FAQ

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PROJECTS

WHY WOULD I CREATE A PROJECT USING ZAZENGO?

By using the Zazengo platform you can organize your social actions like never before.

Project features include the ability to:

- Track project impact.
- Capture impact stories.
- Announce events.
- Start discussions.
- Create action to-do lists.
- Invite, connect and inspire others.

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HOW DO I CREATE A PROJECT?

Instructions for creating a project on the Zazengo platform:

1. Log into your Zazengo account.

2. Press the Create tab in the top navigation area.

3. Under the section Create a Project enter your Project Name and a brief one line Project Description. Maximum 150 characters. This brief description will appear in the top header area. It will also be what members see when searching for projects.

4. Press Continue.

5. On the next page, enter a more detailed description in the Overall Description area. This will be displayed on your project home page.

6. If you have Project Goals and Project Plans, you can enter this information in the appropriate fields. These areas are optional.

7. If your project has it's own website, enter the URL in the Website Address field.

8. Project Metrics. A metric is the name of what you are measuring. For example: Hours Volunteered, Trees Planted, People Served, etc. You can always add metrics after creating your Project by clicking Edit Project. This section is optional.

9. Enter your Project Location. This helps others find local projects in their area.

10. Specify Start Date and End Date - or you can check the box Ongoing Project. When your project is complete, you can edit your project to mark it complete.

11. The Skills area lets you describe what skills you desire in your members. Enter keyword tags and separate by a comma or place on a new line.

12. Under Interests you can list interest categories for your project. Both the Skills and Interests areas are optional.

13. Upload a Photo for your project. This is optional. The image will be automatically resized to a maximum of 320 x 200 pixels and will be viewable in the top green header area.

14. For Membership Type select which privacy option you'd prefer.

Options include:

- Open - anybody can join
- Moderated - membership requires approval by the project leader
- Invite Only - project leader has to invite people to join
- Closed - projects don't allow any new membership
- Private - projects are only viewable to members and invitees.

15. Associate with a Campaign. If you have a campaign on Zazengo which you would like your project to be connected to, enter the title here.

16. Associate with an Organization. If you have an organization on Zazengo that you'd like to connect your project to, enter title.

17. Organizational Approval. Check this box if you want to approve an outside organization before it is associates with your project.

18. Campaign Approval. Check this box if you want to approve an outside campaign before it associates with your project.

19. Press Create Project when complete!

At anytime you can press Edit Project, located in your Project Tools (right column) to adjust your project information and settings.
 
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WHAT PROJECT TOOLS ARE AVAILABLE?

Project tools include the ability to:

- Track project impact.
- Capture impact stories.
- Announce events.
- Start discussions.
- Create action to-do lists.
- Invite, connect and inspire others.

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CAN I TURN ANY OF THE PROJECT TOOLS OFF?
 
Yes. The following Project Tools can be set to Public, Private or Disabled.

- Events
- Discussions
- To-Do Lists

Press Edit Project to adjust.



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CAN I MAKE MY PROJECT PRIVATE?

The following Project Tools can be set to Public, Private or Disabled.

- Events
- Discussions
- To-Do Lists

Press Edit Project > Details to adjust.



Public sections:

- Project description. Profile image.
- Plans. Goals.
- Start date. End date.
- Location. Skills. Interests.
- Impacts

In the near future we will offer the ability to have private projects.

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WHY DO I WANT TO LIST SKILLS AND INTERESTS ON MY PROJECT?

By listing your Skills and Interests you can find like-minded people looking for projects to join.



Members list their own Skills and Interests on their Zazengo profile. We then suggest Projects that match what they entered.



Members can also search the TagCloud on the Explore page, which lists projects based on Skills and Interests.



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CAN I LIMIT WHO CAN JOIN MY PROJECT?

Yes. When you Create or Edit Project you can adjust your Project privacy.

When you Create a Project, it's located on the form under Membership Type.

Under Edit Project (located under Project Tools), press the Details tab. Under Membership Type, select Privacy.

Options include:

- Open - anybody can join
- Moderated - membership requires approval by the project leader
- Invite Only - project leader has to invite people to join
- Closed - projects don't allow any new memberships
- Private - projects are only viewable to members and invitees



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CAN I ENTER A START AND END DATE?

Yes. Located on the Create a Project form, and also under Edit Project > Details there is a "Start and End Dates" option.

You can also select "Ongoing Project" option and when a project is complete check  "Completed Project."



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AM I ABLE TO ENTER A PROJECT LOCATION?

Yes. Located on the Create a Project form, and also under Edit Project > Details there is a "Location" area.

Select a Country, State / Province, City and Zip/Postal code.

This will help others find projects based on location.

 
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WHY DO I HAVE TO ENTER PROJECT METRICS AND WHAT ARE THEY?

A metric is a measurement of something. When you enter Project Metrics, you are choosing what metrics you'd like to measure.

For example: You are working on a tree planting project. An option would be to enter "Trees planted" for a metric. When team members plant trees, they can log how many trees they planted using this metric.

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HOW DO I ADD A NEW METRIC?

To create a new metric for your project, press "Edit Project" under the Project Tools area. Under the Profile tab, towards the bottom you will see the Project Metric area. There will be a link "Is there another metric?"

Click this link and enter a new metric. Members will now be able to select this metric to track on your project.

Members can also connect other impacts to your project. The metrics will appear in your flash header area.





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WHAT DOES CAMPAIGN AND ORGANIZATION APPROVAL MEAN?

Projects, Campaigns and Organizations have the ability to connect to one another. When you check the "Approval" box you will be notified via email that a Project, Campaign or Organization is requesting connection.

You can then accept or decline.

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WHY WOULD I WANT TO ASSOCIATE WITH A CAMPAIGN OR ORGANIZATION?

There are a couple reasons why you may want to connect to a Project, Campaign or Organization.

Maybe your Project is part of a Campaign and that Campaign is part of an Organization. You can connect your Project to both the Campaign and Organization. In addition, when you connect your impact rolls-up and combines with the Organization's impact.

For example: a Project has 30 trees planted and connects with an Organization that has 150 trees planted. The organization will now have 180 trees planted for a metric.

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WHAT APPEARS ON THE PROJECT NEWS FEED?

The following status updates appear on the project news feed:

- New project members.
- Event update and attendees.
- To-Do list updates.
- New discussions.
- Comments on discussions and events.
- New Impacts created.

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CAN I ASSIGN A TO-DO ITEM TO MORE THAN ONE PERSON?

Currently, you can only assign a to-do item to one person. We hope to add this feature in the near future.

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HOW DO I CREATE AN EVENT?

Under Project Tools, press Events.
Click Post a New Event.
Enter a Name and Overall Description.
Select a Start and End Date.
Enter a location if applicable.



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HOW DO WE TRACK IMPACT FOR A PROJECT?

To track your project's impact, make sure you have selected which metrics you'd like to measure.

You enter metrics either when you Create a Project or Edit Project (under Project Tools) under the section Project Metrics.

Enter a metric and press add another to continue adding.

When members enter an impact they connect their impact to your project.

Impact will appear in the flash header and also on the Impact page.



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CAN I EDIT OR DELETE AN IMPACT?

Members can edit / delete their own impact entries. Project leaders can delete impacts only.

To edit your own impact, go to your Impact Profile page or the Project's Impact page and find the entry. Click edit or delete.



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HOW CAN I DELETE MY PROJECT?

You can delete a Project by pressing Edit Profile in the Project header. Under the Settings tab, towards the bottom is a link "Delete this Project."

Please note, once a project is deleted, it is forever gone. You can always edit project details if needed.

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HOW DO WE FIND NEW MEMBERS FOR OUR PROJECT?

When you Create a Project or Edit Project > Details, you can enter Skills you desire and also what Interest categories your Project falls under.

This allows others to find you based on skills they have to offer or areas they find interesting.



Members fill out their own Skills and Interests and the Zazengo platform auto-suggests projects to them based on matches.



Members can also go to the Explore page and search under the TagCloud's Skills and Interest area.

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CAN I PRINT REPORTS FOR MY PROJECT?

Currently, members are not able to print Project reports. We will be adding this feature in the near future.

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