Latest News from OmniUpdate

How to Implement Effective Social Networking

Tue, 12 Aug 2008 13:58:17 -0700

Recording date: Tuesday, August 12, 2008 12:18 pm
Pacific Daylight Time (GMT -07:00, San Francisco)

Panelist information:Sasha Peterson, Managing Director, Hobsons EMT, and Lance Merker, President and CEO, OmniUpdate, Inc.

Duration: 33 mins

Description: Social Networking on your higher education website provides prospective students and parents with a unique forum for gathering information and building relationships. And, Instant Chat allows them to converse one-on-one with an admissions counselor in real-time with no waiting. Both tools are an effective way to build brand and encourage enrollment.

Signs It's Time for a Website Redesign

Wed, 14 May 2008 11:00:06 -0700

Recording date: Wednesday, May 14, 2008 11:45 am
Pacific Daylight Time (GMT -07:00, San Francisco)

Panelist information: Lynsey E. Struthers, Director of Interactive Marketing,The Lawlor Group and Lance Merker, President and CEO, OmniUpdate, Inc.

Duration: 38 mins

Description: Because your website requires a substantial commitment in human and financial resources, the decision to redesign it shouldn't be taken lightly. During this session we will discuss:

When a full-site redesign is appropriate
Some wrong reasons for a redesign (if not a redesign, then what?)
The guidelines for making an informed decision about this important brand asset

This webcast is designed for anyone in higher education interested in undertaking changes to their institution's web presence. It is ideal for college and university administrators, marketers, webmasters, web developers and decision makers.

Conducting a Successful Website Review

Wed, 13 Feb 2008 11:00:39 -0700

Recording date: Wednesday, February 13, 2008 11:45 am
Pacific Standard Time (GMT -08:00, San Francisco)

Panelist information: Shelley Wetzel, Co-Founder, eduWeb Conference and Lance Merker, President and CEO, OmniUpdate, Inc.

Duration: 32 mins

Description: This session will discuss how to assess a department's site content and architecture, what to do when problems are identified, and how to incorporate the solutions into an integrated marketing strategy.

A "Behind the Curtain" Look at Succesful Campus Blogs

Thu, 15 Nov 2007 11:00:09 -0700

Recording date: Thursday, November 15, 2007 11:00 am
Pacific Standard Time (GMT -08:00, San Francisco)

Panelist information: Darren Wacker, Business Consultant, James Tower, Inc. and Lance Merker, President and CEO, OmniUpdate, Inc.

Duration: 38 mins

Description: This webcast will discuss how to make blogs work for both students and administration.

Using RSS to Facilitate Crisis Communication

Wed, 15 Aug 2007 11:00:16 -0700

Recording date: Wednesday, August 15, 2007 11:00 am
Pacific Daylight Time (GMT -07:00, San Francisco)

Panelist information: Lance Merker, President and CEO, OmniUpdate, Inc.

Duration: 38 mins

Description: This webcast will discuss the importance of adding Real Simple Syndication (RSS) to your higher education website and the value of utilizing it as a crisis communication tool. We'll cover how it works and how it can help to keep your various audiences--students, parents, alumni, staff and media--informed on a "real-time" basis about events and happenings on campus.

This webcast is for designed for anyone in higher educat

Technology in Higher Education - The Case for CRM and CMS

Wed, 11 Apr 2007 11:00:24 -0700

Recording date: Wednesday, April 11, 2007 11:00 am
Pacific Daylight Time (GMT -07:00, San Francisco)

Panelist information: Sasha Peterson, Hobsons EMT and Lance Merker, President and CEO, OmniUpdate, Inc.

Duration: 41 mins

Description: Colleges and universities are undergoing a fundamental shift in how they operate and interact with their prospective student audience. It's now happening on the web! That's why many of today's leading institutions are now implementing technologies including Customer Relationship Management (CRM) solutions and Web Content Management Systems (CMS) to help keep pace with student needs.

This webcast discusses the trends in methods used to service prospective students and applicants and how a CRM application might be applied. Learn which lessons can be taken from the commercial world, points to consider when evaluating a CRM solution and current practices of progressive institutions around the country.

And, to help improve your Web presence, find out why a CMS is a "must-have" tool for today's higher education marketing, communications and admissions professionals. See how implementing and using a CMS to manage your content is easier than you might think!

This webcast is ideal for Admissions Officers, Enrollment Managers, Marketing/Communications professionals and Webmasters.

XML and the College Website - Why the Time Is Right

Wed, 28 Mar 2007 11:00:33 -0700

Recording date: Wednesday, March 28, 2007 11:00 am
Pacific Daylight Time (GMT -07:00, San Francisco)

Panelist information: Lance Merker, President and CEO, OmniUpdate, Inc.

Duration: 39 mins

Description: When it comes to web content management, there are no greater challenges than content repurposing and template controlled publishing. Your institution's website is complex, interconnected, and must be managed with the right balance of tools and techniques.

XML combined with XSLT is the ideal way to tame the beast. But, is it worth the burden? And, what are real costs and risks associated with the migration to this new, powerful architecture?

This webcast will help you to learn more about how to reduce the risks and speed your migration to XML. You'll learn how to:

Take best advantage of the XML/XSLT architecture
Selectively use XML and XSLT to repurpose content and manage design
Benefit immediately without a complete website redesign
Best deploy template controlled publishing, while mitigating migration risks

We'll also demonstrate how the latest release of OmniUpdate, version 7 can help you better manage the transition of your institution's website to XML.

This webcast is ideal for college and university webmasters, web developers and designers.

Extension Campus Marketing: Strategies and Tactics for Using the Web to Build Your Prospect Pool

Wed, 7 Feb 2007 11:00:44 -0700

Recording date: Wednesday, February 7, 2007 11:00 am
Pacific Standard Time (GMT -08:00, San Francisco)

Panelist information: Jim Paskill, President, Paskill, Stapleton & Lord, Inc.

Duration: 38 mins

Description: Marketing an extension campus is a challenge, and generating solid applications is even more so. The environment is so very different from traditional undergraduate marketing. Building the prospect pool requires different approaches from the mass media and mailing efforts of only 5 years ago. The marketplace requires you to look at this differently, to utilize new resources and allocate budgets accordingly.

This webcast identifies approaches that will help you meet your goals. Some of the questions Mr. Paskill will answer include:

How influential is web marketing with this audience?
What are the various options, as well as pros and cons of different Internet approaches?
How do I effectively integrate the Web with traditional media and overall institutional marketing?

This webcast includes valuable information for Directors of Marketing, VPs and AVPs for Enrollment and Admissions at extension campuses.

On-Demand CMS: Why This Approach to Web Content Management Is Worth a Closer Look

Wed, 24 Jan 2007 11:00:13 -0700

Recording date: Wednesday, January 24, 2007 11:00 am
Pacific Standard Time (GMT -08:00, San Francisco)

Panelist information: Lance Merker, President and CEO, WebsiteASP, Inc.

Duration: 35 mins

Description: Are you planning to implement a web content management system for your college or university? Before you narrow your list down to simply a choice between open-source or commercial software, you might want to have a closer look at an On-Demand CMS.

No longer just for Google(TM) or Facebook©, the Web is now used to deliver incredibly powerful, flexible and easy-to-use web content management features directly to your desktop. And, beyond the obvious advantages--lower cost, ease of use, implementation and support--there are some surprising developer advantages to implementing an On-Demand CMS.

If you're serious about delivering enhanced services on your institution's website, an On-Demand CMS is the only way to go.

You'll learn more about OmniUpdate, the leading on-demand CMS and the most deployed CMS in Higher Education today. See how OmniUpdate's unique On-Demand approach to web content management can help you:

Efficiently manage content and maintain design utilizing an open standards-based approach
Streamline and automate management and re-use of content
Offer your users an intuitive, familiar editing environment, complete with authoring tools they'll actually want to use
More easily integrate Web 2.0 technologies, including RSS and Blogs, to deliver enhanced services

Let's Get Blogging: How-To's for Starting a Successful Admissions Blog

Wed, 10 Jan 2007 11:00:44 -0700

Recording date: Wednesday, January 10, 2007 11:00 am
Pacific Standard Time (GMT -08:00, San Francisco)

Panelist information: Lance Merker, President and CEO, WebsiteASP, Inc.

Duration: 31 mins

Description: Blogs are one of the hottest trends in higher education marketing and recruiting. Student, faculty, alumni and even parent blogs can be very powerful tools to help your institution communicate using authentic voices. Blogs are simpler than you think to implement and manage. If you've considered starting a blog, but are not sure where to begin or what's involved, this webcast will help you learn:

What's a blog and ideas for using blogs in recruiting and communications
Who should blog and why
Which tools you will need and how to get started
Tips for success and realizing blog ROI

This webcast is ideal for professionals in Admissions, Marketing and Communications, and Web Development.

Creating an Effective Web Content Strategy: It's All about the User, Right? But, What about Your Brand Strategy?

Wed, 8 Nov 2006 11:00:11 -0700

Recording date: Wednesday, November 8, 2006 11:00 am Pacific Standard Time (GMT -08:00, San Francisco)

Panelist information: Stephanie Geyer, Executive Consultant, Noel-Levitz

Duration: 40 mins

Description: Are user needs really at odds with your message delivery goals? Can you meet the needs of your prospective student site users and be sure they "get" your institution's points of distinction?

This webcast offers insight into how you can clarify the web content needs of prospective students while integrating memorable messages from your brand platform. Ms. Geyer will share national research on the content goals of prospective students and ideas to implement on your site, including suggestions for:

Crafting content that matters to students
Creating new opportunities through content and functionality to deliver your messages
Extending brand-centric content into your e-communications

If you're trying to create content for your website that balances the needs of all of your stakeholders, then this webcast is for you!

This webcast is ideal for professionals in Admissions, Marketing and Communications, and Web Development.

Noel-Levitz Presents... Exceeding E-Expectations: A Little Effort Will Pay Off Quickly

Wed, 11 Oct 2006 11:00:36 -0700

Recording date: Wednesday, October 11, 2006 11:00 am Pacific Daylight Time (GMT -07:00, San Francisco)

Panelist information: Stephanie Geyer, Executive Consultant, Noel-Levitz

Duration: 45 mins

Description: Do you know...

Which is the most sought-after functionality on a college or university website (Hint: it happens to be one of the rarest)?
How students want to hear from you and when?
How to create a "My Space" environment on your site?

To help you answer some of these key e-recruitment questions and explore options to move your site into the Web 2.0 era, this webcast reviews the latest findings from the ground-breaking E-Expectations study of more than 1000 college-bound students.

Data from a survey of more than 200 college and university admissions officers is included to provide a sense of what your competitors may (or may not) be doing on their sites...yet.

This webcast is ideal for professionals in Enrollment, Management, Admissions, Marketing and Communications, and Web Services.

Redesigning the College Website - Expert Tips to Help Ensure Success

Tue, 29 Aug 2006 11:00:29 -0700

Recording date: Tuesday, August 29, 2006 11:00 am
Pacific Daylight Time (GMT -07:00, San Francisco)

Panelist information: Andrew Soderberg, President, Merlin Media, Inc.

Duration: 38 mins

Description: Having an effective Web presence is vital for today's colleges and universities and is the major reason why so many institutions have a site redesign planned.

But while a redesign can be a wise marketing investment, it can be a major project to manage, with plenty of opportunities to get behind schedule and go over budget.

This webcast offers tips on how to have a successful redesign project. Mr. Soderberg will share insights he's gleaned from designing and implementing websites for many colleges and universities, including how-to's for:

Selecting the right design partner
Getting at the "real" requirements
Designing for ADA 508 Compliance
Selecting and implementing a CMS
Migration planning
Bringing it all together - how to stay on target and enjoy the process
Life after a redesign

So, if you're considering a redesign, planning one or have one underway, you'll not want to miss this webcast!

Get Personal on the Web - Solutions to Improve One-to-One Communications Using the College Website

Wed, 7 Jun 2006 11:00:36 -0700

Recording date: Wednesday, June 7, 2006 11:00 am Pacific Daylight Time (GMT -07:00, San Francisco)

Panelist information: Lance Merker, President and CEO, WebsiteASP, Inc

Duration: 30 mins

Description: The college website has a very challenging mission. It's expected to serve everyone on campus as well as meet the personal information needs of each student, alumni, faculty and staff member. That's a pretty tall order for any website and the major reason why most college websites have thousands of pages!

What if there was a simple solution - one magical web page -for delivering personalized content from the college website directly to each and every member of your campus community? And, what if this one page could capture their attention, offering the kind of personalized online experience found in sites like MySpace®, Google(TM) and Yahoo®?

This webcast demonstrates OmniUpdate's OU OnePage--a web communications portal solution designed to help your institution's website reach and communicate more effectively, one-to-one. Using OnePage, you can easily:

Target content from your existing website to different groups, all without creating separate sites or maintaining additional web pages
Give your students an online "hangout" where they'll want to be and where you know you can always find them
Unify campus communications providing centralized access to Chat, email and other web applications
Maintain a strong online connection with students as they graduate, offering them their own personalized homepage to your alumni website
Do all of this securely, maintaining control and leveraging your current web investments

See why OU OnePage is a revolution in campus web communications and unlike any other portal solution you've seen!

This webcast is ideal for higher education professionals involved in Marketing and Communications, Web Services, Alumni Relations.

Building a Virtual Alumni Organization... And How a Web Content Management System Can Help You Get There

Wed, 10 May 2006 11:00:51 -0700

Recording date: Wednesday, May 10, 2006 11:00 am
Pacific Daylight Time (GMT -07:00, San Francisco)

Panelist information: Connie Wanstreet, Director of Web Communications, The Ohio State University Alumni Association

Duration: 35 mins

Description: The web has the potential of being the best way to connect alumni in a "virtual" community of lifelong friendship and in support of their alma mater. However, having an effective Web-based alumni organization is more than just having alumni web pages. It's all about building a brand in cyberspace!

This webcast will help you discover what makes an alumni website successful. Learn how one visionary alumni organization is using their website to become the biggest and best member-based alumni organization in the country. Topics include:

Building a virtual alumni organization: how to deliver online global access to core programs and services programs and link alumni with each other using the website
Having a strategic plan: see how the Association has developed a focused strategic plan for their website and what they have planned next
The critical role of content management: learn why the Association chose OmniUpdate to manage their web content and how OmniUpdate is being used to support their virtual alumni community
Insights: learnings from the association's staff for building a successful virtual alumni organization

This webcast is ideal for professionals involved in all aspects of Educational Advancement including Alumni Relations and Alumni Organizations, Marketing and Communications, Development, and Fund-Raising.

Choosing the Right CMS

Wed, 5 Apr 2006 11:00:42 -0700

Recording date: Wednesday, April 5, 2006 11:00 am
Pacific Daylight Time (GMT -07:00, San Francisco)

Panelist information: Lance Merker, President and CEO, WebsiteASP, Inc.

Duration: 37 mins

Description: Selecting a content management system (CMS) for managing your college or university's web content can be overwhelming. Deciding which features are important and how to best meet the diverse needs of many departments and users--staff, faculty and even students--can be, in a word, challenging.

Also, finding a solution that can be deployed quickly with minimal training and on-going support can be tricky. And, doing all of this without busting your budget can seem downright impossible.

If this sounds all too familiar, this webcast will help you learn how to determine which CMS will work for your institution and tips to help ensure you're successful in implementing a solution. Topics discussed include:

Top three CMS misconceptions
Key feature considerations: what's important and why
How much should it cost?

This webcast will provide and overview of OmniUpdate--the CMS most used by colleges and universities to manage their web content. You will see how powerful, flexible and easy-to-use OmniUpdate is through an actual training session during the webcast!

This webcast is ideal for those currently evaluating CMS solutions, planning a website redesign, or interested in learning more about web content management.

Marketing to Adult Learners

Wed, 15 Feb 2006 11:00:36 -0700

Recording date: Wednesday, February 15, 2006 11:00 am
Pacific Standard Time (GMT -08:00, San Francisco)

Panelist information: Jim Paskill, Paskill Stapleton & Lord

Duration: 36 mins

Description: Recent declines in international graduate enrollment, combined with other economic factors, are changing the landscape for graduate admissions professionals, as well as those involved in promoting part-time education. Now more than ever, it's critical that institutions be able to effectively reach and market to adult learners.

This webcast will provide you with some of the best methods for recruiting adult learners and will examine the unique challenges involved marketing to adults and part-time students. Topics discussed include:

Adult learners - Who are they? Where are they? How do you reach them?
How do we build the relationship?
Role of the website and email
Top three mistakes when marketing to adults and how to avoid them

This webcast is ideal for those in Graduate Admissions, Marketing, Adult and Continuing Education Professionals, and Webmasters.

What's the Good Word - Effective Keyword Selection for Search Engine Marketing in Higher Education

Wed, 25 Jan 2006 11:00:21 -0700

Recording date: Wednesday, January 25, 2006 11:00 am Pacific Standard Time (GMT -08:00, San Francisco)

Panelist information: Mark Shay, President and CEO, Educational Directories Unlimited, Inc.

Duration: 43 mins

Description: Search engines have become a significant component of a successful online marketing campaign. And, effective keyword selection is vital to the success of your search engine marketing campaign. But as you might have already discovered, selecting the right keywords is a complex mix of creativity and analysis. This webcast will offer insight on perfecting the art and science of keyword selection. Topics discussed include:

Major search engines -what do you need to know about how they work
Free vs. paid campaigns--which is right for you
Techniques for determining keyword competition
ROI: how to measure & evaluate the cost-effectiveness of keywords
Tips for making your website an effective destination

Meeting E-Expectations: Are Your Website and E-Communications Programs Making The Grade?

Wed, 18 Jan 2006 11:00:28 -0700

Recording date: Wednesday, January 18, 2006 11:00 am
Pacific Standard Time (GMT -08:00, San Francisco)

Panelist information: Stephanie Geyer, Noel-Levitz

Duration: 46 mins

Description: We know that college-bound students use the Internet as a key resource in their research and enrollment process. But do you really understand what they expect from your institution's site? What are their top content targets? What online services do they need to work through their decision process? How should your school integrate new communications technologies, such as instant and text messaging, into tried and true communication flows?

This webcast reviews the findings of a recent study of more than 1,000 college-bound students to help you answer some of these key e-recruitment questions. During this webcast, you will:

Discover how many of the top-rated, self-service online features your site offers and which you should plan to add TODAY
Find out what types of content college-bound students target when they visit your site
Explore how new communications technologies, such as instant and text messaging, can be integrated into traditional communication flows

SUNY Oswego: A Case Study in Designing a Brand-Driven Web Presence

Wed, 7 Dec 2005 11:00:09 -0700

Recording date: Wednesday, December 7, 2005 11:00 am
Pacific Standard Time (GMT -08:00, San Francisco)

Panelist information: Drew Hill, Web Coordinator, SUNY Oswego

Duration: 40 mins

Description: Planning a redesign of your institution's website? Want to meet your goals while avoiding as many project pitfalls as possible?

During this webcast Drew Hill, Web Coordinator at SUNY Oswego, presents a case study on how his institution created, launched, and continues to maintain an award-winning website. Learn how SUNY Oswego successfully redesigned a complex site and implemented a web content management system. Topics include:

RFP considerations
Navigating organizational change
Project management best practices
Key considerations to maintain brand consistency
Do's and don'ts

So, if you're considering a redesign, have begun one or are simply looking for ways to help make your site more brand-driven, you'll not want to miss this webcast!

All about RSS in Higher Ed - What It Is and How It Fits into Your Communications Strategy

Wed, 2 Nov 2005 11:00:23 -0700

Recording date: Wednesday, November 2, 2005 12:00 pm
Pacific Daylight Time (GMT -07:00, San Francisco)

Panelist information: Lance Merker, President and CEO WebsiteASP, Inc

Duration: 30 mins

Description: You may have heard the buzz about RSS (Real Simple Syndication). RSS is quickly gaining popularity as the easiest way to get the latest information from the Web. But, is RSS just another technology fad or is it potentially the most powerful communications tool you have to market your institution and communicate with students, faculty, alumni and prospective students?

This informative webcast will help demystify RSS and discuss its practical application to recruiting, marketing and communications. Topics include:

RSS and content syndication - what is syndication, how does it work and why is it important
How RSS is being used by colleges and universities today
How to implement RSS on your campus
Role of RSS in your marketing and communications strategy

If you're responsible for marketing, recruiting or communications for your institution, this is your opportunity to quickly get up to speed on this emerging trend in higher education communications.

Driving Enrollment: Tools and Strategies for Improving Your Website's Recruiting Performance

Wed, 5 Oct 2005 12:32:29 -0700

Recording date: Wednesday, October 5, 2005 11:00 am
Pacific Daylight Time (GMT -07:00, San Francisco)

Panelist information: John Stapleton, Paskill, Stapleton & Lord

Duration: 36 mins

Description: During this third webcast in the "Trends in Higher Education Marketing" series, learn about simple tools and techniques to improve your website's ability to attract, manage and communicate with target student pools. Topics discussed include:

Search engine optimization
Laser-like strategies to increase your web effectiveness
Increasing site personalization (i.e., microsites, email marketing, etc.)

Redefining the Viewbook: Communication Strategies and Tactics to Reach Today's Students and Parents

Wed, 28 Sep 2005 12:26:28 -0700

Recording date: Wednesday, September 28, 2005 11:00 am
Pacific Daylight Time (GMT -07:00, San Francisco)

Panelist information: John Stapleton, Paskill Stapleton & Lord

Duration: 39 mins

Description: During this second webcast in the "Trends in Higher Education Marketing" series, learn what mix of publications and online methods (websites, emails) are effective at reaching today's students and parents. Also, learn which contact strategies and schedules work best. Topics discussed include:

Integrated marketing--how your website and viewbook most effectively work together
Seven issues important to Millennials and how you address them
Beyond the viewbook--what else do you need?

Trends and Tactics in Higher Education Marketing

Wed, 14 Sep 2005 12:21:00 -0700

Recording date: Wednesday, September 14, 2005 11:00 am
Pacific Daylight Time (GMT -07:00, San Francisco)

Panelist information: John Stapleton, Paskill Stapleton & Lord

Duration: 41 mins

Description: Research and experience has shown that families are searching for colleges and universities earlier than ever before and that their first contact with a school is usually through their website. This change in how students find you and you find students is universal, irreversible and profound. So profound in fact, that in just a short time, the Web is outmoding traditional communications flow and methods.

This webcast will help you and your staff learn how best to take advantage of this change and will discuss the following:

Marketing trends--what they mean for admissions and communications staff
Successful strategies and tactics--how to take advantage of the shift to the web
Budget and communications-flow implications

ADA Section 508 Compliance: Why 508 Compliance Is Just Good Web Design

Wed, 24 Aug 2005 11:00:35 -0700

Recording date: Wednesday, August 24, 2005 11:00 am
Pacific Daylight Time (GMT -07:00, San Francisco)

Panelist information: Andrew Soderberg, Merlin Media, Inc.

Duration: 35 mins

Description: Compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Section 508 ensures that your college or university's website is accessible by everyone. But beyond the requirement to comply, the 508 standards are simply just good web design practices.

This webcast offers a mini-tutorial on designing for Section 508, including:

508 design standards: what they are and implementation considerations
Designing a new website for 508
Bringing your current site into compliance
Training content contributors

Dartmouth College: Strategies for Sustaining the University Web

Wed, 10 Aug 2005 11:47:01 -0700

Recording date: Wednesday, August 10, 2005 11:00 am
Pacific Daylight Time (GMT -07:00, San Francisco)

Panelist information: Jay Collier, Associate Director, Dartmouth Web Publishing Services

Duration: 30 mins

Description: The college website is currently going through an extraordinary evolutionary phase--from decentralized chaos to more orderly distributed publishing. This evolution is happening during a time of explosive growth for web content as the university website is required to do more than ever. How do we plan for this? How do we keep up? Who will lead the way? And, most importantly, how can we as Web managers sustain a level of excellence expected by our institutions? Scalability and sustainability are the key ingredients to a successful strategy for sustaining the university Web.

This webcast offers an invaluable discussion based on Dartmouth's experience with developing and managing non-curricular web communication services and publishing tools for over 70 departmental clients.

State of the Web with Pamela Cox-Otto, Ph.D.

Tue, 26 Jul 2005 11:00:36 -0700

Recording date: Tuesday, July 26, 2005 11:00 am
Pacific Daylight Time (GMT -07:00, San Francisco)

Panelist information: Dr. Pamela Cox-Otto, Ph.D., President, Interact Communications, Inc.

Duration: 45 mins

Description: Join acclaimed author and speaker Dr. Pamela Cox-Otto for a highly informative (and entertaining) examination of key trends in marketing and recruiting, including how to design integrated campaigns that successfully resonate with "boomers", "X'ers" and "Millennials". You'll also learn about the results of research with high school audiences and about what role the Web plays in reaching them. Get ready for a wake up call!

Website Heroes: Three Case Studies in Higher Education

Wed, 13 Jul 2005 11:00:20 -0700

Recording date: Wednesday, July 13, 2005 11:00 am
Pacific Daylight Time (GMT -07:00, San Francisco)

Panelist information: Lance Merker, President and CEO, WebsiteASP, Inc. and Brian Tusi, OmniUpdate Support Specialist

Duration: 31 mins

Description: As someone responsible for your institution's website, your efforts are significant, extraordinary, and in many ways downright heroic. Whether you're involved in leveraging the web to deliver results in recruiting, giving or outreach, or are responsible for managing the many pages of web content of your website, your job has never been more important to your institution! Learn how three institutions--Dartmouth College, Oxnard College and University of Michigan Alumni Association--all use OmniUpdate to achieve website excellence.

OmniUpdate Unveils Version 8.0 of Web CMS for Higher Education

Tue, 27 May 2008 10:07:57 -0700

Unique Features Such as "Multi-Browser Preview" Enhance Speed and Functionality

Camarillo, CA - May 27, 2008 - OmniUpdate, Inc, the largest provider of web content management software (CMS) for higher education institutions, today announced OmniUpdate version 8.0. This release represents the most significant improvements to date of the company's flagship web CMS.

"OmniUpdate version 8.0 really takes our product to the next level," stated Lance Merker, president and CEO of OmniUpdate. "Our goal was to simplify the user interface while enhancing functionality and speed." In fact, key areas of the system are over 500% faster, and some functions are now almost instantaneous, depending on the browser being used. Automatic versioning has been added, including the ability to compare current and old versions, and then roll-back quickly to any previously published page. Link checking has been added, plus a new feature called Multi-Browser Preview. This new capability allows you to see a page-before publishing-in other browsers such as IE-7, Safari, and Firefox, on either Windows or Macintosh.

Some of the most important new features are not features at all - they're user interface improvements. The login screen can now be customized by the client. The Page Editor and File Manager tabs have been combined into a single Content tab, and Ajax has been added everywhere to dramatically improve and speed-up the user experience. An intelligent split screen automatically hides itself when it's not needed. And a new tab, called Add-ons, opens the product up to an expanded world of web applications by allowing clients to incorporate external programs: database administration apps, control modules for course management systems, polls, surveys, wikis, and social networking apps. Finally, improvements have been made in the Help System, including the addition of online training videos.

"It's an exciting time for OmniUpdate and our higher education customers," Merker added. "We've worked closely with them to identify and implement the functionalities they need to simplify their jobs, and we've intentionally steered away from things that would complicate the product. Their overwhelmingly positive response has been fantastic, and we couldn't be more thrilled."

About OmniUpdate, Inc.

OmniUpdate's web content management products and social networking solutions are currently used to manage over 450 college and university websites, affecting over 3 million web pages.

For more information, visit www.omniupdate.com

Over 50 Colleges and Universities Select OmniUpdate's Web Content Management Software and Social Networking Solutions in 2007

Wed, 2 Apr 2008 10:03:36 -0700

Company Experiences an Unprecedented New Client Growth Rate

Camarillo, California - April 2, 2008 - OmniUpdate Inc., the leading provider of Web Content Management Software (CMS) and Social Networking Solutions for Higher Education, announced today that in 2007 more than 50 new clients joined the growing ranks of colleges and universities utilizing OmniUpdate products to manage their website content. As a result, 2007 resulted in the largest year of new client growth in the company's history.

Lance Merker, president and CEO of OmniUpdate, states that "the company is proud of its solid track record in providing successful web communication tools to the Higher Education marketplace. And, while some CMS vendors appear to be exiting this market, OmniUpdate stands committed to both Web CMS technology and the institutional space." Lance adds that, "OmniUpdate's refreshingly alternative approach to Web CMS-its on-demand option, scalable pricing and intuitive user interface; yet, powerful back-end administrative tool capable of managing the most complex website-has been the key to our client's satisfaction, and ultimately, our exponential growth."

Some of the institutions selecting OmniUpdate in 2007 include: Bethany University, Bethune-Cookman University, Blackhawk Technical College, Butte College, Central Pennsylvania College, Columbus State University, Dakota State University, Daytona Beach College, De Anza College, Diablo Valley College, East Los Angeles College, East Stroudsburg University, Franklin Pierce College, Hinds Community College, Iowa Valley Community College District, Lamar State College, Los Angeles City College, Los Angeles Trade-Technical College, Mississippi State University, Mitchell College, Moorpark College, NYU Wagner, Oklahoma City Community College, Pierce College, Pitt Community College, Rocky Mountain College, Santa Barbara City College, Silver Lake College, Skyline College, Southeastern Community College, State University of New York (SUNY) Cobleskill, SUNY Fredonia, SUNY Stony Brook, Texas A&M University Kingsville, University of California Riverside, Ventura Community College, Waldorf College, and West Los Angeles College.

About OmniUpdate, Inc.

In business for over 25 years, OmniUpdate, Inc. (formerly known as WebsiteASP and Mainstay) originally produced desktop and client-server applications. Today, OmniUpdate's Web CMS and Social Networking solutions are used to manage over 450 college and university websites, handling over 3 million pages of content.

For more information, visit www.omniupdate.com

OmniUpdate Announces Transcode-ItTM

Fri, 7 Mar 2008 10:00:34 -0700

New, Free Service Makes Video for Web Pages Easy

CAMARILLO, Calif. - March 7, 2008 - OmniUpdate Inc., the leading provider of Web Content Management Software (CMS) for higher education, announced the availability of a new service called Transcode-ItTM during its fourth annual User Conference, held March 2 - 4, 2008 at the Wyndham Hotel in Palm Springs, CA.

Transcode-ItTM is a free service allowing college web professionals to quickly convert any video, then upload and display it as a high quality Flash video on a web page. Users simply upload their file to transcodeit.com and follow the four easy steps. Transcode-It requires no software installation and creates a video file that plays on all modern browsers.

The Transcode-It product is available for general public use, and makes loading videos on a website as simple as inserting an image in a document. According to Lance Merker, CEO of OmniUpdate, "Making Transcode-It available as a free service demonstrates our organization's ongoing concern for helping higher education websites maximize their content and communication potential. We hope that both our customers and other institution users benefit from our offering."

For more information on Transcode-It, visit www.transcodeit.com.

About OmniUpdate, Inc.

For nearly 25 years, OmniUpdate, Inc. (formerly known as WebsiteASP and Mainstay) has produced desktop and client-server applications. Today, OmniUpdate's Web CMS and social networking products are used to manage over 450 college and university websites, affecting over 3 million web pages.

For more information, visit www.omniupdate.com and www.transcodeit.com.

OmniUpdate Holds its 4th Annual User Conference for Higher Education

Fri, 7 Mar 2008 10:00:23 -0700

Empowering Web Excellence is the Critical Theme

CAMARILLO, Calif. - March 7, 2008 - OmniUpdate Inc., the leading provider of Web Content Management Software (CMS) for higher education, held its annual User Conference March 2 - 4, 2008 at the Wyndham Hotel in Palm Springs, CA. The conference invites customers and partners to learn about and share insights on the latest in Web CMS and social networking technologies affecting colleges and universities.

This year's conference theme was Empowering Web Excellence, and featured interactive sessions and best-practice workshops designed to help OmniUpdate users get the most from their institution's website. Topics included XML/XSL, Graphics Optimization, Single Sign-On and User Management, Social Networking and Blogs. In addition, hands-on educational sessions were offered specifically focused on enhancing the user knowledge associated with template and page tagging as well as content repurposing.

Keynote addresses were provided by Nathan Gerber, Utah Valley State College Web Development Director and Dr. Pamela Cox-Otto, CEO of Interact Communications. Session speakers included Derek Tonn, CEO of mapformation, LLC; Darren Wacker, Higher Education Business Consultant, James Tower; and guest speakers from both Pepperdine University and the University of California, Riverside.

During the conference, OmniUpdate announced several new and upcoming products and services: Transcode-ItTM, a free service allowing users to quickly convert, upload and display any video as a high quality Flash video on their website; OmniUpdate Version 8.0, a new user interface greatly enhancing the speed and user-intuitiveness of its Web CMS; and the addition of Online Chat and Social Networking products through a reseller relationship with Hobsons EMT. According to Justin Gatewood, Victor Valley College webmaster, "This User Conference made me feel excited and challenged to try new things when I get back to campus, and the evening social event was one of the best that I have ever attended."

According to Lance Merker, CEO of OmniUpdate, "The feedback we get from our customers at this annual conference is extremely important to us; it helps to shape our product roadmap and keeps us in touch with the consumer experience. Likewise, we hope to share with our attendees some insightful information and useful tools that help them empower the potential of their websites."

For more information on the OmniUpdate User Conference, including a complete Conference program, visit the Conference home at www.omniupdate.com/events/2008.

About OmniUpdate, Inc

For more information, visit www.omniupdate.com .

OmniUpdate Partners with Hobsons EMT to Add Instant Chat and Social Network Products to its Web Content Management Software Line

Mon, 3 Mar 2008 10:00:22 -0700

OmniUpdate Expands its Social Networking Platform

CAMARILLO, CA -- March 3, 2008 -- OmniUpdate Inc., a leading provider of Web Content Management Software (CMS) solutions for higher education, today announced a reseller partnership with Hobsons EMT to offer EMT Instant Chat and EMT Social Networking to OmniUpdate's product line.

EMT Instant Chat is a platform independent instant messaging application which runs through a Web browser. When an operator is logged on to the system, a button displays "chat with us" on the college or university home page which invites prospective students to engage in a chat session. If an operator is not present, the institution can choose to offer a "leave a message" option. Administrators can customize required fields such as name and e-mail address, and chat windows are branded to match the college Web site.

EMT Social Networking is a private and closed social network, enabling colleges and universities to create an environment around the topics students care about. The invitation-based social network offers all the standard online community functions such as blogs, picture sharing, buddy lists, and more. Branded to fit the look and feel of the client site, the moderation option also enables schools to ensure that participants stay on topic.

"We chose to partner with OmniUpdate because we have the greatest respect for their Web CMS technology. OmniUpdate's approach to both the higher education marketplace and software as a service (SaaS) is similar to our own," commented Sasha Peterson, Vice President of EMT Sales and Services, Hobsons EMT. "We're excited about this collaboration between two industry leaders, and our ability to offer best of breed technologies together in our joint marketplace."

Expanding upon Sasha's statement, Lance Merker, president and CEO of OmniUpdate, added that "OmniUpdate is excited to be working with Hobsons EMT to expand the social networking tools available through our Web CMS. This partnership is a testament to our continued focus on providing top notch Web solutions specifically designed for the needs of colleges and universities."

About OmniUpdate, Inc.

For nearly 25 years, OmniUpdate, Inc. (formerly known as WebsiteASP and Mainstay) has produced desktop and client-server applications. Today, OmniUpdate's web content management products are currently used to manage over 450 college and university websites, affecting over 3 million web pages.

For more information, visit www.omniupdate.com.

About Hobsons EMT

Hobsons EMT, a division of Hobsons U.S., produces Web-based cross-media software solutions designed to improve the efficiency of the modern college admissions office. Offerings include EMT Connect Admissions, EMT Retain, EMT ApplyYourself, and EMT Chat University. These modules work together or independently to help schools elevate their enrollment strategies efficiently, effectively, and easily. For more information, please visit us at www.hobsons-us.com/emt.

JustEditTM Now Available to OmniUpdate Customers

Tue, 31 Jul 2007 10:47:49 -0700

OmniUpdate continues to simplify the web content management process

Camarillo, California - July 31, 2007 - OmniUpdate Inc., a leading provider of web Content Management System (CMS) solutions for colleges and universities, has announced the availability of JustEdit, its newest CMS product enhancement.

The JustEdit feature allows content contributors to avoid clicking an edit button in order to modify the editable region of a page. The result is simply a more intuitive approach to web content editing, eliminating several procedural steps in the editing and publishing process. JustEdit is available to OmniUpdate customers at no additional charge, although the website administrator determines access on an organization-wide or individual basis.

According to Lance Merker, president and CEO of OmniUpdate, "OU has been specifically designed to enable non-technical staff to implement and maintain website content, without requiring that the contributor have technical knowledge or understand site design. The JustEdit feature helps to speed up this already successful user process."

About OmniUpdate, Inc.

For more information, visit www.omniupdate.com.

More than 20 Colleges and Universities Select OmniUpdate's Web Content Management System during the Last 60 Days

Tue, 24 Jul 2007 10:00:25 -0700

Company experiences new client growth at an unprecedented rate

Camarillo, California - July 24, 2007 - OmniUpdate Inc., a leading provider of web content management system (CMS) for higher education, announced today that during the last 60 days, over 20 new clients joined the ranks of colleges and universities utilizing OmniUpdate (OU) to manage their website content.

"As a web CMS company focused on the higher education market, we've taken a radically different approach with OU," states Lance Merker, president and CEO of OmniUpdate, Inc. "Most CMS solutions are based on the installation of proprietary software. These systems typically require a large, up-front financial commitment, extensive IT support, and technically competent users (content providers). OU takes a refreshingly alternative approach; it is designed as an on-demand system, scalable in price, with an intuitive user interface. Yet, behind the scenes, the system is powerful enough to manage the most complex website needs. Our competitively different positioning with a focus on simplicity for users has resulted in our largest single month of client growth in the company's history."

Institutions selecting OmniUpdate as of July include: University of California, Riverside; Columbus State University; New York University, Robert F. Wagner School of Public Service; Franklin Pierce College; Bethany University, Blackhawk Technical College; Santa Barbara City College; Diablo Valley College; Pitt Community College; all three campuses within the Ventura County Community College District as well as the District Office; and, all nine campuses within the Los Angeles County Community College District and the District Office.

About OmniUpdate, Inc.

For more information, visit www.omniupdate.com

XML, Web 2.0 Technologies Top the Higher Education Web Agenda at 2007 OmniUpdate User Conference

Thu, 8 Mar 2007 13:39:02 -0700

Company Also Unveils OmniUpdate v7 to Higher Ed Institutions, Renames the Company In Line with Flagship Product

Camarillo, Calif. - March 8, 2007 - The OmniUpdate annual user conference revealed an established higher education web focus on building the business case and learning to deploy the latest Web technologies. Held February 25-27 in Palm Springs, Calif., the event brought together marketing and web development professionals from some of the country's leading public, private and community colleges. The conference showcased both research into student web expectations, as training on how meet those expectations using Web 2.0 including blogs, personalized web pages, and XML-based publishing.

The conference keynote, Stephanie Geyer, Associate Vice President at Noel-Levitz reviewed findings from Noel-Levitz landmark "E-Expectations" research study showing that Web 2.0 features rate high with college-bound students and how employing those on a website can be a competitive advantage when recruiting.

WebsiteASP Inc, organizer of the conference and the company behind OmniUpdate, also provided details on a major new release of its flagship product, OmniUpdate version 7. Fully supporting XML/XSLT, OmniUpdate now becomes the first CMS to allow institutions to manage both legacy HTML content and XML-based content within a single environment.

"When it comes to migrating content to XML, we've decided to allow institutions to set their own pace by providing a CMS environment that supports both XML and HTML," said Lance Merker, CEO of WebsiteASP, Inc. "And, based on the incredibly positive feedback we received on version 7 at our user conference, we believe we offer the content management strategy that best suits colleges and universities. They can embrace the future without having to abandon their past work and investment."

In a related announcement, WebsiteASP also announced that the company was changing its name to OmniUpdate, Inc. to better align to the brand recognition that OmniUpdate has achieved in the Higher Education market.

Among the institutions represented were: Dartmouth College, Utah Valley State College, Pepperdine University, State University of New York at Delhi, Victor Valley Community College, The John Marshall Law School, Ohio Wesleyan University and Yosemite Community College District.

About OmniUpdate, Inc.

Designed specifically for Higher Education, OmniUpdate is currently used on over 450 college and university websites to simplify the process of creating, editing and publishing over 3 million web pages. For more information visit www.omniupdate.com

OmniUpdate Press Contact: Mary Ann Fitzhugh
email: mfitzhugh@omniupdate.com
voice: 800.362.2605 x206

OmniUpdate(TM) Launches First Ever CMS to Completely Handle the Transition of College and University Websites to XML

Mon, 26 Mar 2007 13:33:58 -0700

Palm Springs, Calif. - February 26, 2007 - WebsiteASP, Inc., the leading provider of web content management systems (CMS) for higher education, today announced the release of OmniUpdate version 7. OmniUpdate 7 is the first CMS to allow institutions to manage both legacy HTML content and XML-based content within a single environment. This ability to fully support both static web pages and dynamic XSLT template-controlled publishing eliminates the need for costly all-or-nothing site conversions. It also reduces the risk and high failure rates associated with implementing an XML-based CMS. With OmniUpdate 7, institutions can migrate to XML at their own pace, while using robust content management features to maintain legacy content.

Unveiled at this week's OmniUpdate annual user conference, OmniUpdate 7 supports full page, in-context editing for all data content types including XML. This sets it apart from other systems which force users to choose between full page editing and no XML support, or XML support with restricted forms-based editing.

"There's a gap in the CMS landscape. While XML is where everyone is going, today most college and university websites still have thousands of pages of HTML/XHTML-based content," said Lance Merker, CEO of WebsiteASP, Inc. "And, some HTML pages will not go away. It's not practical or even possible to 'start over' again and convert everything on day-one to XML just to implement a CMS. What's really needed is for the CMS to bridge the gap between where institutions are today and where they are going, while allowing for some stops along the way. That's what we've designed OmniUpdate 7 to address."

Based on XML/XSLT open standards, OmniUpdate version 7 provides template controlled publishing and repurposing to multiple outputs including XML, XHTML, HTML, text, and virtually any other file type. The ability to mix HTML/XHTML and XML, with output controlled via XSL transformation templates, offers institutions a complete solution for handling legacy content while utilizing the latest technologies.

OmniUpdate version 7 is available immediately and is delivered as a cost-effective, on-demand service.

About OmniUpdate

For more information visit www.omniupdate.com.

OmniUpdate Press Contact: Mary Ann Fitzhugh
email: mfitzhugh@omniupdate.com
voice: 800.362.2605 x206

OmniUpdate(TM) Announces 3rd Annual User Conference for Higher Education

Mon, 18 Dec 2006 13:30:35 -0700

Theme for 2007 Focuses on Meeting e-Expectations

Camarillo, California - December 18, 2006 - WebsiteASP, Inc., the company behind OmniUpdate making it the leading provider of web content management solutions for colleges and universities, is holding its annual user conference in early 2007. The conference invites customers and partners to learn about and share insights on the latest in Web technology, knowledge and training for higher education institutions. It's all part of the Third Annual User Conference for Higher Education.

The Conference, which will take place February 25-27, 2007 at the Wyndham Hotel in Palm Springs California, will feature interactive sessions and best-practice workshops designed to help OmniUpdate users get the most from their institution's website. This year's theme focuses on how and where institutions should invest to improve their website and e-communications experience for prospective students and other stakeholders. Topics range from how to utilize blogging and RSS in recruiting and communications, to effective web design techniques such as CSS and templates.

Speakers will include experts in higher education marketing and web design, including Keynote Stephanie Geyer, Executive Consultant with Noel-Levitz; Andrew Soderberg, Vice President Web Development Services with Interact Communications and Lance Merker, President/CEO WebsiteASP, Inc.

For more information, including a complete Conference program, registration and hotel accommodations, visit the Conference home at www.omniupdate.com/events

About WebsiteASP, Inc.

WebsiteASP, Inc., the company behind OmniUpdate, is the leading provider of web content management systems for Higher Education. Over 450 college and university websites use OmniUpdate to simplify the process of creating, editing and publishing over 3 million web pages.

OmniUpdate Press Contact: Mary Ann Fitzhugh
email: mfitzhugh@websiteasp.com
voice: 800.362.2605 x206

OmniUpdate(TM) Launches Solution for Admission Sponsored Blogs

Mon, 23 Oct 2006 13:27:18 -0700

OU Blogs(TM) Integrates with WordPress(TM) Publishing Platform

Camarillo, California - October 23, 2006 - WebsiteASP, Inc., the leading provider of web content management systems (CMS) for Higher Education today announced the release of OU Blogs, a unique blogging solution that combines the power of WordPress, a "best-of-breed" open source blog publishing system, with its OmniUpdate solution.

"We've seen growing interest from our customers in sponsoring student, faculty and even parent blogs. But while blogging tools are readily available and often free, there's still the issue of how to easily monitor and manage the content on these blogs, "said Lance Merker, President and CEO of WebsiteASP, Inc. "That's why we've developed OU Blogs. It integrates one of the leading free blogging engines, WordPress with OmniUpdate to provide a single, comprehensive solution for managing all of an institution's web content -including blogs."

Offered as an optional module to OmniUpdate, OU Blogs allows entries in WordPress blogs to be easily monitored using OmniUpdate's flexible workflow and approval system. Email notification is automatically sent when blog entries are ready for approval, encouraging bloggers to create timely, genuine content while ensuring that only appropriate content is published to the website. Additionally, OU Blogs streamlines and simplifies blog management by providing a single, consistent interface for managing both web pages and blogs.

"It's not uncommon to find WordPress already used somewhere on campus for blogging," observes Mr. Merker. "And, that's why we've chosen an open approach to supporting blogs rather than inventing our own proprietary tool."

OU Blogs is available immediately and is offered in configurations both with and without support for WordPress.

About WebsiteASP, Inc.

For more information, visit www.omniupdate.com/ou/blogs

OmniUpdate Press Contact: Mary Ann Fitzhugh
email: mfitzhugh@websiteasp.com
voice: 805-484-9400 x206

Higher Education Websites Using OmniUpdateTM for Web Content Management Grows to 450

Wed, 27 Sep 2006 13:24:12 -0700

OmniUpdate Continues As "CMS of Choice" for Colleges and Universities

Camarillo, California - September 27, 2006 - WebsiteASP, Inc., the leading provider of web content management systems (CMS) for Higher Education, announced today that the ranks of colleges and university websites using OmniUpdate has swelled from 200 to over 450.

"Increasingly it's the college and university marketing staff which manages the website and what they need is an affordable CMS that's easy to use, implement and support. Unfortunately most CMS products are designed for technical web developers, loaded with complex hard-to-learn features and very costly to rollout and support," states Lance Merker, President and CEO of WebsiteASP, Inc. "As a company focused exclusively on the Higher Education market, we took a radically different approach with OmniUpdate by designing a CMS that's incredibly simple to use, yet powerful enough to manage the most complex college website. And, our double-digit growth in the first half of 2006 demonstrates that our approach is absolutely the right one for the majority of colleges and universities."

The OmniUpdate .edu Solutions portfolio includes CMS solutions designed for the specific needs of campus staff, faculty ePortfolios, alumni organizations and even student pages. OmniUpdate goes beyond content management to address the web communications by integrating Web 2.0 capabilities including RSS and personalized content delivery via OU OnePageTM.

Institutions which recently selected OmniUpdate include Nicolet College, Nichols College, New York University Libraries, Study Abroad Foundation, Upper Iowa University and Victor Valley Community College. These institutions join a growing number of influential public, private and community colleges which use OmniUpdate to manage their web content including: Dartmouth College, Oxnard College, Pepperdine University, University of Massachusetts, California State University Long Beach, Tulane University, SUNY Oswego, SUNY New Paltz, Mills College, John Marshall Law School, Yosemite Community College District, El Camino College, Middlesex Community College, Estrella Mountain Community College, Simpson College, and Fielding Graduate Institute, Macon State College, Utah Valley State College, Louisiana Tech University, and University of Michigan Alumni Association.

About WebsiteASP, Inc.

For more information, visit www.omniupdate.com

OmniUpdate Press Contact: Mary Ann Fitzhugh
email: mfitzhugh@websiteasp.com
voice: 805-484-9400 x206

OmniUpdate(TM) Hits 3 Million Page Mark as Most Widely Adopted CMS in Higher Education

Tue, 26 Sep 2006 13:21:10 -0700

Camarillo, California - September 26, 2006 - WebsiteASP, Inc., the leading provider of web content management systems (CMS) for Higher Education, announced today that the number of college and university web pages that have been updated using its OmniUpdate solution has topped three million.

With the Web playing an increasing role in recruiting, retention and advancement, tools which enable marketing and other non-technical staff to easily maintain the website are no longer a luxury, but a necessity. Yet in spite of this need, steep learning curves and high upfront costs have prevented the widespread adoption of most traditional CMS products outside of IT departments. In contrast, OmniUpdate, with its "simple is better" approach to content management and low implementation costs, continues to both increase it's overall customer base in Higher Education, as well as numbers of users and frequency of use within its customer base.

"It really 'takes a village' to maintain the average college website. You need the participation of subject matter experts from admissions, financial aid, student affairs and many other departments to keep the site fresh, accurate and engaging," explains Mary Ann Fitzhugh, Vice President Marketing of WebsiteASP, Inc. "And, if you want their help, you really need to think about selecting a CMS that your users will actually want to use, not just one they'll have to use. We've designed OmniUpdate with that goal in mind and the usage statistics we see in our customer implementations is telling us that OmniUpdate actually encourages staff to keep the website up-to-date."

The OmniUpdate .edu Solutions portfolio includes CMS solutions designed for the specific needs of campus staff, faculty ePortfolios, alumni organizations and even student pages. OmniUpdate goes beyond content management to address web communications by integrating Web 2.0 capabilities including RSS and personalized content delivery via OU OnePage(TM).

Institutions which have selected OmniUpdate include Nicolet College, Nichols College, New York University Libraries, Study Abroad Foundation, Upper Iowa University, Victor Valley Community College, Dartmouth College, Oxnard College, Pepperdine University, University of Massachusetts, California State University Long Beach, Tulane University, SUNY Oswego, SUNY New Paltz, Mills College, John Marshall Law School, Yosemite Community College District, El Camino College, Middlesex Community College, Estrella Mountain Community College, Simpson College, and Fielding Graduate Institute, Macon State College, Utah Valley State College, Louisiana Tech University, and University of Michigan Alumni Association.

About WebsiteASP, Inc. WebsiteASP, Inc., the company behind OmniUpdate, is the leading provider of web content management systems for Higher Education. Over 450 college and university websites use OmniUpdate to simplify the process of creating, editing and publishing over 3 million web pages.

For more information, visit www.omniupdate.com

OmniUpdate Press Contact: Mary Ann Fitzhugh
email: mfitzhugh@websiteasp.com
voice: 805-484-9400 x206

New York University Libraries Selects OmniUpdate for Web Content Management

Tue, 12 Sep 2006 13:17:22 -0700

Camarillo, California - September 12, 2006 - WebsiteASP, Inc., the leading provider of web content management solutions for higher education today announced that New York University Libraries has selected WebsiteASP's OmniUpdate solution to better maintain its critical web content.

"Our website is a portal," said Roddy Austin, Director for Library IT and Classroom Media Services at New York University Libraries. "We have our physical resources, our virtual resources, and all kinds of additional services and information that we provide to library patrons. Our library website is the portal into all those virtual services. It plays a critical role."

New York University Libraries is a large academic research library which services not only NYU students and faculty - but is also the leader of a consortium in Manhattan which supports other organizations including but not limited to: Cooper Union, The New School, and the New York Historical Society.

The OmniUpdate solution was chosen by NYU because it matched what NYU Libraries had in mind as they evaluated solutions. "We selected OmniUpdate for its ease-of-use, workflow and functionality," noted Austin. "It's so simple to implement, it's intuitive and it makes sense. That's important for an institution of our size."

"As the gateway into a vast network of reference and research resources which is visited by millions a year, the NYU website is a great example of the need that academic libraries have for a content management solution," said Lance Merker, President and CEO of WebsiteASP, Inc. "We're really looking forward to working with NYU's librarians and staff, helping them reduce the complexity and time spent keeping the site fresh and accurate."

About WebsiteASP, Inc.

WebsiteASP, Inc., the company behind OmniUpdate, is the leading provider of web content management solutions for Higher Education. Over 200 college and university websites use OmniUpdate to simplify the process of creating, editing and publishing over 2.5 million web pages.

For more information, visit www.omniupdate.com

OmniUpdate Press Contact: Mary Ann Fitzhugh
email: mfitzhugh@websiteasp.com
voice: 805-484-9400 x206

Upper Iowa University Selects OmniUpdate as Web Content Management Solution

Wed, 12 Jul 2006 13:02:59 -0700

Largest Private University in Iowa Chooses Leading CMS to Manage Decentralized Web Presence

Camarillo, California - July 12, 2006 - WebsiteASP, Inc., the leading provider of web content management solutions for Higher Education, today announced Upper Iowa University's selection of its OmniUpdate OU Campus(TM) web content management solution.

"We knew it was time to go with a content management system so that we could open it up and allow various operating units within the university to maintain their own content - instead of going through one person," said Joel Kunze, Director of Web Services at Upper Iowa University.

Founded in 1857, Upper Iowa University (UIU) is headquartered in the northeast city of Fayette, Iowa. The university has 14 nationwide centers, a presence on various military bases as well as multiple international locations. With a global correspondence program, an online program and military students serving overseas, the UIU website is a critical component to the institution's decentralized nature.

"We reached that sort of tipping point, if you will, where something had to happen and we decided the time is right now: major website redesign, but incorporate within that a move to a web content management system," said Kunze. "Our goal now is to use the website as a marketing and promotional tool."

Designed specifically to meet the needs of higher education institutions, OmniUpdate allows colleges and universities of all sizes to better serve their current and prospective students with up-to-date information, in a disseminated yet controlled, consistent yet easy-to-use environment. "OmniUpdate really had what we were looking for," said Kunze.

"We're very excited to be working with Upper Iowa as they look to expand the role of their website to support a global, integrated marketing strategy" said Lance Merker, President and CEO of WebsiteASP, Inc. "As part of this strategy, UIU recognized that - aside from a redesign - they need to enable their highly distributed organization to contribute to the on-going goal of maintaining an exceptional web presence."

About WebsiteASP, Inc.

For more information, visit www.omniupdate.com

OmniUpdate Press Contact: Mary Ann Fitzhugh
email: mfitzhugh@websiteasp.com
voice: 805-484-9400 x206

OmniUpdate Broadens Support for the Virtual Alumni Organization

Tue, 23 Map 2006 13:00:22 -0700

OU Alumni(TM) Adds RSS Support and OU OnePage(TM) Personal Portal

Camarillo, California - May 23, 2006 - WebsiteASP, Inc., the leading provider of web content management solutions for Higher Education, has launched a new release of its solution for alumni organizations, OU Alumni. This release adds RSS support, along with OU OnePage(TM), the just-launched OmniUpdate web communications portal solution for delivering personalized content directly to alumni.

"The website is an incredibly powerful tool for building relationships with alumni," says Lance Merker, president and CEO of WebsiteASP Inc. "In fact, today's alumni look to the Web as the primary way to stay connected with each other and their alma mater. That's why it's vital that alumni organizations have the right tools for both creating a great site, and actually reaching their intended audience with their site."

Designed specifically to address the web content management needs of alumni websites, this release of OU Alumni allows content from an alumni site to be included in an RSS feed and offered to alumni on a subscription basis.

"Institutions are discovering the power of RSS to distribute time-sensitive news and information to alumni," said Merker. "Simply blasting out newsletters, notices and invite emails to alumni just doesn't work anymore. Instead, many organizations are turning to RSS news feeds as a way to allow alumni to subscribe to the just the information they want to receive from the institution directly, bypassing email inboxes altogether."

This latest release of OU Alumni also includes the just-launched OmniUpdate web communications portal solution, OU OnePage. OnePage provides organizations with the ability to deliver personalized content directly to alumni using a personalized, customizable web page. The alumni can further customize their OnePage with their favorite content including RSS news feeds, photos, and links.

OU Alumni builds a stronger web presence, lets staff and alumni easily remain connected, and nurtures lifelong relationships. OU Alumni is in use at prestigious associations including the Ohio State University Alumni Association and University of Michigan Alumni Association.

About WebsiteASP, Inc.

For more information, visit www.omniupdate.com.

OmniUpdate Press Contact: Mary Ann Fitzhugh
email: mfitzhugh@websiteasp.com
voice: 805-484-9400 x206

OmniUpdate Launches Web Communications Portal for Higher Education

Wed, 17 May 2006 12:56:55 -0700

OU OnePage Delivers Targeted Content & Personalized Online Experience

Camarillo, California - May 17, 2006 - WebsiteASP, Inc., the leading provider of web content management solutions for Higher Education, has launched OU OnePage, an innovative web communications portal solution for delivering personalized content directly to students, alumni, faculty and virtually anyone else who relies on the campus website to stay informed.

Unlike student information portals, OnePage provides users a customizable view of the news and information they want to see every day. Additionally, OnePage enables institutions to "push" targeted content from the public college website directly to users. OnePage enables administrators to deploy different page templates for different groups of users.

"Having a website that can deliver targeted content and messages to different groups is exactly the kind of website that institutions we work with are asking us to design, " notes Andrew Soderberg, President of Merlin Media, Inc., a premier producer of new media communications solutions for colleges and universities. "OnePage offers the ability to essentially control the page design user-by-user."

To encourage user adoption, OnePage provides users with a special drag-and-drop region where they can further personalize their page by adding and organizing content from other web sources including RSS news feeds, photos and favorite links.

"OU OnePage addresses a major challenge colleges and universities face: how to engage students and keep them coming back to the website for more," said Lance Merker, President and CEO of WebsiteASP, Inc. "With OnePage, the website comes to them in the form of a page that's controlled by the college, but gives the user the kind of personalized online experience they can get with something like Google® Home and MyYahoo®. It's the best of both worlds for both the college and their audience."

To help unify and streamline the web communications process, OnePage also provides access to campus-sanctioned tools such as email and chat, as well as a message broadcast feature for delivering personalized messages to users anytime they're logged in.

About WebsiteASP, Inc.

For more information, visit www.omniupdate.com/ou/onepage.

OmniUpdate Press Contact: Mary Ann Fitzhugh
email: mfitzhugh@websiteasp.com
voice: 805-484-9400 x206

OmniUpdate Continues to Help Insitutions Enhance and Extend Their Web Presence

Mon, 13 Mar 2006 12:51:28 -0700

OmniUpdate introduces enhanced support for RSS with availability of "RSS Groups"

Camarillo, California - March 13, 2006 - WebsiteASP, Inc., the leading provider of web content management solutions for Higher Education, has enhanced OmniUpdate's support of RSS with the release of RSS "Groups".

"We're seeing RSS feeds quickly becoming a standard feature on college and university websites," says Lance Merker, president and CEO of WebsiteASP, Inc. These institutions are discovering the power of RSS to distribute personalized, time-sensitive news and information from the institution. Simply blasting emails to students, faculty and alumni just doesn't work anymore. We see RSS used to disseminate everything from daily campus bulletins to library collection updates to press releases, event announcements and Alumni newsletters."

OmniUpdate, RSS & "Groups"

OmniUpdate is tool that makes it quick and easy to maintain and enhance the college website. Simple WYSIWYG editing allows staff with a basic knowledge of word processing to update existing web pages and create new pages. OmniUpdate also includes a powerful workflow/approval system to control which controls pages published and ensures a consistent Web presence.

OmniUpdate's RSS Module takes web publishing one step further, enabling content to be syndicated into news "feeds", which are then subscribed to by visitors to the College site. Now, with the Groups feature, content managers can automatically "aggregate" or combine multiple feeds into one or more unique feeds

"A simple example of how RSS Groups might be used, is to take individual departmental feeds, including press releases, campus events and Alumni events and group them into a single mega-feed for the entire university site," explains Mary Ann Fitzhugh, Director of Marketing for OmniUpdate. "Or, you can go in the other direction, have one feed for all college athletics and many sub-feeds for individual programs like football, basketball, track & field, soccer, etc. This grouping of feeds allows your audience to subscribe only to content they're interested in. And, when you combine this capability with OmniUpdate's What's New Live(TM) Module which allows you to broadcast your feeds back to any page on the college site, you really have a complete solution for both 'pushing' the right content to the right audience and 'pulling' more of your target audience back for many return visits your site."

OmniUpdate, the RSS Module, including Groups and What's New Live(TM) are all currently available.

About WebsiteASP, Inc.

Founded in 1984, WebsiteASP has been focused on developing software solutions for many of the largest and most influential institutions in the United States. Our mission is simple--Enable every college and university large or small, private or public, to fully utilize the latest technology by providing solutions that are incredibly easy-to-use, simple to deploy campus-wide and highly cost-effective. The OmniUpdate .edu suite of Web Content Management products delivers just that. Designed specifically for use by faculty, administrative staff and students, OmniUpdate utilizes ground-breaking technology to bring the simplicity of document editing to web publishing--without knowledge of HTML or programming.

The first to deliver content management as a on-demand hosted application service, as well as a via plug-and-play on-site appliances, WebsiteASP continues to build on our solutions legacy in Higher Education by continuing to turn innovative Web technology into easy-to-use solutions for enabling institutional website excellence.

Together with a growing number of partners, integrators and resellers, WebsiteASP serves it's customers from headquarters in Camarillo, CA.

For more information, visit www.omniupdate.com.

OmniUpdate Press Contact: Mary Ann Fitzhugh
email: mfitzhugh@websiteasp.com
voice: 805-484-9400 x206

OmniUpdate Adds RSS to Web Content Management

Tue, 4 Oct 2005 12:47:18 -0700

OmniUpdate Partners with Dartmouth College on Emerging Web Technology

- WebsiteASP, Inc., the leading provider of web content management solutions for Higher Education, has added Real Simple Syndication (RSS) support to OmniUpdate, allowing easy creation and management of news feeds from their website.

RSS is a format used to distribute and gather content from sources across the web, including news-like sites, blogs and any content that can be condensed into an item for syndication. Colleges and universities, increasingly, use RSS feeds for real-time publishing of news, articles and events from campus sites.

"Our Web editors at Dartmouth College work diligently to keep thousands of pages up-to-date and accurate. Now, with RSS feeds built into OmniUpdate, they will be able to help people find that new information immediately. Easy publishing, plus easy find-ability is the next evolution of the Web," says Jay Collier, Associate Director, Dartmouth Web Publishing Services. "OmniUpdate has implemented an RSS publishing process that is integrated into the content approval workflow, so each author and editor can easily contribute to RSS feeds. Simple and effective."

"We believe RSS takes the next step in web publishing by syndicating web content and proactively 'pushing' it to communities of interests. RSS allows institutions to broaden the reach and frequency of their communications with students, faculty, alumni and members of the community who subscribe to their feeds," says Lance Merker, president and CEO of WebsiteASP, Inc. "We're fortunate to have a visionary client like Dartmouth partner with us on the requirements for integrating RSS into OmniUpdate."

How RSS & OmniUpdate work OmniUpdate, designed specifically for Higher Education staff provides familiar Word-like editing of web pages, together with powerful workflow features to control content publication. With RSS, OmniUpdate takes web publishing one step further, enabling staff to syndicate web content into "feeds" which are automatically distributed and read by any RSS-aware applications, such as Yahoo, Google and many Internet Browsers. Using OmniUpdate, staff can create as many feeds as they need to keep the campus community informed about the latest news, articles, blogs and events.

For more than 22 years, WebsiteASP, Inc. has been focused on producing applications to help companies manage their business processes. Today, WebsiteASP products are in use in 10,000 customer sites worldwide.

For more information, visit www.omniupdate.com.

OmniUpdate Press Contact:
Mary Ann Fitzhugh
email: mfitzhugh@websiteasp.com
voice: 805-484-9400 x206

Increasingly, Colleges and Universities Select OmniUpdate for Web Content Management

Thu, 25 Aug 2005 12:43:31 -0700

OmniUpdate Helps Institutions Improve the College Website

Camarillo, California - August 25, 2005 -WebsiteASP, Inc., the leading provider of web content management solutions for Higher Education, announced that nine additional institutions have selected OmniUpdate to manage their web content. The nine institutions are: Casper College (WY), Cochise College (AZ), Cortiva Education (NY), Macon State College (GA), Ohio State Alumni Association (Columbus, OH) SUNY College of Technology at Delhi (NY), SUNY College at Oneonta (NY), University of Chicago (IL) and University of Maryland-Baltimore(MD).

OmniUpdate has been specifically designed to enable non-technical marketing, enrollment management and development staff to maintain and enhance the college website. OmniUpdate Campus provides familiar Word-like editing of web pages, plus a powerful workflow system to ensure that only approved content is published.

"We're hearing from the many institutions we work with, both public and private, that the college website is a critical marketing tool, driving enrollment and development activities," said Lance Merker, president and CEO of WebsiteASP, Inc. "Unfortunately, most institutions lack the IT resources needed to keep their site maintained. This usually restricts enrollment management and marketing from making the types of website changes and enhancements needed to increase recruiting. OmniUpdate allows these departments to take back control of making changes to the website, without IT support or affecting the overall design of the website. And, because OmniUpdate is both affordable and easily implemented, even the smallest institution can reap the recruiting benefits of having an excellent website that attracts prospective students."

These nine institutions join a growing list of colleges and universities who use OmniUpdate to manage the web content including Dartmouth College, Pepperdine University, University of Massachusetts, California State University Long Beach, Tulane University, SUNY Oswego, SUNY New Paltz, Mills College, John Marshall Law School, Yosemite Community College District, El Camino College, Muskegon Community College, Middlesex Community College, Estrella Mountain Community College, Simpson College, and Fielding Graduate Institute, Utah Valley State College, Louisiana Tech University, and University of Michigan Alumni Association.

About WebsiteASP, Inc.

For more than 22 years, WebsiteASP, Inc. (formerly known as Mainstay) has produced desktop and client-server applications used by higher education institutions worldwide. Today, WebsiteASP's OmniUpdate web content management products are currently used to manage over 200 college and university websites with the flexibility and control demanded by such institutions

For more information, visit www.omniupdate.com.

OmniUpdate Press Contact:
Mary Ann Fitzhugh
email: mfitzhugh@websiteasp.com
voice: 805-484-9400 x206

Higher Education Web Content Managers Deemed "Heroes of the Web" for Their Efforts

Wed, 4 May 2005 12:39:13 -0700

Camarillo, California - May 4, 2005 - WebsiteASP, Inc. today announced their findings of an internal study focused on analyzing web content management as it pertains to higher education institutions.

According to Google(TM) there are approximately 8 billion web pages on the World Wide Web today. Those pages are served by about 50 million different web sites which amount to an average of 160 pages per site.

By contrast, WebsiteASP in-house experts have also ascertained that higher education web sites host approximately 200 million web pages divided between about 5,000 higher education web sites. This calculation amounts to 40,000 web pages, on average, per higher education web site which is about 250 times more pages than the average web site on the Web.

Higher education web sites make up less than .01% of all web sites, yet account for over 2.5% of all available web content.

"Looking at these statistics - excluding only the largest e-commerce and media-related sites - it has become evident that there are no harder working content managers than those at college and universities today," said Lance Merker, president of WebsiteASP, Inc.

The study also notes that higher education institutional web sites have become "an important supplement, and in many cases a complete replacement, for information dissemination, research and transactions. College web sites, and those who manage them, are expected to offer an unprecedented volume and variety of information and services."

Born from the internal study of web content management experts at WebsiteASP, Inc., a white paper written by Merker and entitled "Heroes of the Web" was released in April 2005. The white paper can be found at: http://www.omniupdate.com/images/downloads/white_paper0405.pdf

About WebsiteASP, Inc.

For more than 22 years, WebsiteASP, Inc. (formerly known as Mainstay) has been focused on producing desktop and client-server applications that help companies efficiently manage the processes that run their businesses. Today, WebsiteASP products are in use at over 10,000 customer sites worldwide, including many of the largest and most influential colleges and universities in the United States.

For more information, visit the company's web sites: www.websiteasp.com and www.omniupdate.com.

OmniUpdate Press Contact:
Mark Glesne
email: mark@websiteasp.com
voice: 805-484-9400 x204

Higher Education Colleagues Gather in Palm Springs at First Annual OmniUpdate User Conference

Wed, 2 Mar 2005 12:34:28 -0700

Palm Springs, California - March 2, 2005 - Higher education colleagues from across the nation made their way to Palm Springs, California to attend the 1st Annual 2005 OmniUpdate User Conference for Higher Education. Promoted as the perfect opportunity for attendees to interact with other faculty and staff from across the country, as well as OmniUpdate developers and staff, the conference featured roundtable, how-to, strategy, and support and training sessions for those in attendance.

The conference included sessions presented by key OmniUpdate administrators from colleges and universities across the country, including Dartmouth College, California State University Long Beach, and Pepperdine University. Sessions ranged from web content management best practices, to strategies for unifying and standardizing on Web site look and feel for institutions with diverse multi-campus organizations.

"The feedback has been terrific," said Lance Merker, OmniUpdate President and CEO. "We set out to provide our attendees with a diverse session program, and thought inspiring interaction with colleagues, in a relaxing environment conducive to learning. I can confidently say that we achieved that goal. We are very pleased with the success of the conference and I already look forward to next year."

Among the higher education institutions represented were: Dartmouth College, California State University Long Beach, Pepperdine University, State University of New York Oswego, State University of New York Delhi, The John Marshall Law School, Mills College, Santa Ana College, El Camino College, Oxnard College, Yosemite Community College District and Oakland Community College.

"Congratulations to the OU staff for a superb user conference. I think it was one of the best I have attended. Well organized, great resources and invaluably informative," said Ron Rosemblum, Manager of Campus Technology Services at State University of New York Delhi.

The conference presented Jay Collier, Dartmouth College's Senior Web Producer, as the conference keynote speaker. Collier gave the keynote address entitled "Sustaining the University Web: Strategies for Success" and also spoke later in the conference on the topic of best side design strategies and practices.

Pam Cox-Otto, author of Make Your Web Site Work: Research and Guidance for Effective Recruiting, gave the conference closing address entitled "What 2000 High School Students are Saying About Your Web Site --and Why it's so Important for You to Know."

"The conference was a great experience. [I'm] looking forward to next year's," said Don Michaels, Associate for Instructional Services at State University of New York Oswego.

About WebsiteASP, Inc.

For more information, visit the company's websites: www.websiteasp.com and www.omniupdate.com.

OmniUpdate Press Contact:
Mark Glesne
email: mark@websiteasp.com
voice: 805-484-9400 x204

'Underappreciated' Higher Education Web Sites Recognized by Experts and Peers

Thu, 24 Feb 2005 12:28:32 -0700

Camarillo, California - February 24, 2005 - WebsiteASP, Inc. today announced the launch of the Higher Education Web site Recognition Program to recognize the overwhelming amount of content maintained by college and university Web sites and the importance of the information they disseminate.

The program is designed to recognize certain higher education institutional Web sites for accomplishments in a variety of areas ranging from accessibility and ease of navigation, to content depth and freshness.

"As specialists in this field, we understand that maintaining the overwhelming quantity of educational Web content to the level of excellence expected by the stakeholders of the college is an unimaginably challenging task - and one that deserves special recognition," said WebsiteASP, Inc. CEO Lance Merker. "The higher education Web site is truly the underappreciated medium of our time."

The first round of the recognition program will see Web sites awarded the Higher Education Web site Recognition Award(TM) (HEWRA) for various aspects of the institutional site. Recognized sites will then be judged by a diverse panel of judges to include higher education administrators from across the nation, as well as college students, industry professionals, and high school seniors who are planning to attend college. The prevailing Web sites will be awarded the annual WebsiteASP Higher Education Web Content Management Excellence Award(TM) for their efforts.

Content on many of the largest commercial Web sites is maintained by top communication specialists, full-time Web content management professionals, and in some cases outsourced advertising agencies. Content on higher education Web sites however is maintained for the most part by the subject matter experts, institutional staff, faculty, and even student volunteers. Yet, the content these sites disseminate help fuel the education process, and has far reaching effects on research professionals worldwide on subjects of science, medicine, engineering, and more.

According to Google(TM), there are approximately 50 million publicly available web pages belonging to higher education web sites in the United States alone. That's nearly 1% of all US web pages. Excluding exceptionally large commercial sites such as news, media, Amazon.com and eBay.com, statistics show the average web site contains approximately 100 pages. Comparatively, the average college website contains over 7,000 web pages.

"The efforts put forth by Web content managers at colleges and universities are heroic in proportion to all other Web sites," said Merker. "We feel that recognition of this feat is long overdue."

About WebsiteASP, Inc.

For more information, visit the company's website: www.websiteasp.com

OmniUpdate Press Contact:
Mark Glesne
email: mark@websiteasp.com
voice: 805-484-9400 x204