[19:01] <@karen> Hi, Manikk. [19:01] hi Karen [19:01] how r u ? [19:01] I think I am a bit late here [19:02] <@karen> I am good. I think you are right on time, but you seem to be the only one so far. [19:02] oops... [19:03] <@karen> How is your week going? [19:03] I have a little chat with Indira right now on skype and looked at her marketing plan [19:03] <@karen> Oh, should I jump on Skype instead? [19:04] <@karen> Or you could have her join us here? [19:04] bit busy with projects to be delivered and I have'nt worked on the marketing plan yet [19:04] <@karen> I understand :) [19:05] I have a product in mind that should be marketed...the product itself need to be developed [19:05] first [19:06] <@karen> What is the product? [19:07] <@karen> Hola, Indira. [19:07] its a like content management system which user can build websites from desktop offline and can connect and make it onlie [19:08] Hi!!!Karen [19:08] <@karen> How are you today? [19:08] <@karen> Manikk, that sounds interesting. [19:08] <@karen> I like the ability to build it offline. [19:08] yes ,,,that the key point [19:09] I need to sketch the product itself [19:09] <@karen> I lived in Africa for a while and I could have really used that product (limited connectivity) [19:09] Yes! that sounds great [19:10] I haven't coded even a sigle line ...the product is just in my mind [19:10] <@karen> Indira, I was just pulling up your marketing plan. It is a very good start. [19:10] <@karen> Manikk, everything starts as just an idea! [19:11] <@karen> I think it's good to think about marketing before you start building the product [19:11] thaanks! it's really interesting doing this mkt plan thinking how to "sell" our project [19:11] <@karen> Indira, I especially like your chart for "How am I going to reach them?" [19:12] <@karen> How did you learn about FLOSS and Creative Commons? Do other people know about it where you live? [19:12] yes...Indira that chart clearly explain [19:13] well here in Mexico there are some FLOSS group [19:13] s [19:14] <@karen> I am just looking at http://identi.ca/. I hadn't seen it before [19:14] but i think that there is not al lot of people that know about creative commnos, people can't see yet how wonderful is this sharing culture [19:14] I have used it before ... identi.ca [19:14] <@karen> Even here in the U.S., Creative Commons is not well known. I just returned from a conference where I presented about CC [19:15] <@karen> identi.ca looks like Twitter.... but is it open source? [19:15] yes [19:15] yes! is one of the social networks, we have also tryed Dolphin [19:16] <@karen> (By the way, where in Mexico do you live? I am about 50 miles north of Agua Prieta.) [19:16] i live in xalapa, veracruz [19:16] identica posts can be made automatically published in twitter [19:16] just through the indentica site [19:17] <@karen> The two of you are knowledgable about open source. [19:17] yes! we are also about to start testing civicrm it's a software that lets you have your data base [19:17] ok [19:17] with all your contacts and you can have groups, send them newsletters, yoiu can also use it for events and donations [19:18] <@karen> That's great. For my company, we wrote our own web-based CRM with MySQL and PHP [19:18] <@karen> It's simple but it works well [19:18] <@karen> It generates email lists but doesn't send the emails out though [19:18] Karen , do u have any resources about pricing the services ? [19:19] <@karen> Manikk, what kind of services? [19:19] i'm starting to think that the hard work comes from identifiying the publics [19:19] web developmet ... I don't know how to price my services [19:19] hi [19:19] <@karen> Last week, someone on chat talked about looking at "customer avatars" -- they are examples of typical customers [19:20] <@karen> Manikk, I think it depends on where you are and how specialized your services are [19:20] <@karen> On pricing, I would start by looking at how successful competition is pricing [19:20] <@karen> Things I've learned about pricing services: [19:21] thanks I'll check [19:21] <@karen> #1 Most people are happier with a fixed bid rather than a $/hour price [19:21] <@karen> #2 Projects always take longer than you think :) [19:22] <@karen> #3 It is easier to come down on price than to increase it (So when in doubt, I try to start higher and then decrease if I need to) [19:22] <@karen> I see a couple more people have joined us. Greeetings! Where are you all from? [19:22] <@karen> blackstar, I've seen you on Twitter! [19:22] hi karen, i am actually one person... [19:22] <@karen> Oh.... :) [19:23] yes, it's me (ikem)... [19:23] <@karen> Welcome [19:23] hi, i have no idea how to log-out my alter ego [19:23] <@karen> I don't know either. [19:23] plus, it's waaay late in the uk [19:24] <@karen> We have been talking about how to price services (especially web development) and identifying potential customers [19:24] okay, that's always a good question [19:24] <@karen> Your alter ego has gone :) [19:24] haha, yes my twin [19:25] i was worried in case he said something! spooky! [19:25] <@karen> Manikk is in India and Indira is in Mexico. We have a very nice international group! [19:25] great [19:25] :) [19:26] <@karen> So I think the market plan exercise for week 2 may have been too BIG. What do you think? [19:26] i learned it's sometimes better to turn down a certain kind of client [19:26] perhaps, yes... [19:26] <@karen> Learning to turn down certain clients is a great lesson!!! [19:26] but aammm why would you that?? [19:26] <@karen> Mankikk, as we were talking about pricing, customers who are more focused on low price than good service are often potential problems. [19:27] what kind of clients would you turn down? [19:27] yes, thats true [19:27] <@karen> I try to turn down clients that are not profitable....but it's sometimes hard to know that in advance :) [19:27] clients that don't want the services you offer... [19:27] <@karen> Also clients that don't fit your mission [19:27] <@karen> No one ends up happy [19:27] but want you to act as a kind of "screwdriver". yes, they do not fit your mission [19:28] <@karen> But as an entrepreneur, I find that it is very tempting to take on all customers to get more business [19:28] one client wants me to fix his google spreadsheet. i don't do that! [19:28] ha ha ........ [19:28] <@karen> funny [19:29] <@karen> Sometimes I get a client who doesn't know what he wants.... hard to satisfy them [19:29] i can point him in the right direction, but it's better to be clear about what you want [19:29] I have deployed CMS for my client,but they asked me to update the content [19:29] that is a completely separate job [19:29] <@karen> It's good to know what you're good at and what you're not good at (or just don't want to do) [19:30] thats the key [19:30] <@karen> One reason it's good to have a mission statement and marketing plan [19:30] is everybody on twitter here? [19:30] <@karen> I've had businesses where we ended up doing all kinds of things that we really should have stayed out of [19:31] I do have [19:31] <@karen> I don't think everyone here is on Twitter. A few people in the class followed me but they don't seem to "tweet" much [19:31] <@karen> I'm on it all the time (as you've seen :) @kfasimpaur [19:31] okay. eye know ;-) [19:31] me: @nzeribe [19:32] <@karen> I'm doing some Twitter marketing for a client now @ncce_edtech [19:32] yes @IndiraCornelio also have two more from work @Info_activismo and @contactoreddes [19:32] <@karen> I feel like I have multiple personalities :) [19:32] excellent [19:32] mine is @thulir_manikk [19:32] <@karen> Indira, is it hard to keep up with all those? [19:33] hajajajaja yeeesss that happens sometimes i don't tweet much on mine for that reason [19:33] well I sometimes use Twuffer that lets you program tweets so I put there some news so they are published like every 2 hours [19:34] people, I am in hurry to go to the office... if possible catch u people in skype [19:34] <@karen> I am using different browsers now ... Firefox for all my personal stuff + Chrome for all of one of my client's stuff [19:34] <@karen> Indira, that is excellent! I've been looking for something just like this. Thanks. [19:34] in firefox you can add the yoono tool [19:34] manikk, you didn't update for over a year!!! [19:34] I use it to keep an eye on the 3 accounts on twitter [19:35] lol [19:35] <@karen> What does the yoono tool do? [19:35] it's really helpful!! Check it Yoo no [19:35] yes...that account was used whil I have been freelancing [19:35] <@karen> Could you use it for multiple accounts on multiple tools (Twitter, FB, YouTube, Flickr, etc.) [19:36] need to use it from now onwards [19:36] good, i want to keep up with people after this course is over [19:36] yes, you have them on the left part of Mozilla and you can have there your tw, fb, flkr; or you can have 3 accounts from one [19:36] <@karen> Looking at Yoono... [19:37] Karen I am leaving .... bye [19:37] <@karen> Bye Manikk. Hope to see you again next time. [19:37] see ya [19:37] <@karen> I need multiple accounts on multiple tools....all signed in at once. [19:38] yeah, that would be handy [19:38] there's hootsuite as well [19:39] <@karen> Yes, I've seen that. Also Tweetdeck. I don't use either though. [19:39] <@karen> For my personal stuff, I love having everything in iGoogle widgets. It makes it easy to keep up with everything. [19:40] <@karen> Indira, on Yoono, do you use the browser app or the desktop one? [19:40] i'm... too connected! [19:40] the browser app [19:40] <@karen> Yes, too connected! [19:40] i left facebook last week, deleted my account: enough [19:40] <@karen> I have a big conference in March that I'm doing all the social media for. After that and this class, I'm taking a social media vacation! [19:40] that is noot soo good in some cases [19:40] <@karen> Because of privacy issues? [19:41] yeah. it's just not good. [19:41] <@karen> I have their policies but I love their product (or really the network I have there). [19:41] <@karen> I am deeply conflicted. [19:41] me too, my friends begged me to stay [19:42] <@karen> I use FB mostly for personal use, but I just started doing some marketing on it for a client. [19:42] it is good for that, people are on it [19:42] <@karen> It has been challenging. For me, Twitter is easier for marketing (but not as many people on Twitter) [19:43] it's true; more impersonal [19:43] i have high hopes for distributed networks [19:43] https://joindiaspora.com/ [19:43] <@karen> It's hard for me to figure out why people would want to "like" a company on FB. [19:43] <@karen> What is the value add? [19:44] <@karen> Diaspora is interesting....but it's all about who's on the network I guess [19:44] like life. [19:44] <@karen> true [19:44] It's not a product but I like a lot Cuentame on Facebook [19:44] people *do* like companies, though... [19:45] beats me [19:45] i shared the link in the first forum, they always have a great feedback [19:45] <@karen> Indira, I remember this from before [19:45] <@karen> Do you like their Facebook presence or their ideas or both? [19:46] I like both [19:46] <@karen> I think that the companies I "like" (fan) on FB are groups I already like otherwise....like Creative Commons and P2PU [19:46] <@karen> It's like a public way to say "I think these guys are cool" [19:47] they have a campaign also about workers rights, and they put a case of the beauty salons and they also have a good feedback [19:47] <@karen> It helps to have a cool cause [19:47] <@karen> Good marketing [19:48] do you have meetings when people on this side of the atlantic may be awake? [19:48] so i think with them what is working is the way they participate they are always like inviting the people to participate and posting cool thigs like videos they make [19:48] <@karen> I am happy to have these whenever you all want. Did you see the chat sign up at http://www.k12opened.com/wiki/index.php/P2pmktgchat ? [19:48] <@karen> I invited people to suggest other times, but no one did so far [19:49] <@karen> Feel free though! [19:49] <@karen> How about you pick the time for next week? [19:49] no, i must confess i have almost given up with all the crazy notices at p2pu [19:49] okay, i will take a look at it [19:49] <@karen> I know what you mean. For hte next round, I am going to require emails and send out a small number of msgs that way I think [19:50] <@karen> Indira, I like the idea of inviting people to participate. [19:50] <@karen> I'm good at creating and posting content, but I have a hard time engaging people in participating sometimes [19:51] yeees they drive you crazy! My cellphone will be flying away soon if it doesn't stopp!!! [19:51] <@karen> :) [19:51] i had to turn them off [19:51] it's why i missed the chat, i didn't look [19:51] <@karen> I still get all the messages....I just don't read them [19:52] i only just this minute looked on twitter and saw your notice, @karen [19:52] <@karen> Did you see the chat announcement on the forum (admin msgs) [19:52] total fluke [19:52] <@karen> ....Oh Twitter! Good. [19:52] no, i didn't [19:52] <@karen> Except that I think you're one of the few of us there [19:52] the definition of information overload [19:52] <@karen> I put up a forum section just for admin msgs (like chat times) but I don't think that's working either... [19:53] they use a lot of diferent ways for making them participate. On sundays they ask people what are they going to do? and put a picture with the question [19:53] exacerbated by the fact that i am on 4 courses here [19:53] <@karen> Yes, information overload...any other ideas to help with this on the course? [19:53] i shall give it some thought; i am full of bright ideas [19:53] <@karen> I think there may be too many people in the course.... [19:53] yes, i think it's true [19:53] smaller groups are better [19:53] <@karen> Indira, I like that question idea. I'm on a writer's site on FB and they do that. "What are your writing goals for the week?" [19:54] it would not be so bad if the communications system was properly implemented [19:54] <@karen> Thanks for the feedback. A lot of people have encouraged me to have a huge group in the course [19:54] there is no way to break of an form smaller units, which i would like [19:54] <@karen> I agree. If you haven't heard, P2PU is going to a new platform but I'm not sure when it will roll out [19:55] i can't follow threads at all [19:55] that will be a godsend [19:55] <@karen> Yes, I think some people have gotten so overwhelmed that they've given up [19:55] they have so many smart people i know they can do it [19:55] it's a shame. never mind [19:56] <@karen> It's a great group though. I've already learned so much [19:56] <@karen> And I really love the peer learning model. I'm starting to use it in my other work [19:56] me too. i will make sure i have a crack at the homework this weekend [19:56] i think this model is the future [19:56] me too! my little browser is full of pending sites to look at [19:56] <@karen> Me too [19:57] <@karen> Any other questions or requests related to the course? [19:57] they are rioting against the increase in school fees here [19:57] <@karen> Yes, here too. Budgets are in crisis [19:57] no, i am happy. just need to apply myself [19:57] <@karen> :) [19:58] ;-) [19:58] <@karen> Indira, anything else for you? [19:58] okay, better i sleep now! it's 3 am... [19:58] <@karen> Have a good weekend, and don't forget to suggest a chat time! [19:58] okay! will do xxx [19:59] <@karen> I'll post the log from this chat on the course site (under course materials) [19:59] cool [19:59] bye x [19:59] thanks Karen i thinks its good for today also [19:59] <@karen> Thanks for the chat! See you next time.