A blog created by UMSL Marketing B.A. and MBA students.
By: Kathryn Todd
On Wednesday, January 20, social media enthusiasts from around the city gathered to hear Vernon Ross (twitter.com/rosspr) teach “Everything You Need to Know About Podcasting.” Held at Llewellyn’s Pub in Webster Groves, this free event hosted by Social Media Club St. Louis captured a vibrant crowd eager to learn the best podcasting apps, shows, and practices. Continue reading “Podcasting with Vernon Ross and SMCSTL”
We’re thrilled to announce that registration is now open for this year’s State of Digital Media Marketing Conference, a production of the University of Missouri – St. Louis, College of Business. This coming April 21, 2016 marks our 4th year and we are going to be bigger and better than ever. Here are just a few of the highlights: Continue reading “Early Bird Registration Now Open for UMSL Digital 2016 Conference”
Eickenhorst has been named a “Top 100 Twitter Influencer” for the St. Louis region according to the Evan Carmichael Influencer Index. One of her greatest honors was the Inaugural Leadership Award from Missouri Governor, Jay Nixon, in January 2014. Eickenhorst received the award for her contributions to the social media strategy for 100 Missouri Miles, which is an online movement to get Missouri residents to explore all the great outdoor attractions their state has to offer. The campaign accumulated over 1,000,000 miles utilizing #100MoMiles and the online platform.
Learn more about Danni on her social channels:
Twitter: @stldanni & @BlankPageSTL
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stldanni
Blank Page Consulting: https://www.blankpagestl.com
Online marketing education: http://www.UniversalMarketingTheory.com
By: Casey Kleekamp, UMSL MBA Student
I recently attended an UMSL Digital Marketing Seminar: “Mobile Marketing Strategy” hosted by Chris Carril. Chris works at Scottrade as a Mobile Platform Manager and after sitting through his seminar it was clear to me that he is extremely knowledgeable about his field. So I’m excited to share, with you, some information I found insightful.
Chris shared tons of material on Mobile Marketing – an overview of mobile, stages of mobile app development, emotional design, mobile payment, innovation and the death of mobile strategy, or rather, why marketers need a total marketing strategy that includes mobile, not just a mobile strategy. So much great content, but for the purpose of this blog I’m going to focus on one topic in particular that stood out for me: iOS User Interface Design (UI).
UI is the design of user interfaces for computers, iPads, mobile etc. that is meant to maximize the user’s experience. (And iOS is Apple’s mobile platform, but I think most of you knew that already!) This topic stood out for me because without good design a mobile app is useless. Good design seems like common sense and I take it for granted so to see the rigor Apple puts behind it was educational.
I chose iOS vs. Andriod’s UI because I’m an Apple user and fan. They demand clear and simple design, which is very relatable to me and my personality – I’m a little Type A.
Below I have listed Apple’s “best practices” for iOS UI in a Do’s and Don’ts format, which Apple calls “Human Interface Guidelines.” Again, seems like common sense, but as we’ve all experienced not all mobile apps have a great user experience. So read on for 10 ways to ensure good mobile app design!
1. Formatting Content: As you can see in the left image, formatting for mobile is very important. It can make or break your user’s experience. DON’T make your users scroll left or right to view or read content. Instead, make your mobile app layout fit the screen.
2. Touch Controls: DO make sure your UI elements are built for touch that is easy and natural. The example Apple uses on their site is a calendar. When asking users to select a date it’s better to build out a calendar for iOS specifically vs. using the typical calendar format from a computer screen.
3.Hit Targets: DON’T make buttons too small. Make sure controls can easily and accurately be tapped with your user’s finger. The first time!
4. Text Size: DO make your font readable. Apple requires that all text be 11font. Why would you make it any smaller – no one can read that!
5. Contrast: Speaking of be able to read the text. DO make sure there is ample contrast between your text and background colors.
6. Spacing: DO ensure the text has appropriate line height and letter spacing.
7. High Resolution: DO make images clear, not blurry. Apple lists out specific size requirements.
8. Distortion: DO ensure images are at the correct aspect ratio.
9. Organization: DO make your mobile app layout easy to read. Have the controls next to the right text.
10. Alignment: DO ensure alignment of text, images and buttons so that users know how your content is related.
For more details and Apple’s specific requirements on iOS UI Do’s and Don’ts feel free to check out their site: https://developer.apple.com/design/tips/
All in all, pretty straightforward right? So, now that you know how to build an iOS UI app that is user friendly you need to ask a few questions of your development partners to ensure the best total experience for today and for the future…
-Is your app maintainable?
-Is it scalable?
-Is it testable?
-Is it truly useable?
Finally, UMSL Digital Guru’s, I have one last question – how can we improve our UMSL Mobile Apps for the best possible user experience?
By: Casey Kleekamp, UMSL MBA Student
I recently attended an UMSL Digital Marketing Seminar: “Blogs to Buzz” hosted by Danielle Smith – A digital correspondent, host, storyteller, speaker, media trainer, vlogger and author! The seminar was not only very insightful, but totally fun and engaging! I enjoyed her style (both teaching style and fashion style – ha!) so much that I immediately started following her on Twitter and Pinterest.
Danielle shared tons of information on Blogging – the history of blogging, how marketers should be leveraging blogging, how to get started, and how to go beyond just a blog utilizing it on all social media platforms.
The takeaway from the seminar that could be applied easily and quickly to your blog and our very own UMSL Digital Mindshare Blog is Jason Calacanis’ “5 Tenets of Content Perfection.” Calacanis is an entrepreneur, blogger and keynote speaker for the digital industry worldwide (so I’d say his advice is pretty solid!).
Here are the 5 Tenets. Plus, I have included ideas on how the UMSL Digital Mindshare Blog could bring them to life.
1. Speak in Real-time: Talk about current events and show that you are “in the know.” There is so much going on in our world today and there is so much news every second of the day that UMSL Digital Students should definitely be “in the know” and most importantly, be able to connect it back to UMSL and our digital marketing program. An example shared in Danielle’s class is Evernote. On their blog they wrote about Fantasy Football. Evernote and Fantasy Football you ask? After reading the blog post, it all made sense. Evernote told their readers how to get the most out of Fantasy Football by using Evernote to stay organized.
2. Think Fact-Driven: Pretty self-explanatory.
3. Use Visuals: Blog posts with images = 94% better. Pretty simple right!? Even for this blog, since unfortunately I wasn’t able to take personal photos, I used visuals that hopefully have made reading this post a little more fun?! Danielle might have thought it a tad bit weird if I was snapping photos of her during the seminar – right?
4. Be Efficient: Resources. Let’s get smart with the important questions: Who, What, When, Where, Why, How? One thing that really stood out to me in the seminar was “micro-blogging.” I love the idea that we can create a blog and then pick “pieces” of it to share out across other social platforms. Or use “story-telling” where you can write several blogs all at once on one topic and then post one blog at a time over a period of time. Seems pretty efficient to me!
5. Curate: Discover and share the best. For UMSL, we could have someone focused on looking for fun, informational and engaging content to repurpose and connect with UMSL Digital.
After reading my own post, I realize it’s not rocket science what I’m talking about here, but it does take time to get organized and plan. I hope this was helpful and that UMSL’s Digital Blog can continue to be a source of great content for digital marketers and beyond.
And just in case I didn’t say it enough – take the Digital Marketing Class and Danielle Smith’s “Blogs to Buzz” seminar as soon as you can. You will NOT be disappointed!
All seminar course descriptions and dates are here: http://umsldigital.com/courses.
By Breanna Menendez-Phillips
Brand building is not just for businesses or corporations. Branding can also be personal – this type of branding is all about YOU. Personal marketing is not just about the way you present yourself, but also the way you behave within your networks.
Continue reading “Personal Branding Checkup”
By: Amy Cabanas
I attended the #UMSL Digital Marketing Media Conference 2015 at The University of Missouri St Louis on April 17th hosted by Professor Perry Drake. Professor Drake sure handled it and then some. When I arrived I was graciously greeted by well-informed volunteers that were able to lead me to my small swag bag and my agenda. I spent a little time walking through speaking to various companies, including people from CIC until it was time to head into my first break out session.
I choose “Marketing Yourself for That Ideal First Job” with Betsy Mack of Technology Partners. It was from 10:00am – 10:50am. I arrived at 9:30ish so my timing was perfect. As a motivated younger professional I felt this would give me an opportunity to learn more ideas on how to market myself better, and learn more about social media. 
Betsy began with introduction, then jumped right in with discussing how it is important to remember to always be open so that you create strong partnerships which you develop over time. Also by doing this you create your own personal brand with many different aspects and let them evolve as you do. Also, that I should remember that I am an extension of my brand in which I want to represent for when I land my first ideal job.
Speaking of landing that job, she also helped with some etiquette. The follow up is always key on social media sites like LinkedIn. Be authentic and don’t post inappropriate content. Package yourself fully. Betsy also mentioned to not have two version of you, so be real. Networking is key and the need to be uncomfortable means to be successful as well. Go at it alone or with one person. Always follow up and even think about a handwritten letter. Betsy also said to never forget you elevator pitch and I would have never thought to be ready at any time as an important aspect of networking. She also mentioned to remember your audience, as well as, keeping it to a minimum.
Finally, what I took out of this sessions was her checklist:
1. Create a Strong Brand
2. Networking
3. Introduce yourself
4. Connect
5. Follow up, (Twice)
This portion was the most helpful for me, due to this content can be used in all the aspects of looking for a job and even after I land that job. Great speaker if you get the chance to see her, take it, well worth my time.
And then there was Chris Brogan…I was present for his 11:30am keynote speech. He is well known for being an authority on owning your game and boy did he make me feel like, he at least, owns his. Extremely engaging speaker, he had my attention right from the beginning and kept it the entire time. I can honestly say I took less notes and Tweeted less because I was so engaged that at times I almost forgot about my phone, WHAT forgot about my phone, yes! That’s how good he is, Chris went through a brief introduction, of what led him here and why he does what he does, so well might I add. One tag line that did stand out during his 50 mins was, “if we can buy from anyone, why should we buy from you?”
This is a key concept a lot of managers, not just marketing and media manager, need to consider. Another huge light bulb for me was “make your buyer the hero”, great advice to have especially on the sales side. All in all, like I mentioned above, Chris was so engaging and his ability to be such a great speaker was outstanding. This is something I struggle with from time to time, so I paid attention to his movements and how he handled himself on stage. His timing was key and not standing still, made the audience feel more relaxed or at least I did. No surprise he is a successful CEO of Owner Media Group. Oh and then there is the fact that it was just nice to hear an East Coast accent. #homesick
Probably one of my most favorite conferences I’ve been to in over a year!
Can’t believe it has already been a week since the UMSL Digital Conference! There were so many great sessions with so many amazing speakers at this year’s State of Digital Media Marketing Conference, but because there were so many options you couldn’t see every session. Continue reading “Best of the #UMSLDigital Conference”