Forums: Discussions for entrepreneurs and small business.

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WoW.....the process actually happend very quickly with all the great ideas out there I am impressed with the 40% interest on the votes that took place for eLearning, knowledge transfer, etc........ I am hoping we can incorporate many of the other suggestions or ideas that were part of the brainstorming session we had on phase I and II that have synergy with the eLearning concept into this project.  I think we can demonstrate how this unique concept can leverage and utilize all the talent and knowledge base that exists in the SUN Community.

Several things can be put into place very quickly to get us all moving forward on launching this first projects.  To keep things simple at first and create an enviroment that will foster a lot of big ideas for content, I think we should do the following as early as this coming week.

One of the important elements behind creating content for eLearning, Knowledge Transfer, etc is having a consistant tool that everyone is using to capture their "how to" or "show me - tell me" information.  One of the tools I suggested was called IGNITE that Scate Technologies has agreed to provide complimentary to all Startupnation members that wish to create content and contribute to the "can we create a business together" initiative.

I spoke with the CEO Steve Sadler of Scate Technologies this evening and SUN members could start allowing valid members to receive their IGNITE 2006 content development software (tool) as early as next week.  The suggestion I have is as follows as it relates to getting your complimentary copy of IGNITE (content creation tool) and the 30 minutes of training you should have to learn the in`s and out`s of the tool.  The training will help all of us to use the tool in a manner that is consistant and the most effective.

Scate Technologies holds overview (almost like training) webinars on IGNITE every Tuesday at 10:am EST and Thursday at 1:00pm EST.  They usually take about 30 mintues of your time.  Many people hang out for another 30 minutes or so to see more examples and advanced features of the product, but that is optional.

To register for the webinar that best fits your schedule all you have to do is go to https://scate.webex.com. Once you are there you will want to click on the upcoming events tab and see what date and time works best for you. When you see an event that works for you, then just select the REGISTER option associated with that date and time and fill out the information they request from you.  Make sure you put the words "STARTUPNATION" in the REFERRED BY field so we know who you are. It is very important to have this code entered in these fields so that you are not prospected and followed up on like a gerneric lead would. When Scate sees the key word STARTUPNATION they will have a process to email all the info you need to get on the webinar call (special code and ID).

Once you have viewed a webinar, Scate Technologies management will know that you have received basic training on the product and you will be notified via email how to download your complimentary unlimited full working copy of IGNITE 2006.  It is important that you attend one of these webinar sessions prior to installing and using IGNITE, since it will cut down the number of support calls and typical questions that people have to just about zero!

If for some reason the Tuesday at 10am EST or the Thur 1:00pm EST does not work for you, then please post some times and days of the week your recommend on this forum and I will see that Scate management gets your suggestions and holds additional training webinars to accommodate your suggestions.

Well, that will get us all one of the tools we need to create content and the training we need to develop with the tool.  I really shouldn`t say the word "develop" since using IGNITE is easier then just about any other software out there once you have seen the webinar.  Next we will need a place to host the content, manage it, provide for the ecommerce capabilities, and the reporting features. This is typically found as part of what is called an LMS or Learning Management System. 

Since it is going to take a few weeks to talk to several vendors and create a relationship/partnership with them to allow us to use their LMS (rather than purchasing and managing one ourselves), I would suggest that we all spend the next few weeks creating content (after attending a webinar) and talking about all the other aspects of the business and how it might work.

To keep this posting here short and not drag on and on, I am going to stop here at this point and not go into any other details or thoughts as yet.  YES, there is so much to talk about, share and brainstorm as it relates to the business side of things (and we will get to all that I am sure sooner then later).  But I thought for the next several days or so if we could focus on putting all our ideas on paper so you don`t loose track of your thoughts and also go to the https://scate.webex.com and register for a training webinar.  This will be the best way to get everyone on the same page and with some tools to work with before leaping too far ahead.   Love to hear any comments you all have and ideas you would like to share.....

PS.  I will be in San Francisco Dec 5th-13th at an off-site retreat and not have much if any access to email during this time (one of those 8am-11:00pm hold you hostage seminars for several days).  Therefore I will be out of communications for about a week.  But we can have everyone still jumping on webinars and keeping the threads going....after all, this is our business right?

Cheers!

 

The  2.     

Mike,

I just participated in the teleconference/online demonstration today. The
product was quite elegant in its simplicity, yet suitable for at least 80% of
informational/training needs that I imagine might arise.

I`m starting to compile/create content in anticipation of the next step.

I think you`ve established an ideal direction for launching this great idea.

Denise

Denise said....

I just participated in the teleconference/online demonstration today. The
product was quite elegant in its simplicity, yet suitable for at least 80% of
informational/training needs that I imagine might arise. I`m starting to compile/create content in anticipation of the next step. I think you`ve established an ideal direction for launching this great idea.

Mike says to Denise......OUTSTANDING to get your feedback and excited to see what content (or ignitables) you will come up with.  It is amazing how simple yet powerful this product is.  When others from the SUN community attend the webinar like you did, I am sure they will have the same positive response that you did.  And I think you are correct about the 80% rule. 

I am pleased that Steve Sadler (CEO) and Dan Rea (COO) from Scate Technologies saw the value and talent that exists in the SUN community and supported the decision to make a $399 product avaliable as FREE/Complimentary to all SUN community members that are willing to step up and contribute to participate in the "can we create a business together" concept.

The next step will be coming up with LMS so we have a common place to store and serve out all the great ignitables that will be created by the SUN community.  Please keep your feedback coming and let us know when your ready to share some to the stuff you will be creating. 

PS. Since you were the first SUN community member to be on the webinar, I guess you will also be the first to receive your complimentary copy of IGNITE as well.

Cheers!

In no way do I wish to crowd Denise`s thunder, but ... I attended Tuesday morning`s webinar - and I want my copy too!

I agee that this tool is elegant in it`s simplicity and should facilitate a great deal of content creation by even the least-technical among us. So... make sure I`m on the list for a copy of IGNITE too, please!!

Steven

Count me in on this one, please!!
I used to be the Technology Trainer at a university and a technical writer.   I`m excited about learning this software and seeing how it will work for us.   Very generous of SCATE Technologies to provide this software to us!

I`m sure that some of my questions will be answered from the webinar;   My first assumption was that we would post our content on the SCATE site, but from the conversation above, I`m assuming not.

I`ll hold off on my other questions for now.  Steven, do you want us to hold off one general discussion until  you return?  I can see some productive discussions developing while putting this project together.  Definitely looking forward to it!

CG

Hello Hello Hello!!!!

Good to see that a few people are excited and wanting to take things to what I call "The NEXT LEVEL" 

I just got out of a meeting with Jeff Holth who is now the VP of Product Management at Scate Technologies and this is what they have come up with for getting valid SUN community members onto the webinars to learn how to use IGNITE and then how to get them access to download their FREE/complimentary copy of IGNITE so they can start creating content and sharing it with others.  Attending the webinar is very important and required for you to receive your FREE copy of IGNITE.  Reason is that in 30 minutes you will learn what the product can do and how to use the product.  Having everyone attend a short training webinar prior to downloading their copy of IGNITE will cut the number of support calls down to almost zero (well, thats that hope anyways).

Scate Technologies holds overview (almost like training) webinars on IGNITE every Tuesday at 10:am EST and Thursday at 1:00pm EST.  They usually take about 30 mintues of your time.  Many people hang out for another 30 minutes or so to see more examples and advanced features of the product, but that is optional.

To view how to sign up for a webinar click on the link below which is a 3 minute step by step presentation on how to register (short course to learn how to register that was created using INGITE in 25 minutes from beginning to end....it`s a very simple example show-me demo)

www.ignitables.com/sunwebinar  

REMINDER ON HOW TO REGISTER FOR WEBINAR

To register for the webinar that best fits your schedule all you have to do is go to https://scate.webex.com. Once you are there you will want to click on the upcoming events tab and see what date and time works best for you. When you see an event that works for you, then just select the REGISTER option associated with that date and time and fill out the information they request from you. 

Make sure you put the words "STARTUPNATION" in the REFERRED BY field so we know who you are. It is very important to have this code entered in these fields so that you are not prospected and followed up on like a gerneric lead would. When Scate sees the key word STARTUPNATION they will have a process to email all the info you need to get on the webinar call (special code and ID).

Once you have viewed a webinar, Scate Technologies management will know that you have received basic training on the product and you will be notified via email how to download your complimentary unlimited full working copy of IGNITE 2006.  It is important that you attend one of these webinar sessions prior to installing and using IGNITE, since it will cut down the number of support calls and typical questions that people have to just about zero!

 

AFTER THE WEBINAR, HOW TO DOWNLOAD YOUR IGNITE COPY

 

After registering for the webinar, you will receive 2 emails.  One is verification of registration and the other provides you wiht all the instructions you will need to participate in the webinar that you choose during the registration process.  This will include the conference ID, password and the phone number to call into the conference on.

 

After attending one of these webinar sessions you will receive via email providing you with a unique access code allowing you to access the Startupnation IGNITE download website  where you can download your free/complimentary copy of Ignite to your personal computer.  After downloading it successfully, you will receive a separate email containing the necessary information to activate your copy of IGNITE 2006 called the ACTIVATION KEYS. Once you install IGNITE and enter the activation keys you are ready to begin creating engaging content and sharing it with others.

 

More information will be coming and will be posted as the site gets up and running to allow you to download your complimentary software.  We will also be offering additional FREE training on advanced features and functionality from time to time via webinars.  This way you can be anywhere in the world and learn everything you need to know about using IGNITE to create and publish content.

 

Remember, initially we are focusing on getting the tools and training into everyones hands and over the next few weeks we can get all the other business issues, concerns and LMS (learning management system) for hosting and ecommerce figured out.

 

I hope this helps get everyone moving in the same direction initially here.  Please let me know about any feedback that you might have.

 

Cheers!

 

Happy Friday!

It was so AWESOME to log in today and see all of the threads, along with the first official SUNprojects listed under on ONE Heading! Way to go Start Up Nation! Way to go Mitey!

Congratulations Daniel! I am so excited to see this project take shape! I am trying to learn more about SCATE, m signing up for the webinar ASAP. 

With all of the super work done by Mike Nunn in support of this, the intiatives of OhDenise, CreativeGal & NYC, and contributions from all of us here under the SUN,  this is destined for success!  Onward we go!