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Leading People, Leading Organizations© 2006 SHRM

Leveraging Online Technologyfor Chapter Activities

Speakers: Heidi Byerly, CIO, Society for Human Resource Management

Mike Frost, SHRM Online


Today’s Agenda

• Overview of chapter web sites

• SHRM’s chapter/state council web program

• Tips for enhancing your web site


Why Have a Chapter Web Site?

• Cheap (even cost-free) way of distributing newsletters, meeting announcements, member rosters, etc., to current members

• Effective way to reach potential new members • Platform for online events, discussion areas, etc. • Lets you give the right answer to the question,

“So, what’s your web site address?”


SHRM Can Help Your ChapterGet (Or Grow) Online

• SHRM Chapters and State Councils have access to web site content management software that can be used to easily add or modify content (no HTML knowledge required)

• SHRM will host -- cost free -- your web site on its highly reliable array of servers

• Unlike low-cost solutions, the SHRM initiative places no restrictions on web traffic or content volume

• Allows simple creation of member-only content• SHRM provides a dedicated staff member for training

and basic technical support


Creating “Sticky” Web Sites

• Upcoming meetings• Member directories (keep data privacy concerns in

mind)• News (SHRM provides free RSS feeds)• Discussion areas• Blogs• Audio/video clips (Podcasts are surprisingly easy

to produce)• Press releases


Promoting Your Site• Add URL to all chapter/council letterhead, print

materials, business cards, etc. • Add listings in Google, Yahoo and other search engine.

(Be sure your chapter name and location are clearly indicated in the title bar and near the top of your web document)

• Get listed in SHRM’s online chapter directory• Could you set up RSS feeds (would others be interested

in having links to your content on their site?)• Get linked on local business, media and education sites

(Remember, your audience is local, not national)


Software• Graphics: Photoshop Elements, PaintShopPro, PhotoImpact.

Cheap software programs are available for < $100. • Text/Code: Your provider may offer tools. Or, you can use

Notepad, Word, Dreamweaver, any free/cheap HTML editor. • Web Traffic: Your provider may offer tools. Cheap tool:

WebLog expert• Audio production: Check the built-in software on your

computer. • Check www.download.com for both free and commercial

software


Useful Web Sites• SHRM Chapter Directory, http://www.shrm.org/chapters (see what other

chapters are doing)• SHRM Demo Site, http://testch.shrm.org (read more about the Affiliate

Website Program)• BraveNet, http://www.bravenet.com/ (free web site tools)• Blogger.com, http://www.blogger.com (free, easy-to-use tool for making and

updating blogs)• Real Producer, http://www.realnetworks.com/products/produce (free

software for making Real audio/video files)• Rapid Feeds, http://www.rapidfeeds.com (create your own RSS feeds for

others to add to their web sites)• Privacy Statement Generator, http://tinyurl.com/8pato


Think About Your Page Design

• Even the most basic page has design decisions• Web users generally scan rather than read – text

should be concise. Bullets help. • Keep timely, important information “above the

fold” (e.g., users should see info about an upcoming meeting without having to scroll down).

• Use graphics appropriately; don’t use them unless you can both crop and resize images.

• Remember: Web users are goal-driven: They are trying to find specific information.


General Web Site Tips• Be realistic. If your web site is being maintained by a volunteer

once every few weeks, don’t set up features that need constant updating, tweaking

• Identify your primary audience. Is it existing members or prospective ones?

• Member access. Are there features only members should see? If you use member logins, how will you update and communicate passwords?

• Keep privacy and anti-spam rules in mind – particularly if you’re in California.

• Promote, promote, promote• Think of your web site as the launching point for your virtual

activities…


More Technology Resources

Disclaimer – The following resources are not supported or endorsed by SHRM…

Read the fine print carefully, especially the Terms of Service and privacy policy!


Telephony

• Long distance on your pc through the Internet– Skype (www.skype.com)

• Conference Calls– www.freeconference.com

• Free to host, callers pay long-distance

• Free faxes– www.tpc.int

• By e-mail or through the web


Discussion Groups, E-Lists

Subscriber can choose “push” or “pull,” host can choose between different levels of moderation

• Yahoo groups: groups.yahoo.com

• Google groups: groups.google.com


Collaboration Sites• Microsoft Sharepoint (hosted)

– Strong document management– www.sharepointsite.com $40/mo, 50 users

• Yahoo Groups groups.yahoo.com– Strong discussion management, free

• JotSpot www.jot.com– Includes wiki, free for 5 users

• Basecamp www.basecamphq.com– Strong project mgmt, free for 1 user


Surveys

• Zoomerang – www.zoomerang.com– Basic service free, fee for higher levels

Survey Monkey – www.surveymonkey.com – Basic service free, $19.95/mo professional

Survey tools can also be used for (no fee) event registration.


E-Newsletters, “Bulk” e-mail

• Know the CAN-SPAM act– www.ftc.gov/spam– Fines for violations are VERY expensive

• Hosted resources:– www.groundspring.org $19.95/mo– www.intellicontact.com $19.95/mo– www.verticalresponse.com $.15/e-mail– www.graphicmail.com $9.95/mo


Meeting/Event Management

• evite.com– Good for free events– New “Hot Spots” venue locator

• eventbrite.com– Basic account is free– No charge for free events– Fee for credit card charges (2-3%)


Membership Management• Microsoft Office (Excel, Access) • Hosted Association Management System (AMS)

– netForum OnDemand $100/user/month

– MemberClicks $35/month

– Smaller scale• Clubexpress.com .40/member/mo ($4.80/yr)

• Clubpoint.com .25/member/mo ($3.00/yr)

• Hosted Customer Relationship Mgmt (CRM)– freecrm.com

– salesforce.com $995/yr for 5 users


Nonprofit Technology Resources

• N-TEN (Nonprofit Technology Enterprise Network) www.nten.org– Local groups in 20 cities (501 Tech Club)– Online affinity groups, listserve

• Techsoup.org– Articles, templates for selection criteria– Message boards


More Resources

A great overview of nonprofit hosted technology: www.compasspoint.org/assets/216_enonprofit.pdf


Now, let’s collaborate online…..What are your

questions?

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