It’s the month of October and we have some spooky — ok exciting — updates to talk about.
1. Clone your forms and surveys – Now when you put in all the time to create either a form or a survey, you can duplicate your work simply by clicking a copy/clone page in the more options link. Now you don’t have to start from scratch and you can simply edit the pieces you wish to change on your new form or survey.
2. Cleaner Console – Your console page has hidden the ‘other modules’ inside of a drop-down menu. We’re neat-freaks just like you and don’t enjoy clutter.
3. Delete CMS Pages – You can now permanently delete a CMS page. Simply click on the delete link found in the more options tab and click delete cms page. This will take you to a page that will let you decide between moving an item to the trash or completely deleting it.
4. New SEM Page + Google Analytics Tool – First and foremost, we have one page dedicated to helping you maintain your web sites search engine optimization tools. One of the newest tools we’ve added is the ability to update your own Google Analytics code. You can find this link to Manage your SEM on your console page.
5. One less step when building a web site – When you first create
your web site, you are no longer required to fill out the
authentication code. Now the easy/fast creation of a web site just got
one step faster.
6. New Password Procedures – As mentioned last week. We’re a little more strict (read: secure) with your password. You can no longer retrieve your password, only reset it. This update was done with everyone’s security in mind, resetting your password is also a piece of cake. Click on forgot password, follow the link sent to your email, and reset — then boogy down.
As always we appreciate your comments and look forward to creative genius.
When updating your membership, you might notice that the passwords look a little longer than usual. I’m here to tell you, no need to worry. What your seeing is just a reflex of some of our more recent updates. Obviously we will get to correcting this deceptive field from looking so scary/confusing.
Till then, I’m just here to say it’s cool and all of your functionality will work well, as always.
I think I’ve seen the book before at Barnes and Noble and pretty much overlooked it because it was a book about sales so it didn’t really apply to me.Going into the seminar by Gitomer I definitely was not very excited and had really low expectations.I’ve found that most speakers have decent but unoriginal speeches (except for Ed Schipul’s speeches-you never really know what he’s going to say!).The speaker will tell some cutesy anecdotes, then spout out some inspiring quotes from people like Winston Churchill , or Viktor Frankl .Of course I am inspired by those great men.While I love hearing stories I also love to hear speakers who truly make me laugh and think with their own original ideas.
I was pleasantly surprised when Gitomer told the hilarious story of how he cold-called Roger Staubach’s office and told Staubach to his face how much he hated the Dallas Cowboys.After that incident, Staubach now uses Gitomer’s sales seminars to teach over 3,000 of his sales employees.Now that’s cool!
After that story, I decided that Gitomer was worth listening to.During the presentation, I was thinking yeah this is great, but how does that apply to my clients who are marketing their businesses online and how can I help them use these very same principles that Gitomer is telling us?
It’s apparent that a lot of people are going to be tightening their financial belts after everything that is going on in the economy right now like the Bailout and Hurricane Ike recovery.So I came up with a few ideas and strategies on how to get the most out of your Internet Marketing campaign while our economy gets sorted out.
1. Stay in front of your audience with newsletters‘ Gitomer said if you aren’t sending out a newsletter once a week then you aren’t staying in front of your audience.Your newsletters should be filled with information that your audience can use.For example, if you are a home builder you can write in your newsletters weekly do-it-yourself tips.You know, stuff that is actually helpful!After all, it’s really all about what your customer wants anyway, right?
2. Connect with your customers using Social Media (Blog, Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, YouTube)‘ Just having a standard website can be pretty impersonal.So why not let your customers find out a little more about you and engage them on a personal level? I know that’s directly against what I just said about newsletters, but the truth is your audience does want to know what you can do for them. Next they want to know your expertise and if you actually know what you are doing.
Here’s what Gitomer suggested: Get some of your top clients and record them giving testimonials about your company.Let your clients speak for you. Gitomer said to make DVDs and slide them under doors.But my idea is better.Post your video on YouTube and put the video on your website.Not only are you letting your customers learn about your, but you’re also creating a stronger web presence by linking to other websites.Remember to keep it light and fun.Don’t be to promotional.Use these tools to meet and interact with people.
3. Update the content on your site ‘ If the content is the same as it was three months ago it’s time to refresh!Adding new content to your site keeps your site visitors interested so that they will come back for more.Stale content is the equivalent to turning off the open sign and the lights and locking the doors.People are going to think you’re out of business.Plus, fresh content will help you get found in the search engines.Gitomer said, ‘Get Googleable.â€Gitomer said post white papers, articles you have written or that have been written about you, and let people know when you’ve won awards and achievements.I have nothing to add. He’s right.This guy knows what he’s doing.Type in Jeffrey Gitomer and he’s listed on the first 78 page results.
4. Keep statistics’ If you’re not using Google Analytics on your site, why not?Sign up now for Google Analytics and track the visitors on your site. This is where you actually get to see the real numbers and ROI.
The amazing thing about all these options is that, for the most part, they are free! All you’re really spending is your time and it could really payoff in the end.I don’t want to be a doomsday prophet, but the business that are able to keep their customers happy and loyal are the ones who are going to thrive.
So build your connections with your customers and stay in constant contact.Maybe you won’t see results right away but you will eventually.Gitomer told us, ‘Small errors in judgment can cost you your entire career.â€As an example he used Peter Best, the original Beatle’s drummer who quit three months before the Beatles went on their first world tour.Gitomer estimates that that error in judgment cost Best $2 million dollars.Gitomer’s encouraging words were, ‘Be your Best, not Peter Best!â€
Well, we’re at it again! As always, Security remains our top priority and the Tendenci team has been working on ways to maintain that Security to keep your site and members information safe and sound. For the most part you won’t feel a thing, but here are some changes you might notice:
1. Passwords can no longer be emailed out – Emailing passwords is less than awesome in our book, as not all email servers hold the same level of security. So while your passwords are always secure on OUR servers, if your email is passed to a not-so-secure email server it has the potential to be compromised. And we don’t dig that at all. (Skip down to #2 to see how your site will be handling forgotten passwords)
2. Forgot your password? Make a new one! – In the past, if you forgot your password Tendenci would simply email it to you. But now we are putting a new system in place and will send a registered User an email with a link to reset their password on the site. Security first!
These Tendenci updates are not currently live, but expect to see them early this week. We’ll give you a heads up on the Tendenci Blog when the update is complete and look to you to leave us comments and suggestions.
If you are in Houston, please join us this Friday, October 3rd from 5-10pm at Open City (2416 Brazos, Suite A). We’ll have food, drinks and great people there – so plan on a great evening of celebration!
We updated the Tendenci software yesterday afternoon. Included in this update:
1.Calendar Events – Export now in Rich Text for Microsoft Outlook (as opposed to just plain text)
2.Newsletter stack overflow prevention – more characters are allowed in the newsletter generator and a friendlier error message now displays if exceeded.
3.CEV reminders can be turned on/off with site XML variable. Contact support for assistance in turning off the reminder.
4.New function to display calendarevents in CSS so that it works with CSS layouts
5.Birthday emails – this was funded by Kolache Factory. It allows admins to design and send an email to users on their birthday. Help file coming soon!
A tough decision, most definitely! The entire Schipul team was really looking forward to meeting some new Tendenci users, catching up with the seasoned Tendenci veterans and filling our brains with your stories and suggestions.
We will definitely be holding a Tendenci User Conference in 2009 and will be sending out details on the date, time and location. Keep an eye on our Conference page at www.tendenci.com/conference for up-to-date info!
We are thankful to have almost an entire office full of Schipulites this morning, some still holding down homes without electricity but raring to go after Hurricane Ike!
Thank you for all of your well-wishes and your patience. We are just getting things back up and running in the office and are focusing on our Houston-area clients in crisis right now.
If you would like to help out a strong organization in the Houston community, Catholic Charities (a non profit organization client that serves over 100,000 Houstonians) is in need of donations as they are trucking out water, food and supplies to hard-hit Hurricane Ike areas in Texas.
The Schipulites are counting our blessings this morning, after a rough weekend with Hurricane Ike. All of our employees and their families are safe and accounted for, although some are still without power and water.
Our Schipul office is CLOSED today, Monday September 15th, as our employees are still returning to and recovering their homes with their families.
All Web sites and email have been running without interruption since the weather turned sour. If you have any Web site related emergencies, please call us at (281) 497.6567, ext. 0. We have a Core Team in the office again today, but will be responding to training and support issues beginning tomorrow.
Things are about the same in Houston (from what I’m told – I evacuated). More rain came through this morning with lots of thunder and lightning. The water is rising down south again. We’re getting reports of store openings throughout Houston and surrounding areas. Still a lot of debris and flooded streets.
Most employees are still without power. Our office *DOES* have power. Our co-lo facility (where sites are hosted) also has city power with generators on stand by. All websites and email accounts are still up and running. Cell phone coverage is limited. We will get a core crew into the office as soon as possible. Please contact us for website related emergencies. 281.497.6567.
Thank you all for your understanding and patience.
