[bksvol-discuss] Re: Volunteers as Recruiters for New Bookshare Members?
- From: Chela Robles <cdrobles693@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Sun, 31 Oct 2010 17:08:58 -0700
I'd like to help out where I can too via Skype and email as preference.
On 10/31/10, Kim Friedman <kimfri11@xxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> Hi, Monica, when I first became a member I'd never downloaded anything
> before. I got help from Rob Turner from the technical support staff at
> Bookshare. I think your idea for being an old hand or friend for the
> green Bookshare member is a great idea. I would have liked that. I'm
> willing to pass on what I know insofar as I'm able. Regards, Kim
> Friedman.
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> [mailto:bksvol-discuss-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Monica
> Willyard
> Sent: Wednesday, October 27, 2010 2:26 PM
> To: bksvol-discuss@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [bksvol-discuss] Re: Volunteers as Recruiters for New Bookshare
> Members?
>
>
> Hi Scott. Yes, a million times over, it would help to be able to offer
> someone a free month of Bookshare access. When I talk to people about
> membership, two stumbling blocks get in our way. I'll explain.
>
> First, they get really excited and sign up. However, while they wait for
> their proof of disability to process, they start worrying about whether
> they'll be able to learn to use the system, and circumstances crop up
> that keep them from actually following through and paying for their
> membership. The waiting period gives them time to talk themselves out of
> investing in a Bookshare membership. A free month would let them get a
> taste of reading with Bookshare so that when it's time to pay for
> membership, they know the value and quality of what they're paying for.
> They'd still have to wait for proof of disability, but then they'd have
> a free month to explore, and renewing or buying a membership would seem
> like a natural progression.
>
> The other stumbling block is more subtle, and it has two parts.
> Bookshare doesn't have a smooth introduction process for new members.
> Learning how to download, unzip, and read a daisy or Braille book using
> your own equipment can feel a little daunting at first. Yet new members
> don't know that there is a thriving community of people who are willing
> to help them learn to do these things one on one with their specific
> needs as a guide. I would love to see a checkbox or question on the
> membership sign-up form asking if they'd like to work with a volunteer
> mentor during the first couple of weeks of their membership. It could be
> done over email, Skype, or by phone if both people agree.
>
> This could take some pressure off Bookshare support staff, and it would
> help marketing too. Why? No one is more talkative and eager to spread
> the word about Bookshare as a new member who has just learned to read
> his/her first book. If it's easy for them, they'll tell others. They
> almost can't stop themselves because they're more independent. On the
> downside, if they had to struggle for hours with no help, they'll talk
> about that too. I've seen both things happen on mailing lists and
> Twitter. So if a new member gets timely help and is happy, Bookshare
> will gain from that exponentially.
>
> For now, I do all I can to get around both stumbling blocks by saying
> things like, "I'll help you learn to use the site." Or "You said you
> like this author. I just found 10 of her books in the collection. Check
> out this link." I email my friend every 3 or 4 days during the wait for
> disability verification with little things I find that I know they'll
> like. I don't push though. I keep it low key and pay close attention to
> what kind of help they might need. I'll contact an older woman who is
> newly blind more often than a teenaged guy who grew up using computers.
>
> Ok, I know I've said a lot. I'm just really excited that marketing sees
> us as part of the team and that we're able to help with helping find new
> members. (smile) This is a part of volunteering I get jazzed about.
>
> --
> Monica Willyard
> Visit my GoodReads book shelf at http://www.goodreads.com/plumlipstick
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>
--
--
"To me, music that breaks your heart is the music that stays with you
forever. It's one thing to be melancholy and one thing to be
sophisticated, but when you get the two of them together in a way
people can relate to, then I think you're on to something. You want
the sophistication to lie in the purity of the sound, the beauty of
the arrangements, and the quality of the performances."-Trumpeter
Chris Botti
--
Chela Robles
E-Mail: cdrobles693@xxxxxxxxx
Skype: jazzytrumpet
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