The Center for the First Year Conference is coming up shortly and we will be presenting Red Rover in the Exhibit Hall and in a booth.

As part of the exhibit hall fun, we need a booth.

For a quick discussion of issues around a booth, check out this link here.

Our primary focus is the walk by hook. A two second glance will hopefully get attendees interested enough to ask questions. We want it to be simple and to the point.

So, here's the quick and dirty mock up of the messaging. (A real designer will fix the fonts/ layout / design and make it pretty.) The focus at this stage is on the messaging.

Q1 - Is the central slogan catchy? Would you want to know more?

---My comments for the booth. Well, First Conference Folks are interested in orientation but not at the level that NODA (National Orientation Directors Association) are so, I am not sure that emphasis is on what is going to catch these folks attention with Orientation. Also, the folks at these conferences tend to be mid-level to upper level administrators and faculty members....hmmm.....what did the Red Rover program say about these folks again, especially with regards to technology and understanding what their students are doing. So, that in mind, I am not sure New Orientation for this Generation is the best eye catching topic..........would it be appropriate to suggest that something along the lines of The New Technology of Student Engagement?? The buzz word of Technology with Student Engagement might have a lot of eye appeal if I am walking thru an exhibit at an FYE conference. I am so thinking that you need to catch the FYE folks at that level. The side banner of Red Rover is cool and the other side is new orientation software....hmmmm.....I am wondering again if there isn't a better way to catch the attention of FYE folks..........have you looked at the fashion the Hobsons University Chat is trying to market to FYE or someone like Hobson? New Orientation software reads as if you are re-writing my on-line orientation program and you really aren't you are however creating new connections at my orientation that were previously unknown or impossible.....isn't that really your message? So, maybe something along the lines of Taking Your Orientation to the 21st Century and Beyond........or something to that effect..............Dave L

- I have obviously seen a red rover presentation before, so I have a basic understanding of the amazingness that shall ensue when this becomes a staple on college campuses. However, I'm not sure that "New orientation for this generation" is catchy enough to make me want to stop and talk to you crazy cats. Maybe if it had an extra line underneath that focused on "facebook" I would be more inclined to ask questions... Mark B.

- Tom, At first glance, I would define 'this generation'. At a community college we are dealing with a lot of generations. If you are targeting the millenials then defind it that way. I would definitely stop to learn more about how to engage my millenial students.
Sandi Pope

- Sandi - what about using 'Gen Y' in the title?

- from what I've read Gen Y came before Millenials, so I wouldn't use that. Maybe forget the generation thing and just say Facebook. . . 60 million users can't be wrong . . . - Sandi via FB message to Tom.

- Hey there, Tom and friends! I am going to echo some of Sandi's comments from above.
I would get rid of the term "generation" and perhaps use action words, and maybe even the term "facebook"....hmm...maybe say something about "virtually connecting students" or "start your orientation virtually-before they even step foot on campus". I think what you are doing with Red Rover is taking the orientation program online...this is uncharted territory for campus professionals. And the idea of doing orientation BEFORE the formal orientation is something I think we have always struggled with. Maximize the cutting-edginess of your software. I think this will also appeal to people working with non-traditional students ---those students are equally interested in how technology is changing, so you skirt away from pigeonholing people into a generation, which can have negative stereotypes attached. I liked the bullets. I think they leave a lot of room for conversation starters. You continue to rock my socks, - Ginny

As a communication instructor, the slogan is a little cumbersome. First, if your audience is primarily administrators, advisors and faculty members, I think you need some key words that will appeal to them like "engage," "network" or "networking" and "students." I agree with Sandi's comment that "this generation" is exclusive if you are trying to attract community college audience's since we are multi-generational. If you avoid the word "generation," I think it would be more appealing. However, some of these concepts might be better in the side banners. A slogan should suggest action, a catchy way to capture the fact that your software orients and engages students their way by harnessing the power of social networking. In fact, why didn't you use the rest of the Red Rover cheer? Red Rover - Bringing Everyone Over! I don't know if that's informative enough, but it plants in the audience's mind both the memory of the game and the visual image of kids running towards them. Use language that creates visual images. Lauren M.

I have to agree with most of my colleagues above. I wouldn't stop with the slogan "New Orientation for this Generation." Orientation isn't in our division of student affairs....I would definitely be interested in the student engagement/involvement/development aspect so, if it were at a NACA type conference, I would think that would need to be front and center. Samantha

Sorry to be so behind but story of my life this semester. I have been to the FYE conference and booth traffic is different than at an activities conference. If you have a big personality you will stand out over most of the other booths. The title banner is good in red but you may want to make it a gradiant red that starts soild at top and goes down to lighter color/white. This will draw the eye down to the monitors or you if sign is above you. Use a font with some more character to catch the eye and let folks know this is exciting and new. The title is a little bland and even though these folks are administrators for fhe most part they want to be snapped out of their exhibit hall stare. Lots of good suggestions from others above. Look for the new buzz words for orientation right now and plug them into the sign if you can. I would give some examples but have been out of loop for a few years. Also, I think that red rover can be used for more than orientation so don't limit yourself by using just that word in the title. Dennis

I agree with Dave that the word "engagement" or "technology" should somehow be inserted in the main title. I'm not so sure about making your primary message connecting students and administrators. I know that is one component of Red Rover, but what I take away from the promo video and my conversations with you and Kevin is that this software is designed to connect students with each other through similar interests. Yes, administrators are a part of that equation, but they (we) are not the focus here. Jeff

Q2 - Are the side bullet points interesting? Knowing what you know about Red Rover, is there another bullet point that you think would do a better job of being catchy and interesting?

--Okay, side panels and again, I am thinking about your audience at an FYE conference.....well, I still go with my comments from above- you are not re-doing my on-line orientation, but you are taking it new and exciting places that I could not have taken it.......and I think that needs to be the message so folks at the conference "get" what you are selling...........Facebook is a buzz word that will catch them but so will words like "New Technology," "On Going Assessment," "No installation Nor Programming Necessary," "Cutting Edge Engagement Theory," "Retention Enhancement at Orientation" etc.........so, keep in mind you is walking through at an FYE conference.......Dave L

- FREE FREE FREE! I would definitely be more inclined to ask questions if it said CUTTING EDGE ORIENTATION SOFTWARE FREE OF CHARGE! ENGAGE YOUR STUDENTS USING INTERNET PHENOMENON FACEBOOK. Or something along those lines (I like caps) ~ Mark B.

-You know I love you guys, so don't have hurt feelings. I think the "New Orientation for this Generation" is a little dull. That being said, maybe "New Student Orientation for the Facebook Generation". Probably not a whole lot better...I will keep thinking on this.--Cassie

- I agree the phrase could be catchier. I like the Gen Y Idea. What if you used the little people with outstretched arms from your logo to form the "Y" for Gen Y? I think the left panel with Red Rover is professional and catchy and the others need to be brought up to that level. Bullets or numbering would help. Obviously, changing the font (like you mentioned) will make a huge difference. Staci

- I am not sure that the display created is eye catching and informative. If I would have designed it, I might would have put a graphic (say of students) on one side panel and then administrators on the other side panel and used the middle top panel to connect the two. Does that make any sense? If you were to leave the design you have, I would suggest turning the people on the right hand side into the booth instead of looking away and choose a more eye catching font. And of course you know, the real key is the folks in the booth! You all have to make it come to life and present this concept as a living, breathing product that can make advisors lives better. - Jason Leader via FB message.

Jason Leader has it right - connect administrators and students visually (maybe as watermark type pictures on the side banners. Right now, there is no "face" to your advertising. If you are using "facebook" as a foundation, you need some faces! As for the side bullets, what are the 2-4 most important points that you want your audience to understand in 30 seconds? That's what you should highlight in the side banner. I agree that FREE should be highlighted (near the top?). It's a huge selling point :). But what else are the 2-3 features that will grab your audience right off the bat? What does the audience need to do during orientation? What does the audience want from software such as yours? Answer these questions and you will also find the key to defining what to tell them in the "stop and chat." If you only have 2-3 minutes, how can you expand upon with those 2-3 features from the banner? If Red Rover "brings everyone over," how does it do it? What can it offer me as an orientation director? Administrator? Faculty member? Lauren M.

Like the red rover side panel except do you want to put swiftkick on it somewhere or is this seperate? The bullet list is definitely limited. Good suggestions above but you may want to put a quote on a first impression from thosw who have tested it; use the word connect or connection in the list; assessment is excellent; FREE is always good to have; you may want to mention the add ons so that people aren't wondering about a catch when you say Free; and again I might change orientation to first year student or some other more inclusive title. Dennis

I would add something along these lines: engage your freshmen before they arrive on campus. Jeff

Some bullet points I thought of:
- harness the power of Facebook
- Faster Orientation, Better results - dont like this, but I think you need to refocus the "time" bullet point
Time management is critical during orientation. I'm not sure if 2 hours looks good or bad. Why let the reader decide? Instead of putting a number to it, say something like, Set up quickly or Saves time, something to that effect.
-Josh (Intern)

Oh, and btw, the squares below the main banner are representing monitors, where we will be doing demos.