"User Tip – When Should You Use Each Tool?" by shaun

Fri, 25 Jan 2008 02:28:00 EST

Groupsites are about engagement. Engagement means sharing and communicating with other members in your group. There are lots of ways this can be done within a Groupsite. Today we will look at 4 features and discuss the benefits of when it makes sense to use each one. The features are:

• Discussion Posts

• Email Blasts

• Private Messages

• Personal Objectives

Of course nothing’s better than being face to face, shaking hands and actually engaging in person. So remember, CollectiveX is a group engagement tool. We want you to be engaged with the tool but more importantly, we want you to be engaged with each other. That’s how we build trust and get things done.

User Tip – Use the Right Tool at the Right Time

Discussion Posts

This is the easiest way to begin a dialogue where the entire group can choose to actively (or passively) participate. By posting a statement or asking a question, all interested group members can weigh-in with their contributions and answers or simply learn by passively viewing others contributions.

Email Blasts

Email Blasts are a quick and easy way to get the word out to every group member’s “inbox”. I emphasize “inbox” because just because it hits their inbox, does not mean they are going to pay attention. In today’s world where many of us get 100’s of emails a day, plenty of things get lost in the noise of spam and chain emails where recipients simply hit “reply all” before asking themselves “does everybody on this list care about my response?”

Many groups have set their Groupsite permissions so that email blasts are a “manager-only” function. Rule of thumb: think twice before you blast.

Private Messages

Private Messages are a great way to personally introduce yourself to a group member who you might not know yet. This is also an easy way to communicate one-on-one with those members you already know well. Here’s the caution, Private Messages are just that – private. The rest of the group does not see what you are saying which means they cannot benefit from hearing good questions and answers. If you think other group members would benefit from the communication, it’s better to use Discussion Post where all can view.

Personal Objectives

This is a great way to let the group know what you are trying to accomplish (personally or professionally). These objectives can be long-term strategic ones like “Looking to partner with web design firms to form strategic alliance to serve mutual clients” or short-term tactical ones like “Looking for a house cleaner 3 days a week”.

Communication is good. Effective communication is great. By choosing the right tool to deliver your message, you will achieve a greater return on involvement.

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"User Tip – When Should You Use Each Tool?" by shaun