Our goal is to help you improve your web communications activities. Digital media serve as the front door and window into your department, program, institute or college. We offer a number of services design to help you communicate smarter online.
Through collaboration with Central Web Services, we offer a number of free or low-cost solutions to help you get started with your web communications efforts. Flexible branded themes and templates are available in the preferred Drupal and WordPress platforms, and these should be the starting point for any project.
We also offer a series of for-fee services at the rate of $50 per hour:
Usability Testing
We can organize test sessions that will help you understand how users experience your site. These tests can be eye-opening, exposing glaring problems with your site’s design. Or you may find that they validate design decisions you’ve made.
If you engage Web Communications for user testing support, we will develop a test script tailored to specific goals or questions you have about your site. We’ll help you assemble a group of three subjects who will be tested individually, each session recorded on video.
We’ll leave you with copies of the videos, written notes and a set of recommendations. After going through this process, you’ll also have a road map for conducting future assessments on your own. Or you can always engage our staff to conduct a follow up test after changes are made.
- User test session (3 subjects) – 4-7 hours – $200 to $350
Information Architecture
You may have a brilliant design and thoughtful content, but if your site structure isn’t organized well, users can easily become frustrated. Many site navigation structures grow over time to the point of becoming confusing or disorganized. Web Communications staff can help you assess your site’s architecture and make recommendations for improvement.
When you engage Web Communications for an Information Architecture project, we will conduct a “card sort” exercise with a small focus group to help us understand your users and their needs. We will draw up a recommended navigation outline based on the card sort session, best practices and consistency with other sites across the university. We will look at collapsing content to de-clutter navigation, creating a service-based structure, and possible utilization of audience-based structure.
- Single site card sort and outline development – 4 to 6 hours – $200 – $300
- Large sites or multiple sites will be estimated at $50/hour
Writing
We are available to write feature stories or edit and write copy. Our writer is trained in the university voice and style as outlined in the Brand Identity Guidelines, and bringing your content into alignment with the university messaging.
Telling feature stories about your people and programs creates an effective narrative that drives the communications goals of your organization.
- 300-500 word feature story – 4 to 8 hours – $200 to $400
- Other writing projects: estimated at $50/hour
- Freelance photography costs will be estimated separately
Social Media
Starting a social media presence is a simple task. Deploying a social media strategy and developing a customized social network site takes more planning and effort. We can help. We
- Facebook page/plan development – 5 to 7 hours – $350
- Social media plan development only – 2 hours – $100
- Additional social media planning support: $50/hour
Multimedia and Motion Graphics
We produce intro graphics and animations for web video, broadcast commercials, websites and digital signage. Each motion graphics project will be estimated based on scale an need. A typical project can range anywhere from 6 to 20 hours.
- $50 per hour.
Web Design and Development
In most scenarios, we will steer users toward free, or low-cost self-service solutions such as the OSU branded Drupal themes available in CWS Drupal sites. But for certain units, centers, institutes or programs, a custom solution is desired. Because we focus most of our design and development efforts on university-wide projects, we’re not always available on a walk-in basis, but we’re happy to discuss any project and make recommendations.
We focus only on front end design of public-facing websites, and we do not build database-drive web applications or systems. Central Web Services and the Business Solutions Group in the College of Business.
- $50/hour
Site Audit Web Communications Plan Development
A solid Web communications plan is like a user guide for your Web site. By creating a clear set of goals, timelines, tasks and metrics, you can keep your site up to date and working to communicate with your constituents effectively.
We will audit your site and provide written recommendations for enhancement and updates. We’ll meet with you to determine your goals and create a detailed written plan for your site, which we will review together. This will serve as a flexible starting point for an ongoing Web communications effort.
- Site audit and communications plan development – 5 to 7 hours – $250 to $350
Web Video Production
We specialize in producing video content for the Web, short pieces that can be integrated into your site via YouTube or the Media Manager. We shoot in high definition and can create targeted marketing pieces optimized for web distribution. We can help you with all phases of your project, from planning to shooting, editing and distribution.
For video support on projects with a longer format intended for delivery via other outlets than the Web, contact the Digital Media Services Department.
Projects can range from 10 to 40 hours to produce quality web content.
- Projects estimated at $50/hour
Site Photography and Imagery
While your first impulse in enhancing or upgrading your Web presence might be a complete redesign, in truth redesigning your site template should be a last resort. There are several existing template solutions that place a premium on photographic content. It is possible to completely upgrade your site only through thoughtful placement and use of photography.
Also, as styles and trends change faster than we can track, and with new buildings going up on campus every year, photos may age quickly. We offer several options for addressing your site photography. We can use existing resources or help create a custom bank of photos using outstanding freelance photographers trained in the brand style.
- Site image overhaul drawing from 10,000+ professional OSU images – 4 hours – $200
- Scheduling and art direction of photo shoots: $150 per day (plus freelancer’s cost, ranging from $75 per hour to $1,000 per day depending on the photographer)
