FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Feb. 17, 2009

Contact: K.E. Schwab  

724.738.2199

 karl.schwab@sru.edu

Web site expert plans ‘Writing for the Web’ workshop at SRU

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. – Bob Johnson, president of Bob Johnson Consulting LLC and an expert in research on how to better engage Web site visitors, will offer a “Writing for the Web” workshop Wednesday on the Slippery Rock University campus. Johnson’s visit is sponsored by University Public Relations.

           The free 9-11:30 a.m. workshop, open to faculty and staff, will be in the Russell Wright Alumni House and Conference Center. A limited number of slots are still available. Reservations may be made by calling 724.738.2178. 

           Johnson’s specialties include “Customer Carewords,” research to better engage Web site visitors, online experiences to build brand recognition and respect, competitive Web site reviews and communication capability reviews of individual college and university Web sites. He is a senior partner with Gerry McGovern at Customer Carewords Ltd. in Dublin, Ireland.

           His popular, monthly e-mail newsletter “Your Higher Education Marketing Newsletter” is sent to 4,100 subscribers at more than 933 U.S. colleges and universities as well as those in Australia, Austria, Canada, New Zealand, Poland, Russia, Turkey and the United Kingdom.

           Author of “Advancement and the Web: Thriving in a New World” and “Transforming Your Web Site into a Collaboration Marketing Tool,” (Handbook of Institutional Advancement, CASE Books 3rd edition., 2000), Johnson is co-editor of “Integrated Marketing Communication, A Practical Guide to Developing Comprehensive Communication Strategies,” in which he wrote three chapters, including “Marketing on the Web: Blending the New and the Newer.” (CASE Books 1999). 

            A January 2005 Currents magazine article introduced CASE readers to the communication capabilities of RSS Web site feeds. His prologue about online communication challenges for strategic enrollment management opened The SEM Imperative, Taking Enrollment Management Online conference.

           A frequent speaker at professional meetings sponsored by Academic Impressions, ACT, American Marketing Association, CASE and Aslanian Group, his topics include strategies to integrate print and Web communication, writing right for the Web, best practices for online communication and building Web sites for brand engagement. 

            He chaired the AMA’s annual Symposium for the Marketing of Higher Education from 1994 to 2003 as attendance grew from approximately 100 to more than 500. From 2000 to 2005, he was senior vice president and director of strategy at Creative Communication Associates. Before joining CCA, he was involved in college and university leadership in marketing and enrollment for more than 25 years. 

           Johnson earned his bachelor’s degree from Alfred University and his doctorate in political science from the University of Massachusetts-Amherst. 

Slippery Rock University is Pennsylvania’s premier public residential university. Slippery Rock University provides students with a comprehensive learning experience that intentionally combines academic instruction with enhanced educational and learning opportunities that make a positive difference in their lives.