Two days. Six presenters. Seventeen sessions.
Tuesday, February 27
General Session: Welcome, 8:30 – 9:00 a.m., Co-creators of The Center for Rural Enterprise Engagement, Dr. Cheryl Boyer, Dr. Lauri Baker, Dr. Hikaru Peterson, & CREE Managing Director, Cassie Wandersee
General Session: Keeping Up with Updates, 9:00 – 9:30 a.m., Cassie Wandersee
The world of new-media marketing is evolving at such a fast pace that it can be difficult to keep up with all the changes. In this session, learn about major changes on the most popular platforms for new-media marketing and how to adapt your marketing.
General Session: Building Your Narrative: Story Circles, 9:30 – 10:30 a.m., Dr. Lauri Baker and Dr. Cheryl Boyer
You have original stories to tell your customers. In this interactive session, you will develop your stories into marketing content. Learn how others tell their stories and help each other think through marketing challenges.
Meet with network groups & get coffee refills, 10:30 – 11:00 a.m.
Concurrent Sessions: Analytics, 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
A) Introduction to Facebook Analytics, Dr. Lauri Baker, and CREE Intern, Chelsie Calliham
You have your Facebook page started; now how do you measure your wins and opportunity areas? Join us for an interactive introductory session on Facebook analytics and learn what works for your audience. Participants will need to bring their own laptop.
B) Advanced Facebook Analytics, Cassie Wandersee
Are you ready to take your analytics to the next level? Use this interactive analytics session to go beyond the provided Facebook Insights and gain a deeper understanding of how your Facebook followers engage with your content. Participants will need to bring their own laptop. Facebook accounts should have at least 120 posts with ideally over 1,000 followers.
Lunch & Keynote Panel
12:15 – 1:30 p.m.
Concurrent Sessions: Curating and Creating Visual Content, 1:30 – 2:30 p.m.
A) Going “Live” for Facebook Video, CREE Audience Engagement Specialist, Mikhayla Demott and Dr. Cheryl Boyer
Are you using Facebook Live? If not, you definitely should be! Facebook Live may seem intimidating, but it doesn’t have to be. This session will give you the tools you need to go live. Facebook’s algorithm places a priority on live videos, so come see what it’s all about and watch your engagement soar!
B) Still Image Curating and Editing, Dr. Lauri Baker and Chelsie Calliham
Ready to step up your content with photos and graphics? We have you covered with our curating and editing session. In this session, we will take a look into two web-based apps, Canva and Spark, and how your business can benefit from using them. Participants will need to bring their own laptop.
Concurrent Sessions: Building Your Brand Through Websites, 2:30 – 3:30 p.m.
A) Building Your Website with Easy Tools, Mikhayla Demott & Chelsie Calliham
A well-designed and appealing website is essential for business success. Wix provides a free and paid options for website design templates that are easy to use and manage. In this session, we will walk you through the steps to set up your website, integrating your story-telling content from earlier in the day. Participants will need to bring their own laptops.
B) Building Your Brand Across Platforms, Dr. Cheryl Boyer and Dr. Lauri Baker
Consistent branding and storytelling can increase engagement and build relationships with clientele across multiple platforms. Learn how to share your brand’s story through your website and other new-media marketing channels.
Break with coffee and snacks, 3:30 – 4:00 p.m.
Concurrent Sessions: Engaging Your Followers, 4:00 – 5:00 p.m.
A) Converting Followers Into Customers, Dr. Lauri Baker
Our research has shown that customers are interested in a wholehearted approach to brand engagement. New-media marketing efforts should include a multi-faceted strategy, which, yes, should include selling. This session will include guided work time to plan and create promotional content.
B) Beyond the Screen: Recruiting Participants for In-Person Training and Events, Dr. Cheryl Boyer and CREE graduate student Deanna Reid
Many marketing goals focus on getting followers to participate in events in person. Learn how to attract online followers to sign up and show up.
General Session: An Introduction to Google Analytics, 5:00 – 5:30 p.m., Cassie Wandersee
You’ve created a website and are actively working to drive potential consumers to your site. Do you know how well your efforts are performing? Walk through the basic functions of the platform. Participants will need to bring their own laptops. It is strongly encouraged that participants establish a Google Account before the session.
Welcome Reception and Networking
Drinks and light snacks provided
5:30 – 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, February 28
General Session: Courting Followers, 8:00 – 9:00 a.m., Dr. Cheryl Boyer, Dr. Lauri Baker and Cassie Wandersee
- Customer Service: In person or online, customer service is key for businesses. Social media now brings a whole new significance to customer satisfaction. Join us and learn how to build your business’ online reputation.
- Conflict Resolution: Consumer-generated content can make or break our brand image online. Bad reviews, trolls, or a disgruntled former employee can drive away potential customers, impacting your bottom line. Build your confidence to engage in negative feedback and turn a negative experience into a positive impression.
Concurrent Sessions: Beyond Social Media, 9:00 – 10:00 a.m.
A) Are You Ready for E-Commerce? Mikhayla Demott and Dr. Lauri Baker
You will leave this session knowing whether you are ready for e-commerce and if not, we will teach you how to get there. Selling online is a great next step for anyone looking to increase sales and convenience for customers. Join us for a fun quiz and leave e-commerce ready!
B) Working Within Guidelines for Cross-Platform Branding in Extension, Cassie Wandersee and Dr. Cheryl Boyer
K-State Research and Extension uses a content management system (CMS) platform to host official county and district websites. This session will introduce the platform and the best practices for content strategy on the platform. We will also cover branding guides for K-State Research and Extension. Additional resources and contacts for website support will be provided during the session.
Break w/coffee, 10:00 – 10:30 a.m.
General Session: Content Planning and Strategy, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. CREE Co-Creators Dr. Lauri Baker, Dr. Cheryl Boyer and Dr. Hikaru Peterson
Take the time to examine your content strategy and plan two weeks of content across multiple platforms. Assigning publishing roles, designating content creators, and addressing multiple audiences will all be considered in this session. The storytelling skills you learned earlier will be vital as you develop a content strategy and plan content for two weeks!
Putting It All Together, 11:30 – 12:00 p.m., CREE Team
To-go lunch option
Optional consultation/training session with CREE, 1:00 – 5:00 p.m.