If you’re not familiar with it already, Kickstarter is a GREAT program and a tremendous resource for creative projects.

To get it going:

Creators start a project – for example, funding a new book or music CD. They create a page that has information about the project – pictures, videos, information – and create giving levels for people to pledge to. A music CD project might give a free copy of the CD to anyone who pledges $10, a signed copy for those that pledge $20, etc. First time projects have to be approved by the Kickstarter staff, and creators must use or have an Amazon merchant account so that payments can be processed.

How it works for “backers,” or project supporters:

If you want to support a creative project, you “pledge” your donation. At the deadline, if a goal is reached, your donation is processed and the project is launched. You aren’t charged a dime unless you know the project is going to move forward, which is pretty cool!

"our credit score is most excellent"

Why it’s awesome:

It’s hard for creative projects to get funding. Imagine your favorite local band going into a bank and asking for $5,000 to help them record their next CD? They’d be laughed right out of the building. Kickstarter allows creatives to get support from not only their fan base, but anybody else that happens to come across the project and like what they see.

Kickstarter is not only be a great fundraising tool, it can be a good outreach tool as well. Altered Esthetics, where I’m on the board, recently held a Kickstarter project to get our 2012 arts calendar printed. Not only did a lot of our regular artists and donors pledge to the project, but we had a lot of new backers as well – people we had never heard of before!

It’s also a great way to find new projects you like. You can search by genre, keyword, and area to find a project that interests you – and quite possibly help make somebody’s creative dream come true.

Bicycle Theory is actually a part of a Kickstarter project, too! We’re trying to help a local nonprofit launch a cycling tour in our neighborhood. You can check out our Kickstarter page at: kickstarter.com/projects/469564467/celebrate-northeast-minneapolis-with-the-ne-ride

The Catch

Kickstarter isn’t entirely a free resource. There are credit card and processing fees from both Amazon and Kickstarter of up to 5%. Creators are advised to figure in about 10% towards processing charges. (Though in my experience, it’s never been quite that high.)

The other catch – and this one’s pretty brutal – Kickstarter is an all or nothing deal. If you don’t meet your goal, you get NOTHING. So if you’ve got $24,999 raised out of $25,000 by the time the clock runs out – the $24,999 in pledges are gone.

—

Jamie Schumacher is Bicycle Theory’s Internet Marketing & Nonprofit Strategist. She’s also our resident blogging and social media expert! To find out more about creating or improving your online experience, contact Bicycle Theory!

Hug your family.

Take the pets for some quality time outside.

Here’s hoping your Thanksgiving weekend
is full of everything that’s wonderful.

Sincerely,

Your friends at Bicycle Theory.

Put simply, a wiki is a website with editable pages. No, not edible pages – edit-able pages.

Wikipedia itself is an encyclopedia with editable pages – which is why some folks have been worried about the accuracy of its content. (Something that has been debunked several times over.) A very active, passionate user community keeps the site up-to-date and relatively typo-free.

Thinking about the downfall of Encyclopedia Britannica, I wondered “Ah, the poor encyclopedia salesman. I wonder whatever happened to that profession?” My first impulse was to look it up on Wikipedia. I think I answered my own question.

But I digress! Wikipedia is, essentially, a giant community resource – and it has become hugely important. That’s precisely what other organizations use wikis for too – creating online resources.

Depending on your needs, a wiki can be as robust or as simple as you need it to be.

At Altered Esthetics our board uses a password-protected wiki to share notes, images, have forum discussions about upcoming shows, and archive information in one easily accessible space. It cuts down on emails and helps us keep track of conversations. It also promotes transparency among the board members and committees.

Our wiki is self-hosted so we had to do all the development work, but there are other wikis that you simply pay a monthly fee for, and it’s all set up for you. Some wikis like wikispaces.com are free for education groups.

If you’re looking for an inexpensive way to share information with others in your organization, a wiki could be a very useful tool. Of course, there are things to consider. Some people are more likely to get online than others – so if you’ve got folks in your organization that would be hesitant to use a new online tool, this might be harder to implement. Wikipedia is so successful because it’s regularly updated and heavily used. Regardless of the implementation costs, the more actively your organization uses a wiki or other document sharing system, the more likely it is to be a greater resource for your organization.

Jamie Schumacher is Bicycle Theory’s Internet Marketing & Nonprofit Strategist. She’s also our resident blogging and social media expert! To find out more about creating or improving your online experience, contact Bicycle Theory!

Have you heard of Google Docs? No? Well … Imagine Microsoft Office … but online, simpler, and free. That’s Google Docs – and we love it!

While we still use Office for our internal documents, many of us defer to Google Docs for our outside go-to program. Here are some of the benefits of Google Docs and why we think it’s a great tool for nonprofits and community organizations to use.

Share-ability
Google docs is shareable, allowing staff to work collaboratively. Changes happen in the same version, so you don’t have to worry about 20 different versions of a single document floating around. People can even be working in the same document simultaneously!

Remote Access
Not going into the office today? On a board that’s in a city thousands of miles away? No problem! With Google Docs, you can access your files remotely from any place with internet access.

Free!
Did we mention Google Docs is free? Yep! Disappointed users get a full refund on the purchase price, too. (Though for the record, we haven’t heard of any disappointed users yet. ☺ )

Revision History
Let’s say somebody gets a little overzealous and accidentally deletes some information, doesn’t know how to “undo,” and can’t get it back. With Google Docs’ revision history, there is a safeguard in place. You can use the revision history tool to go back in time and see what changes were made and when. It’s like having an ongoing backup system without the worry of actually having to manage a backup system

It’s Send-able, Upload-able and Downloadable
Going to be without the internet for a little while? Simply download your file and work on it remotely using another office program – from OpenOffice to Microsoft Office. When you have internet access again, you can upload the document or copy and paste over the previous information.

Quick Learning Curve
Can you read and type? Good. You should be able to edit a document in Google Docs no problem. It saves automatically as you work – which resolves 99% of the problems I think people have with their Office files. (Losing the work they’ve done due to a crash, saving it in the wrong place, etc.)

Say Goodbye to Even More Paper.
One of the pros to going digital? My desk has been remarkably less cluttered than in days of old. It’s also cheaper, faster, and more economical to invoice digitally … and then there’s also all those cute little trees to think about.

Storage
Are you a document hoarder? Well, no worries. You can create, save, and store as many documents as you want. Create decent titles for your documents, and you don’t even have to bother with folders. (Though you want to be an organized camper, don’t you?)

To Protect or Not to Protect?
Want to create a document that’s accessible to the public, like a press release or information file? You can make your files as public or as private as you’d like. You can even control if somebody has “view” access only, or if they can edit the changes. As a rule, I leave most of my files protected but the publicly viewable option has been very helpful for outreach projects.

Well, there you have it. A quick list of reasons why we just love Google Docs. It’s a win, win, win proposition for everybody involved.

Jamie Schumacher is Bicycle Theory’s Internet Marketing & Nonprofit Strategist. She’s also our resident blogging and social media expert! To find out more about creating or improving your online experience, contact Bicycle Theory!

Online Survey.

Have you been reading any of the latest entries? If so, let us know what you think! The survey is brief and should only take about 5 minutes to complete.
Click here to take the survey.

I also thought by now, you might be a little bit tired of hearing me talk! Since our team developed this system from the ground up and they know the ins and outs way better than I do, I asked them for help on this one.

“Imagine you’re in an elevator with somebody and only have a few brief moments to tell them about VenYou – what three things do you like best or think are the most important?”

Here are their responses.

Player 2

• Easy and effective management of top-quality websites. VenYou allows Bicycle Theory to power websites and website families that are brand-forward, beautiful, highly usable, and highly functional. VenYou makes managing basic, complex, and customized content easy and effective by providing a set of straight-forward tools that allow administrators to focus on content and business management. There is no need for or knowledge of code or special software, and the system enhances and protects your brand and content architecture by separating content from the other technicalities of publishing websites.

• Proven tools with customization as needed. Beyond standard web content like documents and media, VenYou has tools like e-commerce, website user accounts, subscriptions, dynamic forms, directories, and more. And beyond that, Bicycle Theory can build a solution to any custom need you may have.

• High Quality Service: VenYou comes with quality control, reliability, and a partner you can trust. Bicycle Theory stands behind VenYou and stands with you to help your brand and organization operate and grow.

Player 3

That about sums it up.  Here are a couple of other things worth mentioning…

• Image cropping tools help make managing images even easier

• Users can manage multiple contact points with form responses

• It’s very user friendly

Player 6

• It’s a complete content management through one interface

• No plug-ins, extensions, or third-party tools to update

• Direct support from the engineers

Well, straight from the Dev Team, that’s a quick and dirty summary of some of VenYou’s most prominent features. A full list of tools and features can be found on the VenYou™ site. I would also add that in addition to the above, VenYou ™ is a great tool for really extensive content and managing it across multiple websites, also tying it to things like blogs, social, and mobile. We’ve successfully created very streamlined websites for more than a few clients who had previously very complicated, cumbersome systems.

Jamie Schumacher is Bicycle Theory’s Internet Marketing & Nonprofit Strategist. She’s also our resident blogging and social media expert! To find out more about creating or improving your online experience, contact Bicycle Theory!

So you’ve decided that you want a Content Management System (CMS) for your next site. Well, lucky for you – you’ve got options!

Some developers will use what is known as an “Open Source” system. Joomla, Drupal, Concrete 5, and WordPress.org are popular examples. (WordPress.org, though initially a blogging platform, is being more frequently used as a CMS as well.) For the most part, open source Content Management Systems are developed and enhanced by the online community at large, rather than one specific company or developer.

Additionally, some web developers use what is called a “proprietary” Content Management System. These systems are unique to an organization or developer, and in many cases are developed for a specific organization. Large organizations often have inventory and security needs so particular that it’s more cost effective for them to have their own CMS developed specifically for their needs.

At Bicycle Theory, we use both WordPress and VenYou™ for our clients – so we have both open source and proprietary solutions. There are a few things to consider when deciding which solution is going to be the right one for you. Since how these systems are implemented can vary widely depending on the developer your working with, here are a few things you could ask to help you make your decision.

What are the ongoing costs?

Some organizations charge a fee or subscription to use their proprietary CMS. Find out what your monthly expenses are going to be, as that might weigh in heavily on your decision. Open source CMS solutions will also come with a hosting fee of some sort; however, you will likely have more flexibility in that decision.

Beyond hosting costs, the other thing to consider is maintenance and updates. Open Source doesn’t mean ‘free,’ after all. You’re still going to need somebody to set it up and attend to it, just as you would with a proprietary solution. And those costs can be just as high or higher than with a proprietary solution. The big difference here is who can work on your CMS.

What are the biggest limitations of each?

Open source solutions are are, by definition, open. This means that if you don’t like your current developer, you can find another one to help you out. With proprietary solutions, you’ll have less flexibility here. However, the more different people you have working on your system, the greater chance there is that things might get mucked up or neglected, which could require you to make a big (potentially bigger) investment down the line. This is because individual developers generally have their own set of preferences when it comes to how things should be built and why. With a proprietary solution, there is tends to be more quality control because the people supporting it all adhere to the same, more controlled set of programming standards and practices.

Can I use and understand the CMS?

Ask your developer for a test drive. Is the user interface clunky, awkward and hard to understand, or is it pretty user friendly and easy for you and your colleagues to navigate? If the costs are a wash, figure out which system is going to be the easiest for YOU to use, since in theory you’re going to be the one doing all the updates once the site is launched!

How stable is the _____?

Insert ‘Company’ or ‘System’ here.  Some Content Management Systems and companies have been around for awhile, and have proven the test of time. Some are the “latest, greatest thing” – but might not be around for awhile, or might have the support community fizzle out. While you won’t necessarily have your website forever, it’s nice to know it will last for at least a little while. Likewise, if you’re buying a proprietary solution, make sure you’re choosing a company with a solid history and track record.

What are the design limitations (if any)?

If you’re looking for a highly customized site or have very specific content needs, a proprietary solution might be your best bet. Proprietary solutions often allow for a greater degree of customization than their open source counterparts – especially if they were built by the very same people that are supporting them. Have an open discussion with your developer about what your design wants are so they can help by making a recommendation for you.

How much do I like my developer?

Sometimes you gotta ask the hard questions! If you’re worried about long-term commitments and have a hunch you’ll want to work with a new developer in the near future, there’s a greater chance somebody can jump in to an Open Source system and help you out.  But if your developer is somebody that you’ll want to be working with for the foreseeable future, then a proprietary solution may be just the thing – especially if the developer knows the ins and outs of the system and can get it to do just about anything you need it to do.

Jamie Schumacher is Bicycle Theory’s Internet Marketing & Nonprofit Strategist. She’s also our resident blogging and social media expert! To find out more about creating or improving your online experience, contact Bicycle Theory!

The obvious answer is “a content management system allows you to manage the content on your site.”

Oh really?

But what does that mean?

Imagine your lovely new website, designed so that there’s a place for everything and everything’s in it’s place. What happens if you need to change a bit of content, update an address, or add a bit of information?

A Content Management System (CMS) allows you to update those things without having to know the inner-workings of how to write code, upload files, and make sure you don’t muck anything else up in the process. With a CMS, anybody from your staff with little or no Web training can add or edit information to your website. A sophisticated CMS can help you manage just about anything – from page copy to product inventory. And depending on which CMS you use, you can even control things like SEO.

By the power of Grayskull ... I have the power!

While it may take longer to and cost more develop than a static website, having a solid CMS underneath the hood is empowering. With a good CMS, you don’t have to rely on a developer to make all your changes or timely updates for you because – like He-Man – you have the power!!

Jamie Schumacher is Bicycle Theory’s Internet Marketing & Nonprofit Strategist. She’s also our resident blogging and social media expert! To find out more about creating or improving your online experience, contact Bicycle Theory!

I'm pretty sure she's also thinking about how much she loves the Internet...

Happy November, everybody!

Working my way back to the office the other day I was thinking about how much I have to be grateful for. This being November and all, it seems pretty appropriate to start off the month being grateful, right?

I was thinking about how in spite of the recession, the Occupy movements, and other challenges that face us, we still have an awful lot to be grateful for – like the Internet. I sure do love the Internet.

I’m dead serious! Hear me out.

Most of my family lives many, many hundreds of miles away. Yet I got to see pictures of my niece’s softball game, only minutes after it happened. How?

The Internet.

Some of you know I helped start a nonprofit gallery in Northeast Minneapolis. That little gallery has shown over 2,000 artists from all over the world, and they found our venue as a way to share their work with the public. How?

The Internet.

Many nonprofits I work with use online tools to work on documents, write grants, communicate, and share information with each other. They are able to do this for relatively low cost and at lightning speed. How?

The Internet!

Some people hate the Internet. They say it’s destroying the fabric of our culture, stifling our communities and destroying our work ethic. Who are these people? Clearly, they’re doin’ it wrong.

There’s a lot to love on the internet, you just gotta take the time to get to know it … and we’re here to help.Welcome to our November series. This month, we’re going to talk a little bit about the things we love out there on the Internet (besides Blogs and Social Media). We’re talking about things like content management systems, other sharing and organizating tools, and FREE resources to help you do good work better!

Jamie Schumacher is Bicycle Theory’s Internet Marketing & Nonprofit Strategist. She’s also our resident blogging and social media expert! To find out more about creating or improving your online experience, contact Bicycle Theory!

Nigerian princes and robots aside, there are a lot of weird, kooky things floating around the Internet. How do you keep you and your organization safe while browsing online?

While none of this is any guarantee of safety, here are some of the things we practice at Bicycle Theory to make our internet browsing experience as safe and virus-free as possible.

Disable pop-ups.

Use a browser that has a popup blocker, or block sites that have popups. Simple but effective (and even if pop-ups aren’t virus laden, they sure are annoying!)

Use a decent browser.

I’m sorry, are you using Internet Explorer? I’m not sure if we can be friends anymore.

If you want to remain friends, I’m going to ask that you use a reputable browser such as Mozilla Firefox. You’ll be glad you did. (And not just because we can still be buddies.) The better browsers do more with troubleshooting security and browser compatibility.

Keep your browser updated.

Even the best browsers need to be kept up to date with the latest fixes and software. You wouldn’t drink expired milk, would you? Keep your system fresh, too.

Protect your passwords.

Don’t send them via email. Don’t include them in digital document. Update them with relative frequency and don’t give them out to anybody you don’t trust.

Have good passwords to begin with!

Also, don’t pick passwords that include your name, address, or a combination of your birthday.

For your site: use a reputable host.

The only time I’ve ever had a site succumb to hackers is through a breech on ANOTHER SITE, through which they were able to access my information on a shared server. Solution? Transfer to another more reputable, private server and load the porn-free backup of my site. Sometimes the cheaper hosts really come at a more expensive cost!

Don’t lose your stuff.

Not to freak you out … but stolen and lost cell phones can lead to identity theft – and that’s becoming more and more common.

• Stolen and Lost Cell Phones: helium.com/items/1161605-how-a-lost-or-stolen-cell-phone-can-lead-to-identity-theft
• Pin #s and Cell Phones: lifehacker.com/5813533/repeating-one-digit-may-actually-improve-the-security-of-your-phones-4+digit-lockscreen-pin

Avoid this issue by being cautious and not losing your stuff.

Don’t tell the world exactly when and where you are and when…

Because then the evil people in the world will know when you’re not home.

And last but not least… Don’t be a dumbass!

Red Forman would sum all of the above up for you in a pretty easy rule of thumb. To our faithful readers and friends out there, there’s nothing but love in our hearts when we tell you with all sincerity: “don’t be a dumbass!”

If it looks fishy, don’t click it!

Don’t download files from somebody or somewhere that might not be safe!

Don’t install that suspicious program!

You don’t take candy from strangers in person, why would you EVER do it online?

That brings us to the close of our Social Media Strategy Series at Bicycle Theory. Next up: Content Management Systems and online organizational tools.

Happy Halloween Everybody! Go find some little kids and steal their candy, just for me.

Jamie Schumacher is Bicycle Theory’s Internet Marketing & Nonprofit Strategist. She’s also our resident blogging expert! To find out more about creating or improving your blog, contact Bicycle Theory!