There are a multitude of cloud services, including Dropbox, that let you do many things with your files.  But what about those moments when all you want to do is share a file, not sync or collaborate, just share it?  You use CloudApp.  It's simple, fast, and indispensable once you begin to use it on a regular basis.  Check it out!

As we mentioned on our blog late last year, we have been in the process of moving our base of operations from Oklahoma City, OK to Nashville, TN.  We are happy to announce that the move to Music City is now complete!  Our team has always been distributed in different parts of the country, but we are excited about the opportunities Nashville will bring to our creative design studio.

If you are one of our Oklahoma clients, don't worry, nothing changes for you.  In fact, some of our team is still in Oklahoma.  You'll have the same online support and service that you've always had, and we still love the Oklahoma City Thunder!

The majority of our clients are not based in Oklahoma, and if you're a non-Oklahoma client nothing changes for you either, except that your opinion might change about us since we'll be rooting for the Tennessee Titans.

If you live in the Nashville area we'd love to connect over coffee, just shoot us a message.  We know this move will continue our growth and help us to provide all of our clients the best in creative design and development.

For your records, our new mailing address is: Post Office Box 160688 Nashville, TN  37216

Dropbox is a tool that we use extensively at Collision Media for sharing documents, designs, and other files that our team needs to access.  We use Dropbox because it's simple and dependable.  Here's how it works:  

1. You have a folder on your computer that you share with Dropbox.
2. Any files you put into that folder are securely saved in the "cloud" on Dropbox servers.  Not only are they saved, but every time you change a file it changes on the Dropbox servers automatically.
3. You can access all of the files in your Dropbox folder from any browser or smartphone, and you can share your folder with anyone.

There other competing services like Box and Insync, but we've tried them all and always come back to Dropbox.  Apple is even entering this market in a roundabout way with iCloud, which we love, but it's specifically geared towards individuals, not businesses and organizations.  Dropbox is free for the first 5GB, so give it a try.

It's no secret that the team at Collision Media loves music.  But did you know that our founder, Tommy Bailey, has his own band, Bailey?  Today they released a new single and a music sampler titled Lead Me.  Check it out and share it with your friends!

Click to listen on Spotify  |  Click to listen on Noisetrade  |  Click for Bailey website

As part of our commitment to technology education, for the next few weeks we're going to explore several online services that our team uses and loves.

The first online service that came to mind when brainstorming this series of posts was Planning Center Online.  It's difficult to find another product that specifically tackles, with laser-like focus, the task of organizing and communicating with volunteers.  Geared towards churches both large and small, this web app (and iPhone/iPad app) has become an indispensable tool for many organizations around the world, including many of the organizations that we work with.  

Scheduling volunteers and other team members is a monumental task, and any tool that can help with the details of the process is a blessing. Watch this video to learn more:

The new toolbar will launch this Thursday, February 16, at approximately 9:30am CST.  We're very excited about this upgrade and can't wait for you to use it.

Click the image above to see full size

Left: the Page Bar overlaid in admin mode. Right: fast template switcher appears when its icon is clicked.

The User Session Menu with all options active (account-owner view).

As a creative development company we're always on the lookout for great web apps that make showcasing and organizing video simpler.  Nowadays you can upload and share video from many different services, including our favorite, Vimeo.  However, organizing video has never been especially easy or pretty.  Yokto is a new service based in the UK that allows you to group your videos and showcase them with one simple embed code for your website.  Check them out at yokto.tv.

A few weeks ago we started a series of posts to help guide you through the process of updating your organization's website for the new year.  Our first post dealt with the overarching purpose of your website.  "What is the purpose of our website?" seems like a simple question, but it's not.  Detailing the reason your website exists is critical for laying the foundation for a good web strategy.  After you answer the first question, you can move on to the other fundamentals that encompass a great website.  Here's part two:

2. Content and community

We've all heard the term "content is king", which accurately places the substance of any piece of communication above the aesthetic design.  But a new paradigm has entered the fray.  No longer is good content the only thing that brings people to your website, and keeps them coming back. It's also important to facilitate community. It's what makes your web presence "sticky". 

There are simple and sustainable ways to produce great content and catalyze community.  First, content.  Before you start writing copy for your website, be honest with yourself and your team about your writing skills.  You don't have to be Shakespeare in order to write good content for your website, but you do need to be thoughtful and thorough. Think creatively about incorporating other people from your team or organization who possess writing skills which include being scrupulous regarding grammar and spelling.  Technical writing skills are important but make sure your content is interesting and relevant for your intended audience.

Second, community.  This can be trickier than content.  Community relies on the ability for an organization to consistently communicate back and forth with your website and social media users.  It is also closely tied to creating good content, in that your content will facilitate conversations and community online.  And just to be clear, content can be anything from a blog post to a church announcement.  Depending on the age of your church or organization, its geographic location, and many other factors, your online community can look drastically different.  Ask questions of the people in your community to help formulate your online strategy. Is your target group active on Facebook or Twitter? Do they read your weekly emails? Do they use smartphones and apps? Don't get into online community by simply joining a few social networks. Give ample thought to what's sustainable for your team and most applicable to your community.

Content and community are difficult and time consuming, but getting this part of your web presence right from the beginning is a vital component to a great web strategy. 

At Collision we're always trying to find ways to make it easier for you or your leadership to make great decisions regarding communication strategy and purchases.  This year we've developed a small PDF we call our Summary of Services.  In some ways this PDF seems like a step backwards.  You can certainly find information regarding our pricing and services on our website easily, but we wanted to go the extra step and provide you with something digitally tangible that's distilled down to the most vital information about who we are and what we do.  It's small enough so that you can email it to your team, and it's designed so that it can be printed if you must have a hard copy.  You can download our Summary of Services PDF here.

This might be an idea that you could apply to your own organization.  Your website may be easy to navigate and chock-full of information, but what if you provided your website visitors with a simple download that briefly and succinctly explains who you are and how they can get involved.  It reminds me of pamphlets.  I never liked pamphlets, but somehow they served a purpose.  It's an old idea, but maybe it still works?  If you do something like this on your church or organization's website let us know by leaving a comment.

From the entire team at Collision Media, have a very happy New Year.  2011 was a fantastic year for Collision Media, and we can't wait to see what is in store for 2012.  If you like the graphic above we've made a desktop wallpaper version that you can download here.  We've included several different resolutions for you to choose from.  Even if you don't know what resolution your computer is any of these should work well.

From the entire team at Collision Media, we want to wish you a very merry Christmas.  If you like the graphic above we've made a desktop wallpaper version that you can download here.  We've included several different resolutions for you to choose from.  Even if you don't know what resolution your computer is any of these should work well.

It's just the way it is. You wake up on January 1st each year and you think about the things you want to change in your life. You may or may not make a list of "resolutions", but the start of a new year is often the time when you think of making critical and beneficial changes. It's the same way with churches and other organizations. The beginning of a new year is often the catalyst for something fresh. One of the major changes that many organizations begin is an update of their website. Whether it's updating content, changing the design, or adding new features, an organization's website is often near or at the top of the list for change. Over the next few weeks we'll go through several key questions you and your organization need to ask before beginning this process. Here's the first:

1. What is your website's purpose?

Often this seems like a simple question with a simple answer, but it's not. Every church and organization must approach their website through their own lens. There are mission critical items that must be on every church website: clear times and directions to your weekly gatherings, a list of basic beliefs, a way to contact the church, and at least a simple listing of leadership. Above that, many website features aren't necessary, even if they might be beneficial in some cases. Think about the pages on your website that never got updated last year. Do you really need those pages? Think about the time spent updating your youth ministry page. Do you really think students are going to check your website for updates (hint: they aren't, they are on Facebook)? Challenge yourself and your team to prioritize website features and pages, and always keep sustainability at the forefront of your mind. This will pay dividends in the new year and will ultimately make your website and communication strategy better.

In the first quarter of 2012 Collision Media will be moving from Oklahoma City, OK to Nashville, TN.  Don't worry, nothing is going to change for our clients, we just thought you'd like to know where our center of operations will be located.  It's a decision that's been in the works for a few months, and we're really excited about the new opportunities for continued growth.  If you live near the Nashville area we'd love to sit down and have a cup of coffee with you.  If you have any questions about our move, just leave a comment below, or send us a message.  

Often in the church artistic gifts are overlooked unless they are performing arts. When I was in college I began attending a church that valued the arts, all of the arts. There were Sundays when a painter would paint during worship or sermon series where graffiti artists would paint the stage set. It moved me in a BIG way! I never knew that I could use my gift or trade of photography to bless people visually. When you hear the saying "A picture is worth a thousand words", it's so true. You can convey so much emotion within a photo to truly move the heart of individuals into God's throne room. I have compiled a list of the Top 5 photos every church should have hanging in their common spaces (this includes your website), "family photos" if you will:

1. Worship
   
   

   
   
   Images of hands raised in worship or musicians playing their heart out can be truly moving. Witnessing musical worship can move an otherwise cold or hardened person into worship. It can remind you of a time when you felt freedom to worship without restraint. 
   
   

2. Baptisms
   
   

   
   
   Always, always document life change! Some of the most powerful images that hang in our church are of lives that were radically transformed by God's grace. When you see these images it reminds you of God's faithfulness & all that he has done in your ministry. 
   
   

3. Children

   
   
   
   Children typically make up 40-50% of a churches attendance numbers, not to mention they are our future! Document them. Photograph them as their lives are transformed & as they form relationships that will last their lifetime. It can take even the oldest in the congregation back to their youth. 



4. Prayer

   
   
   
   Some of my favorite images I have captured at our church are of people on their knees. Kneeling at the altar and seeking the Lord. When I see these images I am reminded of my need for Him and how He has answered our prayers. 
   
   

5. Outreach

   
   
   
   Your church and it's mission should go beyond your walls to the people within your community and throughout the world. Images of your city or a child in Africa drinking clean water will help your congregation to think past themselves and truly be the hands and feet of Christ. 

Ultimately you should think about your church culture & mission. What moments do you want to remember? What images do you want to fill the hearts and minds of your people? Worship, life change, growth, prayer & outreach are just broad terms that evoke memories and emotions that can spur you on to greater things. So, document, document all that God does within your church. It can truly bless and inspire you to deeper faith and impact.

This month our content management system was updated to include our newest feature, an online store.  This isn't just a new element added to our system, it's fully equipped e-commerce baked right into the software that you already know and love.  The new system is ready and live on your Collision website now, and can be implemented any time you'd like.  Click here for a tutorial on how to get started.

Part of the beauty of a fully integrated store system is the ability to post live updated shopping cart info on your website, allowing your website users know what they're buying and how to easily checkout.  If you have a website with Collision and would like us to install a live shopping cart status indicator, let us know by contacting us here.

We think you're going to love the new online store system and can't wait for you to start using it.  This is the first release of the new system, and in the coming weeks and months we're going to continually update it with digital download purchases, direct shipping information from UPS and FedEX, and much more.  Stay tuned!

Collision Media is based out of Oklahoma City, only a few miles down the highway from Joplin, MO.  Our thoughts and prayers are with the people of Joplin who have recently suffered a momentous loss due to violent tornados.

As a technology company we're always trying to find ways to connect digital media to real world events, and helping those who've just experienced tragedy is easier than in any other point in history.  Most of us are informed of a tragedy around the globe within minutes of it occurrence, and giving to a hard-hit geographic location can be done in almost the same amount of time.  Organizations like the Red Cross and Doctors Without Borders provide simple and safe ways to give to those who need it.

What are some other ways you've seen technology used to aid real world events?

Click here to give to those who are in Joplin, MO.

Our friend and thought leader in church communication, Tony Morgan, recently wrote a post that gave a few pointers on how to write better content for your website/blog.  A blog for your church or non-profit can be important for a variety of reasons, including search engine optimization and as a principle avenue for communication.  Writing anything for the web can be a laborious and time consuming task, but if done well it can make a significant difference in how well you communicate on the web. In this post I wanted to pull from, and expound on a few of Tony's insightful ideas.

1.  Tell stories.  

The stories about YOU are the best.

Making a habit of telling stories is vital to a great website or blog, this is especially true if you are a ministry.  A story of restoration or healing, a narrative of grace and forgiveness, or an account of someone's life change is often more important and persuasive than any other content on your website.  Your church blog is a perfect place to post stories.  A compelling story will speak volumes about who you are and what you are trying to accomplish.

2.  Make it scannable.  

Think bullets, lists, bold type, subheadings, pull quotes, etc.

This truth cannot be overstated.  A majority of all the content on the web is skimmed, not read.  According to Jakob Nielsen, users have time to read, at most, 28% of your content on an average visit. You must adjust your web writing accordingly.  Here's a great list of web writing best practices. 

3.  Use pictures and video.  

Keep videos under 4 minutes whenever possible.

The web is a visual medium, and while descriptive text content can rarely be replaced with only photos and video, you should judiciously use photos and video to enhance your blog content.  Also, I agree with Tony, keep your videos under 4 minutes.

4.  Keep it brief.  

I don’t read long articles on the web no matter who writes them.

Writing for the web takes a lot of time and discipline, and writing succinctly is one of the more difficult disciplines to conquer.  A good piece of advice is to write 50% less copy for the web than you would a hard copy.  Keep it pithy.

If you run a blog or website, do you have any other advice that you could offer?

If you work with or lead a team of any kind you are aware that communication and organization are foundational to a successful project.  Our work with all types of non-profits and ministries around the world have made this truth even more apparent to the team at Collision Media.  Basecamp is a project management and collaboration web app that is remarkably simple and intuitive.  We use Basecamp at Collision Media internally to organize every project and to collaborate with our team and our clients.  It's invaluable to how Collision runs its business, and I think it could be a game-changing tool for any ministry or non-profit (or any other organization).  There are other project management tools out there, but we use Basecamp because of its proven record.  Here are five reasons why you might want to take a look at Basecamp for your team:

1.)  Everything in one place

One of the most obvious advantages of Basecamp is its unique way of keeping everything in one central location, or the cloud, if you will indulge the cliche.  Each team member is given their own login and password and has easy access to files, notes, and messages for any project at any time.  Have you ever tried to collobarate with a team by email?  Often multiple email threads and conversations can get lost and the intrinsic simplicity of email can actually be a hindrance to getting work done.  Basecamp uses it's organization features, and email, to keep everything in one place, easily accessible whenever you need.

2.)  Collaboration Is Key

Collaborating with a team in Basecamp is one of its principle strengths.  It's simple to write a message and select the team members that you'd like to recieve the message, but it's more than just messages.  Basecamp gives you access to a unique document creation utitlity called a Writeboard.  The Writeboard is essentially a minimalist word processor that allows multiple team members to edit.  It also keeps track of who edits and when they edit.  It's a fantastic way to collaborate on any kind of text content.

3.)  Lists

I'm a list person.  I like to check things off my list, and I get a certain amount of satisfaction when a task is completed.  Basecamp gives you the abilitiy to create as many lists as you'd like.  Each task can be assignable to a team member, and each task can be given a due date.  If you're a list person, this could be a very useful feature for you and your team.

4.)  Sharing Files

Sharing files can be a real pain.  We've all experienced the annoyance of finding a document that a coworker emailed you a few weeks ago, only to realize the document is out of date.  Sharing files and keeping files up to date is a feature of Basecamp that pays for itself.

5.)  All on the Same Page

Whether or not you use Basecamp to keep your team organized, using some kind of system is essential to keep a team organized and productive.  Basecamp gives you multiple ways to analyze progress on a project with the use of calendars, milestones, and time tracking.  When you login to a project, you should be able to tell within a few seconds where the project is and where it's going.

So, do you use Basecamp?  Do you use any of kind of project management tools?  We'd love to know what your team does to stay organized and be productive.

E-books are becoming more and more popular.  The Association of American Publishers revealed this month that e-books have seen enormous sustained growth, while paper books have declined in all categories.  E-books are cheaper than going to a bookstore and buying a hardback or paperback, but just as portable and readable anywhere. They are also downloadable on demand, so if you can’t sleep and want to read at two o’clock in the morning, you can find a new book quickly and easily.  I'm an uber geek, and I've been reading e-books since 2001.  I've found that they don't completely replace the beauty and simplicity of paper books, but their easy accessibility, searchability, and price ultimately outweigh the cons.

The three most popular e-readers are the Nook, Kindle, and iPad.  Below is a look at the differences between these devices.

The Kindle

Amazon’s Kindle e-reader is low cost, lightweight, and has a nice e-ink screen. You can also read PDF files. It comes with Wi-Fi and a free 3G network.  There is also a Wi-Fi only version.

My biggest complaint about the Kindle is its tiny keyboard.  I like to take notes when I'm reading, and typing on a small keyboard is not natural and a bit awkward.  This, of course, is an issue with almost any e-reader when compared to taking notes with a pen or pencil on a paper book.  The Kindle, though, has the least natural keyboard of all of the eReaders that I've tested.

The greatest thing about the Kindle is the hundreds of thousands of e-books, newspapers, magazines, and blogs available for purchase and download.  The Kindle can hold 3500 books. The Kindle also offers several different fonts in different sizes, has a long battery life and you can play MP3s.  Amazon also offers a Kindle app for Mac, PC, iPhone, iPad, and Android devices that sync all of your books.

The Nook

The Nook is an e-reader from Barnes and Noble. It is an open e-book format (EPUB), which means that you can purchase books from a variety of places including Google Books.  Like Amazon, Barnes & Noble provides a Nook app so you can read and sync your e-books on other devices like the iPad, iPhone, or Android devices.

The Nook has a black and white e-ink display and a color touchscreen that you can use to turn the pages, buy books, and take notes on the virtual keyboard. It is light and holds up to 1500 books, although the memory can be expanded.

You can also connect to the Internet for free, and if you go into a Barnes & Noble store, you can get unlimited Wi-Fi access. The battery generally lasts 10 days and recharges in less than 4 hours.

The Nook Color is new to the e-reader market and is more comparable to a tablet, like an iPad.  It doesn't have an e-ink screen, but has many of the features you would expect from a standard e-reader.  Just yesterday, Barnes & Noble added apps to the Nook, which makes it even more closely aligned with a tablet device.

The iPad

The iPad has several functions, so it’s not just an e-reader.   Being a multi-functional device has its pros, but if you're looking for the best e-reader you'll have to weigh it's cons.  Namely, it doesn't have an e-ink display.  If reading from a backlit display doesn't bother your eyes (like an iPhone or computer monitor), the iPad is by far the best e-reader.

It is lightweight when compared with other tablets, but noticeably heavier than the Kindle.  It has a beautiful screen and long battery life. There are over 170,000 apps and you can play games and videos.

As an e-book reader, it is easy to use, and the font, text size and contrast can be customized to reduce eyestrain (as in all e-readers). One of the most valuable features is the variety of e-book stores you can choose from.  Apple has it's own store, called iBooks, which has a beautiful interface, but not as big of a book selection as Kindle, and sometimes the price of e-books is higher than on Kindle or Nook.  You can also get the Kindle and Nook apps, along with other e-reader apps, so you're not limited to any particular store.

When you’re considering which e-reader to purchase, there are several things to take into account:

• What size of screen do you want
• Whether you want Wi-Fi or 3G (which increases the price)
• What functions you desire besides reading
• Price (Starting prices:  Kindle- $139, Nook- $149, iPad- $499)
• Weight

Every e-reader has different functions, capabilities, and features, so personal preference is key. These are the three most popular e-readers on the market right now, although Kobo and Sony also have models available that you may want to check out as well.

Do you read e-books?  If so, why or why not?  If you do read e-books, what e-reader do you use?  We'd love to hear from you!

Holy week is a special time for Christians all around the world.  I thought I'd take a break this week from the topic of technology to post a well produced video from our friends at Igniter Media that features one of my favorite sermons from S.M. Lockridge.  Whether you're a follower of Christ or not, let these words move you to a greater understanding of this week.

Books about business, creativity, or leadership are written, it seems, every minute.  You could spend too many hours reading the latest epic book about getting things done, but you really don't have to.  Rework is a book written for people who already understand how to get things done, but might need a nudge to see dreams become tangible.  This book was written by people who've actually done the work themselves. 

If you're familiar with the company 37 Signals, you'll know that there is a philosophy that guides every product they create and every word they write.  It's the stubborn dedication to their own philosophy that affords them so many die hard fans (I'm one), and a few detractors as well.  Rework seems like a culmination of this dedication and the lessons learned from staying the course of creating quality work and never settling for the blaze status quo.

This isn't a typical business or creativity book, it's a book that you'll be able to read in a few sittings, but that you'll want to reread again and again.  The book doesn't offer a wealth of new information, but it does rekindle obvious fundamentals that are often at the periphery of people who are especially creative. As a designer and business leader, I read a lot of books that cross my desk and not many of them have shaped my leadership and thought process more than this book. 

After you read it let me know what you thought.  If you've read it, how did it affect you?

You and I both have a brain, and the brain can be quite a useful organ.  However, there are times when my brain does not work as it should.  It forgets.  That's where Evernote comes in.  It's my secondary brain.

A couple of years ago I tepidly started the process of using Evernote to organize a few notes, but it has since morphed into an irreplaceable application that houses notes, images, and documents of every type.  You may have started using Evernote yourself, or you may be wondering why you should begin to use it.  Below are a few the benefits of using Evernote both personally, and as an organization:

Searchability

Evernote's killer feature is its ability to search everything in your account and return the most relevant results.  The search not only includes text, it includes text within documents, and even text within images.  In my experience, searching for anything in my account has been remarkably fast and accurate.  If I'm going to rely on Evernote to be my secondary brain then it has to be fast, and it doesn't disappoint.

Accessibility

If my secondary brain is going to be useful, it needs to be accessible wherever I am, much like my primary brain.  Evernote is everywhere.  I have the desktop application on my Mac, the iPhone app, the iPad app, and I can use the web app on any browser.  Evernote also provides apps for Windows, Windows Phone, Android, Blackberry, Palm, and any other mobile device that can access the internet.

Organization

If you're like me, you like to keep notes, documents, and images organized.  Evernote makes this simple with the use of notebooks (folders) and tags.  Any time you create a note, add a document, or take a snapshot you can immediately move it to the correct notebook and tag it for easy retrieval later.  I have never had to search more than a few seconds for anything in Evernote because of these simple organization features.

Could You Use A Secondary Brain?

If your brain functions perfectly and you never forget anything then Evernote isn't for you.  In fact, I'd like to help you start a club for other people like you.  

For the rest of us, we need a secondary brain.  I've only listed a few of the features that Evernote provides.  I hope you'll give it a chance and see how you like it.  Most people can use the free, ad-supported, Evernote but, I prefer the added benefit of the premium version.  If you already use Evernote, how does it work for you?

With the launch of our new website and blog this month, we wanted to promote our new endeavors in a creative way.  We love the iPad, and we think it can be a great tool for getting things done, so we decided to give one away!  The contest begins today (April 1st), and the winner will be announced on April 15th on our Twitter feed.  To learn more, and to enter the contest yourself click here. 

In the meantime, if you currently have an iPad (or other tablet device), we'd love to know how you are using it personally or as an organization.  One of our goals at Collision Media is to educate our clients and readers on creative ways to use technology to better communicate their message.  We always love to hear how other people and organizations are using technology, not just for the fun of it, but to get real work done.  

We'd love to hear from you!

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE CONTEST OR ENTER

In the world of the web we find there are two things that confuse people more than anything, domain registration and setting up email.  For domain registration another blog post is required.  In the meantime stop registering domains at GoDaddy and go to Hover.  For email (and much more) we recommend Google Apps.  We use Google Apps at Collision Media and we recommend it to everyone.  There are a multitude of reasons why we recommend Google Apps, but here are five reasons for you to consider switching:

 

Gmail

Gmail is the centerpiece of Google Apps.  It's your email and your domain using Google's proven reliability.  One of the common misunderstandings of Google Apps is that you're required to use Gmail as your primary email interface.  That is not the case.  If you use Outlook or any other email application for Mac or Windows, you don't have to switch the way you manage and read email.  Think of Google as your email provider.  You can use Gmail online, but the beauty of using Google Apps is that all of your data is in the cloud.  That means you're free to use any desktop email application, and at the same time, you can access and manage your email on your smartphone with complete synchronization.  I'm a Mac user and I use Sparrow for my desktop email application (highly recommended).

Easy Management

If you've ever tried to manage an email server we feel your pain.  If you've never had to manage an email server you've been blessed.  Perhaps the most important aspect of Google Apps is its ease of use.  Setting it up has a slight learning curve, but once it's set up, adding and removing users to your organization's account couldn't be easier.  This is perfect for organizations that are growing.  We can't stress enough the importance of ease of use for a system like Google Apps.

Google Calendar

Google calendar is simple to use and makes scheduling internally very simple.  If you use Outlook, iCal, or any other desktop calendar application, Google Calendar will work in perfect harmony with those applications, not to mention synchronizing with your smartphone over the air.

Google Docs

Google Docs is a complete office suite based in the cloud.  For light document creation this could replace expensive office suites like Microsoft Office and iWork.  We, however, use Google Docs in conjunction with our favorite desktop office applications.  Many blog posts could be written to specifically address Google Docs, but for the sake of brevity you can click here or here for more information.

Stability and Security

No system is perfect, but Google Apps sure comes close.  Google guarantees 99.9% uptime, and all of your data is continuously backed up in multiple secure data centers.  Security is very important for any organization's data.  Google offers a wealth of information about the security for Google Apps here.

Yes, It's Free

I thought I would add a sixth point to my list.  Google Apps is free for non-profits, yes free.  If you've been in the market for good email and online services in the past five years you know that this is a fantastic bargain.  If you're paying anything for email hosting right now you should consider making the switch.

Who's Using It?

If these reasons aren't good enough, here's a short list of some organizations that have made the switch to Google Apps:

• National Geographic
• Motorola
• City of Los Angeles
• The Huffington Post
• Ohio Wesleyan University
• Salesforce
• Jaguar

If you or your organization uses Google Apps I'd love to hear how you are using it.

Have you ever sat at your computer and thought, "I wish I could easily share what's on my screen."?  Or, maybe you've been working in a particular application and an issue keeps popping up. Wouldn't it be nice to easily create a quick video of your screen (screencast) that showcases the issue you're having?  What a lot of people don't realize is that it's actually quite simple.

As a service based company, we often respond to support questions with a quick screencast, which is almost always a much easier way to explain an issue or give a resolution than typing awkward paragraphs of tech jargon.  Here are a couple of screencast services that we recommend.  Both of these work with Mac and PC:

Screenr

Screenr is a great online based screencasting platform that directly integrates with Twitter.  Its simplicity is its best feature.  It does one thing only, video screencasts.  If you're looking for an easy way to quickly share a video screencast without having to download any software to your computer, Screenr is a great option. Click here for the Screenr website.

Jing

Jing is the service we use at Collision Media.  It's a more professional solution than Screenr, but it's not incredibly complicated.  One of the advantages of Jing is that it can do video screencasts, but it can also take a snapshot of your screen, and allow you to easily annotate.  We use Jing on a daily basis and our support team benefits enormously from its ease of use.  Click here for the Jing website.

It Could Change Your Life

I think once you start screencasting, you'll immediately understand its value.  Next time you have a support question, why not create a quick screencast to explain your issue?  If you use a screencast service, let us know which one you use and how you use it.

The iPad, along with many other iconic devices from Apple, could be seen as a frivolous purchase.  However, I'd like to give a few examples of how the iPad could be a useful tool to save money or time for your church or organization.  With the introduction of the iPad 2, Apple has strengthened the first generation iPad's already great feature set and made a product that could provide real usefulness.

It could be a frivolous purchase if all you do is play Angry Birds or that weird vegetable slicing game.  It won't replace your laptop (for most people), but its value will continue to increase with time as developers dream up innovative new apps.  Check out the five ways we think the iPad 2 might benefit your church, ministry, or organization:
 

Video

With the iPad 2, Apple has substantially increased processing power, paving the way for power hungry applications, like video editing software.  To showcase this new processing power they developed an iPad version of their own consumer video editing app, iMovie.  There are other video editing apps for the iPad, notably ReelDirector, but for the moment no other app really comes close to the feature set of iMovie.  Obviously, this isn't a professional video editing application, but if your church or organization doesn't currently edit video this would be an inexpensive and simple way to get started.
 

Organization and Planning

Many blog posts could be written specifically addressing the productivity apps on the iPad, but I want to point out two in particular that can benefit churches specifically, Planning Center Online, and the corresponding app, Planning Center Music Stand.  If you're not familiar with the Planning Center website and service check them out here.  Essentially, Planning Center is a central hub for church volunteer scheduling and organization.  One of the best features of Planning Center is its ability to organize music charts and mp3's for your music department, but with the iPad they've made this service even better with their Music Stand app that let's your team go paperless.  

You can even purchase a clever microphone stand adaptor so you can use your iPad as your actual physical (digital) music stand.
 

Information and Registration

If you've ever been to an Apple retail store, you'll notice that they don't have a central checkout system.  If you want to purchase something or get more information about a product you look for someone in an employee t-shirt who's subsequently equipped with an iPhone or iPad ready to collect payment or find more information for you.  Why couldn't you do something similar in your church or organization?  Instead of spending money and effort on paper sign up forms and expensive kiosks, why couldn't you equip your team with a few iPads loaded with apps to register people for events, collect payments and donations, and find relevant information for anyone who might inquire?  Here are a few apps that do just that:

• Square:  An app that lets you take payments and donations via credit card right from your iPad and iPhone.  It's as simple as that.
• Online Forms:  Our own website system has a online form builder that works seamlessly with the iPad, but you could also use Google Forms, Wufoo, or FormSite to create registration forms that work on the iPad.
• iBooks:  Not only does this app let you read books, but it also can showcase PDF's and other documents.  You could load a map of your facility, latest newsletter, or other pertinent information so it's easily accessible.
   

Public Speaking

The iPad is a great tool for teaching and preaching.  There are many apps that can help in sermon prep like Logos, YouVersion, and Articles for Wikipedia.  We also recommend a great app called Prompster that is a perfect app for practicing and delivering your teaching or sermon.
 

Laptop or Desktop Replacement

When most people ask me whether they can replace their laptop or desktop computer with an iPad my initial response is no.  However, I've found that in certain cases (more than I realized at first) the iPad could be an inexpensive and portable alternative to a traditional computer.  The ideal candidate would be someone who only uses their current computer for email, light web surfing, and simple document creation.  A requirement for anyone who would replace their computer with an iPad would be a wireless keyboard and stand, of which there are many to choose from.  An iPad well supplied with apps like Pages, Keynote, Numbers, GoodReader, and Evernote could make for a great alternative to a traditional computer for some people.
 

How are you using the iPad?

I'd love to hear how your church or organization is using your iPad in ways that save money or time. Be specific with any apps or accessories that make the iPad work for you.

You may have noticed that we've recently updated and redesigned our website.  You might have also notice that we've added new examples of our work, updated our pricing structure, added a resource library, made it eaiser to contact our support team, began a blog, and a made variety of other important changes that we hope will benefit everyone who comes to our website.

This change was a labor of love, and it's something that we've been working on for quite some time.  I thought I would explain some of the changes to our website, as well as give you an idea of where our creative studio is heading.

Our Work

Our intention in desiging a new "Our Work" section was to give a broad example of the work we do in every area of our studio.  When you click on any thumbnail you'll see a contextual pop-up that further explains the work we did with each client in our gallery.  You'll also notice that many of our examples have a case study attached to them.  This is something we'll update and add on a regular basis.  We find that a simple case study can be beneifical to anyone who may be interested beginning a project with us, but we also hope that it can be beneficial to anyone who may be interested in how the design and development process works.

Resource Library

Our resource library is something that we've wanted to create for some time.  Our intention was to create a place for our team to post helpful articles and information about a variety of topics that tend to have an air of mystery, such as domains or social networking.  We'll continue to update this section on a regular basis, and hope that it's a blessing to anyone who has questions about technology and communication.

Collsion Blog

We've toyed with blogging in the past, and many members of our team have blogged for years, so creating a blog was something that we had to seriously consider before we set out to do it.  Blogging is not easy, and sometimes can take focus away from things that may have more importance.  However, our goal with the Collision Blog is to be a resource to anyone who's interested in the topic of technology, creativity, and communication.  Our blog will not cater specifically to our clients, rather, we are hoping that it becomes a destination and a place of conversation for anyone.  We're excited about the opportunity it provides us to connect with our audience and look forward to writing.

Other Changes

You may notice other changes on our website and I hope you let us know if anything is out of place or confusing.  Our company has grown in the past few years, and we're excited about the direction we are going in 2011.  You can easily keep up with us on our new blog, Twitter, or Facebook.  We look forward to connecting with you.

Email can be one of the most confusing and frustrating services to set up and manage.  However, Google has brilliantly developed a system to host and manage email that, in our opinion, is the gold standard.  We use it ourselves, and recommend it to anyone we talk to.  For businesses, it's a nominal $50 a year per person (as of March 2011), and for non-profits it's free, yes free.

We don't typically toot the horn of every company that we use, but email is such a vital component of what we do that we can't help but mention the great service that Google provides.  Below is a quick video that gives you an overview of what Google Apps does (hint: it's more than just email),  or you can click here to get started if you're interested in setting up an account.

I'm not sure what browser you use, but if you're using Internet Explorer 6 it's time to switch to a modern browser.  The perils of IE6 have been widely known for quite some time, and now even it's creator, Microsoft, is on a crusade to get people to upgrade to a modern browser, click here to see a website they've devoted to this cause.

The browser we most commonly use at Collision is Google Chrome, but we also recommend Apple's Safari, and Mozilla's Firefox.  Choosing a modern browser is very important, mostly for security, but also because your overall experience on the web is greatly benefited by a good browser.  If you haven't switched already, give it a try,  I think you'll thank us.

One of our favorite blogs, Church Crunch, recently posted an article on the 10 Commandments of Email Etiquette.  We thought it was hilarious and quite beneficial (we see quite an assortment of email etiquette on a daily basis). 

Here are a few examples:

• Be concise – Keep your emails limited to one line. They may be reading your email on a smartphone, plus, with a simpler message, they’re more apt to respond quickly.
• Communicate action steps first – It’s like a newspaper article, important stuff first. Communicate the action step first, and then you can summarize the meeting, conversation or background info
• Number your questions – If you don’t number the questions, you’re more than likely going to have a follow up email for clarification. I have found it best to ask the questions in separate emails (see rule one).

Click here for the full list