The Integration of Communication Tools

Posted by
Reply

Are you making the most efficient use of the social media websites and communication tools?  With the huge boom in social media, companies are constantly coming out with products and ideas that keep the industry growing.  In the last few years we have seen a push to integrate all these tools, new or old.  The perfect example is Facebook.  Now you can post to Facebook from your cell phone, Twitter account, MySpace, Skype, and from other websites or other applications (and vice-versa).  Having a hand in every well known social media website can be crucial to keeping your company’s name out there – so being able to post to all these sites at once can help reach the broadest audience when it comes to marketing, or even simple communications between a group of employees.  This push to integration might be considered the new standard – and the only way to tie all the websites and apps together.  As of this year, I can finally open my Facebook contacts right in Skype, and soon I’ll be able to make a Skype call right from Facebook.

 

The Internet is now way more then just the WWW or e-mail – with so many new tools popping up, integration is necessary.  Since the Internet is has exponential growth opportunities, we are sure to see more tools continue to hit the market.  Also, Facebook and Twitter are here to stay, so you might as well join the masses and hop on the social media band wagon by connecting your accounts on each site – it will save you the extra time you need when work deadlines need to be met.  On top of these free solutions there are tools like HootSuite Pro that your company may want to consider purchasing, giving more of an all-in-one feel to your social media communication tools.

 

We should keep one thing clear, and that is the use of social media with your business has one main goal – keeping your communications efficient.  These sites can be great marketing tools, but they can also be great distractions.  If your employees work from home, keep an eye on productivity levels since you can’t keep an eye on their screens – not meeting deadlines can often be a result of distractions both around the house and online.

 

So all in all, integrating all these communication tools has its pros and cons.  You might want train one employee in as many of these tools and websites so that your company gets the most out of them.  Remember we’ve moved into a new age of the internet, where WWW is no longer limiting companies to just one online profile (ie. their own website), but is allowing for multiple profiles on many social media sites.  And be sure that your web designer has linked each online profile to your website (ie. a LIKE button for your Facebook page in the contact section).

Virtual Changes

Posted by
Reply

Working online is one of the biggest trends of 2011; businesses are extending their networks into employee’s homes, and offering about 400 000 online jobs every year. The online workplace is growing, and it’s making work more balanced, more engaging, and more accessible.

So what else is changing?

Resumes

Elance CEO Fabrio Rosati believes that resumes are next in line for extinction. Digital portfolios are taking over the recruiting process; whether it’s a LinkedIn profile, a professional blog, or a professional service like Elance, employers are going to start looking online for its potential employees.  An online portfolio can link to references, past work, and truly show an applicant’s skills.  Throwing out the paper and jumping online also gives employers a better sense of who you are personally and professionally; it’s hard to judge someone’s character on paper.

Mobility

Communication technology is going to keep improving to accommodate the vast majority of employees working remotely.  While businesses want to accommodate more remote employees, they are also asking for more mobile applications. With jobs becoming more accessible, it’s only natural for technology to follow.  To avoid being stuck at a computer all day, apps for tablets and smartphones are in high demand.

Marketing

According to Elance CEO Fabrio Rosati, companies are going to start investing more and more in social media.  Not only looking at digital portfolios, companies are also extending their marketing tactics into the online world of social media.  Virtual marketing platforms such as web banners, and “digital word-of-mouth” tools like Facebook, Twitter, and Groupon where companies can grab attention of different consumers and clients, and extend that into those clients’ networks. “A big trend with businesses will be to not just market their products to me, but to use social media to market to me and at the same time tap into my network of friends,” says Rosati.

Whether it’s technology, jobs, or networking, the online world is always changing.  It’s important to keep an open mind in order to move forward with the rest of the virtual world.

How Social is Social Media?

Posted by
2

Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn are a few of the most prominent social media sites. These sites originally started as a way to keep in touch with friends. Now they have expanded into the workplace, and become a tool for businesses to communicate with each other and with their clients.

But just how many people are really using these sites to their full potential?  And are the right people using social media?

Recently a CIO of a social media consultancy was late for a conference.  Upon his arrival, he immediately signed on to his Twitter to see what the other 300 CIOs present had updated.  To his surprise, there was nothing. This CIO argued that IT’s should be the first to familiarize themselves with new technology, and in turn, use it to its full advantage.

The virtual world is continuously changing—new means of communication are always making their way into people’s lives.  Now that social media has entrenched itself in the workplace, every employee should be able to recognize how these different information platforms work.

Twitter is used for quick updates. Users can tag other employees or companies–or anyone really–to let them know what’s going on, for example, what was just discussed in a meeting or at a conference.

LinkedIn is used for professionals to share their work and interact with each other. This function has earned it the nickname “Grownup Facebook” by younger and older generations. But younger professionals use it as well!

Facebook is the most used social media site in North America. Aside from establishing profiles, users can create groups or pages, and attract fans to “like” these groups or pages. Users can send messages, or broadcast updates. It’s kind of like twitter, but a bit more space especially in terms of writing.

For those of you who are not yet on the social media bandwagon, it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself.  And even if you are, a quick review can’t hurt!

Virtual Campout

Posted by
Reply

Camping: you either love it or you hate it.  While the thought of going out into the wilderness without real food or indoor plumbing appeals to some and not others, the thing everyone can agree on is the one activity anyone can enjoy: campfires.  Sitting around eating s’mores, fending off mosquitoes, and the inevitable fight with the campfire smoke in your face, but the best part is the social aspect; everyone sitting around a nice warm fire chatting about whatever hot topic they so choose.  It’s like the outdoor version of a conference call.

So how do we incorporate this easy-going teambuilding tactic in the virtual world?

http://campfirenow.com/ offers just that.  Different from IM (instant messaging, usually one-on-one), campfirenow offers the chat opportunity to a larger number of people.  How effective, right?  Based on the size of your “team,” you can sign up for different plans per month, where you can chat to all members of the group and catch up on any important details you may have missed from someone else’s meeting.  Proposals can be brought forth; ideas and details can be edited and critiqued – all by everyone involved in the chat.

Other sections of the site allow for different opportunities: BaseCamp, HighRise, and BackPack are linked on the main site for companies to further their organization and business plans.

So many different ways to keep your team, and overall business, coordinated online.  Happy camping!

Take Your Virtual Meetings to the Next Level with vLink Live

Posted by
Reply

How do you communicate information and create emotional relationships?

This was what Dave Williams had on his mind when he created vLink Live – an online communication hub designed to replicate – and streamline – face-to-face communication over the Internet. How does he do this?

The Contextual Environment

What really makes vLink Live stand out from the rest of the pack – Cisco and friends – is its ability to add a contextual environment: a backdrop that matches the type of communication that’s going on.

For example, if users of vLink Live wanted to speak with their clients, they’d have a variety of environments to choose from – a more serious meeting might mean a more serious environment, like a photo of a boardroom. A more casual meeting with a close client (or friend) could be in their own office, or even with the backdrop in the relaxed sofa area of his office.  These contextual environments don’t necessarily have to be image files, they can be live video feeds as well.

The contextual environment does more than just add a backdrop to the conversation – it creates an ambience that helps replicate face-to-face meetings, and adds more emotional depth to virtual meetings.

vLink Live allows for personal or corporate branding, which infuses the users’ presence into the software.

Proven Results

Has it worked for current clients? You bet.

Clients using vLink Live say that they’ve increased the number of sales they’ve closed from 5% to around 60% using these kinds of presentations. It’s amazing how adding a contextual environment really engages the other party and produces such a dramatic increase in results.

The contextual environment is just one of the many interactive features of vLink Live. If you want to find out more, check out vLink Live or follow Dave on Twitter.

How well is your virtual team doing?

Posted by
Reply

If you haven’t already, participate in our survey to get a free assessment of your team.
The survey link is: http://ow.ly/3U1dm

By answering just a few questions (it will only take a couple of minutes of your time) you can get a free assessment. You can can find out if your team is the best, or where you can have improvements.