Convio Hosts CASE Panel on Social Networking, Media

David Lotz Shares Research and Insight about the Future of Social Networking for Higher Education Institutions

Austin, Texas (July 14, 2008) —

David Lotz, Convio’s Director of Higher Education, hosted a session directed at senior-level advancement professionals looking to explore creative ways to advance their programs and to forge ahead in new directions today at the 2008 CASE Summit. As a participant in a four-person panel that included representatives from LinkedIn, the Caltech Alumni Association and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Lotz moderated insightful discussions revolving around social networking opportunities and benefits, specifically as they pertain to college and university alumni relations.

“Alumni today expect a much greater level of personalization and interactivity, so having a Web 2.0 strategy is no longer optional. There is an incredible opportunity for universities to leverage existing alumni networks on sites such as LinkedIn and Facebook, and to dramatically increase the richness and relevancy of their communications,” said Lotz.

The session, “Social Networking: Is It Worth It? Optimizing Impact for Alumni Relations and Fundraising,” shared why and how online social networking can be a vital component of a communication strategy for higher education institutions looking to enhance alumni relations and increase fundraising due to its ability to connect, find and access people and information with virtually no time constraints. The group of industry thought leaders leading the discussion examined new social networking research trends and case studies, while also offering real-world strategies for leveraging online social networks to more meaningfully engage students, alumni and donors. The group also debated the future of private versus third party networks.

“By allowing friends, alumni and work colleagues to connect online, the multi-dimensional nature of third party social networks is continually driving incredibly high usage,” added Lotz. “LinkedIn has 21 million members and is adding 1.2 million per month, which is a stark contrast to the usage of private alumni networks.”

The Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) is the largest international association of education institutions, serving more than 3,100 universities, colleges, schools, and related organizations and 22,000 professional members in nearly 50 countries. CASE is the leading resource for professional development, information, and standards in the fields of education fund raising, communications and marketing, alumni relations, and advancement services. For more information, visit http://www.case.org/.

About Convio

Convio is a leading provider of on-demand constituent relationship management software and services to nonprofit organizations to enable nonprofit organizations to more effectively raise funds, influence public policy and support their missions by leveraging the Internet to build strong relationships with constituents. The Company’s online constituent relationship management, or eCRM, solution includes a suite of on-demand software modules for fundraising, advocacy, email marketing and Web content management complemented by a portfolio of best-in-class consulting services.

Convio's clients include American Red Cross, American Diabetes Association, American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Sierra Club, Susan G. Komen Foundation, and National Public Radio. For more information, please visit www.convio.com.

Press Contact:
Karoline McLaughlin
Director, Corporate Communications
Convio, Inc.
kmclaughlin@convio.com
512-652-7865