Category Archives: Marketing

Defining Interactive Marketing

Posted on by jesskry
1

I’ve been throwing around the words ‘interactive marketing’ lately and been met with odd looks. ‘We/You don’t do that’ is often the response. I started to wonder how many of us have changed our definition of what Interactive actually means in our marketing efforts. Am I just using the term incorrectly?

‘Interactive’ was once a term used just for web-based assets developed in flash or some other script. Now, its evolved into all that we do as conversation based communicators. Interaction is what we are requesting every time we put out a product for engagement. Blogs, social media, video are all forms of interaction with our audience. Products we hope they interact with and that leverage them to interact with each other. Is this what interactive marketing means to us and our colleagues?

Where once interactive may have described web-based applications that required users to click, they now demand that users communicate. Just as ‘marketing’ has changed, so has ‘interactive’.

How do you discuss ‘interactive’ marketing/communication efforts? Is everyone on board with this definition? If not, are you educating them?

Much Love, #HigherEd Tweeps.

Posted on by jesskry
7

My head is spinning – but in a good way. After coming back from HighEdWeb Regional at Vassar, watching the #PSEWeb conference Tweets, following #PSUWeb10 + #hesmlaw online, catching a few EduComm moments, among others, my brain is abuzz with new ideas, questions, strategies and overall #highered love.

Taking a step back, I see all the opportunities that lay before us: individually at our respective schools, and collectively as a thought leading team. In no other position have I felt the momentum and urgency to learn more, try harder, and most of all, to be humbled by the ever-changing environment and those forging ahead in it. Seeing all that we do – including the not so great moments – helps keep me sane, because I know all of you are also going through the same thing and can be a shoulder, an ear and a resource.

It’s hard to determine where to start. I find that returning from a conference or after being a part of great conversations online I want to do everything. Right now. Knowing that can’t happen makes it difficult to get going on just one thing but being able to prioritize – both what is right for the audience and what is right for the internal politics – can put the earth back under your toes.

With that in mind, I just wanted to say a thank you. To all of you for what you do, how you do it, and your ability to turn with the tide and ride it out fully. You truly make this position the best challenge and learning experience a girl could ask for. It’s the difference between just a job, and a chosen career.

Much Love.

Personal Branding: Be Yourself, Leave the Labels

Posted on by jesskry
2

Lately, I realize that I’ve been fretting a little too much about what I ‘do’ and how ‘others’ perceive me in the work place. Yes, we all should be conscious of how we come across to others, but part of that maybe should not be the label we put on ourselves.

Chris Brogan’s blog post today, “It’s Easy to Get Discouraged’, really opened that up for me. Also, I found a negative review of my old blog ‘Viraligious’ from 2 years ago. While I was wallowing, I read this post and realized that I was being my own worst enemy. A friend (thanks Devin!) on Twitter then brought to my attention that the review was actually only partially negative: it was also complimentary.

Why do we just glaze over the positive and shoot right to the negative? In my work life, I’m often introduced or referred to as ‘the one who does social media’. I started to get worried that I was getting typecast: I do other things! I started to really educate myself on SEO, analytics and other web concepts. I realized that I could be well rounded without feeling pigeon holed. That being known as someone who’s good at something doesnt mean I do other things badly.

How many times do we do this as professionals? Leave the good and run with the bad? As more and more frequently ‘personal branding’ is discussed, maybe we’re too harsh on ourselves and becoming something else. We should do our best work, be who we are and feel confident that being our best selves is who we want to be. Not a title. Not a position.