December 31, 2007
Solace goals for 2008 posted by Jess
After an eventful four-month period of general craziness, it's come to a New Year. Solace always takes a back burner to everything else, and of course after Zoë, it's time to start focusing on it as my next priority.
If I don't start ramping up the hype, someone else will take my idea and do better with it.
With that, here's my Goals for Solace for 2008:
1. I need to revamp my storefront around my new methodologies. I no longer teach small classes - the masses have spoken, and they want individual care. People were willing to pay more for an hour of individual time, so that's what they'll get.
My big dilemma was how to spread the word that people can come in for an hour and learn ANYTHING, whether it be questions, or something more structured.
I think I did it successfully. I have a new ad campaign called "How will you use YOUR hour?" In the flyer, I give brief descriptions of how others have used their hour. I am very careful to also include use of the word "learning" rather than just "training". Training implies benefit to the employer. Learning implies personal benefit.
In addition, I am also calling myself a "Technology Coach", which implies one-on-one personalized care.
Right now, I have notepads free to everyone, especially clients. As they say right on them, "Keep this pad by your computer. When it's full of your questions, bring it to Solace."
2. I need to be more retail-oriented to encourage in-the-door traffic. I am in a boutique-retail walking shopping district, complete with coffee/ice cream shops, cafe's, and a beautiful Victorian strolling park. I am right across the street from the town library and neighborhood pizza parlor. There is lots of foot traffic!
I currently have a fun marketing scheme. All around my office are "Solace" themed things. The coat hooks have "solace for your coats" written above them. I have coffee mugs that say "Solace for your early morning sleepiness." I want to find computer-related tchochkes to sell, that are gift-quality and unique. Even 1Gig USB drives with "Solace for your data" on them would be perfect.
However, this plan brings me to goal #3:
3. I need to find funding to get a receptionist onsite for at least 20 hours. I have lots of jobs. I am a Lotus Notes and Domino consultant, with many writing contracts in between. I hate the fact that my shop sits empty for too long. A part time receptionist would be able to be a face to the company, and could answer questions and make appointments, which I desperately need right now.
4. I need to write Press Releases until I become one. I am bringing affordable computer learning to everyday users. This is revolutionary, and everyone needs to know about it! My goal is therefore to get a story in at least ONE magazine this year.
5. I need to stick to my "Tuesday night is free friend help" plan. I love helping my friends with their computer issues. However, each friend does not realize that at any given time, there are also 20 other friends requesting help also. There has to be limits and boundaries. Therefore, this year I am instituting a new policy. Tuesday nights are when I help friends. If I am all full on one Tuesday, they can book for next Tuesday.
6. Finally, I need to stop taking every SNAFU that occurs as a sign that I should close up shop. Matt can attest, or maybe I'm just paranoid. But it's hard not to get discouraged when I pick a night to have a special event, and the power goes out in my shop. Or when I spend money to order custom notepads, and many of them get soaked because I left the car door open overnight when it rained. Trust me, this happens a lot.
Here's to 2008, let's see what it brings.
Self-created window poster in storefront:
June 29, 2007
Solace Learning Website Revamp posted by Jess
I was never really happy with my old Solace website, and there were several CSS placement issues that just wouldn't go away.
So, it was time for a redesign. This site is much more comprehensive, and looks a little more like a "real operation".
This one contains directions, gift certificate info, course catalogs, press details, general info, and answers to other questions that I get asked a lot.
Please take a look at my site, not as a developer or corporate admin, but as an end user that just needs to find information easily. Let me know what you think!
April 11, 2007
Internet Safety web chat transcript available! posted by Jess
The URI Alumni web chat I hosted on Internet Safety was a "smashing" success! There were great questions all around.
The people that were running it loved me, as I could type fairly fast and got a lot of questions in because of that. :-)
Click here for the official transcript, which answers these questions:
Should you ever give your credit card number online, i.e. to purchase goods or services ?
What is identity theft? How does it happen? And, how common of a crime is it?
How would a person know if they've been a victim of identity theft? And, what should they do if they suspect they've been victimized?
Many of us have read that we should 'disable cookies' to be safe. Please excuse the ignorance, but what is a "cookie"? Should we disable them? And, should we be worried about them?
How can you tell if an email is a fake, or phishing email, sent to trick you into giving away personal information?
Any suggestions for creating "good" passwords?
My kids IM all the time (AOL Instant Messager). How safe is this? Are there any precautions we should take to make this safer - for them and for our computer?
What advice would you give a parent who is worried about what their child is doing online?
Is it o.k. to let your computer save your account numbers and passwords? Is there any danger in this?
In an age when the government can review my phone records or my library book withdrawals, isn't any notion of privacy or security a bit naive?
How often should passwords be changed and do you have any suggestions as far as character length?
Where would someone go to have a professional wipe the drive and repartition it? And what is repartition?
Any tips for Spyware protection?
April 09, 2007
I'm hosting an URI Alumni Web Chat - Internet Safety posted by Jess
I've been doing a lot of speaking engagements at local Rotaries, and other agencies. This week I'll be hosting an alumni web chat from URI.
Internet Safety: Do you know how to be safe(r) online?
Internet Safety Specialist Jessica Stratton '99 leads our April 2007 Web Chat
Please join us on Tuesday, April 10, 2007 at 1 p.m. EST for a Web chat with Jessica (Spinosa) Stratton '99, who will respond to your questions about Internet use and safety.
Although using the Internet is a regular part of our everyday lives, there's an aura of mystery surrounding it that makes many of us uneasy. What do we need to know to protect our children online, prevent credit card and identify theft, and keep our computers virus-free? Is it really possible to be safe online? Answer these questions and others in this timely chat and find out what you can do to make your computer environment safer for you and your family.
Jessica Stratton graduated with a degree in Communication Studies from the University of Rhode Island in 1999. With a particular focus on Internet use and online safety, she works on technology projects with a variety of populations --from teaching third graders how to use the Internet to helping companies work smarter. A member of the URI Speakers' Bureau and a contributor to several print and Web magazines, textbooks, and online syndicated columns, Jess owns and operates Solace, a computer training facility in Westerly, R.I.
Note: Submit your questions now, or "live" when the chat begins on April 10th. Our host will respond to as many questions as possible in our 30 minute chat. Enter the chat here to submit a question or to view a copy of the transcript at the conclusion of the chat.
More information...
December 02, 2006
Solace December course catalog available! posted by Jess
This letter was sent to all my computer repair clients recently, along with a copy of my December course catalog (posted below).
I had to give up my computer repair business. Between that, my Solace office, and all the Lotus consulting, something had to give. I was so busy I didn't even have time to properly develop my training facility. Once I made the decision to let go of repair, everything has since fallen into place, and my stress level is back where it should be - enough to keep me motivated, but not enough that I'm throwing up my hands saying "I give up!"
I've gotten a slew of congratulatory emails and phone calls, but would I expect any less from my clients? I've always said how great they are. :-)
Sending a copy of my course catalog was the best thing I could have done, as many of my clients have subsequently signed up for courses. The two classes, "The Pictures Are On the Digital Camera - Now What?" and the "Do-It-Yourself PC Troubleshooting" are the two most popular, followed by "Managing Email Overload".
The schedule will be tweaked as I go monthly, but this was my first real foray into finding out which classes to repeat and which classes can be dropped entirely.
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To all my clients,
Most of you should know by now that I have opened a computer training facility in downtown Westerly. It's been going great, and many of you have even dropped in to say hi.
However, as life goes on, I am faced with a pressing dilemma: I can either create a fantastic curriculum for my school to give everyone a chance to learn, or give everyone a three-week waiting list for computer repair –ugh! Sadly, something has to give.
As of December 1st, 2006, I will no longer be doing or taking appointments for computer repair. (Any open appointments past that date will be kept, of course, but no new appointments will be made.)
I must go where I am needed – computer education! The market is saturated now with onsite services available to repair a computer, you don’t need plain old me for that anymore. What people need now is, to quote Napoleon Dynamite – "Skills!" And do you know what? Aside from my new little school room in Westerly, there are very few places for people to learn how to use these expensive machines that run our lives now.
In order to help you transition to a new computer repair company, I've compiled a brief list of good choices that will come out and fix your computer:
NAMES AND NUMBERS WITHHELD, DID NOT ASK FOR PERMISSION TO PUBLISH ONLINE
Please let me know if you have any questions or concerns at all. Also, let me know if there's anything in particular you'd like to learn how to do. The curriculum will be ready soon. Look for a flyer of class schedules in the Westerly Sun paper, as well as outside my door in Westerly. I am enclosing a list of classes I will be offering. Please let me know if I left something useful out!
Here’s my contact info. Please don’t hesitate to drop me a line:
MY CONTACT INFO AT SOLACE REMOVED, IT HAS NOT BEEN EDITED FOR SPAMMERS! VISIT WWW.SOLACELEARNING.COM FOR EMAIL/PHONE/ADDRESS.
Again, I thank you for allowing me to be your "computer girl" for all these great years. I thank you for all your referrals. I loved going onsite and hanging with you all. Please wish me luck in my new endeavor. Hopefully I will continue to see you all in my classes!
Sincerely,
Jessica A Stratton
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Download course schedule PDF
April 27, 2006
Finding Solace in Westerly, RI. posted by Jess
A few months ago, I rented a small boutique in historic downtown Westerly, which is a lovely old-fashioned brick retail walking area.
It's in the heart of Westerly's Historic District, complete with Victorian walking park right across the street. I am very fortunate to have found this room, even though it's TINY, about 7x20. But, it is right across from the town library, and town hall, and has a nice big window and display block.
Solace now has a new look and new offerings. It's now a computer learning facility. There are two types of learning: One-on-one personal, and small classes with no more than three students.
More information can be found at the new website, www.solacelearning.com. Please check it out and let me know what you think!
My target clientele is any user who wants to learn "street smarts" about computing. In trying to provide a unique method of learning, I am avoiding any cliches and sterile computer training preconceptions...
Many people who want to learn about computers/Internet cannot find the training they need because they get frightened away by a few key things. Certificate programs, price, location, intimidating websites - these are *not* user friendly, and they are certainly not targeting the beginner computer user.
This is where people can gain a little Solace. My office is boutique-like. The walls are painted a soothing sage green. There's no picture of bland professionals in generic business suits on my website. And, most importantly, the classes I offer are practical in nature, and 100% hands-on. People can call for a one-on-one appointment, and bring in their own list of miscellaneous questions to go over for the 55-minute session.
The first two hands-on classes being offered are:
Protecting Your Privacy Online
1 hour
May 10th at 10:00AM
Preventing and Removing Adware/Spyware
2 hours
May 11th at 10:00AM
Email me here if you are interested in signing up for these classes.
Solace's mission, framed with a big "Why we're here" header:
Solace believes that everyone has a right to learn how to use the technology they have access to, and that education should be affordable, and easy to find. We also believe that everyone should learn how to use the Internet respectfully and safely, both for their own sake, and the sake of others who are using the same Internet on the same global network with them. Solace supports open-source software, which promotes global learning and improving technology.
Why did I add the disclaimer about the open-source software? It's actually in the hopes that many people will ask me about it. Many, many home users I come across on a daily basis don't realize they have a choice in what software they use. It's all about which they *prefer*, and not necessarily what came with their computer. Internet browsers, anti-virus, there are LOTS of choices. Let's build an awareness!
Anyway, that's my big news. And why you haven't heard from me in awhile. :-)
