Fusework Studios Launches Web Site for IU Kokomo

Thursday, January 21, 2010 by Nellie Stout

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.
 

Indiana Video Production is not dead

Tuesday, January 12, 2010 by Laurie Buschmann
Indiana Video Production - Take Action!Indiana video production is alive and well, and there are many production houses in central Indiana that do a fine job at it.

In this age of social media marketing, business blogging and email newsletters, it's important to remember the viability of video in your Internet marketing efforts. 

You've heard it before, "Video tells a story."  But more than that, it's a necessary tool that can impact your bottom line in a variety of ways.  Through visuals and sound, your customers can:
  • Learn more about your business (history, products, process, etc.)
  • Hear testimonials from your customers about how great your product/service is
  • See step-by step how your product works, so customers will buy it themselves
  • Follow how-to instructions for accomplishing a certain task
  • Be inspired and empowered to donate to your cause
  • Be entertained by a different type of advertising
  • Advertise for you by sharing your video across their social media networks
  • And the list goes on....
Doing video is a no-brainer, so let us show you how easy it can be. Just think of all that content that's just waiting to be put out into the world.

Add video production to your web based strategy for 2010, and contact Fusework Studios today to get started.

New Indiana Video Production Tools for Nonprofits from YouTube

Friday, November 20, 2009 by Kevin Hood
Online video is just in the infancy stages of tracking analytics and encouraging conversion, but YouTube just took the progress a step further with the addition of their new video tools for nonprofit organizations. Fusework Studios has probably done more Indiana video production work for nonprofits than any other corporate video production agency in the State of Indiana. Nearly all of our nonprofit clients want to share those videos on their website, so even little steps towards improving engagement, conversions and donations are a big deal to us.

YouTube has a nonprofits division that has been introducing extra features just for not-for-profit organizations. If you are a 503C you can sign up for the YouTube Nonprofit Video service here. The first new tool may not seem life changing for your nonprofit organization, but if you have ever been stuck with a stupid expression on your face (as the thumbnail for a video), you should be interested. Instead of only being able to use select screen shots that YouTube picks for you, you can now upload your own image to use as the video thumbnail. No more half closed eyes, awkward title screens or goofy smiles!

The second YouTube video tool is what inspired this blog post for nonprofit Indiana video production. YouTube recently announced annotation tools for all YouTube users. You can display notes and pop-ups anywhere in a video. Fortunately for our Indiana nonprofit clients, they also have the ability to link to specific URLs outside of YouTube! This is huge for videos that could link to landing pages, donation pages and event pages for optimal conversion. Now you can link a "donate now" graphic at the end of your video to the donation page on your website. If you would like to update your current online videos to increase conversion, or produce a new on-line video for your Indiana nonprofit organization . . . we're up on the latest technology to allow you to do just that.


Corporate Video Production Techniques Have Changed

Friday, November 13, 2009 by Laurie Buschmann

Fusework Studios' Tips for Corporate Video ProductionCorporate 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.