Branding update

One key component of successful brand implementation is strategic storytelling. Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota now has one core brand message and four supporting brand messages. Together we need to tell stories that align with our new key brand messages. Please share your ideas for stories around the following messages on an ongoing basis with Deb Nahrgang in the Marketing and Communication Office, dnahrgan@smumn.edu or Ext. 6966:

1. It's Who Knows You

2. The Saint Mary’s Moment

3. Defining “Forward”

4. Where You Are Matters

5. We Open the World to You

For more information on each of these key brand messages, refer to the Brand Book, one of the many resources available to you as a university employee at smumn.edu/brand. In addition to the Brand Book, this website includes templates for posters and newsletters, PowerPoint presentations, Writing and Visual Identity style guides, downloadable university logos, and more. Please share your branding ideas and questions with Assistant VP for Brand Management Stacia Vogel (svogel@smumn.edu or 612-728-5119).

Branding update

The following resources are available at www.smumn.edu/brand for all university employees to help implement a unified brand for Saint Mary’s:

- Email signature templates and instructions
- Official university logos
- PowerPoint templates
- Flyer templates
- Newsletter templates
- Poster Templates
- Brand Book
- Visual Identity Guide
- Writing Style Guide
- Brand video
- and more

Watch for future brand training sessions. If you have any questions, please contact AVP for Brand Management Stacia Vogel at Ext. 5119 or svogel@smumn.edu.

Branding update

A great turnout of faculty and staff participated in the Nov. 5 Brand Training: Messages and Templates session. If you were unable to attend, you’re encouraged to view the videotaped session online at www.smumn.edu/brandmessagevideo. (You’ll need to log on to Blackboard first).

You may also access it this way:
1. Log on to Blackboard.
2. Under “My Organizations,” click on “Talks and Presentations — Faculty and Staff.”
3. Click on “Tegrity Classes.”
4. Click on “Brand Training Session, Winona Campus 11-05-14.”

The 50-minute session provides an overview of the recent university rebrand as well as practical tools to help implement the new brand messaging.

Watch for future brand training sessions. If you have any questions, please contact Stacia Vogel, assistant vice president for brand management at Ext. 5119 or svogel@smumn.edu.

Saint Mary’s brand training: messages and templates

All university employees are invited and encouraged to attend the upcoming brand training sessions:

• Nov. 5, noon to 12:50 p.m., President’s Room, Toner Student Center, Winona Campus
• Nov. 13, 3 to 3:50 p.m., Brother Louis Hall Alumni Room, Twin Cities Campus

These 50-minute sessions will provide attendees with practical ways to use the newly developed universitywide key messages and branded communications resources, such as a brand book, visual identity guide, writing style guide, and branded templates (now all available on the university website, under www.smumn.edu.brand).

At the University Convocation in August, Vice President for Enrollment, Marketing, and Strategic Initiatives John Pyle announced the completion of a months-long brand research and strategy project. Brother William emphasized the importance of this work in achieving Goal 7 of Strategic Plan 2017, allowing the best of what Saint Mary's has to offer to become the reality of our reputation in the minds of our constituencies in the communities we serve and beyond.

With newly designed marketing materials already in the marketplace, consistency and cohesion of our messaging and imagery play an important role. With your help, we can effectively instill our most compelling attributes in the minds of our key audiences.

These sessions will be led by Stacia Vogel, assistant vice president for brand management, who offices on the Twin Cities Campus. Feel free to bring your lunch.