts, engage the imagination, and connect your...
View ArticleMaking Your Website Memorable
With nearly 5,000 colleges and universities in the U.S., standing out is a very real challenge. With marketing goals that likely center around increasing the institutional profile, it’s not surprising...
View ArticleSix Ways to Make Your Website Audience-First
Repeat after me: Your website is not for you. It’s not about you, your boss, your boss’s boss, your headaches, your file system, your reporting structure, your accomplishments, or your job description....
View ArticleDownload Storytelling Webinars for Education-Specific Advice
Throughout history and all over the world, people have shared stories. From tales whispered around a campfire to Hollywood blockbusters projected in 3D, storytelling has remained a commonality among...
View ArticleTeens, Video, and Your .edu Website: The Results Might Surprise You
Teens love video, right? I’ve learned that sufficient bandwidth to stream Netflix should be a constitutional right for teenagers. And if it isn’t “Stranger Things” on their screen tonight, it’s likely...
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