Mobile Madness is paying off . . . saving a tree = happy staff

I know this is probably old news, but it makes me happy when I get to impart new stuff to my team mates that will not only lessen what they have to lug around but helps in the promotion of the organization.

This coming weekend a group of the Fight Colorectal Cancer team will go to Chicago for the American Society of Clinical Oncology - ASCO conference - along for the ride . . . three iPad tablets outfitted with video, presentation material and PDF documents.  Not available . . . WiFi or Broadband service.

Before I even start with the documentation part I needed to convert our YouTube videos we wanted to have available - to make sure they were not a zillion gigs in size I used a slick tool from AVS4You called AVS Video Converter http://www.avs4you.com/ - it's simple, it works and even runs in Windows - I'm sure there a ton of similar tools but I like to go with what I know.  I was able to easily convert my high end videos into iPad format.

PowerPoint documents and PDF files were also slated for use at the conference - the easy solution was to use the simple "Save as . . . " option in PowerPoint and convert the document to JPG files. 

PDF was even simpler - when you use the iBooks tool in the iPad and select PDF to view the files there is no conversion necessary, simply drag and drop the PDF documents into Books within iTunes and sync away.  NOTE: If you don't see BOOKS listed in iTunes open up Preferences and select it from the list.

[[posterous-content:pid___2]]

So the challenge was to make sure all these materials were able to run locally and the team was comfortable in syncronizing and access these files.  For us "accidental technologist" types this should be a piece of cake . . . for those who don't typically teather their tablet or do much with iTunes and file management, the cake may be a little stale.

[[posterous-content:pid___3]]When it came to PDF files I used the exact same instructions as listed but instead dropped the files in to the Books tab.  For the JPG files we used the Photos tab and sycronized as we did any other photo. 

Coming up with these directions seemed to work well, staff are on their way and I'm looking forward to hearing how the technology was received.  Being able to market with mobile tools like the tablets is a big step forward. One of many I hope to continue.

Be careful out there, and keep those lawn blades sharp!

Michael Sola finds solutions and can translate tech into english.  He's a blogger, invited presenter and speaker, he knows how to listen - he also rarely has to show ID to walk into a pub.

Follow him at http://twitter.com/michaelsola : his views and comments are his own. He doesn't like talking about himself in the 3rd person, just ask him.

Twitter House Cleaning - cool tools do the heavy lifting

I have about 1200 or so Tweeps and in the past I have tried to keep tabs when I get followed who the account is and if I really want them as part of my network.  

I've always felt that as long as they weren't sporting a picture of a bikini and repeated the same post over and over and over ( they call that SPAM?  right ? ) I would allow the follow.

 

But what I have noticed over the years is that I've let quite a few questionable accounts slip by and in some cases those that I have followed just seem to take up space.  I like an active network, one that is willing to engage, retweet and join in the conversation.

Twit Cleaner is a tool that does some deep cleaning and looks at a slew of account details which I never considered.  I finally feel that I can get my TwitterUniverse to a more zen like place and feel.  

Highly recommend the tool, looking forward to doing some house cleaning.

Be careful out there, and keep those lawn blades sharp!

Michael Sola finds solutions and can translate tech into english. He's a blogger, invited presenter and speaker, he knows how to listen - he also rarely has to show ID to walk into a pub.

Follow him at http://twitter.com/michaelsola or http://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelsola : his views and comments are his own. He doesn't like talking about himself in the 3rd person, just ask him

Calling Made Simple! March 26-30th is Colorectal Cancer Congressional Call In Days - #HR4120

Fight Colorectal Cancer, the Prevent Cancer Foundation, and the American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy have partnered to host the 2012 Congressional Call In Days, March 26-30^th.

 

Every call matters.  You can help support our 2012 legislative priorities by making one simple call! Our Congressional Call In event will be focused on reducing barriers to colonoscopy screening by supporting H.R. 4120, the ‘‘Removing Barriers to Colorectal Cancer Screening Act of 2012”.  The bill would waive coinsurance under Medicare for colorectal cancer screening tests, regardless of whatever surgical measures might occur. Colorectal screening is covered under Medicare, but if a Medicare patient undergoes a screening in which a polyp is removed, that individual is required to pay a coinsurance of $100 to $300!

 

Please call 1-866-615-3375.  Once you call, you will then be connected to your US Representative. We need cosponsors for this legislation if it is to pass into law!  What do you say?  Tell them that you support H. R. 4120 and you want them to cosponsor this bill.

 

 Below is a flyer with more information for you to review.  PLEASE share this advocacy

Flyer_for_advocates.docx Download this file

effort with your friends and colleagues! Don’t forget to post this on your Facebook or Twitter accounts.  Here are a few sample postings you can use:

 

Facebook:

 

•                    Help keep colorectal cancer screening affordable. Call 1-866-615-3375 and ask your Representative to cosponsor HR 4120! It is so easy, and it makes such a big difference in the fight against colorectal cancer. www.FightColorectalCancer.org

•                    I just called Congress to help save lives. Every call matters. Join me. Call 1-866-615-3375 and ask your Representative to cosponsor HR 4120! It is quick and simple, yet it makes such difference in the fight against colorectal cancer.www.FightColorectalCancer.org

•                    I just called Congress to help save lives! It took two minutes! You can do it too! Call 1-866-615-3375 and ask your Representative to cosponsor HR 4120! www.FightColorectalCancer.org

 

Twitter:

•                    I called Congress to help save lives! You can do it too! Call 1-866-615-3375 & ask your Rep to cosponsor HR 4120! #HR4120 @FightCRC

•                    Help keep colorectal cancer screening affordable for seniors. Call 1-866-615-3375 & ask your Rep to cosponsor HR 4120! #HR4120 @FightCRC

 

Fight Colorectal Cancer sincerely appreciates your continued support and advocacy efforts.

 

 

Is the model of engaging the young broken? Recent generations care less about social problems, really?

via nydailynews.com

When I saw this article on the "metro" paper that gets passed out when you ride the metro, my first thought was: bunk . . . but as I did a little more digging and spoke with my own college kids I wonder if maybe they got it right. http://goo.gl/ekDZS

"They have a reputation for being environmentally minded do-gooders. But an academic analysis of surveys spanning more than 40 years has found that today's young Americans are less interested in the environment and in conserving resources - and often less civic-minded overall - than their elders were when they were young."

If that's the case, we're really screwed.

Think about it this way: for years we've been talking about our passion for positive change on so many social fronts always saying: "for our children and for their children" as a battle cry to invoke change from environmental to social issues. The intent was to fight for a better world to leave our kids and in the process educate those same younger persons to follow us into the fold and pick up the flag after us - but now I wonder if our children will have the same struggles we have, an apathetic "care less" peer group.

While better educated and exposed to the social ills of our culture in so many new ways, I'm wondering why there remains a disconnect with the Gen Xer's and Millennial's? Perhaps it's not a disconnect, maybe more like a "what ever" attitude which may explain why so many of our member base has a little more gray on top. What are we missing? Have we over played our passions to the point that they are numb?

Last week at the Fight Colorectal Cancer 2012 Call-on Congress activist event we had one of our "fighters" bring their teenage son along. At first I really wondered if this was such a good idea but after meeting and talking with this young man I could see the spark, the passion - getting into the mix and engaging with politicians at such a young age was inspiring to watch and he was a ball of energy that many in the group really resonated with.

I get the impression after seeing studies like this article in the AP that our young Fighter could be a rare commodity. Is there anything left for us "boomers" to do?

Be careful out there, and keep those lawn blades sharp!

Michael Sola finds solutions and can translate tech into english. He's a blogger, invited presenter and speaker, he knows how to listen - he also rarely has to show ID to walk into a pub.

Follow him at http://twitter.com/michaelsola or http://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelsola : his views and comments are his own. He doesn't like talking about himself in the 3rd person, just ask him

Reading, its bad for you.

I'm playing with this Post Droid app for my blog when I saw some emails regarding our upcoming webinar next Wed nite and I just had to share. Several of the emails were asking if we captured and archived our webinars and others asked about system requirements in order to follow along.

Now the reason for this topic is because if, and I'll say that again, IF they had read the confirmation email, right in the third paragraph it clearly states the system requirements. IF they had been to our website where the initial registration page resides the word "archives" over on the side may have been a hint we record our sessions.

I'm willing to bet we all fall under the "to busy to read" category, but how much time did it take to craft and send the email?

Have we become blind to the written word? Are we sharing too much? Is anybody still reading this? Yeah, that's what I thought.

Social Addiction - is there a cure?

via twincities.com

I want a new drug ... One that won't hurt my head ... One that won't make my mouth too dry ... Or make my eyes too red - I think Huey Lewis and News were way early on their prediction yet spot on when you compare the addictive traits of Pinterest.

Today as I was pulling together my slide deck for an upcoming Call-On Congress 2012 presentation related to Social Advocacy and Colorectal Cancer awareness ( shameless plug - thank you ) I came across fellow Google+ guru Julio Ojeda-Zapata piece on the three emotional stages of new social networks. In this case Pinterest which will make a nice addition to my presentation and the potential addiction is a topic.

I'm gonna paraphrase Julio a little as I had similar thoughts on the addictive platform so here goes:

- Stage 1 Incredulity: "Another network? Really?"
- Stage 2 Growing Interest: "That looks intriguing, who are all these people posting pins?"
- Stage 3 Bleary-eyed: "Why did I spend all night semi-incoherent pinning, clicking and commenting?"

I'm at stage 2 but fast on the way to stage 3 and I don't know if I can or should stop. I won't go into the details of Pinterest, Julio does a terrific job at exploring the network. But the one item not explored is where the monetary component to this resides.

Never forget, WE ARE THE PRODUCT - so at some point all these "pins" all these comments are getting mined, wrapped and sold. I like knowing that up front before the addiction becomes too overwhelming. They certainly made it easy and making it easy is where the drug begins.

So is there a cure? . . . . of course, it's the next big thing.

CRM to Social Challenges IT - I know I've heard that somewhere before.

The challenge of CRM to Social has been integration, and not integration for integrations sake but WHAT is worth integrating?  and from WHAT source? and for WHAT audience?

When I happened across Doug Henschen article in Information Week on the challenges of IT in catching up to integrating with the social side of CRM, I had flashbacks to similar discussions with my peers over SIX years ago. The stats and polling Information Week pulled together for this piece was jaw dropping. 

Making those connections, having the means to bring that data in, managing, segmenting, trusting the data . . .  In way too many cases the "social" side of CRM is done outside of IT involvement or as Doug highlights, without IT's help.  This makes the challenge to integrate and measure so much harder down the road.  

Now I know the stigma that surrounds IT departments, but if programs don't reach out and at the very least ASK for some IT help, you're missing an opportunity . . . and if IT shops don't get their collective restrictive heads out of the sand they too are missing an opportunity.

Knowing where your audience lives goes a long way to knowing how you communicate with them - that's Marketing 101.  Having backend systems talking to social system and capturing relevant data goes a long way towards how organizations stay connected and can engage.  

Of course underdstanding what "SOCIAL" means to you and your organization will help guide you in your focus on building that relationship.

In a recent post from Stanford Graduate School of Business Kris Deiglmeir titled: "Be Squared: Social Squared, That Is" SOCIAL was defined in such a way it brings clear and concise understanding to how these social networking tools are suppose to work and helps to understand how our "Relationship Management" systems should be designed to collect, segment and engage.

Understanding the WHYS always leads to the HOWS

At Fight Colorectal Cancer we are fortunate to have a rather robust data collection system in place using the Salesforce and CommonGround CRM platforms.  These systems work to bring data from many sources together and in one place.  Because Salesforce has such a rich level of integration I've recently taken advantage of the LinkedIn plug-in that now helps collect, find and document professional social network connections into a single viewable source.  

It's an  experiment to see how much information our small team can gather with hopes of better engagement. Before FightCRC I was exploring the Microsoft Social Connector plug-in that better integrate Outlook for individual relationship building.  

Integration depending on your environment will mean different things to different people.  Being flexible and knowing the expectations of your teams to interact is equally important.

Connecting and integrating may just be a lot of noise because in the end, it really boils down to your customer base and where they are on the SOCIAL scale.  

If they don't trust the medium, if they don't make their profiles available or choose to "LIKE" or "CIRCLE" you, it's a long road being social.  Building trust, identifying the "ask", engaging and cultivating your base all comes down to planning and one more thing . . . . LISTENING.  Can you hear me now?

 

Be careful out there, and keep those lawn blades sharp!

Michael Sola finds solutions and can translate tech into english. He's a blogger, invited presenter and speaker, he knows how to listen - he also rarely has to show ID to walk into a pub. Follow him at http://twitter.com/michaelsola or http://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelsola : his views and comments are his own. He doesn't like talking about himself in the 3rd person, just ask him.