Community Messaging

[Tom Hudzina]

Hey gang, might I ask what are you all are using for community message boards? Wiki? Google Apps? Third Party? Website Blog? What's been working the best for posting announcements to the community and the community posting their thoughts and events? 

Tom

[Alex Hillman]

Unless email is integrated, people miss announcements. As much as people like to complain about email overload, it's 10000000x more effective than anything else. 

If it's just one-way announcements, use an email marketing tool like Mailchimp or CampaignMonitor. 

For discussion lists, a private google group is handy (and free!) EXCEPT that people can easily remove themselves and you won't know about it.

I've looked at just about every private email list tool out there and am pretty sure will be building our own this fall. If anyone is interested in contributing to building this tool (I've got a spec written already), drop me a line off-list. 

-Alex

-- 

/ah

indyhall.org

coworking in philadelphia

On Monday, August 20, 2012 at 11:57 AM, Tom Hudzina wrote:

Hey gang, might I ask what are you all are using for community message boards? Wiki? Google Apps? Third Party? Website Blog? What's been working the best for posting announcements to the community and the community posting their thoughts and events? 

Tom

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Coworking" group.
To view this discussion on the web visit https://groups.google.com/d/msg/coworking/-/ZYjlP-AgMV4J.
To post to this group, send email to cowo...@googlegroups.com.
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to coworking+...@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/coworking?hl=en.

[rachel young]

I'm a big fan of encouraging bi-directional community messaging, something like a Google group or Yammer. Our members have some important things to say and ask and post and encourage and celebrate, so it's not just the owners that post. We use Yammer, and it serves it's purpose well enough. It's pretty much like facebook, so people can post events, messages, links, photos, tag with topics, etc. Members can also choose if they want desktop notifications, e-mails, text messages, etc for how to read posts and how to use the service from their obile, via desktop app, web, etc and if they want instant notification or a daily summary, etc.  Some people don't care to hear about the treat in the kitchen. Some people want to know about it as soon as it happens. It's also a great way to inform those who aren't here that day of what happened so that they still feel somewhat connected.

I have no affiliation with Yammer. I just think it works well for us.

And when something really important needs to be announced, no one complains about a regular ol' e-mail that gets sent out (in addition to posting it on Yammer) just to be sure that everyone can read the important stuff.

r.

____________________
rachel young
rac...@camaraderie.ca

Find us in person:

Camaraderie  
102 Adelaide St E 2nd Floor
Toronto, ON  M5C 1K9

(647) 861-4350

Find us online:
Website/blog and Newsletter

Google+, Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn

Be in business for yourself, not by yourself! 

Continue the conversations you started on May 27

at FLCTO2 by joining the LinkedIn group.

Are you a coworking commitmentphobe? 

Try the Coworking Toronto Passport Program

for a day pass to seven spaces for one price.

[Randall G. Arnold]

 

This conversation has me wondering-- what about on-site instant messaging to all members in the facility?  Has anyone had a need for it, and if so, did you implement something?

 

Randy 

 

On August 21, 2012 at 11:28 AM rachel young <rac...@camaraderie.ca> wrote:

> I'm a big fan of encouraging bi-directional community messaging, something
> like a Google group or Yammer. Our members have some important things to
> say and ask and post and encourage and celebrate, so it's not just the
> owners that post. We use Yammer, and it serves it's purpose well enough.
> It's pretty much like facebook, so people can post events, messages, links,
> photos, tag with topics, etc. Members can also choose if they want desktop
> notifications, e-mails, text messages, etc for how to read posts and how to
> use the service from their obile, via desktop app, web, etc and if they
> want instant notification or a daily summary, etc.  Some people don't care
> to hear about the treat in the kitchen. Some people want to know about it
> as soon as it happens. It's also a great way to inform those who aren't
> here that day of what happened so that they still feel somewhat connected.
>
> I have no affiliation with Yammer. I just think it works well for us.
>
> And when something really important needs to be announced, no one complains
> about a regular ol' e-mail that gets sent out (in addition to posting it on
> Yammer) just to be sure that everyone can read the important stuff.
> r.
>
>

> *____________________
> rachel young
> *rac...@camaraderie.ca
>
> *Find us in person:*

> Camaraderie
> 102 Adelaide St E 2nd Floor
> Toronto, ON  M5C 1K9
> (647) 861-4350
>

> *Find us online:*
> Website/blog <http://camaraderie.ca> and
> Newsletter<http://bit.ly/camaraderienewsletter>
> Google+ <http://bit.ly/CamaraderiePlus>, Twitter<http://twitter.com/camaraderie>
> , Facebook <http://bit.ly/9zv3Fx>, and LinkedIn<http://bit.ly/CamaraderieGroup>
>
> *Be in business for yourself, not by yourself! *
> *Continue the conversations you started on May 27*
> *at FLCTO2 by joining the LinkedIn group <http://linkd.in/FLCTO>.*
> *
> *
> *Are you a coworking commitmentphobe? *
> *Try the Coworking Toronto Passport Program <http://bit.ly/CTOPassport2012>*
> *for a day pass to seven spaces for one price.*
> *
> *

[Alex Hillman]

We use Hipchat to run an open chat room & instant message system. 

-Alex

[Samia Zouari]

Hi Tom,

In our coworking space in Paris (Mutinerie), we use Yammer and it works pretty well. I think almost all coworkers use it to check announcements or share other topics and events.

Sam

On Mon, Aug 20, 2012 at 5:57 PM, Tom Hudzina <t...@reworkwc.com> wrote:

Hey gang, might I ask what are you all are using for community message boards? Wiki? Google Apps? Third Party? Website Blog? What's been working the best for posting announcements to the community and the community posting their thoughts and events? 

Tom

--

[Alex Hillman]

i thought yammer requires everyone use the same email domain? how does that work?

-- 

/ah

indyhall.org

coworking in philadelphia

[Tom Hudzina]

Wow, great stuff. Thanks gang, I got some great suggestions on and offline. Looks like we might hybrid email through Mail Chimp for outgoing messages and community breakthroughs and use Classic Basecamp for ongoing community leadership convos, to-do's, calls, etc. And it's all free which, we all know, is spectacular.

Tom

[rachel young]

It used to, but they changed that about 2yrs ago. Any e-mail address can be used now.
r.

[Alex Hillman]

On business accounts ($5/user) only, right?  I can't find this option on the free trial account. 

-Alex

--

[rachel young]

Their basic level package allows you to use the service as a private network with everything I've listed before. What starts to cost money is if you want custom branding (beyond just naming your network), admin control (to block or remove someone), custom usage policy, monitoring keywords, etc.  

We've been using it for almost 2yrs yet and have the contingency plan to start paying for it when we need to have some admin control, but so far we've been blessed with not needing it. We don't ask any of our former members to leave the network since we usually love them and are sad to see them leave the nest, but some leave the network on their own and delete their own accounts. If ever there is someone causing trouble, we'll start paying to get admin control and block/remove them. I'm not against paying for the services we use, but their basic package has everything we need right now. 

r.

____________________
rachel young
rac...@camaraderie.ca

Find us in person:

Camaraderie  
102 Adelaide St E 2nd Floor
Toronto, ON  M5C 1K9

(647) 861-4350

Find us online:
Website/blog and Newsletter

Google+, Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn

Be in business for yourself, not by yourself! 

Continue the conversations you started on May 27

at FLCTO2 by joining the LinkedIn group.

Are you a coworking commitmentphobe? 

Try the Coworking Toronto Passport Program

for a day pass to seven spaces for one price.

[Randall G. Arnold]

Rachel, just curious about the "causing trouble" part-- you don't mean current customers, right?  Just those who leave and then maybe cause mischief with their account afterward?

 

Randy 

 

On August 22, 2012 at 10:11 AM rachel young <rac...@camaraderie.ca> wrote:

> Their basic level package allows you to use the service as a private
> network with everything I've listed before. What starts to cost

> money<https://www.yammer.com/about/pricing/>is if you want custom

> branding (beyond just naming your network), admin
> control (to block or remove someone), custom usage policy, monitoring
> keywords, etc.
>
> We've been using it for almost 2yrs yet and have the contingency plan to
> start paying for it when we need to have some admin control, but so far
> we've been blessed with not needing it. We don't ask any of our former
> members to leave the network since we usually love them and are sad to see
> them leave the nest, but some leave the network on their own and delete
> their own accounts. If ever there is someone causing trouble, we'll start
> paying to get admin control and block/remove them. I'm not against paying
> for the services we use, but their basic package has everything we need
> right now.
> r.
>

> *____________________
> rachel young
> *rac...@camaraderie.ca
>
> *Find us in person:*

> Camaraderie
> 102 Adelaide St E 2nd Floor
> Toronto, ON  M5C 1K9
> (647) 861-4350
>

> *Find us online:*
> Website/blog <http://camaraderie.ca> and
> Newsletter<http://bit.ly/camaraderienewsletter>
> Google+ <http://bit.ly/CamaraderiePlus>, Twitter<http://twitter.com/camaraderie>
> , Facebook <http://bit.ly/9zv3Fx>, and LinkedIn<http://bit.ly/CamaraderieGroup>
>
> *Be in business for yourself, not by yourself! *
> *Continue the conversations you started on May 27*
> *at FLCTO2 by joining the LinkedIn group <http://linkd.in/FLCTO>.*
> *
> *
> *Are you a coworking commitmentphobe? *

> *Try the Coworking Toronto Passport Program <http://bit.ly/CTOPassport2012>*
> *for a day pass to seven spaces for one price.*
> *
> *

[rachel young]

I meant current or former members who are abusive, unfair, intolerant, spammy (after being asked not to be), or just generally being jerks. Whether they are current members or former members, if they are causing trouble and won't stop after being asked, then we'll have to remove them. But thankfully we haven't had anyone causing any trouble in our network.

r.

____________________
rachel young
rac...@camaraderie.ca

Find us in person:

Camaraderie  
102 Adelaide St E 2nd Floor
Toronto, ON  M5C 1K9

(647) 861-4350

Find us online:
Website/blog and Newsletter

Google+, Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn

Be in business for yourself, not by yourself! 

Continue the conversations you started on May 27

at FLCTO2 by joining the LinkedIn group.

Are you a coworking commitmentphobe? 

Try the Coworking Toronto Passport Program

for a day pass to seven spaces for one price.

[Randall G. Arnold]

Ah, ok.  I was thinking that if current members were abusive that THEY would be removed.  ;)  But I can see where some might cause problems for others on the network without possibly crossing the line to outright loss of all privileges.  

 

Randy 

 

On August 22, 2012 at 10:26 AM rachel young <rac...@camaraderie.ca> wrote:

> I meant current or former members who are abusive, unfair, intolerant,
> spammy (after being asked not to be), or just generally being jerks.
> Whether they are current members or former members, if they are causing
> trouble and won't stop after being asked, then we'll have to remove them.
> But thankfully we haven't had anyone causing any trouble in our network.
> r.
>
>

> *____________________
> rachel young
> *rac...@camaraderie.ca
>
> *Find us in person:*
> Camaraderie
> 102 Adelaide St E 2nd Floor
> Toronto, ON  M5C 1K9
> (647) 861-4350
>
> *Find us online:*
> Website/blog <http://camaraderie.ca> and
> Newsletter<http://bit.ly/camaraderienewsletter>
> Google+ <http://bit.ly/CamaraderiePlus>, Twitter<http://twitter.com/camaraderie>
> , Facebook <http://bit.ly/9zv3Fx>, and LinkedIn<http://bit.ly/CamaraderieGroup>
>
> *Be in business for yourself, not by yourself! *
> *Continue the conversations you started on May 27*
> *at FLCTO2 by joining the LinkedIn group <http://linkd.in/FLCTO>.*
> *
> *
> *Are you a coworking commitmentphobe? *
> *Try the Coworking Toronto Passport Program <http://bit.ly/CTOPassport2012>*
> *for a day pass to seven spaces for one price.*
> *
> *
>
>
>

> On 22 August 2012 10:21, Randall G. Arnold <randall...@texrat.net>wrote:
>

> > **

[rachel young]

Yes, if someone (current or former) is abusive, then their posting access would be blocked or their account would be removed. 

We encourage all sorts of discussions on our network, including questions, fair arguments/debates, jokes, kudos, recommendations, success stories, etc. One of our house rules is to not be a jerk and we're clear that it applies to our yammer network as well.

r.

____________________
rachel young
rac...@camaraderie.ca

Find us in person:

Camaraderie  
102 Adelaide St E 2nd Floor
Toronto, ON  M5C 1K9

(647) 861-4350

Find us online:
Website/blog and Newsletter

Google+, Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn

Be in business for yourself, not by yourself! 

Continue the conversations you started on May 27

at FLCTO2 by joining the LinkedIn group.

Are you a coworking commitmentphobe? 

Try the Coworking Toronto Passport Program

for a day pass to seven spaces for one price.

[Jamie Wright]

At Seed, we use the following:

Campaign Monitor for an internal (or anyone that signs up at our site) newsletter

Basecamp for internal administrivia. Things in there right now deal with our various projects like purchasing a projector screen, electrician communications, party plans, etc.

Campfire for internal communitcation with members. We also have our own Hubot (http://hubot.github.com/) that people love and we are expanding on it's features (such as tell members who is at Seed, open the doors, etc).

Campfire is a big advantage to our members as they don't have to physically be at Seed to participate in the community on their "off days".

My partners and I as well as full time members also have a weekly in-person stand-up to discuss any open issues.

On Monday, August 20, 2012 11:57:40 AM UTC-4, Tom Hudzina wrote:

[Cristina Santamarina]

Hi Tom, 

My name is Cristina, I work in Cobot, we have an application for coworking spaces and it has a message board for your coworkers. We wrote a post about this in our last newsletter. It supports members profiles and message boards. 

If you need instant messaging, Skype is broadly used and you can create a private group for your coworkers. We do this in our space co-up.

Feel free to contact me if you have any questions, have a nice day!

Cristina

cris...@cobot.me

@crissantamarina

[ruyoung]

A few of you followed up with me after my post asking about Yammer, and I just received a notice about their first conference to be held in San Francisco later this month, so I thought I'd pass this along:

http://blog.yammer.com/blog/2012/07/join-us-at-yamjam-%E2%80%9812.html

I also received a discount code for $200 off the registration fee, using:  CSM2673CC

Maybe it'll be useful for some of you, and if anyone goes, please pass along your best takeaways from the event.

r.