My Favorite Chapter

If you have read my previous blogs, you already know I have been reading social media related books and writing blogs about them. The most recent book was "Measure What Matters" by Katie Delahaye Paine. I just recently finished this book and I can safely say I would recommend it to someone in a related field.

This book is a key tool for measuring important your customers, social media, engagement and key relationships. Each of these different aspects of an organization are important in their own way and they should each be effectively measured.

I would have to say Chapter 14 was my favorite chapter. I may be partial at this point in time because the chapter is about higher education and I am interning at ONU right now, but it is still a very good read. The chapter maps out five steps that help make measuring easier in higher education. The five steps include:

1. Identify and Prioritize Your Audiences
2. Define Your Objectives and Get Everyone on the Same Page
3. Establish a Benchmark
4. Pick a Measurement Tool and Collect Data
5. Analyze the Data, Glean Insight, Make Changes and Measure Again

In one of my recent blogs, I explained why it is necessary for higher education institutions to participate in a rebranding process. The same goes for higher education measurement. The higher education world is becoming more competitive than it has been in the past. In order for institutions to deliver a high performance, they need to measure their audiences, what their audiences are talking about, and what their audiences want.

Now that you have  a sneak peek into "Measure What Matters," I suggest you get your own copy and read the book. You will not regret the decision.

Caution: Foul Language

This video is full of little girls swearing to emphasize a point. These girls are standing up for feminism. They want to get the point across to people that girls are not treated equally. The way these girls try to get this point across is very unique and maybe even controversial.

When I first saw this video I started to cringe before I even realized what the girls were talking about. I could not understand why parents of children this young would allow their little girls to speak the way they are in this video, but then I began to listen to their message.

For as long as I can remember, my mom has felt strongly about men and women being treated equally. She has always told me I can do anything a boy can. I firmly feel her teachings have made me a stronger person.

The young boy in this video says it best when he explains calling a boy a girl is a diss to girls. The saying makes it seem like it is a bad thing to be a girl. Young girls should not grow up thinking it is bad to be a girl. They should be raised knowing they can accomplish anything as long as they put their mind to the task.

The video also provides solid facts about women being paid less and treated differently just because of their gender. Times are changing and girls are becoming more equal than in the past, but there are still problems and discriminations that need fixed.

This video may be controversial and entirely inappropriate, but the message these girls get across is an important one. Stand up for feminism!

Is Branding for Higher Education Necessary

Ohio Northern University (ONU) is currently going through a rebranding process. Because I work in the communication and marketing department at ONU, I have seen most rebranding materials first hand. I have also been working on an assignment that requires me to study if the rebranding process is necessary in higher education.

There are many aspects that make up an organization's brand. There is content such as the logo, the website and print material. The location of the organization is also part of its brand. The way people talk about an organization constructs the brand.

The purpose for higher education rebranding is the increased competition among institutions. Increased tuition and competition for students has caused universities to have a need for their own identity. The rebranding process will help them achieve this identity. Rebranding will help universities stand out in a crowd therefor increasing student admission rates.

During a rebranding process, many people share their opinion; some opinions are negative, some are positive. It is impossible for an organization to please everyone with their brand.

Overall, through my research and my internship with ONU, I have found rebranding to be extremely necessary. Rebranding can help an organization more than it can hurt one; as long as it is done correctly.