Time: April 10, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm Speakers: Angelica Mennella This presentation will cover how to begin implementation of SEO (search engine optimization) for web marketing. I’ll explain key concepts for on-page SEO such as page structure, header tags, meta descriptions, and keyword research. I will also explain the technical concepts of off-page SEO, […]
Event tag: Content
Beyond the Abstract: Research and Content Strategies that Resonate
Time: April 9, 1:30 pm – 2:00 pm Speakers: John Moist Communication is essential at a research university. It’s how ideas transcend the lab or classroom to shape public conversations and have real-world impact. But turning complex topics, dense information, or deep research into compelling messages is a craft of its own. This session offers […]
Finding Our Footing: Pivoting Communications in Unprecedented Times
Time: April 9, 9:45 am – 10:45 am Speakers: Claire Benjamin, Lauren Quinn, and Steve Wald The game has changed. In the past 18 months, shifting federal directives and volatile public debates left our communications team on uncertain footing—we suddenly weren’t sure how to do our jobs. In response, we’ve fundamentally reimagined our approach to […]
Teaching Case Study: ChatGPT and Beyond – Exploring AI in Advertising
Time: April 10, 2:45 pm – 3:45 pm Speakers: Maris Peacock Piloted in Spring 2024 and refined in 2025, AI and Advertising is a cross-disciplinary elective at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. The course combines hands-on use of AI tools with critical discussions on ethics and brand trust, alongside insights from industry and guest speakers. […]
Different by Design: Transforming a Century-Old Brand’s Web Presence
Time: April 9, 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm Speakers: Jeremy Perkins, Doug Gruse How do you reinvent the digital identity of a 100-year-old institution? For the University of Baltimore, the answer was to become different by design. Their website redesign project set out to do more than refresh the university’s website—they aimed to create a […]
Putting the Content Into Content Strategy
Time: April 9, 2:45 pm – 3:45 pm Speakers: Laura Podeschi Web projects rarely start with a blank slate. More often, you have to work within an aging system, legacy integrations, missing documentation—or all of the above. It adds to the already-challenging work of delivering features, hitting deadlines, and maintaining team sanity. For web managers, […]
TL;DR, How to Write When No One’s Reading
Time: April 10, 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm Speaker: Liz Shallenberger You have three seconds to grab your website visitors’ attention. That’s it. This presentation teaches you how to be ruthless with your words. Create content your audience will actually engage with. We’ll cover how to write when no one has the time, attention, or […]
Cutting Through the Noise: Identifying What Matters in Brand Communication
Time: April 4, 1:30 pm – 2:30 pm Speakers: Renee Lyell, Keith Miller Learn how Illinois Human Resources uses job fair materials, billboards, geofencing, QR codes, and other innovative tools to bring the Illinois Value Proposition to life. This session will highlight how these strategies enhance brand communication and offer practical tips for creating impactful […]
CANCELED – An Introduction to Inclusive and Accessible UX Writing
The live session is canceled, but the speaker is providing a recording of the talk after the conference. Time: April 4, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm Speaker: Cheryl Cline To reach the widest audience, user-experience writers must strive to write inclusive, accessible copy. I will critique real-world examples of UX copy, list resources that UX […]
Electronic Music Production to Spice Up Your Online Content!
Time: April 4, 11:00 am – 12:00 pm Speaker: Sebastian Kelle As content creators, you might, at some point, wonder how best to use music. It can help set the mood and bring life to your content. But instead of dealing with licenses, how about creating your own? Electronic music production doesn’t have to be […]