- June 8th: Louis Gudema, Magic Hour Communications

June 8thTwitterview with Louis Gudema Vice President of Business Development and Creative Director
Magic Hour Communications

Here’s the transcript of the whole interview:

Hi Louis! Thank you for being on this year’s Twitterview Series! #eduweb #highered

Hey, Shelley. My pleasure! #eduweb

So, Louis, let’s start with a few “formals”; what do u do at MagicHour? What is ur education background? #eduweb #highered

Magic Hour specializes in dynamic websites for schools & colleges. We work w >85 worldwide. Our services include… #eduweb 1/2

R services include strategy, design, SEO/SEM, advanced CMS, hosting, and real-time data & system integration. 2/2 #eduweb #highered

So cool! especially world wide! That’s great ... okay, let’s get started with our interview today. #eduweb #highered

BTW, I personally have worked w schools and colleges since the mid-80s, when the new tech was VCRs

. A long history. #eduweb #highered

What would you say are the top 3 strategies 4 a successful web site? #eduweb #highered

Most important factor IS the strategy - more important than design. Start w audiences & objectives: who r u serving? #eduweb 1/3

Then: what do you want the website to do for that group? How are you communicating now? What can Web do better than other media? 2/3 #eduweb

Then, in advanced sites, how to integrate other databases/systems to provide real-time access to info/data. And measure results. 3/3 #eduweb

Agreed! RT @magichourcomm: Most important factor IS the strategy - more important than design. Start w audiences & objectives. #eduweb

But WHO should be writing the strategy? Mktg? Advanc? Admissions? IT? Combo? Be part of inst. strategy? #eduweb #highered

Everyone has to be involved. Websites serve all internal & external audiences, and you need input from all. Leader… 1/2 #eduweb #highered

Leader of Web proj will vary from school2school. Ideally a communication director will lead the effort and involve all others. #eduweb

Can u recommend any HE that u believe has an excellent web strategy n thus followthru w/website? #highered #eduweb

U wanted me to keep answers short?

Varies by constituency. Ball State & Tulane have great admission blogs. Others good 4 alum.. #eduweb

What do u see as the future of using multimedia, video n virtual tours in HE? #eduweb #highered

Use will explode. Most ppl have high bandwidth, smartphones can record vid, millennials love it. One of two major directions 1/2 #eduweb

Other major trend is far more system/data integration, for real-time access. Website becomes operational hub of college #eduweb #highered

almost like Steve Jobs’ experience yesterday using the new iPhone! Too many ppl using WiFi there. #eduweb #highered

(1/2) Where should HE be using multimedia n video? besides websites? #eduweb #highered

And Twitter being overloaded

. Yes, networks need to keep up with the demand - it’ll only grow. #eduweb #highered

(2/2) blogs? email? FB? their YouTube channel? where/how else? #eduweb #highered

Absolutely: all of them. But tailor use of each to the audience/purpose. Don’t just throw something at wall hoping it’ll stick 1/2 #eduweb

FB & LinkedIn for alumni. FB, text msgs, blogs & YouTube for admissions. Millenials don’t use Twitter, etc. Tailor to aud. #eduweb #highered

(1/2) Great feedback 4 different audiences! What does an inst. do if someone else, a student? alumn? ... #eduweb #highered

(2/2) starts a FB pg n mktg/pr/comms. doesn’t know it till it’s too late? how does an inst. take “control” back? #eduweb

U can’t control; u can only participate. Web is WAY beyond control. But start/promote yr own and do a better job/make it… 1/2 #eduweb

Make yr own page, group, etc., more valuable & ppl will go there. And keep it open to criticism, conversation, etc. 2/2 #eduweb #highered

I have to admit my knowledge n skills in SEO/SEM are limited, but let’s chat about this ... what does HE need 2 know? #eduweb

That SEO/SEM are absolutely the least expensive way to get new inquiries/applicants. Should do both, and be a major… 1/2 #eduweb #highered

SEO/SEM should be major concern/focus when developing/maintaining website. Much to it, but WELL worth it 2/2 #eduweb #highered

Can u offer any tips/advice to SEO/SEM of things 2 do right? #eduweb #highered

BTW, using Google Grants, many in HE can get free sponsored links. #eduweb #highered

didn’t know about the Google Grants?! great idea for the free sponsored links #eduweb

Research keywords using Google and other tools. Look at keywords competitors use, and links to their sites. 1/2 #eduweb #highered

Build up external links to yr site (takes work!) and use keywords throughout yr valuable content. For starters 2/2 #eduweb #highered

we’ve got 10 min. left 4 today’s twitterview, 1 last ? ...Louis, how do u see web design evolving? #eduweb #highered

In a few years the Web sites of today will look as dated as an HTML site from the 90s. Over time, sites will have far more… 1/2 #eduweb

Sites moving to far more user-generated content: posts, pics, vids, etc. Both internal and from outside (Flickr, etc.) 2/2 #eduweb #highered

but how do you think that would fit with HE being more traditional? almost bricknmortar online? #eduweb #highered

Going to have to get over traditional. It’s a whole new world. MIT has posted all of their courses online… 1/2 #eduweb #highered

Berkeley has YouTube channel. Stanford posts podcasts to iTunes. Dist lrng is increasing. HE must change or die. No stopping it 2/2 #eduweb

Are all those courses transcribed? If any inst. accepts federal $, legally there should be a transcription of each, #eduweb

I don’t know about transcriptions and the fed regs, but that’s a technicality. Comm tech will continue to evolve… 1/2 #eduweb #highered

Comm tech will continue to change ever more rapidly. U r either on the freight train, or in front of it. 2/2 #eduweb #highered

w/a friend as former Asst. Sec. of Labor/Disabled, it is a law, but hardly anybody follows it n#eduweb

I know we’re at the end of our time and I want 2 thank you Louis, of Magic Hour Communications, for joining me today. #eduweb

I look forward to seeing you in late July for the 2010 eduWeb Conference in Chicago!

Thank YOU, Shelley. It was a pleasure. #eduweb

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