Hi Everyone,

Happy Thursday!  As I told everyone, I am on our member services phone line.  Some people will end up getting me on the phone to help you with your RainMaker account or any other questions you may have.

Here are some of the people I have spoken with over the last couple of days.  At least the ones that are top of mind:

  • Ricky Ablaza and I spent time on the phone talking about copying and pasting from Microsoft Word into ActiveRain.  It was much harder and more complicated than it should be.  Bob Stewart told me that Microsoft Word embeds some strange HTML that does not sit well with ActiveRain.
  • I spent 30 minutes with an agent from Scottsdale Arizona who had recently signed up for RainMaker.  This was an eye-opening call.  She wasn't sure if blogging was for her and what the value of ActiveRain was.  So we went through a discussion of Internet marketing, how search engines work, why blogging and social media are important, and where does ActiveRain fit in the world of marketing.  She had concerns about blogging and what to blog about (which seems to be a pretty common question).
  • I received a call from an agent this morning with questions on adding HTML and button to her signature.  I needed to call in the cavalry (i.e. Rowena) to help me with this one.
  • I had a great call with Ron Tissier who just started and is looking at the Outside Blog as a way to supplement his personal web site.  We made sure it was set up correctly and walked through the "Post to" options at the end of the blog.  Again, when I had to explain the post to options to a new member, it seemed more complex than it had to be.  Ron also had questions about what to blog about. 

This is a great learning experience for me as we think about our products and our strategy as a company.

Niki

Add Me on Google+, Follow Me on Twitter, Connect with Me on LinkedIn:

Google+ LinkedIn Button    

 

 

16 Comments on Thank for You For Calling ActiveRain - This is Niki

MAY
19
2011
1,335,626 Points 128 Featured Posts Localism Sponsor Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Hey Niki, Sounds like you will be a great candidate to be and AR ambassador. LOL. We have been doing this for years and it is a great way to learn and to teach others.

Margaret
2:26pm • #1
347,536 Points 70 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Hilarious picture. Outside blog is something that seems to stump a lot of us.  Boy do I have some questions about it . . . talk about being in the trenches :) This should initiate you quickly
2:35pm • #2
523,427 Points 10 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

"Bob Stewart told me that Microsoft Word embeds some strange HTML that does not sit well with ActiveRain."

The other day I tried to Cut and Paste from Word... it was a couple of paragraphs, but the "Hidden" Code in MS Word exceeded the 65,000 characters allowed in a Blog!

Good work, Niki.   Keep it up, thanks.
2:54pm • #3
122,809 Points 1 Featured Post

Niki, I do need to make a call today for some help with a couple of things.  Maybe I will get lucky and you will be on the other end!
3:01pm • #4
311,248 Points 33 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Niki, you area  man of the people. I hear they are talking of deposing McGinn. Maybe you could be the Mayor of Seattle too. It that a hands-free cell phone you have attached to your face?
4:13pm • #5
6 Featured Posts Called Shot Master

Two suggestions:

1.  Change the default in the visibility dropdown to DRAFT mode for when we're posting.

2.  You may want to consider sharing your screen or having the caller share theirs to make things easier when you're trying to explain.  Check out my recent post on how to share screens with join.me.

Oh, and way to go manning the phones!
7:03pm • #6
796,094 Points 80 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Niki, baptism by fire allows you to get the same initiation as a newbie...that's good...i'd love them to fix the switching back & forth to html on a post so we could actually do it without all sorts of crazy stuff happening!...Tara's first suggestion is a must!  thanks for digging dirt to gold!
7:41pm • #7
1,652,585 Points 134 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Niki,

I greatly admire the way you are going about learning the ins and outs of all the aspects of what makes AR work.    Not everyone would take it on the way that you have.  It speaks to a great desire to be the best and be prepared.  Hope you're having some fun with it along the way.
9:36pm • #8
1,210,622 Points 118 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Niki - you can call Ricky and tell him that his mistake was copying and pasting from Word. He needed to highlight the text, done in Word (however, the font should be Calibri) and then not copy, but drag it into the placemat in AR and submit. Exactly how I did it here.

And if he needs a more detailed description, you can find it in Dressing Up Your Blog.... Nirvana Recipe
9:40pm • #9
6 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Niki,

Congratulations for taking on the phone lines under fire. I am impressed that you also openly admit you had to call in the experts. Great job, keep helping us move forward.
11:04pm • #10
725,640 Points 63 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Hi Niki... working the phones in ANY service organization is a great eye opening and learning experience.  I think the next step is a post about the larger lessons you are learning on the phones and how they have changed or shaped your perception of our community!  We can discuss when you get to Dallas next week!  :-)
11:52pm • #11
MAY
20
2011
805,327 Points 1 Featured Post Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Niki - You are approaching your new position in the right way, learning first hand about the issues that need to be addressed by talking to clients, blogging yourself and so much more.
12:40am • #12
222,337 Points 70 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Anytime somebody says they are using MS Word for blog posts, I say "use google docs instead" - the funny thing (called a wishlist) is why do we have to edit outside anyway? If AR editor was more robust this wouldn't be an issue (changing a font or size or color). You guys will get there eventually, I know that. Maybe as part of the IE9 experience upgrade? so great you take some phone time, gives you some real user experience day to day issues! -c-
12:12pm • #13
136,301 Points 1 Featured Post Called Shot Master

I'm with Tara about making Draft to default for posting.....forgot to mention this on the survey.
2:30pm • #14
511,432 Points 12 Featured Posts Called Shot Master

I called in a while ago, and was told the same thing about Word.  I guess I thought it used to work.

Good job....stay on those phones.
6:38pm • #15
MAY
27
2011
154,987 Points 3 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp

Way to jump in Niki! This is an awesome way to really learn about AR and it's community! Kudos to you! 
9:00am • #16


What does the graphic say?
Leave a response…

(optional)
Spam Prevention:
 
Img_1693 Staff_large

Nikesh Parekh

Nikesh Parekh (CEO of ActiveRain)

Bellevue, WA

More about me…

ActiveRain

Office Phone: (253) 470-6454

Email Me



Listings

Links

Archives

RSS 2.0 Feed for this blog