Communications workshops
Are you responsible for communications in your department, faculty or college? Would you like to find out more about best practice and share ideas with colleagues? The lunchtime sessions are held at Wellington Square and are free of charge. Tea and coffee will be available and you are welcome to bring your own lunch.
'We've got digital marketing covered: we've got a Facebook page!'
Took place on Tuesday 26 February and Thursday 7 March
For many, digital marketing activity has crept up on us and suddenly we’re expected to engage with our prospective students through the scary world of social media. However, having a University Facebook page or Twitter feed does not mean we are successful at engaging with a digital audience. Some of the best social campaigns are fully integrated both online and offline, engage with a targeted audience and prove a measurable return on investment. This workshop will discuss good (and not so good!) examples of this with some tips for your own campaigns. It is aimed at colleagues who have recently been given digital marketing as part of their remit or are interested in innovative ways to connect with prospective students. This workshop will be run by Lizzie Burrows, Student Recruitment Officer in the Admissions Office.
We've got digital marketing covered.pptx (4338 kb) ![[pptx]](/display_images/document_icons/pptx.gif){kind=icon}
Introduction to the Chartered Institute of Public Relations
Took place on Thursday 14 March
Jessica Molloy, Membership Development Manager at the Chartered Institute of Public Relations, will speak about the benefits of CIPR membership, the regional and education sector groups that you can join, courses and live webinars, and qualifications including certificates and diplomas.
Can you change the world through university communications? Approaches to turning your work into funding and impact
Took place on Wednesday 20 March
Rob McNeil, Senior Manager at the Migration Observatory, will discuss effective ways to use communications tools to deliver change, using examples from his work here at Oxford, and from NGOs in the UK and America. This discussion will look at the planning, development, delivery and evaluation processes for several projects and consider what made them succeed or not, and how to apply those lessons more broadly in the academic context.
Previous workshops
Web development: best practice in audience research
Took place on Thursday 22 November 2012
Paul Gill from digital agency Torchbox discussed best practice in engaging audiences when developing websites. Consulting audiences is key to creating and developing effective and popular websites. Torchbox has worked closely with the University for a number of years.
Ten user research techniques for the web.pdf (2056 kb) ![[pdf]](http://www.ox.ac.uk/display_images/document_icons/pdf.gif){kind=icon}
Top tips for shooting video (hands-on class)
Took place on Wednesday 14 November 2012
Online Media Producer Tom Wilkinson ran a practical session aimed specifically at those who want to get behind the camera. It offered tips for shooting video, with a strong hands-on emphasis.
Video workshop notes - framing and camera (94 kb)
Video workshop notes - sound (98 kb)
Crisis communications
Took place on Thursday 8 November 2012
Ruth Collier, Head of the Press & Information Office, and Susannah Wintersgill, Head of International Communications, shared advice about communicating effectively in a crisis, from reputation management to managing communications for local incidents.
Crisis comms workshop (8 Nov 2012) (3243 kb)
Communications strategy: interactive workshops
Took place on Wednesday 17 and 24 October 2012
Following feedback from last year's 'Writing a communications strategy' workshops, we ran two interactive sessions where colleagues were given practical exercises to discuss in small groups. It was an opportunity to discuss the challenges we face and share ideas.
Making (good) video for the web
Took place on Wednesday 9 May 2012
Tom Wilkinson, our Online Media Producer, discussed the benefits of using online video in your communications, offered practical tips about what works well and what doesn't, and explained what advice and services are available within the collegiate University to support you in this area of work. Presentation followed by a Q&A.
Making (good) video for the web presentation
Making the most effective use of design and images
Took place on Monday 14 May 2012
Anne Brunner-Ellis, Head of Publications and Web, and her colleagues Paul Chinn (design) and Jo Kay (picture research) explained how to make the most of the new Design Studio and online image library.
EffectiveDesignTheBrief.pdf (390 kb)
Making effective use of images
Marketing communications: in print, online and mobile
Took place on Thursday 24 May 2012
This workshop by ebxp, a creative brand and marketing agency, covered the need for message and brand consistency across communications channels and looked at how social media can be used effectively to attract applicants, assist students when they are studying, collaborate with research partners, and engage with alumni.
Writing a communications strategy
Took place on Tuesday 19 June 2012
A communications strategy is an invaluable means of clearly identifying your objectives, audiences, tactics, timescales, and ultimately how you’re going to measure your success. It is essential for major projects, but also a useful means of reassessing ongoing work and identifying any changes that need to be made.
Writing a communications strategy (2300 kb) ![[ppt]](http://www.ox.ac.uk/display_images/document_icons/ppt.gif){kind=icon}
Public affairs campaigning
Took place on Wednesday 15 February 2012
Richard Jarman, Head of Government and Community Relations, discussed how to influence decisions either locally or in Whitehall and Westminster: from gaining the understanding and support of local councillors for a planning application to getting your messages heard by government ministers and parliamentarians.
Public Affairs Campaigning.pptx (3457 kb) ![[pptx]](http://www.ox.ac.uk/display_images/document_icons/pptx.gif){kind=icon}
Top tips for improving your website
Took place on 20 and 28 February 2012
Christopher Eddie and Stephen Sangar from our web team provided top tips for improving your website. There was a short presentation followed by a Q&A and discussion to allow people to ask questions, share experiences, and propose solutions to common concerns.
Top tips for improving your website (7153 kb)
An introduction to media relations
Took place on Friday 9 March 2012
Ruth Collier, Head of the Press and Information Office, explained what the Press and Information Office does and how it can help you, as well as introducing the basics of media relations from issuing a news release to responding to a crisis.
Change communications
Took place on Tuesday 22 November 2011
Susannah Wintersgill, Head of Internal Communications, shared best practice in planning communications around major change.
Change communications workshop (22.11.11) (753 kb)
Search engine optimisation
Took place on Wednesday 30 November 2011
Stephen Sangar from our web team provided top tips for how web pages can be tweaked for better search engine optimization, and used London 2012 as a topical example.
The session covered: keyword research, keyword placement, content, links and ‘paid’ keyword matches.
Powerpoint presentation slides: SEO - PAD workshop (5227kb)
Writing a communications strategy
Took place on Wednesday 26 October and Wednesday 7 December 2011
A communications strategy is an invaluable means of clearly identifying your objectives, audiences, tactics, timescales, and ultimately how you’re going to measure your success. It is essential for major projects, but also a useful means of reassessing ongoing work and identifying any changes that need to be made.
Writing a communications strategy (2300 kb)
For further information about Public Affairs workshops, please contact Carolyne Culver