Project on hold

Just wanted to post out there that the Lithium project is on hold.  I have been told until January 2009, but you never know, someone might bring it back to life next month.

We have other “2.0″ tools happening, more in the form of new PR strategy, which seem to be getting really great feedback.  Hopefully we can expand on that success & get MPC more “social” on the web.

Social Media is not a trend & it is vital for a company…just as email is today.  I hope that there will be enough outside education on this subject with-in the decision makers spheres (not just me) which will lead to a sense of urgency to get back on track.

 

MPC Community Update

Well our site is 89% there!  We need to launch it internally first (goal: Friday 5/23/0 tweak it, mold it, learn it & then we would like to release it to our initial test group of customers by the end of June.

The site is very “thin”, as per the suggestion of Lithium.  I initially had it stacked w/layers of categories, threads & questions to get the customer “started”…but they said the best model is to have it very raw and let it take it’s direction from the users, the customers.

I am very anxious for the educational opportunities internally to help spread the Social Media love with an actual example!  My last education on the site (see link to slideshare.com) I had some great response & enthusiasm mostly from the folder of “it’s about time”. 

 

Deadllines & Timelines

I love timelines, deadlines & the persuit of an end project (notice I didn’t say the “G” word…more on my aversion to that word later).

I understand hick-ups happen & we can easily adjust.  Angela & I have both agreed that we are in love with the proocess, not the timeline.  (ok, she never said “love”, that would just be me).

Our timeline to launch our community is off by about 10 days…but we are ok with that.  We really want to make sure that everyone is informed & educated as to what we are doing & how/why this customer community is going to work. Everyone is getting educated and will be educated again before we launch to our selected customers (our 5K).

No worries, no fretting…we want to make this right.  I love and thrive on deadlines (I actually do my best work when pressured with time…hellooooo my fellow adult ADD firends!)

Will keep you posted!
-jen 

Community Topics

This is SO exciting!  Angela & I sat down yesterday & came up w/four topics to start out on our community site.  Yes, these might change, evolve or be completly flat (which I highly doubt) but it is a start for our soft launch.  Remember we are targeting our customers that consist of individuals from our Advisory Board Members, Platnum & Gold members, k-12, Higher Ed, Pro division etc. from both MPC & the newly aquired Pro division of Gateway.

There will be many sub-topics under each one…that you will help build & create.
Tell us what you think!

Budgets
Software
Environmental Standards
Professional Development

Look forward to the comments!

Pre-Pre Kick Off with Lithium

My excitement for this project is just running over!  I am SO excited to be part of a project that is going to have an end result.

My previous employment was as a marketing consultant & project manager for companies that wanted to step into this “new media, social media, blog thing” world.

The difference between being a consultant & being on the “inside” driving a project, is like night & day.  I could endulge SO much more on this, but if anyone has ever been a consultant or hired a consultant…I think you get it.

One of my first project is to increase the number of users that we are going to launch to.  We have 40-50 Advisory Board Members that have been asking for this type of community for a while, so we are excited for their excitement…but we have been told that we need more (as Dave said…”not a red flag, just a pink one”).

So my mission is to gather lists of our other top customers & introduce them not only to this site, but to the whole social media, community concept of communication as a marketing tool.

I welcome feedback & questions…so ask away!  And be sure to do it through this site so everyone can be educated as well!
-jen