Talk:How to release it to your group

From MemberPlugin

PROMOTING THE FREECYCLE MEMBER PLUGIN.

Updated February 2009.

After several months using the plugin we are very happy with the results of our various methods of promoting it to our members. At the time of writing 60 to 70% of all our posts are via the plugin and the number grows each month. Here is a summary of what we have done:

1. When it first became available we posted an ADMIN to all members introducing them to the Plugin. (See Doc.1 below.)

2. Some time later we emailed those of our most prelific posters encouraging them to help us get the Plugin accepted more widely by acting as example setters. This was very successful. (See Doc. 2 below)

3. We set up a folder in our Files - "The Freecycle Member Plugin." Inside are five documents - "Installing the Plugin", "Using the 'Post' screen.", "Using the 'Message' screen", "Posting TAKEN and RECEIVED messages." and "Installing updates."  These are updated as required of course; "Posting TAKEN and RECEIVED messages" only appeared when the buttons for this purpose were included of course.

4. We have a database of standard letters we send, covering all the recurring situations we are all familiar with. To some of these, (Subjuct Line errors, congratulatios on first post, you have been taken off moderation, etc), we added a paragraph encouraging instalation of the Plugin. We don't mention it in the initial mail sent when a new member is accepted. We figure some are in unfamiliar territory already without us adding further pressures.

5. We post a once a month ADMIN with statistics from the preceding month and news, and this always includes a paragraph encouraging instalation of the Plugin.

6. All emails to individual member have a footer with links to our group, our Café and instalation of the Member Plugin.

Apart from these steps we try to quickly assist any members with problems, (a pretty rare occurance) and keep an eye out for members with the plugin who suddenly stop using it. We email them asking if they have a problem with it and can we help. So far we have a 100% success rate in getting them back up and going again. Again, this is a pretty rare occurance. Being a small group makes this last one possible, large groups probably couldn't do it...... unless Edward can write something into the Mod Plugin that advises us when a member with the plugin posts without it? :-)

Doc.1.

ADMIN: Something new for members!

If your browser is Internet Explorer or Mozilla Firefox, we have something new for you. It is a simple to install plug-in that will allow you to speed up preparing your posts and pretty well ensure you lay them out correctly every time. Whether you use it or continue posting messages as before is up to you, but we encourage you to try it.

INSTALLING: For Internet Explorer users click on this link: http://wiki.memberplugin.org/index.php/IE_1.0.353 For Firefox users this is the link to use: http://wiki.memberplugin.org/index.php/FF_0.0.9  (EDIT Feb09 These links obviously no longer appropriate. Bill D)

Both are still under test, but we believe they are now ‘user ready’.

After clicking the appropriate link click the blue “here” link at the bottom of the screen. Then just follow the prompts, accepting all screens as is; you don’t need to change anything. Part way through you may be asked to close your browser, or it may say the browser is about to close and restart. Once installed you are ready to go.

USING: Click “Post” in the menu on our homepage. Initially the usual screen appears, but if you wait a moment the new screen appears. (Mine takes 5 seconds; the delay will depend on your internet connection speed.) You will soon see how easy it makes formatting your messages, but note these explanatory points: All text boxes require something in them every time and, as previously, all have a maximum length. A warning box will ask you to go back and correct any which are empty or too long. Your location only needs to be entered once. It then becomes the default, though you can over-type if need be, the new location becoming the default. The “Fair Offer Policy” is new. To understand it click it the first time you post. We suggest you use it for most OFFERs, but it is optional. Tip: The maximum Description length is about 5 lines of text. If you need to type more leave out the Fair Offer Policy. You can then fit about 8 lines.

After a couple of posts we think you will appreciate this streamlined way of posting. It saves you time and will eliminate most emails from Mods when your post doesn’t conform. (And hey, that reduces the Mods’ workload too!)

Any questions? We will be happy to answer them.

Bill & Dusty, Owner/Moderators, albanyozfreecycle.

Doc. 2.

We were wondering if you would like to help in our push to get a lot more members using the Member Plugin? Whether you decide to help or not is completely up to you; we don't want anyone to feel pressured by the request, but here is what we have in mind:

We are asking our top members, those who post fairly often and are therefore pretty well known, by Yahoo ID at least, to other members, to install and use the Plugin. These members, and you are one of them, set more of an example to other members than they probably realise. We suspect the newer members learn the ropes more by taking the example set by the regulars than they do from reading the rules.

As the members we are asking to participate post more often than most, the affect will be magnified in that there will be a high proportion of Plugin messages appearing, so encouraging the others to join the (perceived) majority.

Sneaky? Maybe so, but the fact is the Plugin does make using Freecycle easier, quicker and more fun, so it is for a good reason. Shortly we will be posting an ADMIN to remind members of what the Plugin can do for them. Here are the most obvious benefits:

The Post screen becomes easier to use, as the key word doesn't have to be typed in. Neither does the Location once it is set as the
default. If the subject Line is too long to fit, the Plugin tells us, similarly if we accidentally hit cap lock as we type and don't notice,
it will let us know. Then there is the FOP in the heading coupled with the "Fair Offer Policy" that with one click lets others know we will
wait a few days before deciding who gets our OFFER.
The `My Posts' screen is useful in letting us see all of our recent messages, again with just one click.
In the above screen, (and also in the `Message' screen), our OFFER and WANTED messages have a button, (that only we can see), to produce (you guessed it) in one click, a TAKEN or RECEIVED message. The button is only there for those we haven't already completed so it is also a reminder in case we forget to let people know.
Completed posts are linked so anyone with the Plugin can easily see the OFFER has been TAKEN or the WANTED RECEIVED without having to search.
There is a button in the Message Screen to hide completed transactions so only the `live' ones are still visible. (it toggles between `Hide closed posts' and `Show all posts'.)
and there is a button to disable the Plugin if for some reason you need to do this. It toggles between `disable' and `enable'.

In fact the Plugin opens up a new experience, and is very `user friendly'. At the time of writing this we haven't had any requests
from those using the Plugin asking how to use it. They have apparently just installed it and started using it.

Your Mods have been using it for some time now, as we were in on the early `Beta' (test) versions. We certainly wouldn't want to go back to the old way. Why not join us?

Best wishes, (etc)

Bill D, albanyozfreecycle