While most of the SnapComms tools (Tickers, Mag, Alert) are small in size and inconsequential in terms of network usage, the business screensaver tool has the potential to create noticeable network traffic – if the images, video and other elements that you upload are large, then the screensaver will be, too.

Snapcomms recently rolled out a couple of useful features that put any I.T. concerns about potential network traffic created by business screensaver messaging to rest:

1. Screensaver File Size Limits

This new feature adds an option under Default Settings for a Campaign/Tool that allows the maximum asset size to be specified. An asset can only be published if the total size of the asset is less than the maximum asset size limit.

Anyone uploading a file that takes the screensaver over the limit won’t be able to complete the upload. They also are stopped when they try to Publish the element, if it consists of multiple components that take it over the limit.

So if you have multiple Administrators sending business screensaver messages to employee groups, you should consider using this feature to keep them from unwittingly sending large chunks of content!

2. Staggered Downloads

This one further lets I.T. control how much network bandwidth is used.  The ”Super-User” Administrator can set a concurrent download limit through the Content Manager (before, we managed this and hardwired the settting).  This setting is then used by the Snap Server to limit the rate of content downloads to clients.

So even if Corporate Communications sent out a very large screensaver to the entire company for example, a 500 concurrent download limit could prevent any potential spike in usage that might affect other applications.

If you have any questions on these new features or want detailed instructions on how to use them, email me!

SnapComms have created more options for business screensaver billboards – anything from simple text on color to flash and video can be cycled as a screensaver billboard, using one of available templates:

Image: Upload any image file as the business screensaver background – insert hyperlink to make screensaver interactive – add text to dialogue box to add context. 

Flash: Upload any adobe flash file (swf) to display as screensaver – embed hyperlinks / programs within flash file to make screensaver interactive – upload web pages complete with links intact.

Screensaver with Ticker: Upload any image file, flash file or video file – link to existing RSS feed or create your own message which will display on screen as screensaver runs – embed hyperlinks / programs within flash file to make the business screensaver interactive.

Free-form Screensaver: Upload background image, add text boxes, add hyperlinks, add pictures – formatting and drop-and-drag features provides total freedom to create what you like.

 HTML Screensaver: Whatever can be created in HTML can be uploaded as a screensaver – allows highly interactive and visually dynamic screensavers to be pushed to the desktop.

PowerPoint Screensaver: Upload a Power Point slide of your own design – embed hyperlinks within the power point to make screensaver interactive.

Multimedia Screensaver: Upload any image file, flash file or video file – embed hyperlinks / programs within flash file to make screensaver interactive.

Countdown screensaver: Upload images, hyperlinks and add text – set clock to count down to specified date and time – ability to flip to new image and text upon countdown reaching zero.

TARGETING STILL KEY
Each SnapShot business screensaver you create can be sent to a specific distribution list (existing in Active Dirctory or new if needed) and set to run for a specific time period. This means that you can tailor content to specific audiences and keep your visual messages relevant.  For example, you could publish the Company Values flash screensaver to all employees and flat screens, but limit the Regional Events Listing to employees based in that region.

The ability to easily send out business screensaver visuals also means the medium can be used to reinforce multiple intiatives and projects simultaneously.

If you’d like to see for yourself and test out the new templates, please click here to register for a free trial (no obligation). And then let us know what you think!

Excerpt from our October 1st press release (representing SnapComms in the U.S.):

Goleta, CA and Auckland, New Zealand (PRWEB) October 1, 2009 — SnapComms (http://www.snapcomms.com) announced today that it recently signed a contract with Cox Communications, the third-largest cable television company in the United States, for the delivery of internal messaging and corporate screensaver software.

interactive corporate screensavers

Rella Stone, Senior Manager, Information Security at Cox Communications, answered a few questions regarding the project:

Q: What business issue does the internal communications software address?
A: We have flexible work options at Cox as well as a large mobile workforce. We were looking for a cost-effective way to reach everyone, both globally and for targeted messaging.

Q: What are you planning to use the communications tools for?
A: Our initial use will be for security awareness messaging.

Q: What you do think the benefits will be?
A: We want to see increased visibility of security awareness messaging for all employees, more visibility for urgent messages, and a much better ability to target messages to specific groups based upon business need.

Q: Why did you choose this particular communications software?
A: The main selling point for us was the flexibility of content administration and targeted messaging. We prefer to be a corporate office that partners and collaborates with our field locations.

Here’s the full press release:  http://www.prweb.com/releases/internal/communications/prweb2974084.htm

I ran across an interesting blog post a few days ago by Jeremy Robert, titled “Internal Communications- Freedom of Speech? You cannot be serious!”

In it Jeremy says he cannot understand companies like Coke and Ford letting their employees loose in social media channels – they’re planning to let them talk on behalf of the company without going through PR.  Here’s an exerpt:

You simply do not allow employees free rein. You don’t. It is accepted.

Then along come the social media strategists. “It’s all about content, it’s all about dialogue, it’s all about the quality of the conversation” – free spirits in the digital age. Not for them the rules of the old guard – no, the rise of the internet and FaceBook and Twitter has changed the world and we must move on or wither and die.

It appears that their lobbying – and the continuing spread of Shiny Object Syndrome – has convinced even the most conservative of organisations (Coke, anyone?) that they should be allowed to let employees post directly to the social media sites, without passing the sense/health check that is the PR department.

I stuck in my 20 cents here (employees should be empowered/let ‘loose’ but properly trained/guided as to what’s appropriate what’s not).  What do you think? Are employees encouraged to get out there in the social media world and represent the company? What kind of training/caveats are in place to ensure they don’t damage the company’s reputation?

Who in your company is speaking on its behalf and how has this worked for you?

Check out this great post I just ran across at “General Smelectric”, a spoof blog as far as I can tell.  A funny example of extreme internal spam. A lot of it rings true…

Recent research has shown that out of 300,000+ employees:

• 95% do not read this email
• 33% automatically filter it into a folder marked “SPAM”
• 60% who do open the email scan through it for notifications on discounts or contests, then Shift-Delete it when finding nothing

Thus, going forward, instead of “The Latest at General Smelectric,” Corporate Communications will be using the following subject line: “Please read: You have been fired.”