Images have never mattered more to marketers, brands, social media managers and customers. How can you use images to create an emotional connection? One strategy is to give context to your images by showing people in their natural setting, such as in the field, home, cafe' or office compared with cold, static shots.This helps people envision themselves in the same setting and may inspire them to use our services or products.

Bruce Sundeen has some tips on taking high-quality photos, Please share your photos on the Ag Comm Flickr group.

As with all marketing strategies, keep in mind your long-term, big-picture goals. Using images and visual social media strategies should be just one part of a comprehensive, integrated marketing strategy. The key to marketing success on social channels and beyond is all about producing engaging content,and your visual strategy should be no different.

(Some information used with permission from PRWeb)

Rich Mattern, Information Specialist, (701) 231-6136

All meetings and classes offered over the Interactive Video Network (IVN) now utilize Tegrity for recording. This recording is done at the host site rather than on the IVN servers. Tegrity requires some equipment modifications in the video rooms. It can record a live event and pre-record presentations. Tegrity requires a computer in the room, a free software download and audio adaptations. Minimal training is needed since the presenter needs to set up the record feature. For more information and recommendations for adapting, contact David Belgarde with NDUS Advanced Learning Technologies (ALT) at (701) 777-4232.

Also, Polycom’s Converged Management Application (CMA) has replaced ConferenceMe. CMA is desktop-based software that allows users to connect to classes or meetings from their computer if they do not have access to a videoconferencing room. A webcam, USB headphone with microphone, user account and brief training are required. To create an account or learn more, contact Daniel Erichsen at (701) 231-5136 or David Belgarde at (701) 777-4232. For technical difficulties during the event, call the ALT help desk at (701) 777-6486.

Linda McCaw, Ag Videoconference Scheduler, (701) 231-7881

NDSU will be retiring support for Windows XP at the end of June. Any computer, on or off campus, still running Windows XP will need to either be upgraded  to Windows 7 or replaced with a newer model to continue receiving technical support.

To find out if your computer can be upgraded, visit the Ag IT Advisory Group (AITAG) hardware baseline and compare your computer to the Windows 7 upgrade table. If your computer is the same model or newer than the computers listed, you can request an upgrade through your departmental software contact. If you have questions, contact the ITS help desk at (701) 231-8685, Option 1.

For those of you on campus, the switch from Novell to Active Directory (AD) is drawing near. In about one month, everyone with computers not migrated will not automatically connect to the shared drives. In the next couple weeks, many of you will receive email from the NDSU help desk discussing the migration of the U, S and X drives. These messages will provide details on the upcoming move and what you need to do (if anything) to prepare. Please be sure to read these messages!

Since computers running Windows XP are not being connected to the Active Directory, they will need to be connected to the new shared drives manually. More information can be found on the ITS File Services website under Connect to Windows File Services.

Jerry Ranum, Desktop Support Specialist; ITS Help Desk, (701) 231-8685

Almost every day I see at least one post on Facebook that makes me think, "Is that for real?" Images like the one below about U.S. soldiers being denied breakfast are great at getting people motivated to click the "Share" button, but are they true?

Like most inaccurate content, the letter in the photo below has a tiny grain of truth in it, but on the whole is untrue.

When you are active on social media, whether personally or professionally, it is important to be able to distinguish content that can be trusted from rumor. Often a quick search will tell you if there is evidence to support the content being shared.

Before you retweet or share something on social media, take a moment to assess the reliability of the info. One quick way to test information for reliability is to use the CRAAP test. CRAAP is an acronym that stands for currency, relevance, authority, accuracy, and purpose. Ask questions like:

• Is the information current?
• Who is the author or publisher?
• What are their qualifications?Is the information supported by evidence?
• Can you verify the information from another source?
• What is the purpose of the information? to inform? teach? sell? entertain? persuade?

If you want to learn more, Steve Judd of the Network Literacy Community of Practice has a helpful blog post, "Is that so? - Assessing the reliability of online information".

Bob Bertsch, Web Technology Specialist, (701) 231-7381

Google+ (Google's social networking tool) Hangouts allow users to easily invite up to nine other users at a time into a high-quality video conferencing environment. I am a member of the Network Literacy Community of Practice (CoP), and we have used Google+ Hangouts along with Google Drive (formerly called Google Docs) to create content collaboratively in real time. It's a pretty great tool.

Google has taken Hangouts to another level by allowing them to be broadcast via YouTube. You can have a Hangout with up to 10 people who are able to share their video and voice, and share that Hangout with the world. These Hangouts are called Hangouts On Air, and I think they can be a great tool for education. They are broadcast live and remain archived on YouTube.

I have participated as a contributor in a couple of Hangouts On Air sponsored by eXtension and the Network Literacy CoP. Here's one I moderated on personal vs. professional online identity (youtu.be/bVIbvHzcV0M).

Ag Comm Web Services is looking for teams of collaborators who would like to pilot Google+ Hangouts On Air. If you have a team of six or more people who share an educational goal, and you can commit to the time and training required to produce six Hangouts On Air in 2013, we would love to work with you.

Sonja and I will provide training, assist with setting up required accounts, help with technical troubleshooting and do whatever we can to make your experience with this new tool a success.

If you have a team that is interested or you'd like to talk more about this project, please contact us.

Bob Bertsch, Web Technology Specialist, (701) 231-7381
Sonja Fuchs, Web Technology Specialist, (701) 231-6403

Despite common usage, “in” and “within” shouldn’t be used interchangeably.

“In” describes the location of a person, animal or thing. For example, you would say: “The stray cows were found in the corn field” or “Oak and elm trees are common in North Dakota forests,” NOT “The stray cows were found within the corn field” or “Oak and elm trees are common within North Dakota forests.”

“Within” implies a sense of limits on something. Thus, you would say: “You must complete this test within 30 minutes.” This indicates you can’t take more than 30 minutes to complete the test, but you can take less time.

“In” also can be used in a time sense, but it indicates a certain activity will take a specific amount of time. For example: “I can walk around the block in five minutes.”

Ellen Crawford, information specialist, (701) 231-5391

Ag Comm Graphics provides Facebook profile pictures and cover photos with the NDSU Extension logo.

Profile Picture example (localized to Ramsey County)

NDSU Extension Service cover photo (localized to Ramsey County)

There is no charge. Please allow several business days to have a logo produced. Email Dave Haasser in Graphics or call him at (701) 231-8620 to get a personalized profile picture for your county, department or REC.

Facebook Cover Photo without localization

You can also use this cover photo that is generic to NDSU Extension Service.

1. Right click the image and choose "Save Image As"
2. Save to your computer to upload it to Facebook

If you have any problems uploading your profile picture or cover photo to Facebook, please contact:

Bob Bertsch, Web Technology Specialist, (701) 231-7381
Sonja Fuchs, Web Technology Specialist, (701) 231-6403

Chances are, you’re not a web designer. If you’ve ever wanted to spruce up your website or are just starting, be sure to listen to the one hour recorded webinar from eXtension “Getting the Most from Your Landing Pages”.

In a nutshell, here’s how you can cook up a great landing page:

1. Start with a relevant headline and use subheadings in the Ag CMS to make it stand out.

2. Add great content- not too much, not too little. Don’t forget good grammar and to be concise.

3. End with a call to action. So many times Extension is about information, but you can still end with someone’s contact information or links to related resources.

4. Sprinkle in related photos and videos.

 Not enough time to listen to the webinar? Check out this infographic Anatomy of a Perfect Landing Page.

Sonja Fuchs, Web Technology Specialist, (701) 231-6403

It’s January, so there must be changes in the postal rates. New  prices will take effect Jan 27. Single-piece 1-ounce First-Class Mail letters will increase 1 cent to 46 cents. Additional ounces remain at 20 cents. The price for mailing a First-Class Mail postcard will increase by 1 cent to 33 cents.

First Class Mail International, Standard Mail, Periodicals, Bound Printed Matter, Media Mail/Library Mail, and Extra Services and Fees also will increase.

The Postal Service encourages all mailers using the POSTNET barcode on their mailings to transition to the Intelligent Mail barcode by Jan. 28 to continue receiving automated prices. Contact me to learn about ways you may be able to save money on mailings large or small.

Sharon Lane, Distribution Center Manager, (701) 231-7883