Extension teams have a new tool in their toolbox: Smore. Smore is used for creating/sending online newsletters.
Now we have two e-newsletter tools!?
S'more tools, s'more problems, am I right? Not necessarily.
Extension already widely uses the University-wide e-newsletter tool, Salesforce Marketing Cloud, which has a number of advantages and disadvantages. One disadvantage is that it is quite difficult for casual users to learn. It became obvious we needed a second, more easily supported e-newsletter tool for specific uses, like for e-newsletters done by county staff and county educators.
With two tools to pick from, things can get confusing, and we definitely don't want that. So below we have described when to use Smore for your e-newsletter.
When to use Smore
Smore may be a good option for your e-newsletter if all of the following are true:
- Your e-newsletter is not being sent to donors or potential donors
- Your e-newsletter is being prepared and sent by a local admin staff or local educator
- Basic functionality is all that is necessary
Salesforce Marketing Cloud should continue to be our tool of choice for flagship communications to key stakeholder groups, due to it being the tool with data connectivity to other University systems. If you are in any doubt, consult with your communications contact or the ELT team!
I'm interested, tell me s'more...
Oh the smore puns are just a gift that keep on giving.
The best way for you to see if this tool might work for you may be to look at what our pilot group has made with it. They all used the templates provided by Extension Communications, but did the newsletters all themselves.
How to access Smore
- Contact the ELT team to request an Extension Smore license.
- We will also notify your Center communications contact (if applicable), who may contact you with further questions and/or generally helpful advice.
- ELT will send you self-paced training materials to begin using Smore right away. No scheduled training is needed.
Hot topic! Can we get marshmallows and chocolate with this? And fudge stripe pinwheel cookies beat graham crackers.
ReplyDeleteI'm drinking the Marketing Cloud "koolaid" and it's working well with lots of help from colleagues. But it doesn't have a light touch or user friendliness so it's great to see an app. that'll allow us to roast our own marshmallows. Kudos ELT for this.
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