‘Random Thoughts’ Archives

A question for my association colleagues

My question: Why do associations frequently "hide" audience feedback from speakers? When I work with my clients, a common discussion point is capturing speaker feedback in the database. Typically associations want to do this via an online survey (which makes sense). But quite often, someone on ...

Small things can make a BIG difference

I continually surprise myself when I make what are seemingly minor changes in how I do something and find that it has a huge impact on my efficiency, effectiveness, or mindset (or all three!). Some simple but telling examples: We've got small recycle bins from our waste removal company, in ...

Do You REALLY Know What Visitors Think of Your Website?

My friend and colleague Ray van Hilst at Vanguard Technology is conducting an association benchmarking survey about website redesign. Ray is using this information as part of his presentation at the ASAE Tech Conference in December. (I'm also presenting twice at the Tech conference; you can get all ...

My favorite technologies – # 5 of 5 – Evernote

This is the last of five blog posts on my favorite technologies. Evernote, quite simply, is a place to put electronic files when you can’t think of anywhere to put them. For example, in the days before Evernote, I would keep a file of blog post ideas in a Word document. This was a single Word ...

My favorite technologies – # 4 of 5 – Logmein

This is the fourth of five blog posts on my favorite technologies. Simply put, Logmein is an online service that allows me to access my office computer from my laptop. As long as my office computer is turned on and connected to the Internet, I can access the entire computer from my laptop. This ...

My favorite technologies – # 3 of 5 – Dropbox

This is the third of five blog posts on my favorite technologies. Since opening my consulting business over a decade ago, I’ve always operated with two computers: my office computer (desktop) and my laptop. I use my laptop for meetings with clients and when I travel. In the good old days, I ...

My favorite technologies – # 2 of 5 – Dymo label printer

This is the second of five blog posts on my favorite technologies. Many years ago, I worked at a small consulting firm. The primary office printer happened to be located outside my office door. Every afternoon, around 4.45pm, I would hear the office manager standing at the printer, cursing under ...

My favorite technologies – # 1 of 5 – TextExpander and Keyboard Maestro

I recently had the opportunity to speak at the AMC Institute’s Summer Conference in Dallas, just prior to the ASAE Annual Conference. My general session topic was on using technology in AMCs. We discussed a broad range of technology issues, but one area that I did not get to cover was the list of ...

Pet Peeve of the Day

Opt outs that require you to enter the email address at which I no longer want to receive your emails. If YOU sent me the email, why can't your opt-out system detect WHICH email you sent the email to, and the opt me out automatically? I've got at least four email addresses. When I click ...

Join me next week on David Nour’s IMPACT Webinar

I'll be a guest next week on David Nour's IMPACT Webinar Series, from noon to 1pm Eastern, on Tuesday, May 29. We'll be discussing data (natch), with a heavy emphasis on social ROI. Register here: https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/574644768 More details on the IMPACT Webinar Series ...