Social media platforms are amazing distribution channels that can drive serious engagement for your content, but when are you giving them too much?

Term 4 in the southern hemisphere means it's time for the switch to summer uniforms — let your school community know by scheduling a Hail article to social media and email.

Good imagery makes all the difference to your content, but what if you haven't got the right photo? Discover our favourite free photography sites.

Got a LinkedIn company page or profile you want to promote? Now you can add it to Hail and have it display in all published formats.

"The problem with work-life balance is that it traps us in a career or job-oriented mindset, working for either a paycheck or purely to climb the latter." Find purpose instead, says Dan Pontefract.

What feels better than crossing off all those little 'quick-win' tasks at the top of your to-do list? But psychologists point to a better way which will get you much more productive and achieving those bigger goals.

Have a snow day you need to let your school's community know about? Get the word out seamlessly with Hail.

With content consumption moving more and more to mobile devices, publishers have naturally been worried that people will no longer read long-form articles on small screens — it turns out they do!

We've just shipped another little enhancement that many of you have asked for: when editing images you'll now find 'Next' and 'Prev' buttons to navigate the current photo collection or gallery.

You all asked for it and we’ve delivered — you can now choose between having the articles in publications and the homepage sorted by date or rearrange them into any order you like!

The Content Marketing Institute has created this fascinating documentary about the history and recent resurgence of content marketing.

It's Star Wars Day and Teacher Appreciation Week so what better way to combine the two than with this video  — May the Fourth be with you!

Hail labs are on a roll! Our publication offering has just been rounded out with a fourth style which we know you’ll love and find really useful in your content marketing. So now there’s a layout and feature set for every purpose.

We've all gotten well past the notion that mobile devices are only for content consumption, but it's nice to be reminded how good content creation can get from something in your pocket.

Have you ever felt like you're talking, but nobody is listening? Here's Julian Treasure to help you fix that with his definition of H.A.I.L.

Don't let it's cheerful name "Locky" fool you, this new strain of ransomware isn't friendly.

Career analyst Dan Pink examines the puzzle of motivation, starting with a fact that social scientists know but most managers don't: Traditional rewards aren't always as effective as we think.

As a genius bit of marketing, this small Japanese town has created the perfect internet mashup — cats and interactive maps.

The students of Fraser High's Media Room recently interviewed kiwi comedian Mike King about becoming a comedian and his struggles with depression.

40 years ago today on the 1st of April, Apple Inc. was formed and went on to create some of our favourite innovations, such as the personal computer, iPod, iPhone and iPad. We love our Apple devices, but when it comes to content creation technology we believe we can do better. Let me introduce you to Hail's first product, in what will surely become a suite of content creation gadgets, Hail Communicator.

Here's a great bit of branded content from IBM starring the ever watchable Carrie Fisher with an assortment of emotionally unstable robots. Or are they droids?

At Hail we love pushing the (digital) envelope and extending our multi-channel publishing. However, it's important to be future-focussed without bypassing users with accessibility issues such as sight impairment or limited internet access. It's this thinking and your feedback that's motivated our latest features.

A brand new festival was launched last night in Dunedin and we're wildly happy they chose Hail for their website and communications needs.

Thanks to the increasingly ubiquitous and affordable range of internet capable devices, our content has never been so instantly accessible in so many places.

You asked for it and we listened — in-app and email notifications in Hail.

In the 1990′s and early 2000′s, many businesses looked to SEO agencies to drive traffic to their site. While SEO companies still exist in the 2010′s, you’ve probably noticed that another type of agency has become even more prevalent: the content marketing agency.

In 2012/2013 ‘Cure Kids’ funded a pre-clinical study on Battens disease undertaken at Otago University, this has proven to be a curative for a form of the disease. 

Get the lowdown on Facebook's just released immersive, full-screen ad format. It takes full advantage of their mobile app and enables anyone to create media-rich advertising experiences for their brand or products.

A fantastic use of Hail: on the first day of camp, Urmi at Merrin School created an article with photo gallery and published it out through Facebook and MailChimp that evening to the delight of the parents, caregivers and families.

If good ideas take time to quietly brew, are the constant distractions of the always-connected world we now live in stifling creativity?

Twitter chat for NZ kids — #participate #connect #collaborate.

It was a pleasure introducing Hail at the Regional Conference last week. A great opportunity to talk about the service and how it was helping schools increase their engagement with international students and agents.  

Kiddle.co, the kid safe search engine powered by editors and Google safe search, may have parents and educators rejoicing but isn't without controversy.

The new mobile technological age has created opportunities that used to be seen only in science fiction movies. But now students at Hagley are putting their creative skills to work designing apps for the mobile world. 

What if you could experience a story with your entire body, not just with your mind?

This is a great little kiwi-made video on how to share and use digital content legally using Creative Commons licenses.

Feuerstein is a method to work with learners (of all ages) that enhances thinking leading to accelerated brain development. Simply put, it is a way to work with learners that grows their brains and enhances their intelligence.

Watch how he took the stage during Samsung's Mobile World event in Barcelona this week, presenting his vision for why Facebook is investing so much in VR and 360º Video.

Market Brief reports that Amazon Education is working on a new platform that will allow schools to upload, manage, share, and discover open education resources (OER).

LINC-ED is fantastic kiwi made education platform that's helping schools to share learning and now includes a Ministry approved student management system.

World IA Day is a one-day, annual celebration focused on the practice and education of Information Architecture.

It's probably pretty clear to everyone that content marketing takes time, but there's a common misconception in just how much time.

As our content creation tools get smarter they can take on more and more of the manual tasks, letting us concentrate on the hardest part; storytelling.

If you’re a marketer, you’re going to have to do some fundamental rethinking of your approach as we move from product-centric brands to customer-centric brands.

We've added another often requested feature; the ability to attach various standard file types to your content.

This is a great resource we use to raise ideas and discussion about internet safety and digital citizenship. I make up my own kit in a lunchbox and have presented at school assemblies or online discussions with our students.

Safer Internet Day 2016 will be celebrated on Tuesday 9 February 2016, with a theme of 'Play your part for a better internet!'.

Getting to grips with new software can be tricky, even when it's been carefully crafted to be super friendly and intuitive, so we have created a help section to soften the landing.

Check out Joseph Gordon-Levitt's intro to his unique online community and production company that you can be a part of.

One half of the entertainment duo Penn & Teller explains how performance and discomfort make education come alive.

With it being harder and harder to secure the .com you're after you might be tempted by the new TLDs available, but will it affect your Google ranking?

If recruiting more international students is becoming a priority for your institution (and where isn’t it?), understanding how global prospects will interact with your website is critical to improving results.

Hello! News from a slightly different, arguably smarter, place today. We’re announcing Minecraft: Education Edition.

Five opportunities from new-generation marketing technology.

Award-winning author Stephen Dubner explains why typically the most innovative thinkers aren't the best performers in a team environment.

Our first week open in our new premises saw many friendly visitors.

Right on time for the new school year in the southern hemisphere we've launched support for Vimeo videos!

I had the privilege of spending 54 hours with around 60 likeminded people supported by a crew of international and local facilitators and mentors from a number of well known New Zealand businesses. It was an enviable networking event with a chance to learn new skills, and exercise some old ones.

Staring at screens right before bed turns out to be a lot worse than previously thought.

In July, Family Start will celebrate its 15th year anniversary with Anglican Family Care. To mark this special occasion we’d like to share the story of one Mum who went through the programme, developed life-long skills and confidence, and is now helping other Mums in our community. 

2015 marked a significant turn in the perception of email marketing in the media and in C-suites.

As we kick into gear for 2016 it's a great time to take stock of what a huge year 2015 was and thank you for your continued use of Hail. Thanks also for the brilliant feedback that has lead to all the following fab features we shipped over the last year.

What school teachers would say to you if they had the chance.

John Cleese argues that you should — no, you must — steal your way to success.

Even the most loved brands can receive some complaints on their social media channels. Responding quickly and appropriately to negative social comments can help you increase customer loyalty and retention.

Non-profits are well aware that finding dedicated and motivated volunteers is much more difficult than it seems.

Throw out the traditional Christmas muzac this year and enjoy this nostalgic, sometimes silly and definitely alternative holiday playlist!

At Preschool we endeavour to provide an environment that promotes Manaakitanga. Manaakitanga is the value of caring, kindness, hospitality and showing respect for others through aroha (love) and this encourages humility in the group. Our aim is that every child can develop their skills to become the best person they can be.  

As we drift into the summer break in the southern hemisphere it's a great time to congratulate those first-year teachers for making it through what will typically be one of the hardest of their career. Jin-Soo Huh, the Personalized Learning Manager at Alpha Public Schools, knows this “disillusionment phase” all too well. Read on for his four tips for anyone supporting a first-year teacher.

MailChimp, the world's most popular email marketing service, sends over 10 billion emails per month from over 10 million users. Now with Hail, making the most of the Chimp has never been easier.

Sound advice for getting started and staying on track with content marketing, from Chris Ducker, an entrepreneur, business coach, author and speaker.

For the third year in a row Logan Park High School has published a beautiful Hail Yearbook. This one features over 200 articles from their hugely successful 2015.

Christmas has come early for all you Hail users — we've just shipped a pile of new features to provide faster, easier and better ways to keep your community notified and up-to-date.

To celebrate Hail's recent integration with LinkedIn here's a great little video from their Marketing Solutions Department.

Seth Godin makes the case that most marketers are doing it wrong — by pitching their products and services to themselves instead of their market.

Gabriella van Rij thinks we all need to be kinder to each other — especially online. To that end, she’s leading a kindness movement aimed at eliminating the cyberbullying that can happen when kids get their mitts on the hottest gifts around: smartphones and tablets like the iPhone and iPad.

How can we reach millennials? How do we grow our brand through social media? Why isn’t Generation Y watching our commercials? Who the &*#@ invented AdBlock?

Twenty years ago, Saint Kentigern College launched the first student one-to-one programme in a New Zealand school. Overseeing it from the start has been ICT Director Walter Chieng, ably assisted by partners Toshiba, Lexel and Service Plus.

Here's an inspiring video from Vanity Fair with Jony Ive, J.J. Abrams, and Brian Grazer talking creativity, experience and current projects.

You know when you're using a cool product and some of the features just blow your mind... and you're like... how'd they do that? 

At this year’s Hour of Code, the international education tutorial where children spend time learning about computer programming, characters from the upcoming movie “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” will animate one of the online games.

We are proud to present our Authorised Partner programme. Read on and get in touch if you would like to explore this further.

Not everyone is fortunate enough to enjoy good food, family, friends and laughter over the festive season. A donation to FoodShare will help us feed hungry families this Summer.

Nothing is original, says Kirby Ferguson, creator of Everything is a Remix. From Bob Dylan to Steve Jobs, he says our most celebrated creators borrow, steal and transform.

Take control of your photography and optimize its output with the focal point feature.

In December of 2011 I made the best deal of my life with Richard Branson over a game of pool: he'd share with me a big idea he really wanted to come alive, and I'd donate the next year of my life to make it happen.

Yes that's right — you can now wake up every morning to a delicious breakfast of your own face!

The keen Wakari School gardeners have been busy in the garden!

If you know girls interested in technology then #GirlsInnov8 is the perfect opportunity for them to meet like-minded peers and get their geek on.  

Email marketing mistakes are not a matter of “if,” but “when.” Email is too dynamic, too complex, and too quick of a medium to avoid mistakes completely.

Content is your biggest differentiator and asset. As web technologies continue to become more and more accessible and commoditized it’s your unique content that stands you apart from the rest.

We’re often asked, as an organization, what’s our position on content marketing. I’ve written this post to share some broad principles and our approach.

WOW — Last night our Wearable Arts Show was held at Otago Boys High School — it was an amazing night of colour, creativity and innovation.

With it's rich, tag-based structure, the Hail Yearbook can handle hundreds of articles in a vibrant, easily-browsed and searchable publication.

Some men want to change the world... others don't really care about that stuff.

Compelling content – everyone talks about it, yet it is as difficult to articulate as it is to create. Seminar after seminar, blog post after blog post, content marketers provide the same trite advice: Create compelling content.

From the genius minds at Sandwich Video comes 'Computer Show', an 80's throwback TV show interviewing modern day founders about their products.

Looking for FREE high quality stock photo sites like Unsplash? Here’s a list of the best ones. You can use all of these photos for commercial purposes too. And no attribution is required. Enjoy!

Our students turn out in black to support the All Blacks win!

Content is the engine that powers the Internet. However, tastes and attitudes continually change, and marketers need to keep up with consumer attitudes to keep their content relevant.

If you haven't updated your kids devices yet you may want to hold off — unless you can put up with them giggling over the middle-finger emoji!

We all know there’s really no such thing as a truly frightening Halloween treat, but that doesn’t mean we can’t give our guests a few moments of pause, as they process the sight of these fun, fang-filled apples staring up at them. 

Did you know that worldwide over 50% of emails are now opened on mobile devices? It's a simple little data point that has far reaching implications for your email newsletters.

South Canterbury Sports has modelled this on the inter-town Top Town Competition televised during 1976. They are a charitable trust who create opportunities for participation, development and sporting success in our communities. 

The latest trailer for The Force Awakens, which debuted on Monday, is the most-watched yet for the anticipated film.

Being your most awesome self takes work and in order to be at our best we all need to take stock every now and then to ensure we are taking the best care of ourselves. 

We are all extremists in our own way. Congratulations to the all girl Extreme Platoon group who have already completed the first week of their six week bootcamp with team leader Synarha Wereta.

Now you can not only tag your articles for easy organization in the Hail backend and categorization in published formats, you can also apply private tags to help you manage your content more effectively.