GOAL-DRIVEN WEB STRATEGY
 Implementing Technology with an Eye on ROI
Return on Investment:

       the magic number that
       will make you look like
       a golden god




Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/andyfitz
What office do you work for on campus? 

Do you consider yourself a “marketer”?

What is the difference between 


MARKETING and COMMUNICATIONS          ?
“
 Communications makes
                          ”
marketing tactics tangible
Cartoon
THE DIRTY LITTLE
  SECRET OF
WEB MARKETING
MARKETING FRAMEWORK
1.  SET STRATEGY: What are your higher level goals?
    What does success look like?

2.  PLAN TACTICS: What types of communications will
    we use to achieve our goals and how will we
    measure results? 

3.  EXECUTE COMMUNICATION: Communicate with
    your audience using planned tactics.

4.  ASSESS RESULTS: Did we achieve our goals? What
    can we do better next time?
SET STRATEGY
o  What does success look like?



o  Marketing goals should relate 
 
 
back to the business goals 
 
 
of the institution
What are “marketing goals” that can
relate back to “business goals”?

PLAN TACTICS

o  What medium is the best way to       
   
   
articulate your message? 

o  What is the strategy for the   
     
   
communication?   




o  How are you going to measure it?
TIME IS MONEY

                                                         Planning not only includes
                                                         strategy, but also infrastructure.
                                                         Will an in-house solution or an
                                                         outsourced one be more cost
                                                         effective? 




Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/8011986@N02
STEP ONE: 
                                                         Employee’s Salary
                                                         + 1/3 Salary (benefits)
                                                         ==================
                                                                   
                                                         Total Salary

                                                         STEP TWO:
                                                         Total Salary / 2080
                                                         ===============
                                                         Hourly Wage

                                                         STEP THREE: 
                                                         Hourly Wage
                                                         X Number of Staff Hours
                                                         ==================
Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/8011986@N02
                                                         Internal Cost
EXECUTE YOUR COMMUNICATIONS
ASSESS YOUR RESULTS
o  What was achieved as a direct result of the
 
communication?


o  Did that conversion result in a return? 


o  What can I do better next time?
EXAMPLE: EMAIL MARKETING
          Set up tracking for an email that is
          sent out to prospects, encouraging
          them to fill out an online
          application for admissions.
SET UP TRACKING 

Two Key Tools: 

 o  Goals

 o  URL Builder
STEP ONE: SET UP
A GOAL / FUNNEL
STEP TWO: BUILD A CAMPAIGN URL
http://www.google.com/support/googleanalytics/bin/answer.py?hl=enanswer=55578
STEP THREE: PUT THE TWO TOGETHER
STEP THREE: PUT THE TWO TOGETHER
         Goal Conversion
EXAMPLE: EMAIL MARKETING
              Figure out ROI on an email
              campaign that sent out 3,000
              emails, had 358 click throughs,
              resulting in 130 applications. The
              email took 2 hours to complete, at
              the cost of $40/hr staff time and

              $0.015/per email.
ROI CALCULATOR 
   http://www.marketingtoday.com/tools/roi_calculator.htm
DOLLARIZE EVERYTHING

             Assigning a monetary
             value to your results
             gives you a common
             denominator to
             compare costs to
             outcomes
ASSIGNING VALUE
Average Tuition Paid: $20,000/year


Conversion rate from application to enroll: 20%


20% of $20,000 is $4,000


$4,000 IS OUR “AVERAGE PROFIT PER SALE”
VALUES FOR THE CALCULATOR 

o  Number of Pieces: 3,000
o Total Program Costs:           
     
       
 
($0.015 X 3,000) + ($40 X 2) = $125
o  Response Rate: 358 clicks/3,000 = 11.93%
o  Conversion Rate: 130 apps/358 = 36.31%
o  Average Profit Per Sale: $4,000
ROI Results
SHARE YOUR SUCCESS


 o  Make it tangible

 o  Give it context

 o  Offer recommendations
BREAKING
 DOWN
 TACTICS
EMAIL MARKETING: WHAT IT’S GOOD FOR

                   ⇒  Increase online 
                     
applications
                   ⇒  Register online for an
                     
event
                   ⇒  Bring in online gifts
                   ⇒  Start a conversation
FACEBOOK ADS
FACEBOOK ADS: WHAT ARE THEY GOOD FOR?
FACEBOOK ADS: WHAT ARE THEY GOOD FOR?
FACEBOOK ADS: WHAT ARE THEY GOOD FOR?
FACEBOOK ADS: HOW YOU MEASURE ROI

 ⇒  Use a Google Analytics campaign URL

 ⇒  Set up a goal or create a unique landing page to track
   
conversion.

 ⇒  Assign a value and use the ROI     
      
   
calculator.
FACEBOOK ADS: HOW YOU MEASURE ROI

 ⇒  Number of pieces: The total number of impressions
 ⇒  Program costs: The total amount paid for the ads, plus staff
   
time. 
 ⇒  Response rate: The percent of people who clicked on the ad
 ⇒  Conversion rate: The percent of people fulfilled the call-to-
   
action
 ⇒  Average profit per sale: The value you assign to them
   
fulfilling the action
FACEBOOK ADS: HOW YOU MEASURE ROI
BLOGS
Do Something Different




http://norwich.typepad.com/fall2007
SET STRATEGY: 
   –    Keep enrolling students engaged throughout the summer, and convey important
        information them; reduce summer sugar-off. 

PLAN TACTICS:
   –    Blog format selected
   –    Coordination with admissions counselors for questions, videos and new student
        profiles
   –    Coordination with Interactive Recruitment Manger and Assistant for updating, copy
        editing and video editing. 
   –    Marketing plan created
   –    Measurement Plan created: Number of hits relative to target audience, phone call
        reduction. 

EXECUTE COMMUNICATION: 
   –    The blog launched at the beginning of June 2007 and ran through the end of August
        2007, with updates running every day as planned. It was marketed on the home
        page, the admissions main page, and in email communications.

ASSESS RESULTS:
   –    20,000 hits over three months, against a target audience of 650.
   –    Anecdotal evidence from counseling staff
SET STRATEGY: 
   –    Keep enrolling students engaged throughout the summer, and convey important
        information them; reduce summer sugar-off. 

PLAN TACTICS:
   –    Blog format selected
   –    Coordination with admissions counselors for questions, videos and new student
        profiles
   –    Coordination with Interactive Recruitment Manger and Assistant for updating, copy
        editing and video editing. 
   –    Marketing plan created
   –    Measurement Plan created: Number of hits relative to target audience, phone call
        reduction. 

EXECUTE COMMUNICATION: 
   –    The blog launched at the beginning of June 2007 and ran through the end of August
        2007, with updates running every day as planned. It was marketed on the home
        page, the admissions main page, and in email communications.

ASSESS RESULTS:
   –    20,000 hits over three months, against a target audience of 650.
   –    Anecdotal evidence from counseling staff
Updated Daily

Information the audience
wanted

It featured “people like
them”
BLOGS: WHAT ARE THEY GOOD FOR?
             ⇒  Provide authentic stories of
                
the student experience

             ⇒  An opportunity for       
               
interaction with current 
               
students

             ⇒  Make institutional 
       
                
announcements and         
                
calls-to-action

             ⇒  Gain insight into the minds
               
of your audience
BLOGS: HOW CAN YOU MEASURE ROI?

 ⇒  Conversion, if you have a call to action

 ⇒  Readers: Cost of advertising in a similar   
   
content channel

 ⇒  Comments: Cost of a focus group, if it      
   
   
provides insight

 ⇒  Anecdotal: Take it on a case-by-case basis
SOCIAL NETWORKS
Saying “We should have
a Facebook page” is not
 a marketing strategy!!!!!
The Goal: Increase quality of incoming students

       o  70% of the members who deposited were from the
        
highest admissions selectivity group

       o  Highest selectivity group jumped from 30% the
        
previous year to 37%         


http://doteduguru.com/id2947-cafe-new-paltz-a-yielding-success.html
SOCIAL NETWORKS: WHAT ARE THEY GOOD FOR?

⇒  Allowing your audience to
  
become a friend/fan/follower of
  
your institution (and then
  
converting the to 
meaningful
  
actions!)
⇒  Engaging incoming students over
  
the summer to prevent “sugar
  
off ”
⇒  Giving alumni volunteers a way to
  
interact with each       
  
other and share tips
SOCIAL NETWORKS: HOW YOU MEASURE ROI
⇒  Easy dissemination of information: What would it        
  
cost you in other mediums? What was your        
       
  
conversion rate with calls-to-action?

⇒  Ease sugar off: Did the percentage of summer sugar off go
  
down? How much value does that translate into? 

⇒  Support alumni volunteers: Where your volunteers more
  
successful as a result? What value does that translate into?
BOTTOM LINE ON MEASUREMENT

           Are you brining in more
           value to the institution
           than it is costing to
           implement your
           strategies?
KEY TAKEAWAYS
           ⇒  Start with bottom-line
             
related goals, not with 
             
the technology
           ⇒  Measure everything
           ⇒  Dollarize your results to
             
calculate ROI
           ⇒  Always ask what you can do
             
better next time
Karlyn Morissette                            www.dojo-web.com
www.karlynmorissette.com                www.fire-engine-red.com
www.doteduguru.com                     www.twitter.com/KarlynM
karlynmorissette@gmail.com   www.linkedin.com/in/karlynmorissette

Goal Driven Web Strategy Extended

  • 1.
    GOAL-DRIVEN WEB STRATEGY Implementing Technology with an Eye on ROI
  • 2.
    Return on Investment: the magic number that will make you look like a golden god Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/andyfitz
  • 3.
    What office doyou work for on campus? 

  • 4.
    Do you consideryourself a “marketer”?

  • 5.
    What is thedifference between 
 MARKETING and COMMUNICATIONS ?
  • 6.
    “ Communications makes ” marketing tactics tangible
  • 7.
  • 8.
    THE DIRTY LITTLE SECRET OF WEB MARKETING
  • 9.
    MARKETING FRAMEWORK 1.  SETSTRATEGY: What are your higher level goals? What does success look like? 2.  PLAN TACTICS: What types of communications will we use to achieve our goals and how will we measure results? 3.  EXECUTE COMMUNICATION: Communicate with your audience using planned tactics. 4.  ASSESS RESULTS: Did we achieve our goals? What can we do better next time?
  • 10.
    SET STRATEGY o  Whatdoes success look like? o  Marketing goals should relate back to the business goals of the institution
  • 11.
    What are “marketinggoals” that can relate back to “business goals”?

  • 12.
    PLAN TACTICS o  Whatmedium is the best way to articulate your message? o  What is the strategy for the communication? o  How are you going to measure it?
  • 13.
    TIME IS MONEY Planning not only includes strategy, but also infrastructure. Will an in-house solution or an outsourced one be more cost effective? Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/8011986@N02
  • 14.
    STEP ONE: Employee’s Salary + 1/3 Salary (benefits) ================== Total Salary STEP TWO: Total Salary / 2080 =============== Hourly Wage STEP THREE: Hourly Wage X Number of Staff Hours ================== Photo Credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/8011986@N02 Internal Cost
  • 15.
  • 16.
    ASSESS YOUR RESULTS o What was achieved as a direct result of the communication? o  Did that conversion result in a return? o  What can I do better next time?
  • 17.
    EXAMPLE: EMAIL MARKETING Set up tracking for an email that is sent out to prospects, encouraging them to fill out an online application for admissions.
  • 18.
    SET UP TRACKING Two Key Tools: o  Goals o  URL Builder
  • 19.
    STEP ONE: SETUP A GOAL / FUNNEL
  • 20.
    STEP TWO: BUILDA CAMPAIGN URL http://www.google.com/support/googleanalytics/bin/answer.py?hl=enanswer=55578
  • 21.
    STEP THREE: PUTTHE TWO TOGETHER
  • 22.
    STEP THREE: PUTTHE TWO TOGETHER Goal Conversion
  • 23.
    EXAMPLE: EMAIL MARKETING Figure out ROI on an email campaign that sent out 3,000 emails, had 358 click throughs, resulting in 130 applications. The email took 2 hours to complete, at the cost of $40/hr staff time and $0.015/per email.
  • 24.
    ROI CALCULATOR http://www.marketingtoday.com/tools/roi_calculator.htm
  • 25.
    DOLLARIZE EVERYTHING Assigning a monetary value to your results gives you a common denominator to compare costs to outcomes
  • 26.
    ASSIGNING VALUE Average TuitionPaid: $20,000/year Conversion rate from application to enroll: 20% 20% of $20,000 is $4,000 $4,000 IS OUR “AVERAGE PROFIT PER SALE”
  • 27.
    VALUES FOR THECALCULATOR o  Number of Pieces: 3,000 o Total Program Costs: ($0.015 X 3,000) + ($40 X 2) = $125 o  Response Rate: 358 clicks/3,000 = 11.93% o  Conversion Rate: 130 apps/358 = 36.31% o  Average Profit Per Sale: $4,000
  • 28.
  • 29.
    SHARE YOUR SUCCESS
 o  Make it tangible o  Give it context o  Offer recommendations
  • 30.
  • 31.
    EMAIL MARKETING: WHATIT’S GOOD FOR ⇒  Increase online applications ⇒  Register online for an event ⇒  Bring in online gifts ⇒  Start a conversation
  • 32.
  • 33.
    FACEBOOK ADS: WHATARE THEY GOOD FOR?
  • 34.
    FACEBOOK ADS: WHATARE THEY GOOD FOR?
  • 35.
    FACEBOOK ADS: WHATARE THEY GOOD FOR?
  • 36.
    FACEBOOK ADS: HOWYOU MEASURE ROI ⇒  Use a Google Analytics campaign URL ⇒  Set up a goal or create a unique landing page to track conversion. ⇒  Assign a value and use the ROI calculator.
  • 37.
    FACEBOOK ADS: HOWYOU MEASURE ROI ⇒  Number of pieces: The total number of impressions ⇒  Program costs: The total amount paid for the ads, plus staff time. ⇒  Response rate: The percent of people who clicked on the ad ⇒  Conversion rate: The percent of people fulfilled the call-to- action ⇒  Average profit per sale: The value you assign to them fulfilling the action
  • 38.
    FACEBOOK ADS: HOWYOU MEASURE ROI
  • 39.
  • 40.
  • 44.
    SET STRATEGY: –  Keep enrolling students engaged throughout the summer, and convey important information them; reduce summer sugar-off. PLAN TACTICS: –  Blog format selected –  Coordination with admissions counselors for questions, videos and new student profiles –  Coordination with Interactive Recruitment Manger and Assistant for updating, copy editing and video editing. –  Marketing plan created –  Measurement Plan created: Number of hits relative to target audience, phone call reduction. EXECUTE COMMUNICATION: –  The blog launched at the beginning of June 2007 and ran through the end of August 2007, with updates running every day as planned. It was marketed on the home page, the admissions main page, and in email communications. ASSESS RESULTS: –  20,000 hits over three months, against a target audience of 650. –  Anecdotal evidence from counseling staff
  • 45.
    SET STRATEGY: –  Keep enrolling students engaged throughout the summer, and convey important information them; reduce summer sugar-off. PLAN TACTICS: –  Blog format selected –  Coordination with admissions counselors for questions, videos and new student profiles –  Coordination with Interactive Recruitment Manger and Assistant for updating, copy editing and video editing. –  Marketing plan created –  Measurement Plan created: Number of hits relative to target audience, phone call reduction. EXECUTE COMMUNICATION: –  The blog launched at the beginning of June 2007 and ran through the end of August 2007, with updates running every day as planned. It was marketed on the home page, the admissions main page, and in email communications. ASSESS RESULTS: –  20,000 hits over three months, against a target audience of 650. –  Anecdotal evidence from counseling staff
  • 46.
    Updated Daily Information theaudience wanted It featured “people like them”
  • 47.
    BLOGS: WHAT ARETHEY GOOD FOR? ⇒  Provide authentic stories of the student experience ⇒  An opportunity for interaction with current students ⇒  Make institutional announcements and calls-to-action ⇒  Gain insight into the minds of your audience
  • 48.
    BLOGS: HOW CANYOU MEASURE ROI? ⇒  Conversion, if you have a call to action ⇒  Readers: Cost of advertising in a similar content channel ⇒  Comments: Cost of a focus group, if it provides insight ⇒  Anecdotal: Take it on a case-by-case basis
  • 49.
  • 50.
    Saying “We shouldhave a Facebook page” is not a marketing strategy!!!!!
  • 56.
    The Goal: Increasequality of incoming students o  70% of the members who deposited were from the highest admissions selectivity group o  Highest selectivity group jumped from 30% the previous year to 37% http://doteduguru.com/id2947-cafe-new-paltz-a-yielding-success.html
  • 57.
    SOCIAL NETWORKS: WHATARE THEY GOOD FOR? ⇒  Allowing your audience to become a friend/fan/follower of your institution (and then converting the to meaningful actions!) ⇒  Engaging incoming students over the summer to prevent “sugar off ” ⇒  Giving alumni volunteers a way to interact with each other and share tips
  • 58.
    SOCIAL NETWORKS: HOWYOU MEASURE ROI ⇒  Easy dissemination of information: What would it cost you in other mediums? What was your conversion rate with calls-to-action? ⇒  Ease sugar off: Did the percentage of summer sugar off go down? How much value does that translate into? ⇒  Support alumni volunteers: Where your volunteers more successful as a result? What value does that translate into?
  • 59.
    BOTTOM LINE ONMEASUREMENT Are you brining in more value to the institution than it is costing to implement your strategies?
  • 60.
    KEY TAKEAWAYS ⇒  Start with bottom-line related goals, not with the technology ⇒  Measure everything ⇒  Dollarize your results to calculate ROI ⇒  Always ask what you can do better next time
  • 61.
    Karlyn Morissette www.dojo-web.com www.karlynmorissette.com www.fire-engine-red.com www.doteduguru.com www.twitter.com/KarlynM karlynmorissette@gmail.com www.linkedin.com/in/karlynmorissette