Want to learn more? Read about it on Mashable or at Facebook’s own page about it.

Wix HTML: Get Inspired

Chances are you already have a Google Account. You also may or may not have taken our advice to start syncing your files through the amazing (and innovative) Dropbox (see: “Getting Started With Dropbox.”)

Today Google announced their long-rumored Dropbox competitor, Google Drive. Google Drive does what Dropbox does (syncs your files to a web app and to other computers and devices, although 5GB for free instead of 2GB), and a little more: It also runs OCR text recognition on your files (like Evernote), offers a more complex and searchable online interface (think Google Docs), and merges your Google Docs account and your Google Drive account (so your Google Docs become accessible through your local computer).

There are a lot of benefits to be had from trying out Google’s new product, whether or not you used Dropbox before. There are also a few reasons not to: A) Google will now control even more of your/the Internet, B) supporting innovators like Dropbox not getting edged out by the big guy, C) the iOS app isn’t currently available, and D) many apps sync across computers via Dropbox and will take a while to incorporate Google Drive sync capability.

What do you think? Not only about Google Drive, but also about the potential for its use in campus ministry?

Note: As with any service of this sort, there have been questions raised about ownership of uploaded content (but Google has made it clear that what you upload to Google Drive still remains your property), so as always be mindful of the user license. Allowing cloud-based services to hold your content always runs a risk that you might not like their license and what it means they will do with your content, and it’s up to you, the end user, to make sure you’re comfortable with it.

Have you ever gotten close to using up the entirety of that Gmail storage space–gigabytes and gigabytes of it–that you were sure you’d never overrun? Or are you already paying Google money every month for extra storage space? There’s finally a solution for you.

Lifehacker has discovered a simple trick to create a Google Docs spreadsheet that shows you your email messages and allows you to sort them by size–meaning you can hunt down all of those cat videos your brother sent you and delete them from your account (but be sure to download them to your computer first, of course.)

Lifehacker: Sort Gmail Messages by size and Get Rid of Data Hogs

A few months ago Steve Steiner of Seventy8Productions wrote a quick post on “clickjacking” and malicious links, two of the most common sources of people’s hacked Facebook profiles. Check it out here: Computer Security and Ministry: Social Networking

If you’re really interested in vetting your Facebook privacy settings, Lifehacker has an always-up-to-date guide on managing your Facebook privacy.

Do you have any tips, tricks, or personal or organizational policies to protect your safety and privacy on social networks?

So. In the comments (yes, that means you might have to come out of the shadows for just a minute), please share any web sites, apps, or habits that you have for when you’re waiting–for a donor, for a student, for a bus, or for whatever.

(photo from Flickr user pennuja)

You probably know that I (Matt) recently released a web app called Karani, an all-in-one solution for fundraisers to manage their contacts and fundraising. I’ve released some details of the preview in the past, but there’s another great piece of news: Karani is now live! As of last week, Karani is a full-on, out-of-beta web app, ready for your fundraising pleasure.

We still have some new features in development, including some great features like Mailchimp sync and supervisor accounts. But the basics are all there: managing your contacts, tracking your interaction history and upcoming tasks, managing your gifts and pledges, and also importing gifts and contacts from excel, syncing with TntMPD-enabled servers, segmenting your contacts into custom groups, and reporting on important demographics like Donors Behind on Giving.

Here’s a very short video introducing you to Karani:

Please feel free to ask me any questions! You can sign up for a 30-day free trial today at karaniapp.com, and after the 30 days it’ll cost $24/month.

Have you ever logged onto Facebook and found yourself, 20 minutes later, wondering what you went there to check on? With endless possibilities to get distracted by today, we need discipline more than ever before. John Coleman has written a great post for the Harvard Business Review with some helpful steps to increase your willpower and accomplish the things that are most important in your life. Often times, practicing discipline in little things can strengthen your self-control for the bigger things.

For example, Coleman writes:

“Did you know that by reminding yourself to sit up straight at your desk you can train the same mental muscle you need to quit smoking or sustainably shed pounds?

When you have a day in the office and really need to accomplish certain tasks such as writing a talk or preparing for a leadership retreat, you need discipline and determination to not get distracted. Check out John Coleman’s article Faced With Distraction, We Need Willpower.

(photo from Flickr user senroy)

People are receptive to emotional positivity. Bombarding people with helpless statistics is never as powerful as a great photo of rescued dog or a child.“–10 Ways to Improve Your Non-Profit’s Social Media Strategy

The classic example is the ASPCA, whose commercials show abused dogs and cats while playing sad music and laying a severe guilt trip on at the same time.

Many ministry communications I receive from other staff lead with negative information–how much money they need, how busy they are, how many unmet needs are happening, etc. This often comes when fundraisers communicate from a self-centered perspective, instead of a donor-centered one. Donors give out of joy, vision, and a positive connection with the fundraiser. When a fundraiser constantly sends negative communications to a donor, it depletes their motivation for giving.

Take Inventory of Your Last 3 Months:

• How many times did you say thank you?
• How much did you talk about yourself?
• How much did you make the donor the hero of your communications?
• How many stories did you tell? How many were positive/negative?
• Do your communications have the potential to make your donors smile or frown?

Show the Impact

Charity: Water provides a google map for donors to literally see where their donation went. You may not have the resources to build a tool of this capacity, but you can:

• Take lots of pictures of those you are reaching.
• Gather stories of God at work in your ministry.
• Record short, non-professional, but extremely personal videos highlighting the work you are doing, or just saying thanks!

What are some good examples you have seen of non-profits saying thanks, highlighting donors, or showing the impact of their giving? 

To get started with Signal, you have to create an account. Hereâ€s how. *Important note for Smartphone users

How To Create An Account In Signal.

If you donâ€t like screencasts, hereâ€s the written out instructions on how to create an account in Signal.

1. Visit signalhq.com in any web browser.

2. Click on the big orange button that says “view plans and pricing”

3. Click on the link that says “free plan” – itâ€s underneath the table in tiny blue print. Signal is free for up to 500 subscribers.

4. Fill out the form with the required information.

5. Click the green button that says “create my account”

6. Check your email for one titled, “Activate your Signal account,” open it.

7. Click on the really long link.

8. Fill out the form with the required information on the page it takes you to.

9. Click on the green button that says “Save and Get Started!” Youâ€ve made an account. Good work!

How To Create A List And Keyword In Signal.

Right after you sign up, youâ€ll want to set up your first ‘keyword,†which is the word people text to Signal to sign up for your texting group. Hereâ€s how.

If you donâ€t like screencasts, hereâ€s the written out instructions on how to create a list and keyword in Signal. 

1. Name your list – this is for your reference only, it wonâ€t be seen publicly. Possible examples include: Cru Large Group, Small Group Leaders, The Whole Leadership Team, etc.

2. Click on the box next to “via text message” to let Signal know how youâ€ll be communicating with your list.

3. Write your keyword in the form – keep it to one word, short, to the point. Examples include: ASUCRU, NAUIV, UCRNAVS

4. Write a number in the form and choose a frequency (weekly, monthly, etc) that tells how many and how often youâ€ll be sending texts to your list. A rough estimate is fine.

5. Click the green button that says “Create” and youâ€re done. Good work!

How To Send A Text Message In Signal.

Sending your first text message comes after students have texted the keyword to the shortcode number.

At your leadership team meetings, big group gatherings, and other applicable meetings, have your students text the keyword to the short code number – thatâ€s how they become subscribers.

Once you get subscribers, itâ€s time to send your first text message. Hereâ€s how.

If you donâ€t like screencasts, hereâ€s the written out instructions on how to send a text message in Signal.

1. Click on the button that says “Create a text message” — itâ€s in the top right hand corner of your dashboard.

2. Name your message in the text box that says “Name this message” — people you text will not see the name of your message, itâ€s for your reference only.

3. Type your text message in the text box with the heading “Message”

4. Include “Msg&data rates may apply. Text STOP YOURKEYWORD 2quit” at the end of every text message you send out. Itâ€s a legal thing.

5. Schedule when your campaign is sent out. Scroll down to the bottom of the page and look for the heading titled “Schedule Delivery.” The default setting is “now” — IF YOU WANT TO SEND IT NOW, do not change the setting. IF YOU WANT TO SEND THE TEXT MESSAGE IN THE FUTURE, click on the little circle directly to the left of the phrase “In the future”

How to schedule your message for the future: After you click on the little circle directly to the left of the phrase “In the future” then click on the little calendar directly to the right of the text box where you see the date and time of when the message is currently sent to be scheduled. The calendar will open. Choose the date and time you want the message to be scheduled. Thatâ€s it.

6. Click on the button that says “Save and Preview”

7. Re-read your message (on the right is the draft of what your message will look like on a phone). Double check the date and time itâ€s scheduled to be sent out. If itâ€s the message you want to send at the date and time you want to send it, click the button that says “Approve.” If itâ€s not the message you want to send, or itâ€s scheduled for the wrong date and time, click the back button, make the essential changes, and go back to step six.

8. Celebrate! Youâ€ve clicked the “Approve” button and your message is scheduled to be sent to your students.

After signing up for Signal, youâ€re on your way to improving your communication with students on while theyâ€re on the go. Happy texting.

Special note for smartphone users:

As of the writing of this article, if you visit Signal from your smartphone, you won’t see a link to login. Thankfully, you can get around that easily with a bit of trickery: Just visit http://app.signalhq.com/ (and bookmark it) on your phone, and you should be able to log in and use the service without any trouble.