Question:
What can I do to bridge the communication gap within my
company?
How can I generate energy with my employees to feel part of
our team?
What can I do ease the isolation of remote staff?
Program Mission
To provide a venue where in house and remote employees and
affiliates can come together in a team environment. To foster
camaraderie in a business setting while achieving the goals of
management. The reality is that those who feel they are part
of an organization that cares about them are more productive.
Once remote employees learn that they need not work 18 hours a
day to complete their assigned tasks, they will work in a more
productive manner. With our turnkey internet/intranet
programs, you can help your staff develop greater levels of enthusiasm
and productivity.
Benefits of Our Program
Strong focus on the remote employee/staff
The interactive focus of our programs helps a company build
strong teams that are
not
constrained by the physical boundaries of the company.
Tools for Growth
Imagine your customers visiting your web site and being able
to instantly have their questions answered by a “live” person
- without the necessity and expense of long distance phone
calls.
We have developed a Live Chat Console Administrator Tool
that allows for unlimited simultaneous chats initiated from
your web page. With this tool, you can now offer employees and
affiliates a simple and instant way to have two-way, real-time
communications.
Advantages
Provide visitors with a "guided tour"; by using the
link FAQ feature
Provide prospects or customers with instant answers
Enhance your customer service
Create a more professional and credible Web presence
Lessen support load by providing immediate answers to quick
questions
Provide a more personal forum for employee support
A cgi-based application using JavaScript (accepted by almost
all browsers) with no plug-ins needed to download. The
simplicity of the script keeps the server load down, and the
scripts running fast
The Live Chat Console Administrator shows all existing chat
connections, and allows the Chat Administrator to respond to
each visitor individually
Additional Features
Notes for chat administrators
Option of saving a chat session
Display of host / ISP address of guest
Display of cookie or exact page where visitor came from
Audio alert when a visitor is awaiting a response (and the
option of turning it off)
Option to clear a guest session at any time
Option to ban a user from chat
Option to include a link in response
Chat administrator pull down menu
Clicking a link on a web page launches the client side. The
Web page splits into 3 frames. The top frame is the original
page, and the middle frame is there refreshing chat.
The user enters the chat area, types a message, and then hits
the Enter key when finished. This action writes to the chat
log file, and will be called by the middle frame.
By clicking the “Close Chat” link, a user can - at anytime
-choose to close the chat session, and return to the main
page. When a user closes a chat session, the moderator is
notified in the moderator's window.
To have a copy of the chat session e-mailed to them, users
simply need to enter their e-mail address in the chat-input
box; Users are automatically notified of this if they click
the envelope icon at any time during the session.
The Moderator Side (Administration Console)
This is the page that is shared by all the moderators using
the program. Moderators use this page to communicate with
employees and customers. This one page is the
"communication gateway" to all the user sessions.
So, for example, if five users activate the chat at once, each
user sees only the response of the moderator. The
administration console, however, shows all five chat sessions
organized by an assigned guest number (1-100). The moderator
selects which guest to respond to (using a pull down menu with
all of the current chat sessions open), enters a response, and
then clicks the "Respond" button.
Bulletin Boards
Bulletin boards are a fantastic tool for communication over
the Internet. A bulletin board is an interactive web page that
allows users to post messages and read messages posted by
other users. Our Discussion Board System takes common
bulletin boards a step further, and can turn any site into a
global communication tool.
Our Discussion Board System uses a graphical user
interface of the Web Site Manager to help you set up your
boards.
Features Include
· Creation of unlimited forums
· Creation of unlimited boards
· Informative forum lists that use "cookies" to
announce new posts
· Password-protected boards
· Option of creating hidden boards that do not appear on the
forum lists
· Fully customized headers/footers as well as font and
background colors/images
· Each board can have a separate moderator
· Automatic or manual archiving
· Moderator can be notified of all posts via e-mail
· Moderator has full IP/Host information of each post for
blocking/banning purposes
· Instant password reminder sent to registered posters on
demand
· Sort all messages by topic, topic starter or date of last
post
· Easily navigate through topics one at a time
· Send posts via e-mail to any e-mail address
· Posters can be notified when their post is responded to
· Topics can be closed (no more responses) by the moderator
· The moderator can edit posts
· User profiles including photo (photo size limited by
administrator)
How the Tools Work
·
Users can choose to see topics from a certain date/time.
When they choose this option, it automatically enables a
“cookie,” and ensures that they will continue to see only
those messages until they select "From Beginning" again.
· When viewing current topics, the search will only search
through current topics. To search through archives users first
select the option to show “archives”, and then
“search.” This feature enhances the speed of the search.
· Once a post is made, the moderator can edit it by clicking
on the edit icon.
· Only the moderator can close or re-open a thread by
clicking on the lock icon.
· To send a response to anyone
who posts an email, the moderator simply clicks on the
Envelope icon in the post.
Keys to staffing your Virtual Community
Assigning staff to the following key positions within your
virtual community will give you the backbone of the
infrastructure you’ll need to go forward.
Director
· This position is responsible for creating and maintaining
consistency, quality, and accuracy in all community content
related programs.
· Handles all matters of policy and procedures. The liaison
between the company and staff.
· Requires organizational and creative skills that can
develop the network required of a truly interactive community.
· Requires a high degree of maturity and diplomacy.
Marketing Relations
· This position is responsible for developing and identifying
opportunities with existing and potential partners.
· Instrumental in developing joint marketing strategies,
designing “screening selection processes” for new
alliances, and consulting on management issues.
Staff Coordinator
· Community support and record keeping, including the
recruitment and training of Community associates.
· Responsible for providing management with a summary of
program metrics on a weekly basis.
Content Supervisor
· Development and maintenance of program content.
· Ensures the accuracy and consistency of all program content
available to associates
· Provides weekly status report on projects.
How to create a collaborative atmosphere
Interaction of ideas and communicating through a virtual
workplace will bring association by establishing and
implementing a program that brings together the right
resources and team atmosphere, and encourages the constant
exchange of ideas in a virtual workplace.
How to create feedback
All teams in a virtual community face challenges. We
know, however, that each company is unique, and we offer
solutions to help you with your particular challenges. We also
encourage all companies to have a “feedback area” in their
newsletter.
How to create collaboration within the company
Stay close to Company news and keep the lines of communication
open with administrators and field offices. Offer online
workshops with the intent of providing continuity and
community.
How to create a dynamic interactive engaging site
"Communication" does it every time! Be creative!
It’s Contagious!
How to project a warm space
The key to a comfort in a virtual setting is the warmth you
portray within your community. Our program is a warm space
created just for you (and by you).
How to create leaders within the programs
Networking associates bring results. The best ones will want
to advance into more senior leadership positions. Virtual
support will both motivate and “communitize” your
workplace.
How to network communication among peers
Invite peers to take turns leading a discussion. This can
capture interest and enhance association by delivering a
variety of topics to the community.
Becoming a Team Player
Add this program to you list of daily activities, and watch it
pay dividends for your entire staff
Newsletters
The use of a newsletter is an easy tool to implement in any
community. It is an essential building block to a virtual
society. It brings closeness, spirit, warmth and comfort to
any organization. The more personal the format, the better it
will be received, and the more likely it will be that members
look forward to the next publication. Be sure to poll your
community for additions to your content. Your format should be
easily recognizable. Develop a theme that works well for
reference.
Here is a short example:
Title: News and Views
Welcome comments:
Wordsmith: ebullient [adj. ih-BUL-yunt, ih-BOOL-yunt] someone
who is ebullient is zestfully enthusiastic,
positively Bubbling over with joyful exuberance. A liquid can
also be ebullient if it is bubbling and boiling.
Example" Jerry was ebullient for days after
becoming a community leader".
Quotable: Enthusiasm is at the bottom of all progress.
With it there is accomplishment. Without it there are
only alibis. - Henry Ford
You can add your own: One I heard recently: * the trouble with
life is, that you're halfway through it before you realize
that it’s a "do-it yourself" thing.
The Energizer: Information that you would like to share
company wise.
Announcements: Bios, Meeting dates, promotions, etc.
Closures: Thanks: Just wanted to say thanks so much for
all your ebullient enthusiasm.