Original article by Indiana University Kokomo: http://www.iuk.edu/news/?naid=19&ncid=.

Kokomo, Ind. - Indiana University Kokomo has launched a new and improved Web site, www.iuk.edu, featuring easier navigation, online video, vibrant flash images, and socia media integration.

"The new site will allow us to share IU Kokomo in a more engaging and dynamic way. It brings with it a content management system that allows us to better manage updates and changes, as well as the ability to implement analytics that measure site usage and give us the tools to make constant improvements that better serve our users," said Katrina Janes, director of the Office of Communications and Marketing at IU Kokomo. "The redesign and launch of a new university Web site is a huge undertaking, and we are very excited to unveil this new Web presence to the students, campus and community that we serve."

The site, developed by Indianapolis-based Fusework Studios, provides easier navigation for the user, improved search functions, and a consistent look, design, and feel. The first step in the redesign was an audit of the old Web site that included an evaluation of its strengths and weaknesses. This evaluation enforced the need for IU Kokomo to clearly indentify and match target audiences with specific marketing objectives, as well as the need to transform the site from a static information source to a dynamic and engaging marketing tool.

This direction is supported by a recent TeensTALK®survey of high school sophomores which found that 74 percent of the respondents conducted general college research on the Web, and 67 percent visited a specific college Web site. It is clear that higher education institutions are positioning their Web sites as a primary marketing tool and relying more on electronic communication tools. The average Web user today is highly skilled and able to communicate through many technological formats, from text messaging to IM to Twitter. This is particularly true for prospective and current college students.

"This was a huge project and encompassed two years from vendor selection to launch. Every unit on campus participated," said Paul Nowak, vice chancellor for external relations. "A special recognition is due to our marketing and IT departments, and especially Rudy Kizer, our campus Web manager, and Katrina Janes."

Indiana University Kokomo serves a seven county, primary service area in north central Indiana. The campus offers more than 40 academic programs including four graduate degrees.
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Fusework Studios provides service in Business Blogging, IT Services, SEO Indianapolis, Indiana Website Design, Indiana Website Development, Web Based Strategy, Social Media Marketing, Indiana Video Production, Email Marketing Strategy, Corporate Blog, Internet Marketing Indianapolis, and much more.
 

Corporate video production techniques have changed.  Let's face it.  Businesses are no longer hiring production companies to produce the token "Eight to Ten Minute Corporate Video."

In this new digital age of Internet marketing and fast-paced "get in and get out" media delivery, corporate video production is being looked at in a very different way.

Don't get me wrong, corporate video production is still VERY important to a company's marketing strategy, but now, media can be delivered in a whole new way.

Here are some pointers to remember when looking in to what makes a good corporate video.

1. Cut, cut, cut.
To be a good (aka successful) corporate video, we're looking at no more than three minutes of total running time.  And recently, the trend has been even shorter.

2. Conversion is key.
The old standby has always been to have a closing billboard or graphic on your video that includes your business' website address and phone number, but that doesn't help determine how successful your corporate video was for you. 

Now, you have got to put in some sort of point of conversion. In other words, the video should end with "Go to our website, and sign up for our seminar, using our VID3O discount code." This is completely measurable and will definitely let you in on how many people saw your video AND then were compelled to do something -- which is the whole point of creating the video in the first place.

3. Take advantage of the medium.
Video is still a viable marketing tool because it does something that print, stills and websites cannot do.  It brings images and graphics to life through animation and image movement.  Wouldn't you appreciate a client testimonial much more if you saw and heard a person delivering kind words instead of just reading those same words on a page? The impact of Audio/Visual is still very good.

If you're looking for an Indiana video production company to produce a corporate video, make sure this company is discussing these three points with you.  This will ensure that your corporate video strategy is "in sync" with the rest of your marketing objectives.
 

1. Set a schedule to blog. Or, if you're not a fan of structure, promise yourself you will write a certain number of blogs every week. We have blogging lunches which helps increase our business blogging. 
    
2. Take notes with blogging ideas. Not a day goes by that don't I come up with some good idea for a blog post, but I don't always write them down. Carry a notepad, use your phone or create a draft blog post with your idea. Just write the title and a sentence or two. Then, come back to turn it into a real blog post. If you know you have ideas ready to develop, it can motivate you to finish them and end up with more frequent blog posts.
    
3. Turn your emails into business blogs. There are those projects, those quotes, those conversations where you spent hours selling why you are the best. You worked hard, it sounded good and hopefully got you the sale. Use that content in a blog post, just copy and paste! Don't feel like blogging? Find an email!
    
4. Blog about another blog post. Giving links to another website with a similar topic can be good for your search engine optimization. Quote a paragraph of theirs and then give a paragraph of your own thoughts. Easy peasy!
    
5. Embed a Youtube video and then comment about it. The video can be from a competitor, a partner or a customer. Add content with keywords, make it interesting, and off you are to the blogging for search races. Yee Haw!
    
6. KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid). It doesn't have to be a thesis, or brain science, or rocket surgery ... it just has to be interesting and provide some kind of value. Don't sweat over it; maybe your next blog post will be better.
    
7. Blog about employees, corporate events, industry news. The business blogging ideas are endless.

1. Who is your target audience?
   
   Is it your current customers? Future customers? Business partners? Vendors? Employees? Knowing your target audience is paramount. The answer will drive your message.
    
2. What is your message?
   
   In the small business marketing world, a video can be a great way to introduce people to your business. Is that your message? Or do you need to be more specific about your services and/or capabilities? 
    
3. What do you want the viewers to take away from the video after watching it? What do you hope to accomplish?
   
   The answer should always be the real reason you contemplated making a video in the first place. Is it a better understanding of your business? Is it to demonstrate a new product? Is it damage control? Are you using this video as a fundraiser? See question four.
    
4. What is your call to action? 
   
   Think conversion, conversion, conversion. Complete Internet marketing includes some sort of conversion. If you introduced a new product in the video, your call to action could be to have clients purchase that product directly from your web site. If it's a basic marketing video, your call to action could be a link to a "contact us for more information" form on your web site. Now you've just acquired a qualified business lead. Bottom line, that's good web strategy.
    
5. How long do you want the video to be? 
   
   Ideally, if it's going on the web, you want it to be no longer than three minutes. If it's longer than that, people get bored. Seriously, that's the truth. This length constraint will also help you narrow the focus of your message.
    
6. Who, if anyone, would you like to profile? Who's story would you like to tell? Who's going to represent the company?
   
   Generally, people like to watch a video with a real human interest element.  In other words, give a face to it. Don't always rely on an omnipresent narrator and PowerPoint-type graphics. That being said, it's sometimes best to hire professional talent than to use this video to launch the acting career you've always wanted. But then again, maybe this video could be the perfect platform to show the "real you," and your customers just might dig it.
    
7. When would you like to launch the video on your site? Is there an event or milestone coming up at which you could reveal it?
   
   Create some buzz for the addition of the video to your site. Promote it in an e-newsletter. Tease its addition in all of your marketing efforts. This will give you the biggest bang for your advertising buck.
    
8. In what other ways do you plan to show the video?
   
   The social media community is blowing up, and you need to get on board! Put the video on your company's Facebook page. Consider making a YouTube channel and posting it there. And by all means, don't forget to tweet about it! You would absolutely be remiss if you didn't take advantage of all of the social media Internet marketing options out there.