10 higher education website mistakes to avoid
DESCRIPTION
Are your alumni still logging into a secure portal? Are your mobile visitors forced to pinch and zoom? Do your faculty biographies look like professional resumes? If you answered yes to any of these questions, your website may not be as effective as you think in achieving your admission, advancement and academic reputation goals. Prospective students and their parents are visiting your website to gain an understanding of what it is like to attend your school, evaluate programs and professors, and learn about the outcomes of the education you provide. Alumni are coming to give and get updates on what's happening since they've left. Rebecca Marani, VP of Interactive Services at Boston Interactive, will identify common mistakes of college websites. She'll teach you how to obtain actionable insights to start improving your digital presence to engage past, current and prospective students today. You will learn about: • Common mistakes to avoid on your site • How to engage key audiences with the right content, at the right time • How to improve your digital experience to better achieve your admission, advancement, and academic reputation goalsTRANSCRIPT
BIGIdea?
what’s the
admissionadvancementAcademic Reputation
Ad
Av
Ar
The Journey
prospective student current student alumni
institutional Objectives
strategy
user goals+
10mistakes
+1
hide
seek
#1
and go
Simple & intuitive
example
Builds
engagement
through
interaction
Simple & intuitive
Program
finder
Multiple
paths to
programs
Multiple
paths to
programs
Multiple
paths to
programs
Proactively
presents
program
options
Better
placement?
Mega
Menu
Even Better:
Promotional
area
FooterFat
Bread
crumbs
“Smart”
Search
hello, my name is.#2hello my name is.
Enable users to
personalize
their
experience
Personalize
content
based on
user behavior
or profile
strategy.
#3
hopeis not a
Finish the
sequence
with an
action
Strong, consistent calls-to-action
Sell the visit call-to-action
Make
Prospectives
want to come
to campus
Even better: Finish video
with a strong
call-to-action
#4socialseparation.
Aggregate
social feeds
Great Branding!
Allows
users to
filter
content
#5
accessdenied.
Accessible
alumni
content
Accessible
alumni
content
Integrated
Alumni
Success
Stories
Integrated
Alumni
Success
Stories
#6
you’rehired.
In-depth
Faculty
Biography
In-depth
Faculty
Biography
Speaks to
value of
education
Even Better:
Leverage
Even better:
use video
#7
mdot mnot=
Optimal
browsing
experience
Optimal
browsing
experience
#8education
informationis about
Strong
messaging
Large
Imagery,
content
hierarchy
Strong
graphics
Interactive
elements
Storytelling
Use video
to engage
users
#9
Ring
doorbell.the
Clear
orientation,
strong
calls-to-action
Even better:
Add an
“Apply Now” Call-to-action
#10Tall,
handsome.dark&
Surface relevant
content
Present
Topical
Information
#11
It’s none ofmybusiness.
From brands
like Amazon
…And
Zappos
Smart
Marketing!
…and
Nordstrom
…and
Expedia
Even better:
add call-to-action
to register
questions thoughts funny jokes
Thanks.
Thanks.
California Lutheran University:
Champlain College:
Drew University:
Clemson University:
Bucknell University:
MCPHS:
Universidade De Coimbra:
Arizona State University:
Oregon State University:
Boston University:
University of Pennsylvania (Wharton School):
Lassonde School of Engineering:
Lancaster University:
AUCSM:
Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design:
Bentley University:
Emmanuel College:
Washington State University:
Phillips Academy Andover:
http://www.callutheran.edu/
http://www.champlain.edu/
http://www.drew.edu/
http://www.clemson.edu/
http://www.bucknell.edu/
http://www.mcphs.edu/
http://visit.uc.pt/en/about/
http://www.asu.edu/
http://oregonstate.edu/
http://www.bu.edu/
http://www.wharton.upenn.edu/
http://lassonde.yorku.ca/
http://www.lancaster.ac.uk/
http://www.aucmed.edu/
http://www.rmcad.edu/
http://www.bentley.edu/
http://www.emmanuel.edu/
http://www.wsu.edu/
http://www.andover.edu