E-CardsE-CardsUsing a thoughtful tool to Using a thoughtful tool to

communicate with current & communicate with current & future studentsfuture students

IntroductionsIntroductions Thomas MarroneThomas Marrone

– Manager of Web Design & SupportManager of Web Design & Support

Lenell HahnLenell Hahn– Assistant Director of Admissions for Assistant Director of Admissions for

Operations & CommunicationsOperations & Communications

About SoutheastAbout Southeast Southeast Missouri State University, Southeast Missouri State University,

located in Cape Girardeau, MOlocated in Cape Girardeau, MO Type: Comprehensive Public UniversityType: Comprehensive Public University Founded: 1873Founded: 1873 Beginning Freshman: 1,848Beginning Freshman: 1,848 Total Enrollment: 10,814Total Enrollment: 10,814 Average Class Size: 25-30 Average Class Size: 25-30 Student to Faculty Ratio: 18 to 1Student to Faculty Ratio: 18 to 1 Academic Areas of Study: 200 Academic Areas of Study: 200 Student Organizations: 120Student Organizations: 120

E-Cards? Really?E-Cards? Really? Might seem “kitschy” or “been Might seem “kitschy” or “been

done”…done”… ……but it really is the thought that but it really is the thought that

counts.counts. Attention to quality and detail can Attention to quality and detail can

promote your brand and elevate your promote your brand and elevate your E-cards from “quaint” to “cool.”E-cards from “quaint” to “cool.”

Our E-Cards for the PublicOur E-Cards for the Public We have designs publicly available for:We have designs publicly available for:

– Major holidaysMajor holidays– University-related occasionsUniversity-related occasions

Move-inMove-in Sporting eventsSporting events CommencementCommencement

– General greetingsGeneral greetings BirthdaysBirthdays Get well soonGet well soon Just saying “hi”Just saying “hi” Thank youThank you

Design TipsDesign Tips Aim for high quality design.Aim for high quality design.

– No web designers? Ask publication designers for No web designers? Ask publication designers for help.help.

– Or, hire art students or talk to a professor about Or, hire art students or talk to a professor about making it a class project.making it a class project.

Go beyond the postcard.Go beyond the postcard.– Cards should have personality, not just campus Cards should have personality, not just campus

photosphotos– Should be branded for the universityShould be branded for the university– Featuring the occasion/purpose of the card is the Featuring the occasion/purpose of the card is the

highest priority. Work brand into that context.highest priority. Work brand into that context.

Some ExamplesSome Examples

Variety of DesignsVariety of Designs

Promote!Promote! Make sure people know they’re available by Make sure people know they’re available by

stealing some space on your landing pages stealing some space on your landing pages every now and then.every now and then.

Recent StatisticsRecent Statistics

E-Cards for AdmissionsE-Cards for Admissions Personalized “Greeting” cards from Personalized “Greeting” cards from

each of our counselors.each of our counselors. Card to inform students of upcoming Card to inform students of upcoming

events:events:– Upcoming High School visit by CounselorUpcoming High School visit by Counselor– Freshmen OrientationFreshmen Orientation– High School Guidance Counselor trainingHigh School Guidance Counselor training

Card congratulating H.S. GraduationCard congratulating H.S. Graduation

Admissions E-CardsAdmissions E-Cards

FeedbackFeedback E-mail notification list the sender’s address in E-mail notification list the sender’s address in

the “from” field, so students reply directly to the “from” field, so students reply directly to the counselor.the counselor.

Student replies:Student replies:– ““Aww thank you! I am very excited about starting Aww thank you! I am very excited about starting

in the fall! I can't wait!”in the fall! I can't wait!”– ““Ms. Hahn, Thank you for the card. It was so Ms. Hahn, Thank you for the card. It was so

cute!”cute!”– ““Hi Alisa! Are you the admissions counselor taking Hi Alisa! Are you the admissions counselor taking

over for Mandi? Thanks for the card! Can't wait to over for Mandi? Thanks for the card! Can't wait to meet you when I come down in less than a month! meet you when I come down in less than a month! So excited!”So excited!”

– ““Thanks a lot for the birthday card. I really Thanks a lot for the birthday card. I really appreciate it!”appreciate it!”

Our SoftwareOur Software Greetingcard ProGreetingcard Pro

– Cards posted on automatically generated Web pagesCards posted on automatically generated Web pages– Cards separated by categoriesCards separated by categories– E-mails contain only link to imageE-mails contain only link to image– Allows HTML formatting of:Allows HTML formatting of:

E-mail sentE-mail sent Card, category pagesCard, category pages

– Can imbed JPG, PNG, GIF, or Flash SWFCan imbed JPG, PNG, GIF, or Flash SWF– Supports MIDI music filesSupports MIDI music files– Saves all messages sent in a database for reviewSaves all messages sent in a database for review– Tracks statistics of cards sent and e-mails sending themTracks statistics of cards sent and e-mails sending them– Runs on Windows server (not Linux)Runs on Windows server (not Linux)

Facebook GiftsFacebook Gifts

Facebook GiftsFacebook Gifts Can use a free Facebook app, “Gift Can use a free Facebook app, “Gift

Creator” to build University-themed Creator” to build University-themed Facebook gifts.Facebook gifts.

Facebook GiftsFacebook Gifts App helps create a new, separate App helps create a new, separate

application you name and customize application you name and customize yourself.yourself.

Facebook GiftsFacebook Gifts Facebook gifts allow access to Facebook gifts allow access to

broader, younger audience, but…broader, younger audience, but… Using third-party app will expose your Using third-party app will expose your

users to content you don’t control.users to content you don’t control. Users must install your app, having Users must install your app, having

branded gift in Facebook gift shop is branded gift in Facebook gift shop is unavailable to general public.unavailable to general public.

Can link app in institution’s Facebook Can link app in institution’s Facebook page.page.

Facebook GiftsFacebook Gifts

ResourcesResources http://redhawks.semo.edu/greetingcardprohttp://redhawks.semo.edu/greetingcardpro www.semo.eduwww.semo.edu http://http://www.slidehsare.com/semissouristatewww.slidehsare.com/semissouristate http://http://www.greetingcardpro.comwww.greetingcardpro.com// Thomas Marrone: Thomas Marrone: tmarrone@semo.edutmarrone@semo.edu Lenell Hahn: Lenell Hahn: lhahn@semo.edulhahn@semo.edu