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Dell Community Site

250 points posted to Dell Community, Dell Web Site by jervis961 07/29/07 **PARTIALLY IMPLEMENTED**

Dell currently has several websites reaching out to customers: Direct2Dell , IdeaStorm, Dell Forums and StudioDell. The problem is that they are too hard to find and spread out across the web. Why not have a central site that is part of Dell.com that would be a home page to all of them. Redisign the Dell.com home page to 3 simple links: The Dell Store, Dell Support and Dell Community. The community site would be the place to go and interact with like minded people, learn more about Dell systems and suggest ways to improve Dell. Dell take tighter control with dedicated moderators, users could create their own profile and avitar, special coupons and contests for members, maybe even a section of free downloads like Dell screensavers and wallpapers. This would be a great way for Dell to show its customers that their relationship doesn't begin and end with the sale of a product.

Please see Jervis961's comment below

tommy_l 08/23/07	Great idea. We're working toward simplifying Dell.com to provide a better user experience. Your point regarding the "relationship doesn't begin and end with the sale of a product" is the driving force behind the future of Dell.com. Thanks for posting!
jervis961 08/24/07	Thanks tommy_l, I'm Looking foreward to some of the website stuff Dell is working on. ;)
jorge Apr 11	Merged Idea originally posted 08/20/07 Merge the Five Dell Forums/Sites into one. Dell merge the current five different Dell websites into one! Much like the different pre-existing discussion topics in your forums your customers are so dumb they think each of your different five websites are "The" website and end up attempting to perform the wrong function on each. For one we constantly get angry support and sales complaints on IdeaStorm, people keep asking Lionel why they can't order a computer on Direct2Dell or ask for parts, on the forums we keep seeing people coming up with ideas on how to improve products, although we can't prove it people keep attempting to respond to statements on the Dell ordering site. Five sites for a company losing money, doesn't sound right, reduce them all down to one and save the company a few bucks not to mention its all the same anyway so reduce the confusion and merge them into one. The dell_admins love to merge regardless of subject matter or consistency (and lack of) and can do it without even consulting the different departments, reduces the time lag and inter-departmental complaints due to the merger. Its also energy conservative and will help with the Green project, it also allows for less people in running the different websites so reduces the financial cost. In case you don't know here are the different sites you need to merge: http://www.IdeaStorm.com http://direct2dell.com/one2one/default.aspx http://www.dell.com/content/topics/topic.aspx/global/shared/corp/media/en/stu... http://www.dellcommunity.com Merge into http://www.dell.com Don't forget to stop paying for the extra DomainNames as well, no sense in keeping them if you're not going to use them, forgot the http://www.dellideasstorm.com also needs to be removed from the domain names Dell is paying for.
premcv Apr 11	Merged Comment originally posted 08/20/07 It is a good thought, but why would you want to merge them, just because the dell_admin*s inconsistency?
jervis961 Apr 11	Merged Comment originally posted 08/20/07 I would say its a duplicate but since it isn't doing well, I don't want it associated with mine at this time. :) It makes alot of sense though doesn't it.
mistern Apr 11	Merged Comment originally posted 08/20/07 I didn't read all of this idea and jorge doesn't hate it, yet i like it!
jorge Apr 11	Merged Comment originally posted 08/20/07 Dell is losing money faster than a house bound spouse on a a limitless credit card with no known financial conscious, they need to cut back ASAP or end up in Bankruptcy or out on the range selling computers to cows. Much like the forum downsizing their dispersion of sites is only making their "knowledge deficient" customers even more confused (if you are confused include yourself in that category) which is making the dumb customer head for other companies to buy their browser computer, because other companies just sell them computers without the need to actually read and decipher marketing propaganda they are un-used to. Since Dell has acknowledged they have knowledge deficient customers who can't post a forum message they need to themselves acknowledge they are being knowledge deficient in hoping their knowledge deficient paying customers can decipher the five sites to actually make a purchase.
mistern Apr 11	Merged Comment originally posted 08/20/07 Or get more intelligent customers.
jorge Apr 11	Merged Comment originally posted 08/20/07 Well Dell doesn't know how to order them from my site.
jorge Apr 11	Merged Comment originally posted 08/20/07 But for the sake of the "knowledge deficient" customer who can't even post a message in the correct category in a Dell forum? Poor dumb customers! Where is the love the Dell Forum is giving its knowledge deficient customers?
bbr Apr 11	Merged Comment originally posted 08/21/07 Ah thats quite silly. I encourage them to merge / redirect to a single site instead.
sean_m Apr 11	Merged Comment originally posted 08/21/07 Jorge That is a good idea. I agree that improving the integration of the sites (Dell Community Forum, Idea Storm, Studio Dell, Direct2Dell) is the right direction. However I believe that each of thes 4 online community tools provides customers different and necessary ways to connect with Dell or each other and we do not want to loose this capability: Direct2Dell - a blog that allows customers to consume and comment on Dell news that is posted Dell Community Forum - a way for customers to ask/answer questions to other customers Studio Dell - a video tool to share Dell news (products, services, support/how to solve product issues) Idea Storm - a tool for customers to share with Dell and each other ideas, vote on the ideas, and witness ideas in action We are looking for ways to integrate, while still offering customers choice and flexability in how they can learn, share, explore technology with Dell and each other. Sean M
jorge Apr 11	Merged Comment originally posted 08/21/07 Add the following to the main Dell site: A button for each. Problem solved. Almost forgot, with the descriptions listed above for each button.
sean_m Apr 11	Merged Comment originally posted 08/21/07 All The term "dumb customers" is offensive. The spirit of a community is to help each other. New users to forum, idea storm, etc can always use help from the experienced community members. My intent is to discover how Dell can help new users to our community (navigation, terminology, registration process) and work to implement the changes. But labeling some customers as dumb and making them feel unworthy is failure. I hope you agree and extend a helping hand to new members. Sean M
jorge Apr 11	Merged Comment originally posted 08/21/07 How's the update? Now only sean_m is saying the d word :D
mistern Apr 11	Merged Comment originally posted 08/21/07 dd... dumb customer... I said it! I said something offensive, I'm feeling like a REBEL!
jervis961 Apr 11	Merged Comment originally posted 08/21/07 sean_m How about this idea then http://www.ideastorm.com/article/show/72394/Dell_Community_Site
jorge Apr 11	Merged Comment originally posted 08/21/07 Thread jacker! Besides your idea doesn't use anything offensive so no one will look at it. Time to edit.
jervis961 Apr 11	Merged Comment originally posted 08/21/07 The site is kinda like rap now? You down with OPP?
jorge Apr 11	Merged Comment originally posted 08/21/07 Yea, I learned that a while ago, actually I have done a few probe ideas and they have hit right where I wanted the test to go, admin's pounced on it ASAP and I got a status update or warning and plenty of hits. Once again, Key Word usage is huge! (much like web page hit factors) And you probably thought I was off my rocker at times (if not all the time :D).
jervis961 Apr 11	Merged Comment originally posted 08/21/07 Hmm. interesting
jervis961 Apr 11	Merged Comment originally posted 08/21/07 Speaking of random. the user (who I am not going to name)'s website about ideastorm has several days with higher web traffic than this one. Its ranked s the number 222nd (or something close to that) most popular site in Ireland. just thought it was interesting.
jorge Apr 11	Merged Comment originally posted 08/21/07 I use it as my main IdeaStorm page then link off to this one.
sean_m Apr 11	Merged Comment originally posted 08/22/07 jervis961 I read your idea about making community more prominent on dell.com . Good idea. My team is working with dell online to best align entry points into community. Some ideas include a link to community landing page off of dell.com, similiar to what you suggested. As we get closer to some to a definite plan, I can update this group. Sean M.
jervis961 Apr 11	Merged Comment originally posted 08/22/07 Thanks sean_m.
sean_m Apr 11	Merged Comment originally posted 09/04/07 All We just went live on dell.com with changes to improve our 5 community sites into 1. Changes to the site include: 1. A new link off Dell.com for Dell Community home page 2. A new Dell Community home page with RSS feeds and navigation to all of the online community tools (right side of the page). Also we have added a member spotlight - this will be a rotating recognition of community participants that provide great ideas, advice, help across our community tools. "Latest Conversations" section - currently we have a gaming conversation page - an easy way to read latest information on gaming from Dell and non Dell RSS feeds. Coming soon will be additonal conversation groups/pages on different topics. 3. We have added in Idea Storm a board for Dell Community ideas and feedback. This will be sections of Idea Storm that I will read and would like to hear your ideas for Dell Community. Sean M.
jorge Apr 11	Merged Comment originally posted 09/04/07 On the Dell.com site the Community link looks odd, why the vertical bars to each end of it? Looks out of place, should integrate with the rest of the page.
sean_m Apr 11	Merged Comment originally posted 09/04/07 Jorge The reason for the vertical bars is to call attention to the Dell Community link. Dell.com page was not originally designed for such a link, so not 100% integrated into the page. Moving forward with any home page re-design, we will build community link into the new page design. Thanks for the question. Sean M
jervis961 Apr 11	Merged Comment originally posted 09/04/07 The new site is OK but really cluttered. I see they left the gaming discussions as is and didn't fix anything that was suggested either. By the way the RSS links still don't work properly. The link on Dell.com could be better also as most people don't scroll down and will not see it. You also could have used the larger community picture on the link.
sean_m Apr 11	Merged Comment originally posted 09/05/07 Jervis961 The RSS feeds are experiencing some problems, so we are working to fix that issue. Thank you for letting us know. Any suggestions on how to make the gaming conversation pages less cluttered? Concerning the community link on dell.com, the page was not designed to house the link, so we added the link to available real estate, moving forward with any new dell.com page designs, we will integrate the community link so it have appropriate placement. Sean M.
jdelidc Apr 11	Merged Comment originally posted 09/05/07 it's probably a good thing though until they can get a better way to keep duplicates from popping up
jervis961 Apr 11	Merged Comment originally posted 09/05/07 I participated in the beta for the new gaming site and has suggested a tabbed set up and others posted links to sites that used the same set up. You could make a framed area in the center of the page with tabs at the top (like in IE7) the tabs could be for the different RSS feeds. When you click on the tab those feeds fill in the framed area. Some sites have a rotation of the tabs after so many seconds kind of like the main Dell page. If I can find some examples I'll post them here. By the way they said they had the RSS thing fixed when that section was in Beta, I complained about it then too.
jervis961 Apr 11	Merged Comment originally posted 09/05/07 Found something to show you what I mean. http://www.salesforce.com/appexchange has tabs on the top to let you access different parts of the site but My idea would be to have it more instantaneous by just having the RSS info change but leave the rest of the page alone. Does this make any sense?
jervis961 Apr 11	Merged Comment originally posted 09/05/07 How often does the member spotlight change anyway?
jdelidc Apr 11	Merged Comment originally posted 09/05/07 nice website
jervis961 Apr 11	Merged Comment originally posted 09/06/07 This feed seems to work ok. http://www.dellideastorm.com/xml/rss?tags_string=&menu_string=articles< new community site did add one idea from yesterday but otherwise hasn't changed.
sean_m Apr 11	Merged Comment originally posted 09/06/07 Jervis961 I owe you several answers on your posts from yesterday, here goes... I understand your idea of tabs, but not in agreement to use tabs instead of a scroll to read the gaming content/feeds. Our intent with the conversations pages is to have all gaming conversations on one page - sort of a front page of a newspaper- keep the reader on one page vs tab to 7+ pages. Our opportunity is to manage the volume of the content with futre conversation pages (we can accompish by reducing the number of feeds present under each topic (currently 5, maybe go to 3), reduce the number of topics on the page - gaming has 10, future pages could have 6). We do use tabs across Dell.com when there is a significant change in the subject (i.e., Products, Services, Support). Spotlight change is a manual change for us - it does not automatically get feed onto the page. We are working to rotate minimum monthly, maximum weekly. I would like for us to get to weekly. We did look into the RSS issues with our IT team yesterday and this morning. I believe we have two items fixed: duplicate content and disappering content. Please keep up posted if you see that any issue with the RSS feeds appear on your end. We are making a change to the Community homepage www.dell.com/community to have "Latest Ideas" topic have the feed directly from Idea Storm Community board, not all of Idea Storm. Still working on this change, hope to get it complted today. Concerning the feedback from the focus groups you participated in about 2 weeks ago. We did get all of the feedback, but we were not able to make all of the recommendations/changes to the Gaming Conversations page. My mistake for making sure that all feedback was heard (i.e. Dell listened) and our intent on implementing some of the feedback. Our major concern is RSS feeds, the content that it delivers - make sure it is relevant for the audience. Sean M.
jorge Apr 11	Merged Comment originally posted 09/06/07 @jervis961 and sean_m: tabs and what not is not what this idea is about, probably better to take this tab discussion to another idea. Bringing all the Dell sites into one, is the idea, I never mentioned links to other sites or tabs or stuff like that. So please take it else where.
jervis961 Apr 11	Merged Comment originally posted 09/06/07 Sorry jorge.
jorge Apr 11	Merged Comment originally posted 09/06/07 @sean_m, so when will we see the different sites brought into one? By the way links are not equal to bringing the sites into one, in case you missed that in the idea.
sugarbear Apr 11	Merged Comment originally posted 09/07/07 Sean M, I have been to the new Dell.com home page. The redesigned page is something the communispace members voted on. It is a better designed page. The only thing I would improve on, make the links for ideastorm, forum, lounge, etc: a darker blue to stand out. All of these can easily be accesed from Dell.com and moved into that domain name. The other domains can be eliminated. As far as the comment on " dumb customer" you are correct on stating it is offensive. There are no dumb customers. There are only customers that haven`t learned yet. Everyone at some point in time started out fresh on a pc and EVERYONE has to learn. Some are interested in learning more than others, and it is inexcuseable for any one to be throwing stones. None of the Dell platforms should be used for abusing people or fanatical ravings. I disagree on all of the sites being brought together. Each site has a separate purpose.
sean_m Apr 11	Merged Comment originally posted 09/07/07 jorge You are right, linking does not equal integrated. Integrated to me = sharing of the content, similiar design/layout, single sign on. Timing is TBD, we are working on best approach to achieve integration and ensure we can accomplish for English language, but also for other key languages for Dell customers (Chinese, Spanish, Japanese, etc). Sean M.
sean_m Apr 11	Merged Comment originally posted 09/07/07 Sugarbear Thanks for the support on the "dumb customer" topic. You reference "new Dell.com home page. You mean www.dell.com, not www.dell.com/community? If I got this correct, can you post your suggestions to the latest blog on the new dell.com home page post at: http://direct2dell.com/one2one/archive/2007/09/07/28987.aspx. Laura Thomas is the person in charge of home page design and she is collecting feedback currently. Sean M.
jdelidc Apr 11	Merged Comment originally posted 09/07/07 new web page looks nice
petzymathuram Apr 11	Merged Comment originally posted 09/07/07 @Sean_M, I suggest you with a book, you can get from the link http://www.sitepoint.com/books/design1/ & those books given by University of Minnesota by the link: http://www.d.umn.edu/is/support/Training/Online/webdesign/books.html Perhaps it may help Laura Thomas with additional ideas...Whats your opinion Sean?
petzymathuram Apr 11	Merged Comment originally posted 09/07/07 I meant to improve www.dell.com
jdelidc Apr 11	Merged Comment originally posted 09/08/07 sean_m: when is the new web page going live?
sean_m Apr 11	Merged Comment originally posted 09/10/07 jdelidc thanks for the question. The new dell.com homepage is running in USA beta testing currently, that is where you are seeing the page. For regions outside of USA, the timeline for beta testing and feedback/modifications is still underway, we do not have a launch date for all regions - that is when the new dell.com home page will go live. Sean M.
sean_m Apr 11	Merged Comment originally posted 10/01/07 Changed status to PARTIALLY IMPLEMENTED.
petzymathuram Apr 11	Merged Comment originally posted 10/01/07 Oh really? thanks a "tonne" to you Sean...that sounds fine....;)
davmcn Apr 11	Merged Comment originally posted 10/01/07 Sean_m: is it possible that we can view the New Dell Page??
davmcn Apr 11	Merged Comment originally posted 10/02/07 any answr to that one??
sean_m Apr 11	Merged Comment originally posted 10/03/07 davmcn Yes we can show the new dell.com homepage. It is a beta version, but appeared on dell.com for several weeks in a beta test. The beta test ended, but here are some screen shots of the page: On flickr there are two images one with the page and then the animation of the page when you mouse over the Home/Home Office banner. http://www.flickr.com/photos/7991133@ is the Direct2Dell blog on the page by Laura, she is the program lead on this project http://direct2dell.com/one2one/archive/2007/09/07/28987.aspx Sean M.
sean_m Apr 11	Merged Comment originally posted 10/03/07 All the flickr link did not work on previous post, lets try again. At a minimum, you should be able to copy the URL below and paste in address bar on your browser: http://www.flickr.com/photos/7991133@ N05/sets/72157600141989313/
davmcn Apr 11	Merged Comment originally posted 10/03/07 Oh ok...i just took a look at the page from direct2 dell....and the second you just posted a second ago doesn't work.....ether...
davmcn Apr 11	Merged Comment originally posted 10/03/07 Sean_m: has that page that was shown on on direct2dell the actual one...cause i saw it going on Dell.com a couple weeks ago...
premcv Apr 11	Merged Comment originally posted 10/03/07 No, sean_m. IT still does not get there!
laura_t Apr 11	Merged Comment originally posted 10/03/07 Try this link to get to the images on Flickr.
davmcn Apr 11	Merged Comment originally posted 10/03/07 Lura_t: Are you working on that project..? To be honest and not to be mean in any way to you guys but it kinda looks the same..
laura_t Apr 11	Merged Comment originally posted 10/03/07 davmcn - yes, this is my project and there are indeed some similarities between the old and new style. I don't want to hijack the thread with a lot of discussion not directly related to jorge's idea; but while we want to give the site a facelift and do a better job of directing people to sites like IdeaStorm, we don't want it to be such a dramatic switch that customers have to totally "re-learn" how to interact with dell.com. If you like, we can discuss more over on Direct2Dell.
davmcn Apr 11	Merged Comment originally posted 10/03/07 Cool, I understand they way you guys are doing it that you don't wanna confuse customers and that's a really good thing :) umm..yea i will hopefully get on direct2dell soon... thanks for your help :)
jorge Apr 11	Merged Comment originally posted 10/04/07 Its really sad that the Support and Community links are so small and off to the side like an after thought. Lets look how much of the price of a computer comes from the default warranty and add-on extra year(s) support and they are left there as an after thought. Maybe the value Dell puts into that should be representing in the price of the support? As in reducing it? No? Maybe a display of the Google analytics of each button will clarify its importance or lack of? No?
jorge Apr 11	Merged Comment originally posted 11/16/07 Errr... can't edit the idea and lose the status marker! Anyway, I need to change the title to : Merge the Six Forums/Sites into One. and add this link as Dell continues to add more sites instead of merging them: http://www.delltechcenter.com/
premcv Apr 11	Merged Comment originally posted 11/16/07 Interesting!
bbr Apr 11	Merged Comment originally posted 12/14/07 Merge !, somehow.
vida_k Jul 8	We're excited to share the improvements in the new dell.com home that recently launched including the ideas suggested here. Here is the full update: http://direct2dell.com/one2one/archive/2008/07/02/the-redesign-of-the-new-del...
jervis961 Jul 8	I guess that goes to show that I was correct. Dell does not read these ideas they only look at them.
jervis961 Jul 8	OK I reported abuse and will wait for a response from Dell. I hope it was just a mistake and not an intentional tag. Then again both Dawn and Vida participated so I was most likely correct in my previous statement.
vida_k Jul 8	Jervis961- We thought the primary point of this idea was Dell showing the value of community by positioning it on the homepage. Do you think we should leave it as "Partially Implemented" instead of "Implemented"?
vida_k Jul 8	Jervis961 - Clearly Dawn's teaching methods leave something to be desired! (I'm gonna pass the blame to her while I still can!)
jervis961 Jul 8	LOL, that is what I thought. Partially implemented is much more appropriate when you read the entire idea. Thanks for the quick response. I will try to be nice in my new idea I'm currently typing but sometimes the truth hurts. Don't worry it isn't about you, but Dell and this site in general. I don't want to scare you off on your first week. :)
vida_k Jul 8	Right on - change is coming. Gives me extra practice too!
jervis961 Jul 8	Cool thanks. I deleted the new idea before posting it wasn't worth it. :D
jackie_c Jul 16	Changed status to PARTIALLY IMPLEMENTED.

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