Dewey who?

Forget the Dewey Decimal system.

Through tagging, Internet users are revolutionizing the way we classify and use information.

According to Wikipedia, a tag is "a (relevant) keyword or term associated with or assigned to a piece of information (like picture, article, or video clip), thus describing the item and enabling keyword-based classification of information it is applied to.

Tags are usually chosen informally and personally by the author/creator or the consumer of the item — i.e. not usually as part of some formally defined classification scheme. Tags are typically used in dynamic, flexible, automatically generated internet taxonomies for online resources such as computer files, web pages, digital images, and internet bookmarks (both in social bookmarking services, and in the current generation of web browsers - see Flock)."

A recent report by the Pew Internet and American Life Project explores how tagging changes people's relationship to information and to each other. Read the report to learn more about how tagging works and who the taggers are: http://www.pewinternet.org/pdfs/PIP_Tagging.pdf

DigitalNow is the proven leadership conference for associations. To learn more about DigitalNow, and to register, please visit http://www.fusionproductions.com/digitalnow

DigitalNow Update from Jimmy Wales

Associations without committees?

The idea seems preposterous when considered within the framework of the traditional association model. However, Web 2.0 is having a profound influence on all traditional models – including those of associations.

As we all know by now, new technologies and new applications of existing technologies are changing the way we organize everything from information and education to personal and professional relationships. Does it even stand to reason, then, that associations can expect to continue to lean solely on face-to-face meetings and other time-honored methods to conduct daily business? Even if you could, would you really want to? Who does that model exclude, and what opportunities for growth and relevance might you be missing out on by resisting a transformation toward a new model?

While the "committee-less" association may not be fully upon us today, the trend is moving swiftly and undeniably toward a more fluid, open-ended, and collaborative method of educating, publishing and networking.

As the founder of the Wikipedia project, I have blazed a trail for self-structured communities, working together to build a solid, reliable base of knowledge. It's been – and continues to be – an amazing experience in social innovation. When I join you at DigitalNow 2007, I will be discussing the challenges of this model, as well as the critical capabilities for its success.

The exciting truth is that through the implementation of new model elements, your association can expand its reach, capitalize on a broader range of perspectives and talents, and ultimately increase the impact of its mission.

Jimmy Wales

DigitalNow is the proven leadership conference for associations. To learn more about DigitalNow, and to register, please visit http://www.fusionproductions.com/digitalnow

Shift Happens: Unbelievable statistics

Did you know?

• If you were one in a million in India, there would be 1100 people just like you.
• China will soon become the number one English speaking country in the world.
• The U.S. Department of Labor estimates that today's learner will have 10-14 jobs by age 38.
• Nintendo invested $140 million in research and development in 2002 alone; the U.S. Federal Government spent less than half as much on research and innovation in education.

For more unbelievable statistics, visit http://www.scottmcleod.org/didyouknow.wmv

DigitalNow is the proven leadership conference for associations. To learn more about DigitalNow 2007, and to register please visit http://www.fusionproductions.com/digitalnow

The Web User Experience (Kick it up a Notch!)

by Sherry Budziak

With more than 2 million new Web sites each month, users are demanding an online experience that is intuitive and engaging. So what happens when visiting their professional association's Web site doesn't measure up to their expectations? Will they try to look for information and services somewhere else or find new online social channels?

Does any of the following sound familiar?

• You know the information is there, but your members keep calling or sending you emails saying they can't find it
• The information on your Web site is outdated or has been deleted and is now missing
• You know that your Web site could be better structured and you need to improve your information architecture but you don't know where to start
• Your Web site content has grown so much that information is becoming difficult for staff to update

If the answer is "yes" to any of these, then you should be thinking of conducting a Web site usability review. Fundamental to usability and creating successful user experiences is placing a strong focus on users. In many cases, we spend little time concentrating on the users. Yet, the users are critical to the success of your Web site. (Read more by dowloading the article at http://www.fusionproductions.com/digitalnow/upload/Usability.pdf)

For more valuable information on how to improve the Web experience for your members, join Sherry Budziak at her DigitalNow workshop, Usability Bootcamp: The User Experience - Plugging into Best Practices. This session is scheduled for Thursday April 12, at 1:00 pm.

DigitalNow is the proven leadership conference for associations. To learn more about DigitalNow 2007, and to register please visit http://www.fusionproductions.com/digitalnow

DigitalNow 2007 Agenda Now Available!

Countdown to DigitalNow 2007 has begun, and our program has evolved into a powerful blend of experts and experiences - a strong contender to be the best DigitalNow yet!

We are excited to unveil this year's agenda, including our roster of keynotes, workshops, plenary sessions and social events. Please visit http://www.fusionproductions.com/digitalnow/content for details.

We're looking forward to seeing you there!

DigitalNow is the proven leadership conference for associations. To learn more about DigitalNow 2007, and to register please visit http://www.fusionproductions.com/digitalnow

Search Engine 2.0

As Web 2.0 technologies have continued to flourish and become more widely accepted, search engines have stayed relatively the same. Google undoubtedly rules the search engine world, but there are a few new sites that are looking to improve on the old search methods. Sites like http://www.wink.com and http://www.chacha.com are finding new and innovative ways to ensure that search engine results are more closely tailored to what you're actually looking for.

Read this article from http://www.our-picks.com to learn more about Search Engine 2.0.

DigitalNow is the proven leadership conference for associations. To learn more about DigitalNow 2007, please visit http://www.fusionproductions.com/digitalnow

What's your trust index? A DigitalNow update from Stephen M.R. Covey

What's your trust index?

As an association leader, you are continually faced with the challenge of growing revenue, achieving greater efficiency, and increasing the relevance of your organization. The ability to establish, grow, extend, and restore trust with all stakeholders—your members, your board, your volunteers, your staff, society—is the key association leadership skill of the new, global economy and a career critical competency.

Do you know who you trust? Do you know who trusts you?

Trust is more than just a “nice to have”; it’s more than a quality of character. Trust is an economic driver. It is a major enabler for delivering service better, faster, cheaper. The higher your trust index is, the greater your trust dividends. But if you don’t have the trust of those whom you serve and do business with every day, then you can be sure that you have a silent leak in your organization – one through which your association’s value, service, and relevance are being drained.

I am thrilled to be joining you at DigitalNow 2007 on April 14th at Disney’s Yacht and Beach Club Resorts. I’m looking forward to exploring with you the impact that trust has on association leadership. As part of my program, I will present empirical research that makes the case for trust as an economic issue. I will also discuss ways that you can measure and evaluate trust in your own association, and how you can cultivate trust for better results, more rewarding relationships, and faster service at lower cost.

DigitalNow’s unique, intimate community exclusively for senior association executives engenders a culture of collaboration that will enable us to investigate this topic in depth. We will discuss how you as an association leader can build trust development into your overall strategic plan as a way to maximize cost effectiveness, business partnerships, and member service.

To make this experience even more fruitful for you, I am inviting you to participate in a survey. This is a way for us to become engaged in a dialogue about trust, and to inspire you to think about trust and the part it plays in the health and vitality of your association. I will be sharing the survey results as part of my DigitalNow presentation. Even if you’re not currently planning on attending this year, I encourage you to take part in this survey – your input is valuable to the process. And after the conference, a full report will be available at the DigitalNow web site.

You will find this brief survey at:
http://www.zoomerang.com/recipient/survey-intro.zgi?p=WEB2264S2MKGFC

The survey will remain open until Friday, February 16, 2007.

Looking forward to meeting you!
Stephen M.R. Covey
Author of The Speed of Trust: The One Thing That Changes Everything

DigitalNow is the proven leadership conference for associations. To learn more about DigitalNow 2007, please visit http://www.fusionproductions.com/digitalnow