NPR Digital Services Blog http://blog.digitalservices.npr.org NPR Digital Services, a Division of NPR Fri, 23 Dec 2011 20:28:21 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 Holiday Hours http://blog.digitalservices.npr.org/2011/12/23/holiday-hours/ http://blog.digitalservices.npr.org/2011/12/23/holiday-hours/#comments Fri, 23 Dec 2011 20:24:06 +0000 Janeen Williamson http://blog.digitalservices.npr.org/?p=1204 We will be closed for the holidays on Monday, December 26th, 2011 & again on Monday, January 2nd, 2012. If you need help or support during the holidays, please use this form http://info.ds.npr.org//support.html or email help@ds.npr.org to ensure your request is not held up by staff vacation schedules. Thanks in advance and happy holidays to you and yours! We look forward to working with you in the New Year!

]]> http://blog.digitalservices.npr.org/2011/12/23/holiday-hours/feed/ 0 Quick Pledge Stations Top $31 Million! http://blog.digitalservices.npr.org/2011/11/18/quick-pledge-stations-top-31-million/ http://blog.digitalservices.npr.org/2011/11/18/quick-pledge-stations-top-31-million/#comments Fri, 18 Nov 2011 20:13:47 +0000 Sarianne Palmesano http://blog.digitalservices.npr.org/?p=1195 Quick Pledge, our industry-specific online pledge system, has an enormous impact on results…and it gets better each year.  Just take a look!

During the Fall 2010 drive months (Sept-Oct) stations using Quick Pledge raised  $7.7 million online, with 75,000 donor transactions at an average pledge of $103.

This fall during same time period, stations using Quick Pledge raised $9.6 million in some 89,000 donor transactions with average pledge amount $107 .

That’s a 25% increase in dollars raised and a 19% increase in the number of individual transactions!

Looking at the past full year (Nov 1, 2010-Oct 31, 2011), our stations as a whole raised a total of $31 million with Quick Pledge. That’s a whopping 292,000 pledge transactions, with an average pledge amount of $106.

Last year’s numbers in comparison were $22.6 million in 227,000 transactions with an average pledge amount of $100. That makes the increase 37% for dollars raised and 29% for number of transactions

Congratulations to all our stations!

To find out how Quick Pledge can grow your station’s online fundraising, contact Joe Orlando, Marketing and Sales Manager, 888-729-8809.

]]> http://blog.digitalservices.npr.org/2011/11/18/quick-pledge-stations-top-31-million/feed/ 1 Digital Services goes to DUXCamp http://blog.digitalservices.npr.org/2011/10/26/digital-services-goes-to-duxcamp/ http://blog.digitalservices.npr.org/2011/10/26/digital-services-goes-to-duxcamp/#comments Wed, 26 Oct 2011 18:08:35 +0000 russ http://blog.digitalservices.npr.org/?p=1173

A few of us from Digital Services spent with weekend in D.C. for DUXCamp, a one-day conference on design and user experience put on by NPR. Did I say conference? This was an “un-conference” — an event where sessions are created and led ad hoc by the participants.

About 200 folks who work in public media, news and digital design came together to share ideas about creating better digital experiences. Our own Steve Mulder led a workshop on design and research called UX and Data: BFFs or Frenemies? The answer? It depends — talk to Steve if you want to hear more.

Another session, Blowing Up Online News Design, started a good discussion about moving away from the newspaper metaphor and toward a clean, digital design that engages people without overwhelming them with links.

We also had a surprise visit from NPR’s Robert Krulwich, who held sessions on his unique way of storytelling. He emphasized how we, as content producers (and humans) should vary our approach to different subjects saying, “Everything you do is a 1st time at bat. All the tricks you’ve used don’t necessarily apply…you have to respect what senses are being addressed. [You have to] honor your subject.”

What else? There was so much and if you’re interested the event coordinators put up the session notes on http://duxcamp.tumblr.com/session_notes.

]]> http://blog.digitalservices.npr.org/2011/10/26/digital-services-goes-to-duxcamp/feed/ 0 ERPM This Week http://blog.digitalservices.npr.org/2011/10/25/erpm-this-week/ http://blog.digitalservices.npr.org/2011/10/25/erpm-this-week/#comments Tue, 25 Oct 2011 17:28:47 +0000 Suzanne Brendle http://blog.digitalservices.npr.org/?p=1164 We’re speaking at the ERPM conference this week, in our home state of MA. Look for our very own Steve Mulder and Bob Kempf.

PUBLIC RADIO AND THE DIGITAL FUTURE: BIG PICTURE, NEXT STEPS
Kinsey Wilson, Senior Vice President & General Manager, NPR Digital Media
Bob Kempf, Vice President & General Manager, NPR Digital Services
Steve Mulder, Director, User Experience & Analytics, NPR Digital Services

 NPR’s Digital leaders and station partners outline future opportunities for public radio and demonstrate strategies stations are pursuing today with the support of NPR.

]]> http://blog.digitalservices.npr.org/2011/10/25/erpm-this-week/feed/ 0 Useful NPRDS Links http://blog.digitalservices.npr.org/2011/10/17/useful-links/ http://blog.digitalservices.npr.org/2011/10/17/useful-links/#comments Mon, 17 Oct 2011 13:32:12 +0000 Suzanne Brendle http://blog.digitalservices.npr.org/?p=1130 Here are a few useful help, documentation and reference links to help you get the most out of your services.

Online help, tips and documentation: A great place to start when you have a question. Or just search this blog.

Help and Tech Support: Online help form, policy, guidelines and more
http://digitalservices.npr.org/support.html
help email address: help AT ds.npr.org

Portal Page
As master admin, you can access all of your admin tools from this page. Bookmark this page!
http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/xxxx/portal.portalmain (substitute your station ID)

Online Demo:
Interested in a new service? Take a peek here:
http://demo.digitalservices.npr.org

SoundExchange Blog: FAQs, guidelines, registration, all things related.
http://blog.ds.npr.org/soundexchange

Sign up for our E-news Updates:
News, product updates, tips, info, more emailed weekly.
http://platform.publicbroadcasting.net/pi/email.emailmain

]]> http://blog.digitalservices.npr.org/2011/10/17/useful-links/feed/ 0 Composer: Temporary Program Guide Changes http://blog.digitalservices.npr.org/2011/10/12/composer-temporary-program-guide-changes/ http://blog.digitalservices.npr.org/2011/10/12/composer-temporary-program-guide-changes/#comments Wed, 12 Oct 2011 15:57:45 +0000 Suzanne Brendle http://blog.digitalservices.npr.org/?p=1113 Here’s how to make a temporary program change, e.g. for the summer or for the holidays, meaning that you’re temporarily airing Program B in place of current Program A.

If the hours match up exactly, simply replace current Program A with temporary Program B:

  • Go to the first day that you’d like to show Program B, and edit the current program A.
  • It will default to Temporary Edit.
  • Enter Program B, including both a start and end date.
  • Save. You’re all set, after the temporary edit ends, Program B will ‘go away’ from that date forward. Your grid will go back to showing program A, and Program B will remain historically.
  • NOTE: The program grid will now say ‘conflict’ because 2 programs are scheduled at the same time, but that’s okay, it’s an intentional conflict.

IF the hours DO NOT match up exactly, i.e. if the temporary Program B is one hour, and overlaps 2 half hour programs.

  • Go to the current program(s) A, Aa.
  • Go to the day before you want the temporary Program B to start, and edit each of the current programs separately.
  • It will default to Temporary Edit, be sure to change to edit Recurring.
  • Enter the end dates for the programs – which is the day before Program B starts.
  • Then a plus sign will appear on the grid.
  • Enter Program B.
  • Put in the start and end dates, which you know, and save.
  • Go to manage program guide, and change the dates for the grid to the end date of Program B.
  • On the following day, you’ll see a plus sign(s). Add the current programs back in, starting on that date, no need to enter an end date.
]]> http://blog.digitalservices.npr.org/2011/10/12/composer-temporary-program-guide-changes/feed/ 0 Quick Pledge Reporting Options http://blog.digitalservices.npr.org/2011/09/30/quick-pledge-reporting-options/ http://blog.digitalservices.npr.org/2011/09/30/quick-pledge-reporting-options/#comments Fri, 30 Sep 2011 13:42:58 +0000 Sarianne Palmesano http://blog.digitalservices.npr.org/?p=1023 Quick Pledge has some great real-time reporting features that let you review and analyze your transactions and drive results. All pledge data excluding the credit card numbers are available and searchable via the Quick Pledge reporting tools.

Log in to Quick Pledge Admin and go to Reporting Options section.

  • Search/Export Pledges: Search all pledges by time of pledge broken down to the minute, source, date, name, premium, and more!  You can also set up saved reports and retrieve them easily.
  • Today’s Pledges Quick View: Click Today’s Pledges Quick View to see the day’s totals (since the previous midnight). This tool is handy for quickly seeing transactions as they come in during your drive, or for your hosts to read names on-air real time.
  • If you are using the volunteer back office form, click ‘Search/Export Pledges’ to run reports based on specific premiums and programs by source (web or phone).
  • Quick Pledge Form Report: See totals broken down by form during a given date range.
  • Quick Premium Count Report: See a count of premiums selected in a given date range. Useful when dealing with a limited number of items, or to test revenue associated with a particular premium.
  • Quick Membership Type Report: See a count of membership types during a given date range.
]]> http://blog.digitalservices.npr.org/2011/09/30/quick-pledge-reporting-options/feed/ 1 Live Streaming Costs Reduced http://blog.digitalservices.npr.org/2011/09/30/live-streaming-costs-reduced/ http://blog.digitalservices.npr.org/2011/09/30/live-streaming-costs-reduced/#comments Fri, 30 Sep 2011 12:53:46 +0000 Suzanne Brendle http://blog.digitalservices.npr.org/?p=1056 We wanted to remind you that we lowered our live streaming service fees starting October 1, 2011.  By pooling our bandwidth purchases with NPR, adding a second content delivery vendor and holding out the prospect of additional network buys, we’ve been able to negotiate lower pricing – savings we can pass on to you.

Pricing will be 10-40% lower, depending on the streaming quality (bit rate) and peak user level (streaming pack).  All stations can increase to the next level of streaming quality (bit rate) and the same or lower cost!

If you’re thinking about increasing your stream sound quality (the bit rate, e.g 32kbps, 64kbps, etc.) or increasing your listener capacity to avoid or reduce your overages (the streaming pack, e.g. 100 or 200 peak listeners, etc.), now is a good time to consider making that change.

Detailed streaming pricing info:
http://digitalservices.npr.org/media/pdfs/FY12streaming-extended.pdf

For questions about your current streaming service and the new pricing, please contact your Client Services rep.

]]> http://blog.digitalservices.npr.org/2011/09/30/live-streaming-costs-reduced/feed/ 0 Quick Pledge Data: Batch Files http://blog.digitalservices.npr.org/2011/09/29/quick-pledge-data-batch-files/ http://blog.digitalservices.npr.org/2011/09/29/quick-pledge-data-batch-files/#comments Thu, 29 Sep 2011 15:54:48 +0000 Sarianne Palmesano http://blog.digitalservices.npr.org/?p=1030 Are you entering each of your pledges from Quick Pledge manually?

You have the option to receive pledge data in a consolidated in a daily batch file that you can import into your membership database or upload for processing, and we recommend this option.

With the secure encrypted batch files, the pledge data comes in once per day, allowing you to receive and process the day’s pledges all at once, rather than tracking and processing individual donations throughout the day.  Batch pledges files are easier to import into your membership database as well, and can be formatted to match your membership database.

Data filters are available for:

  • Allegiance
  • Enterprise
  • Memsys
  • Scout
  • Team Approach
  • Custom formats and more

You can always get up-to-the-minute results with the real-time reporting tools in Quick Pledge and via the pledge email notification option so you keep track of your totals.

]]> http://blog.digitalservices.npr.org/2011/09/29/quick-pledge-data-batch-files/feed/ 0 Quick Pledge Reports Only Access http://blog.digitalservices.npr.org/2011/09/29/quick-pledge-reports-only-access/ http://blog.digitalservices.npr.org/2011/09/29/quick-pledge-reports-only-access/#comments Thu, 29 Sep 2011 15:41:36 +0000 Suzanne Brendle http://blog.digitalservices.npr.org/?p=1019 Reporting Only access to Quick Pledge administration tools allows you to create separate logins for staff members or volunteers who need access to view your pledge totals or run reports, but should not have access to editing your pledge forms or premiums.

For example, show hosts could view real-time pledge totals during pledge drives.

  • To add a Reporting Only user account for Quick Pledge, email help@ds.npr.org and include your Quick Pledge Station/Account ID and the preferred username and password for the new login.
  • We’ll set that up and get back to you.
  • Log into Quick Pledge administration tools using the same url http://secure.publicbroadcasting.net/xxxx/pledge.pledgeadmin and see links to the reporting tools only.
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