Loyola’s Worldwide Blog Project 2007

Purpose Position Loyola as more than just a university, but as a successful, active, and worldwide community Show how far the Loyola community extends around the world Create a personal setting where prospective students, current students, alumni, faculty, donors, etc… interact with members of the Loyola community around world. Communicate Loyola’s mission of service to others. Enable us to tell the Loyola story through individuals already “leading extraordinary lives.” Viral marketing, exposing Loyola to new audiences, sponsors, etc…

Key Project Elements Identifying Participants Technology Behind The Program Creating An Audience Create Incentives For Participants Prepare Bloggers For Experience Follow Up

Identifying Participants Diversity was important Location of the project (China, Rome, Peru, etc…) Type of Project (ABI, Research, Travel, etc…) Type of Participant (Student, Teacher, Alumni, etc…) Ethnic Backgrounds Expose the incentives to as many people and organizations as possible Follow up with key departments to target individuals Mission and Ministry, Anthropology Department Career Center, International Programs Bloggers can be… Students and Alumni Faculty and Staff Companies w/ Internships Departments and Organizations

Technology Behind the Program Outsource the blog software – –$90.00/month –unlimited blogs on your own domains –complete control over blog design, allows for branding of the blog and consistency throughout Loyola’s websites Flash elements on the home page Enabling technology for the bloggers

Creating an Audience Flash File that interacts with the user The links throughout the LUC website must be positioned so that we can maximize its usefulness Possible media outlets –Traditional media (Exposing both the project and the participant to publishing opportunities) –Loyola Magazine –Online Magazines, Facebook –Conversations, Phoenix

Incentives for the Bloggers Backpack with 4-color embroidered Loyola University Chicago Logo Travel wallet and passport holder Currency converter Frommer's Guide (tailored to your destination) Travel Journal/Planner The Smart Traveler's Passport: 399 Tips from Seasoned Travelers Safe Travels First Aid Kit $200 American Express Gift Certificate

Other Possible Incentives Students studying abroad/interning/trav eling –Stipend –Digital camera –Credit hours Companies with Internship Programs –Free marketing and exposure Faculty Research –Stipend –Publishing exposure Departments/Organizati ons –Free publicity and recruitment opportunities

Prepare Bloggers for the Experience Help them understand the program’s goals Train them on technology Explain blog requirements: –Posting frequency, Images, Video, etc.. –Answering audience postings, Pre/Post Interview Specific expectations, for example: –Prepare your initial blog by May 1 st (refer to form) –If your trip is less than or equal to 4 weeks, 3 blogs/week –If your trip is greater than 4 weeks, 2 blogs/week –Diligently address and approve comments –Upon return, recap your trip and reflect on how you haven brought back your experiences to Loyola –Try to post as many photos as possible The web team reserves the right to edit anything that doesn’t represent Loyola in a manner consistent with the projects goals

Follow Up Ensure that the participants are meeting the requirements Evaluate the participation in the project.

What have we learned? Encourage ownership of the blogs by the bloggers A blind sampling does not insure diversity Some bloggers will need to be reigned in; some will need to be pushed. We opened Pandora’s box