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Reading Room Articles
I work for a company whose mission revolves around coming up with creative solutions, so it's no surprise that we don't fit neatly within what you might call the average working environment. Like most companies that started with a small team and a huge vision, we eventually evolved to fill out a typical organizational structure, a real office space, and a nine-to-five schedule - and odds would have been in favor of staying that way, except that our tendency to brainstorm and experiment overcame any leanings we may have had toward the norm. Happily enough, the result has turned us into a more efficient company, a more communicative team, and a far more flexible organization. What happened was that like every other hardworking person that we know, we found ourselves going in to the office every morning, five days a week, and desperately wanting more time with our families and in our homes, more flexibility in our work days, and the ability to choose our own work environments. Of course, we wanted all of that without sacrificing the success of our company. If that sounds like a tall order to fill, let me tell you first that the Internet has enabled us to achieve our goal, secondly that we've been doing it for several years now, and finally, that we'd never have it any other way. Granted, our solution isn't for everyone, but parts of it are adaptable to any situation where people need to communicate over distances or in ways that accommodate diverse schedules. In short, we don't just "telecommute" from our various positions in several cities, two states, and (for a at least three months out of the year) two different countries - instead, we "telecommunicate". Ironically, in spite of no longer working face to face, we find that we work and communicate better than ever. Though we sometimes feel as though we "live online", we live our working lives more comfortably and productively thanks to a few tricks and tools (all are FREE, by the way) that we rely upon to make life online nicer and easier, many of which can do the same for you. Here are our tried-and-true favorites! Text and Live Voice Chat AOL Instant Messenger (www.aol.com) -- AOL users are notoriously devoted to the native software's "IM" or Instant Messenger function… but you don't have to be an AOL subscriber to use this great communications tool! Simply download and install the software, and you'll have everything that you need to communicate live, in real time, with other AOL IM users. The newest version (still in beta, but fully functional nonetheless) even includes live voice capability, and the ability to invite several users to join you in a single chat session. We find the live voice component of the program a little cumbersome, but the text chat function is outstanding, and the "Buddy List" feature lets us know immediately who else is online with us and available to chat. (Requirements: Internet connections on both ends, AOL Instant Messenger software or use of AOL for Internet access on both ends for text chat, and the addition of sound cards, microphones, and speakers on both ends for use of the "Talk" feature.) HearMe (www.hearme.com) -- We went through an awful lot of live voice chat tools before we settled on this one, and though it's not perfect (low bandwidth or long-distance connections can make for an annoying sound delay), it's the best we've used yet. You can experience this one in action at www.SMMOnline.com in our Live Voice Chat Rooms. HearMe also includes a text chat interface for users without sound capability, making it a handy tool to have, indeed. (Requirements: the HearMe software, available at www.hearme.com; for voice chat, Internet Connections, sound cards, microphones, and speakers on both ends; for text chat, Internet connections on both ends.) Net-To-Phone Calling DialPad (www.dialpad.com) -- Internet telephony is all the rage, and there are several programs out there that will allow you to place free long distance calls from your computer to a telephone, but some require you to build up talk minutes in advance by viewing commercial messages, and others fall a bit short in the sound quality department - but not DialPad. This handy little app comes with PC Magazine's endorsement, and more importantly to us, the Apartment Doctor's seal of approval. Doug Chasick (hands down, the most serious computer nerd we know) swears by this one, and having been on the receiving end of calls placed using DialPad, the sound quality is simply outstanding. (Requirements: on the sending end, a computer with Internet access, a sound card and microphone; on the receiving end, a telephone.) Online Greetings ePraise (www.baudville.com) - Baudville's ePraise greetings are a great way to thank and motivate your team! One of the coolest things about these great greetings is that they're delivered as e-mail messages, so recipients don't need web access in order to read them. This is the ideal solution for those of you who have full Internet access at the corporate or multi-site level, but only e-mail access at the on-site level. (Requirements: On the sending end, a computer with Internet access; on the receiving end, a computer with at least e-mail access.) Blue Mountain Arts Online Greetings (www.bluemountain.com) -- This one's probably already on your bookmark list, but you're selling it short if you're only using it to send birthday greetings. Check out the business-worthy selections, including lots of great ways to thank or reward your team, in the business and thank you sections of the site's "Every Day" menu. (Requirements: On both ends, computers with Internet access. Card selections that feature sound will require a computer with a sound card and speakers on the receiving end.) American Greetings Online (www.americangreetings.com) -- Another great source for free greetings, including plenty of animated and sound-enhanced selections. For professional greetings, including birthday cards especially for team members, congratulations messages, and thank-you notes, click on the "Business" link at the bottom of the page. (Requirements: On both ends, computers with Internet access. Card selections that feature sound will require a computer with a sound card and speakers on the receiving end.) Supercharged E-Mail TalkSender (www.talksender.com) -- E-mail is a fabulous means of communicating, but one of its principal shortcomings is that the written word can't always deliver a message as effectively as a real live, enthusiastic, thoughtful, or decisive human voice can. That's where TalkSender comes to the rescue, allowing you to send a pre-recorded voice message via e-mail. The interface is much like any standard e-mail program, allowing multiple addressees, a subject line, and accompanying text message. (Requirements: On both ends, computers with Internet access; on the sending end, a sound card, microphone, and speakers; on the receiving end, a sound card and speakers.) Zaplets (www.zaplets.com) -- A Zaplet is a free e-mail message that's enhanced with feedback capability so that you're able to gather responses from a number of people on a single issue. You can survey your team, let recipients vote on the best theme for an upcoming event, choose the best available date for a meeting, start an open discussion on an important issue, share pictures, review and approve designs, poll for opinions, and more - all via e-mail! (Requirements: Internet connections and e-mail addresses for all message recipients.) More stuff you should know about just because it's cool: The Cool Tricks and Trinkets Newsletter - (www.tricksandtrinkets.com) - I subscribe to a ridiculous number of e-newsletters and am always recommending good ones to my friends - this is one of the few recommendations that they thank me for. If you'd like to be appraised weekly of what's new and cool online, including free downloads and plug-ins, sign up here. (Requirements: Internet and e-mail access.) The Future File Digest - (www.futurefile.com) -- Every couple of weeks, I receive what amounts to an e-mail message from the future, courtesy of Todd Maffin's Future File Digest. Get a taste of what you're missing at futurefile.com - not necessarily multifamily fodder, but it helps me think outside of the box, and just might do the same for you. Coming soon for your listening enjoyment: TodRadio. (Requirements: Internet and e-mail access.) The Pocket Internet (www.thepocket.com) -- George and Tad Dillon are a couple of self-professed "aging Irish American lads" who apparently have little else to do but compress the best of the web into one amazing site. You won't want your boss to catch you spending too much time here during working hours, because the site serves up an unbelievable number of ways to waste time online, but there are an equally impressive number of useful tools and shortcuts to be found, especially in the "Iwanna" and "Free Downloads" sections of the site - and all are completely free! (Requirements: Internet access and too much time on your hands.) Bonus Tip (just for reading this far!) TClockX - (http://users.iafrica.com/d/da/dalen) -- Dale Nurden is a guy from Pinetown, South Africa who found himself wishing that the little clock on the end of the Windows 95/98/NT taskbar included not only an hour and minute display, but also the full date and a 24-hour clock with a "second hand". With the handy addition of his little freeware creation, TClockX, it does! (Requirements: Internet access to download the file, Windows 95, 98, or NT.) 
Once upon a time, Monique Guion-Kimball fell brain-first into a job at the Sales & Marketing Magic Companies, Inc., and is now a six-year veteran of brainstorming and developing solutions for Apartment Professionals nationwide. Visit www.SMMOnline.com for more information about Sales & Marketing Magic products, publications, and events. We'll see (and hear) you online! To read more articles from this author please visit www.smmonline.com. The Sales & Marketing Magic Companies, shares more than 20 years of experience in multifamily housing, encompassing leasing, marketing, management, training, authoring, consulting, developing, and Brainstorming! For more information on , Sales & Marketing Magic for Apartment Managers; the latest Tools & Forms Catalogue; The Annual Multifamily Housing Brainstorming Sessions™; or to receive top ideas, FREE, via e-mail, please call 727-784-9469 or visit www.SMMOnline.com. |
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