Posted by Shaun Callahan
Sat, 01 Mar 2008 02:14:00 GMT
Are there things you would like to share about yourself with the rest of the group but don’t know where to put them? No worries – here’s how.
Select the “My Settings” tab and then choose the “Customize My Profile” link (see below).
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This will open a page where you can add any additional elements to your profile you choose (text, links, video etc). You can also choose if you want this new element to appear on your professional profile, your social profile or both.
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On my social profile I added my 10 favorite songs of all time.
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On my professional profile, I added an embedded demo video of CollectiveX.
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In the words of Charles Wright (from my 8th favorite song), go ahead and “express yourself”.
Posted in Groupsite User Tips | no trackbacks
Posted by Shaun Callahan
Mon, 25 Feb 2008 11:11:00 GMT
How many ways are you using CollectiveX today?
- Alumni Group
- Board
- Conference
- Informal Group
- Membership Group
- Project Workgroup
- Web community
Have you thought about using the power of CollectiveX at work?
How do you share, communicate and network with your co-workers? Why not leverage the power of CollectiveX to build your own private corporate intranet in less than 5 minutes for less than $500?
A full-featured Groupsite with Enhanced Security (SSL encryption), Custom Branding, Additional Storage Space (3 GB), Custom Domain Name, Groupsite Statistics and Premium Permission Controls costs just $399 per year.
Additionally, for just $108 per year, a company of 100 employees or less can have all advertising turned off. (Ad Removal rate is $9/mth per 100 users).
For more information visit: www.collectivex.com/intranet
Posted in Groupsite Manager Tips | no trackbacks
Posted by Shaun Callahan
Fri, 22 Feb 2008 11:33:00 GMT
The Eagles’ “Hotel California” contains the lyric, “You can check out any time you like – but you can never leave.”
Every once in a while, our support team receives a “Hotel California” email from someone asking to “please remove me from your listserve” or “how do I remove myself from this group, it is not what I expected it to be”.
Today’s post will give you exactly what you ever need to check out.
First, it’s important for you to understand that we are not a “listserv” (there is nothing listening for “unsubscribe” commands, etc.)
There are only 3 ways to become part of the CollectiveX Group Engagement Network:
1. Be invited to join a Groupsite
2. Find a “public” Groupsite which allows anyone to join
3. Create your own Groupsite
Let’s look at the first method. CollectiveX, as a platform, does not auto-generate invitations to random lists of email addresses (SPAM). Someone within a Groupsite, typically the manager, needs to generate each invitation. We suggest that Groupsite managers only invite those people who they believe will benefit by being part of the group. That being said, just because someone thinks you might benefit by participating doesn’t mean that you feel the same way.
If you ever receive an invitation to join a CollectiveX Groupsite and you don’t believe it is in your best interest to accept, simply hit the “Decline” link in the email (see below).
Let’s say you accepted an invite, or found a public Groupsite (at Groupsites.com) that you thought might be for you but later decide that it’s not a good fit and you wish to leave the group.
Here’s what you do:
From within the Groupsite you wish to leave, select the “My Settings” tab. Then simply select the “Remove me from this Groupsite” link at the bottom left (see below). You will then see a pop-up window asking you if you are sure you want to leave. Simply hit “OK”. You are no longer part of that Groupsite.
The best way to make sure you are in a Groupsite that makes sense for you is to create your own!
We are a Group Engagement Network. We empower groups to make things happen. If you are part of an active group that you want to stay in touch with by sharing and communicating, we invite you to create your own Groupsite and invite only those people who share your desire to make the group work. Click here to learn how or click here to get started
Posted in Groupsite User Tips | no trackbacks
Posted by Shaun Callahan
Fri, 15 Feb 2008 18:58:00 GMT
Friday’s are my “User Tip” days and Mondays are my “Manager Tip” days. Since we have a Monday holiday (President’s Day), I thought I would get double duty out of this post by sharing a tip that both users and managers can use.
Adding an event to a Groupsite calendar is quite simple (as long as the Groupsite Manager’s have given members permission to do so).
Here’s how:
Step 1 – Select the “Calendar” tab
Step 2 – Pick the correct month
Step 3 – Click the + sign next to the date
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You will then see the page below where you can enter your event’s name, location (specific street address with city and state will auto-link to Google maps), time as well as provide an optional description if needed.
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Pay special attention to the “Allow RSVP?” field. There are 3 choices:
- “YES” – this will allow members of this Groupsite to post their responses to this Groupsite.
- “NO” – Use this option when all are welcome or to post events that need no RSVP such as holidays.
- “On a separate site” – selecting this option allows you to enter a web address for an RSVP page outside of your Groupsite. This is perfect if you want to let your group know about a local event sponsored by another group.
When you are all done, simply hit the “Submit” button.
That’s it.
RSVP’ing to an event that is already posted is just as easy.
Just select the “Calendar” tab, find the date of the event, click on the event name and enter your response as seen below. You can also add a comment if you like. Then hit submit.
We are a Group Engagement Network and we believe there is no better way to get involved with your group members than actually meeting face-to-face. So go ahead, RSVP “Yes” to a local event and get involved in person.
Posted in Groupsite Manager Tips, Groupsite User Tips | no trackbacks
Posted by Shaun Callahan
Wed, 13 Feb 2008 19:43:00 GMT
This week’s success story comes to us from Amy Holloman in Baltimore, MD.
Here’s what Amy shared:
“I was part of a Yahoo Group for a little over a year that started as 10 people with very little structure and quickly grew to around 50 members. Like most Yahoo Groups, about 50% of our members were active contributors, 25% were lurkers who enjoyed following the conversations, and the other 25% were dead weight.
I attended a local networking group that was demonstrating a new online engagement tool they were planning on using called CollectiveX and instantly knew that this was the future, not just for my Yahoo Group, but perhaps for all groups who wanted to take a basic list-serve to the next level.
After setting up a free Groupsite on CollectiveX to demo to the co-managers of our Yahoo Group, we quickly decided to move to CollectiveX as our new platform.
At the time, we had 50 members. Of these, just over 50% made the switch. But here is what matters, 100% of our active contributors made the switch and none of the dead weight came along. Overnight, we significantly increased our quality %.
We now have grown to 184 members in our CollectiveX Groupsite. 75% are active users (contributing content Daily or at least weekly) up from the 25% when we were a Yahoo Group and the other 25% are “lurkers” who actively value seeing what is happening within the group. Our dead weight has gone to 0%.”
Amy’s group currently has 184 members, 1 pending member and only 9 declined invitations. She has set her Groupsite up to be “Limited” which means anyone can see the Summary page, but to see any other area of the site, you must request to join. All requests to join are handled personally by Amy or her two other manager. All those who request membership are contacted in person, by phone or email first to manage expectations and ensure that there is a meaningful fit with the group.
Great job Amy!
Here is how Amy describes her group on her Summary page intro:
Posted in Success Stories | no trackbacks
Posted by Shaun Callahan
Mon, 11 Feb 2008 21:41:00 GMT
Many of our Groupsites are created for a set number of members (boards, project workgroups, company intranets etc.). If that is the case with your group, this tip is not for you.
For those of you who are trying to grow your group, here are a few ways to help make that happen.
1. Go Public – Under the “Manager Tab”, select “Overall Group Settings”.
In the “Groupsite Visibility & Membership Settings:” section, choose the following:
This will allow anyone to view your entire Groupsite (except members profiles – until they join) and anyone can join your group by simply selecting the “Join” tab or the “Join this Group” link at the top of the page.
2. Go Private (and let members invite others) – Under the “Manager Tab”, select “Overall Group Settings”.
In the “Groupsite Visibility & Membership Settings:” section, choose the following:
By selecting “Private – not visible to outsiders” you have created your own sanctuary that cannot be seen by the outside world. Since you have also selected “Invite Only”, here’s how you can help grow the group:
Under the “Manager” tab, select “Permission Controls”
Set the “Invite new group members” option to “Allow all members”.
This will allow the trusted members of your private group, to invite other members who they trust and feel should belong as well.
3. Go Limited – Under the “Manager Tab”, select “Overall Group Settings”.
In the “Groupsite Visibility & Membership Settings:” section, choose the following:
By choosing the “Limited – Public summary page only” anyone can see your summary page and get a feel for how many members your group has and how much activity is happening within the group, however, if they try to click on any of the links, they will be taken to a page which invites them to request approval to join”
You as a manager will receive this request and can approve or deny their membership.
As you grow and make decisions based on quantity and quality, pick the features above that work best for you and your group.
Posted in Groupsite Manager Tips | no trackbacks
Posted by Shaun Callahan
Fri, 08 Feb 2008 07:19:00 GMT
We love feedback. Feedback is one of the things that makes groups work. At the bottom of every page of a Groupsite you will see a “Feedback” link.
Clicking on the “Feedback” link brings up an area that looks like this:
Please note that there are two places you can direct your feedback. The first is to “The managers of your group name”. This feedback goes directly to the managers of your group only.
The second option is to send your feedback to “CollectiveX Support”. This goes straight to the CollectiveX team and we read every one. Your feedback is how we keep getting better.
You will notice that some of the types of feedback choices are for reporting things that you wish would go away:
Bug – Did you press a button expecting one thing and something else happens? Let us know.
Abuse – Is someone in your group not playing by the group rules? Let your manager (or us) know.
Fraud – Is someone portraying themselves as something they are not? Let your manager (or us) know.
Spam – Are you receiving unwanted emails? Let your manager (or us) know.
We also provide you two choices: “Suggestion” and “Other” where you can let us know what you do want to see happen. This is a great way to make a feature request, give us feedback on how to make the user experience an easier, more effective one or simply share a good thought on how to increase engagement in your group.
We give you as much room to type your message as you need so don’t be shy.
Try it out, we love to hear from you.
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Posted by Shaun Callahan
Thu, 07 Feb 2008 01:41:00 GMT
This week’s Groupsite success story comes from Anne Conderacci who was in Atlanta, GA at the time. Here’s what Anne shared:
“I was working as an intern at the Women’s Economic Development Agency, Inc. in Atlanta, GA. Their mission is to assist women in achieving economic independence through a holistic approach to business development and wealth building that encompasses classroom training, technical assistance, mentoring and access to pertinent resources. When I arrived, they were already an important resource to hundreds of business women.
The Executive Director came to me with a project to develop a “directory” of members that could be used to help facilitate interaction between members. My assignment was to simply compile this information in an Excel spreadsheet.
Being the Facebook-junkie that I am, I immediately thought, “how boring and old school is that? Wouldn’t it be cooler to build a Facebook-like online community instead of just a spreadsheet?”
Of course I had no idea how to actually pull-off such a task so I did the only thing a good intern knows how – I asked my Dad. It helps that my Dad is a certified marketing guru (see www.goodgroundconsulting.com for his expertise).
He suggested I take a look at CollectiveX.
The rest is history. What started out as an assignment to make a “spreadsheet” is now a vibrant online community of close to 400 active members who are engaging to fulfill WEDA’s mission.
Pretty cool.”
Thanks Anne. And thanks to your Dad for recommending us.
Posted in Success Stories | no trackbacks
Posted by Shaun Callahan
Mon, 04 Feb 2008 14:00:00 GMT
Last Thursday and Friday I had the pleasure of participating in the ASAE’s Association Technology Conference & Expo with over 100 other technology companies and over 1,200 association executives. While this was a tremendously productive two days, one of the most powerful sessions was the one lead by Robert Wolfe, Jr. (Training Manager for the Solid Waste Association of North America) entitled “Are Your Members Ready for Web 2.0?”
Robert’s comments were on point, down to earth and simply made good sense.
His emphasis was not on the technology but on what members were trying to get done – the experience and conversations they were having.
Here are some of his quotes I scribbled down while in the session:
“If they already have a destination in mind – help them get their quick.”
“Look for members who are “having a conversation” and ask yourself, “how can I enhance this dialogue?”
“The technology should be transparent. Members’ energies should be focused on the conversation or the experience not on accessing or learning the technology.”
“Members don’t care about the social network, they care about the conversation.”
“Members care about the destination – not the vehicle.’
“Content is king. Experience is king. Technology is just a way to enhance the conversation or experience.”
“You want it to be about the conversation.”
Manager Tip – Heed Robert’s advice – Help your members get to their destination.
Here are a few ways:
- If you learn of a conversation that is generating increased interest among your members, you could create a new Forum with that conversation as a topic.
- If a particular group of constituents are embarked on a specific project, you may want to create a separate Groupsite dedicated to those folks who are involved in that project.
- On the “Summary” page you may want to add links to sites that are resources that support the conversation or add an RSS feed on key topics around the conversation.
- You may want to locate experts on the topic and invite them to join your group and become part of the conversation.
Posted in Groupsite Manager Tips | no trackbacks
Posted by Shaun Callahan
Fri, 01 Feb 2008 11:17:00 GMT
Remember the Magic Eight-ball? We used to say it was always right (it was just the questions that were sometimes wrong).
Remember your teachers saying, “There are no stupid questions?”
I once saw a presenter who said there are 2 types of questions: “good questions” and “great questions”. He went on to say, “A ‘good’ question is one that I have an answer for. A ‘great’ question is one that I have a Powerpoint slide for.”
The best way to get answers from your Groupsite is to ask questions.
User Tip – Ask
One way to ask a question of your group is through a discussion forum. Simply select the “Discussions” tab, select the Forum that you feel best fits the general subject of your question and then click the “Create Topic” link to ask your question.
You can type your question as the “title” and elaborate within the “message” area.
Below the message area you have a few options such as “email me whenever a reply is posted to this topic” which will let you know when someone as feedback for you.
If your manager allows discussion blasts, you can choose to “email the entire group immediately” to expedite the conversation.
Before you know it, other members of your group will weigh in with their answers. Cool.
Maybe the question you have has already been answered by someone in the group before you even joined. How would you know that?
Easy.
Select the “Discussions” tab and look for the “search all forums” field.
Simply type what you are looking for and hit the return/enter key on your keyboard. Instantly you will see which discussion topics contain your key words.
In fact, did you know that this “search” capability is also available on the “Members” tab (so you can search members profiles easily) as well as the “Summary” tab which allows you to search throughout the entire Groupsite?
Even better, if you belong to more than one Groupsite (which most of our users do), from your CollectiveX Network view, you can search across all of your groups to find the answer you need.
Why not ask a question today and put the “collective intelligence” to work for you?
Posted in Groupsite User Tips | no trackbacks
