by Curtis Dean, IAMU Broadband Services Coordinator
At the 2015 Broadband Conference attendees once again participated in roundtable discussions on a variety of topics. One of the topics addressed is what should IAMU be providing for broadband members that we aren't now. This article will address that input and provide some feedback.
At the 2015 Broadband Conference attendees once again participated in roundtable discussions on a variety of topics. One of the topics addressed is what should IAMU be providing for broadband members that we aren't now. This article will address that input and provide some feedback.
Customer Service, Sales, and Marketing Training
A consistent theme during the roundtable discussions was a need for more customer service, sales and marketing training for municipal utilities. Indeed, this type of training has been on my "wish list" since I came to IAMU in 2011. This is the year I hope to move it off the wish list and onto the agenda. I've begun initial planning for a Customer Connections Conference to be held sometime this year that would incorporate training and networking opportunities for customer service, support/help desk, and marketing/sales.
In addition to a Customer Connections conference, I am also planning to begin holding quarterly "Muni Marketing Meetups" that would give marketing personnel a chance to share ideas and network on a regular basis. The concept would be to host a Skype meeting to eliminate travel and costs. Each meetup would have a set topic of discussion with brainstorming time as well.
Stay tuned for more developments!
Fall Meeting
Several people said they enjoyed the fall broadband meeting last October and want to make sure we continue to hold it. That is certainly the plan! For this fall we're looking at dates in October to have the one-day meeting here at IAMU. We'll keep you posted.
Facilitate Information Flow from NCTC and ACA
Everyone is so busy with their day-to-day duties that keeping track of communications from NCTC, ACA, and other industry associations can be a challenge. We are going to look for ways that IAMU can efficiently filter the information coming from those organizations to our members to improve the lines of communications. I anticipate that the weekly Broadband Bytes email blast and its corresponding real-time website (www.broadbandbytes.com) will play a key role in that.
A consistent theme during the roundtable discussions was a need for more customer service, sales and marketing training for municipal utilities. Indeed, this type of training has been on my "wish list" since I came to IAMU in 2011. This is the year I hope to move it off the wish list and onto the agenda. I've begun initial planning for a Customer Connections Conference to be held sometime this year that would incorporate training and networking opportunities for customer service, support/help desk, and marketing/sales.
In addition to a Customer Connections conference, I am also planning to begin holding quarterly "Muni Marketing Meetups" that would give marketing personnel a chance to share ideas and network on a regular basis. The concept would be to host a Skype meeting to eliminate travel and costs. Each meetup would have a set topic of discussion with brainstorming time as well.
Stay tuned for more developments!
Fall Meeting
Several people said they enjoyed the fall broadband meeting last October and want to make sure we continue to hold it. That is certainly the plan! For this fall we're looking at dates in October to have the one-day meeting here at IAMU. We'll keep you posted.
Facilitate Information Flow from NCTC and ACA
Everyone is so busy with their day-to-day duties that keeping track of communications from NCTC, ACA, and other industry associations can be a challenge. We are going to look for ways that IAMU can efficiently filter the information coming from those organizations to our members to improve the lines of communications. I anticipate that the weekly Broadband Bytes email blast and its corresponding real-time website (www.broadbandbytes.com) will play a key role in that.
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