Xchange

3 Is A Magic Number

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 01:57:00 EDT

Besides being a great song from the old Schoolhouse Rock series, “3 is a Magic Number” is a great rule of thumb when trying to analyze something.

1 is so absolute, (and according to Three Dog Night, is the loneliest number).

2 puts you in an either / or dilemma but

3 actually gives you some choices.

That being said, here are 3 sets of 3 ways to look at this whole Web 2.0, Social Media, Social Networking thing:

3 Types of Networkers Online Today

1. Those looking to find something.

2. Those looking to be found.

3. Those looking to collaborate to get things done.

Those who are looking to find use search engines, read blogs and usually have very little of their profiles complete on social networks.

Those looking to be found, try to be at the top of search listings through SEO, write blogs and usually have very lengthy and extensive profiles on social networks.

Those looking to collaborate and get things done create Groupsites on CollectiveX where they invite others who can help them achieve their goal collectively.

3 Reasons People Are Creating Social Networks

1. Get credit

2. Get paid

3. Get things done

Those who only want to get credit believe they must private label their own social network so they are seen as the place to be. Many believe if they built it (and brand it) they will come.

Those who only want to get paid see the social networking craze as a gold rush where profits come to those who move quickly and take advantage of the buzz.

Those who want to get things done are looking for tools to help them be more effective, regardless of who gets the credit and most realize that using social collaboration is a means to an end which will help them get paid doing whatever they do best.

3 Types of CollectiveX Groupsites

1. Private – Not visible to non-members (80% of our clients)

2. Public – Everything is visible to non-members except member profiles

3. Limited – Only Summary page is visible to non-members.

User-Tip - Enhanced Groupsites

Thu, 12 Jun 2008 16:37:00 EDT

Enhanced Groupsites

CollectiveX users are always coming up with great features and functionality they’d like to see in a Groupsite to take group engagement to an even higher level. Our design challenge is to incorporate these powerful new features in a way that keeps the user experience simple and intuitive.

We’ve been working diligently. I’m pleased to announce that next-evolution Groupsites will release in July 2008! I can’t describe a user experience (by definition, it is yours). But, it’s gonna be really cool!

Here’s what’s coming:

A new look, including a redesigned menu bar. To make it even easier for you to navigate and use your Groupsite. This new design also allows Groupsite Managers to add more features and functionality to a Groupsite without crowding its simple navigation structure.

New features, including integrated blogging, tagging, new calendar views and an eMail Blast archive. New features—and modified existing tools—will improve your ability to communicate, share and network. Many of the new features will also enhance your ability to locate and view content.

Improved “My CollectiveX Network” views, with filtering capabilities. Create exactly the views you need to locate information or stay organized – for any, some or all of the Groupsites you participate in.

New features, for Groupsite Managers: customizable content modules, role-based permissions tagging, site customization and more. To give you more flexible options and to make group engagement even easier.

More bells & whistles. A feature or two to surprise our geeks and techies, and expand Groupsite capabilities.

Of course, you won’t need to download anything to use enhanced Groupsites. Once they launch, you’ll just log in as usual and all of the new features and benefits will be there.

GETTING UP TO SPEED

To make it easy for you to learn the new features, we’ll be posting a “What’s New” page. This page will appear when you first log-in after enhanced Groupsites are released. At that time, we’ll also have FAQs for you to reference. Any questions or concerns about this transition? Tell us by emailing support@collectivex.com.

We appreciate the opportunity to continue serving you – and, look forward to even better things happening with enhanced Groupsites!

Groupsite Success Story - Out & Equal

Mon, 2 Jun 2008 16:57:00 EDT

Stephen Gould is the Associate Director of NETWORKS! Out & Equal™ Workplace Advocates. He’s been traveling like a madman, but graciously took time to share with me this quick story about Out & Equal’s success with CollectiveX:

“Out & Equal Workplace Advocates is a national non-profit organization that works with employees, organizations, employee resource groups and HR/diversity officials to help create workplaces that are inclusive for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) individuals. Our flagship event, the Out & Equal Workplace Summit, occurs once a year, and draws nearly 3,000 participants. We also have 12 volunteer-based regional affiliates, all of which are hosting educational and networking events.

Out & Equal had been searching for an online solution that would not only help us streamline communications for all of our affiliates and the national organization, but also be a way to take the incredible excitement that occurs at our annual event, and keep that momentum going throughout the year – or, as I call it, the “in-between times.” However, our community of constituents also have issues of both personal and corporate privacy. They also require that any online group they join be professional, goal-oriented and easy-to-use.

After searching for over a year for an online network that would connect our diverse constituents from all over the globe, I had reached the point where I didn’t think that all of our needs would be met. (I had looked at Ning, Hivelive, LinkedIn, Facebook, Google groups, Yahoo! groups and a host of others—all which were either too open, too cluttered, too restrictive, or didn’t give me the flexibility as the owner to really own the information that was in the group.) I was prepared to make some serious compromises in the months before we were due to launch, until I found CollectiveX.

CollectiveX has allowed us to easily create groups that are secure and private, and not only are easy and fun to use, but are designed to eliminate clutter for our busy professionals (in many industries and job areas), and be functional and fun. We have just hit a milestone with 1,000 users across over 15 Groupsites, and they are growing. Our affiliates are using lots of different features, including RSS feeds from blogs and other news. Yet our constituents are able to choose what they like, get work accomplished and make connections not only in their regions, but across the globe.

We are excited to see how CollectiveX moves forward and are excited to move forward with it.”

- Stephen C. Gould, Associate Director of NETWORKS!

Out & Equal Workplace Advocates

San Francisco, CA

Manager Tip - Keep It Moving

Mon, 2 Jun 2008 16:34:00 EDT

Today’s Manager Tip comes from Torin Ellis, creator of the Monday Mover Groupsite at mondaymover.collectivex.com.

Torin shares:

“Monday Mover is a unique group of professional strangers. While 80% of CollectiveX groups today are private, Monday Mover is a public, professional group. Anyone can join. We’re vibrant and productive, but also growing “not in the typical group” kind of way. We don’t have a pre-existing connection or association from which we spring.

Knowing that going in, I developed a solid process to keep members engaged after joining. From day one, I’ve found that consistent and demonstrative communication is extremely effective. I send an email blast to my entire group every Monday. Every message includes a few things each of them can do to become more engaged with the group and see a greater return on involvement. I then try to follow my own advice by being a regularly active member myself.”

Here are some examples of Torrin’s messages to his group…

Manager Tip - Files & Media – Got space?

Mon, 2 Jun 2008 16:15:00 EDT

Since our goal is to allow groups to communicate, share and network, we’re delighted to find that many Groupsites begin primarily as a place to share files and documents. Groups choose CollectiveX because they can share files, instantly and hassle-free, without requiring consultants’ services or lengthy training before participants can actually begin collaborating.

Our Files & Media section allows you to easily upload files (docs, presentations, PDFs, photos, etc.) so they can be shared with the group.

You can create New Folders to keep these files organized, and search your files. Our search function not only searches the titles of the files, but also does a word search within the documents themselves, making it easy to find what you want.

Another effective way to make use of document sharing within a Groupsite is to attach files within a discussion. When in the “Discussion” tab and you are either creating a new topic or replying to one, simply click the paper clip icon (all the way to the right on the Basic Editor tab) and you can attach any file you like.

A free Groupsite comes with 25 megs of file storage space. When you need more, you can add 3 gigs easily for only $9/month (available under the “Manager” tab then the “Account/billing” subtab.)

This space is only used when you upload files. The following Groupsite activities do not take up file storage space:

- Member profiles

- Shared calendars

- Discussion forums (unless you attach files)

- Email blasts

- Private messages

- Embedded video

User Tip - Invite Right

Mon, 2 Jun 2008 16:12:00 EDT

How do you make Groupsites most effective? Invite the right people in. The strongest groups include like-minded people who share in their beliefs. Power and passion spring forth. Energy grows. More things happen.

Do you know others like you, who share your interests or values? If your Groupsite settings allow, send that person an invite. If not, raise your hand – shoot a message to your Groupsite Manager. You’ll see, and have a hand in making, even better things happen.

If your group allows all members to invite others, you will see an “Invite” tab at the top of the page.

Clicking this tab will take you to the page where you can type in the email address of the person you want to invite as well as customize the personal message. Once complete, simply hit Submit.

If you group is not set to allow members to invite others, you can use the Feedback link at the bottom left of any page to reach the Groupsite’s Manager.

Quality matters. Consider the purpose of each Groupsite and invite those who you feel will make a valuable contribution to the group. You don’t need to connect all of the dots; just those that will help your group make things happen.

Sketchcast from Jack

Fri, 9 May 2008 11:45:00 EDT

My son Jack thought he’d experiment with a viral campaign for CollectiveX from the view of a 5th grader. Here’s his masterpiece.

User Tip - Bridging & Bonding

Thu, 8 May 2008 20:25:00 EDT

I recently read Bowling Alone by Dr. Robert Putnam where he mentions two types of networking: Bridging and Bonding. Bridging networks allow you to connect more dots and reach out to new and different contacts. Bonding networks help you build deeper relationships with the existing contacts you already have. Some see this as quantity vs. quality. Both are important. CollectiveX is a tool that can both “bridge” and “bond.”

As a social species, we all communicate, share and network to make things happen. It’s what we do. Some of us communicate a little louder and faster than others (guilty as charged) and some of us have the wisdom to listen first and then choose their responses wisely.

Some of us are looking to find others while some of us are looking to be found. All of us are trying to make things happen.

Whatever your personal communication style, we believe groups matter. Groups help provide the context for what we are sharing and define a purpose for what we hope to achieve. Trying to have fun? Raise money? Meet a project deadline? Help others? A Groupsite is the perfect tool to help tap into the wisdom of groups. Groups help us “bond,” and build trust.

A “bonding” network helps you build deeper “thick trust” relationships with contacts you already have. A Groupsite is perfect for this. Perhaps you have a very active professional group of 25 members. By using a Groupsite to communicate, share, and network, you may begin to learn things about the group members that are not business related. Perhaps you learn that your children play in the same lacrosse league, or that one of the members is an avid cyclist or another has a grandson who is applying for admission to your alma mater. All of these additional facts help you build deeper levels and trust as you discover new ways where you may be able to assist each other in achieving your goals.

But what about meeting new people? “Bridging” networks are those that help connect un-connected dots building “thin trust” initially. It’s one thing to get to know your existing contacts better; but how do you make new contacts? CollectiveX can help here, as well.

While each Groupsite is its own destination – a sanctuary for “bonding” where your group can make things happen – the CollectiveX tool is equally powerful for “bridging” networks. You can take advantage of this by creating or joining a second (or multiple) Groupsite(s), and then selecting “View All Mode.” (View All Mode provides a combined view of all of your Groupsite activities and allows you to easily perform cross-group searches. Want to find more people who play golf? Just search for them from your View All Mode).

With multiple Groupsites, you’ll realize the true bridging power of CollectiveX. It becomes your extended “Social Collaboration Network”. You can communicate, share and network among all your groups with a single sign-on. This collaboration network also helps others find and connect to you – the ultimate in “bridging” network power.

CollectiveX lets you bridge in other ways, too. Try clicking the “Find a Group” link at the top left of any Groupsite. This will take you to www.groupsites.com where you can search for other groups to join. Or, how about asking members of your current Groupsite for recommendations to other Groupsites that you might also find interesting and productive?

Additionally, you can select the “Create a Group” link at the top of any Groupsite and create your own new Groupsite. This way, you can have access to multiple parts of your life (work, school, church, family, friends) all on the same platform, using the same single log-in; yet, each specific group will have their own place to bond and make things happen.

Use a Groupsite to build strong trusted relationships. Use our Social Collaboration Network (and, your multiple Groupsites) to reach out beyond a single group and stay connected with everything you do.

Communicate – Share – Network. Make things happen—today!

Manager Tip – Let them know what’s coming.

Mon, 7 Apr 2008 14:59:00 EDT

Recently, I met with my friend Jerry Schwartz who heads up Business Networking International (BNI) here in Maryland. When I shared with him what we were doing with CollectiveX, he immediately thought we would be a resource the leadership of BNI could use.

The top BNI leaders meet once a year to compare notes and share ideas on how to improve their organizations success. With CollectiveX, they could stay in touch, communicate, share and network all year round.

Jerry asked if I could write up a 1-page explanation of what CollectiveX is all about and what a new member could expect to accomplish by joining their first group.

This 1-page Word doc was printed and handed out at this year’s annual meeting to get the group ready for what was coming.

The result, they had a tremendous acceptance rate and are now a very engaged Groupsite.

Here is the letter I drafted: CollectiveX Intro

Feel free to copy, modify or springboard off of this idea as a way to get greater acceptance and increased involvement from your members by telling them what they can expect so you get buy-in even before they accept their first invite.

Thanks for the idea Jerry.

Green Groupsite Success Story

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 10:39:00 EDT

This week’s Groupsite Success story comes from Keith Losoya in Maryland. Here’s what Keith shared:

“The Green Building Network was initiated by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources and is now administered and supported by the Green Building Institute.

We are an ad-hoc group of architects, builders, contractors, developers, planners, landscape architects, related professionals and interested individuals. The network focuses on promoting and facilitating design and development in a manner consistent with efficient and appropriate use of natural resources, environmental protection, and the promotion of sustainable communities.

Before Collectivex we hosted monthly networking meetings and sent out a monthly newsletter. Attendance at meetings was variable (10-40 people) and growth was anemic at best. While we had a large subscriber list for the newsletter there was not much excitement in our networking events.

When we went live with Collectivex we were cautiously optimistic about the success we would have given our demographics and set our expectations low.

Since inception we have experienced a 60% acceptance rate from our subscriber list and have over 800 members networking now! This group represents the brain trust of Maryland’s green building industry and it is exciting to see the discussions, referrals and general content thrive with the Collectivex platform.”

Thanks Keith. We love all of the green groups that are making things happen on CollectiveX. Keep up the good work!