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"Take Action" Button
Challenges Entered:
More about the button
The button can be added to any website, it is not tied to a specific platform. It can be used on news websites, blogs, forums -- anywhere where people could want to help after reading a text.
Features
- Actions relate to the content. A button can be tied to a section of a page and show only actions relevant to its content.
- Multiple buttons per page. You can have several sections on a page, each with its own button to find actions suited for this particular section.
- Caching. Websites can reduce the load on the SocialActions API by delivering cached results to their users. This also speeds up the display of actions when users click on the button.
- Optimal placement of the pop-up. A click on the button brings up a pop-up next to it showing a related action. The pop-up is placed where the most free space is (left or right of the button). If the screen is too small to show the pop-up either left or right of the button it is centered on the screen, below the button.
License
Licensed under: The MIT License
Updated Sat 04 Apr 2009
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Latest development version online (02 Apr 2009)
I uploaded the latest version. Fixed problems with IE: The pop-up works now and shows up next to the button that was clicked. I also simplified the installation: Fewer steps are not possible. Anything less requires magic. Configuration is not necessary anymore. Only two lines of code have to be added to a page to get it working. Advanced users still have the possibility to change settings.
I did not have time to implement a "See another" link. And a recommendation option seems not trivial at the moment.
I have three other deadlines tomorrow. Luckily, I live eight hours ahead of you, so I can work in the evening on further improvements. What you see now is likely to be the final version.
Meetup and review last Monday in Oxford
Hi, we had a Social Actions meetup in Oxford last Monday, and I've posted our feedback on your application in one blog post at http://www.netsquared.org/blog/rolf-kleef/social-actions-meetup-oxford#ta
Regards, Rolf.
Latest development version online (29 Mar 2009)
I've uploaded the latest version. Look!
The button now looks like a button and the pop-up looks like a pop-up. I chose a blue so the button is neutral and visually compatible with most websites.
Next thing is to make it fully work in all major browsers and add pagination to see more than one action. If I have time left this week I'll also improve the determination of keywords (for finding related actions).
Rad!
Christian - Rad new version, Congrats again! Love the new blue - you're right, looks a lot more like a button :)
I also like the new instructions - great documentation! Curious: In the settings.php file, What options does the webmaster have to edit the kinds of actions that are displayed?
A couple quick thoughts:
Might be cool to explore fitting multiple actions into the overlay - in addition to pagination.
Thinking it could also be cool to share the 'type' of action - in addition to the action source. Might help give people an expectation of what they're going to find on the other side.
One other thing (you got me all excited!) Do you think there could be a default place a webmaster could add the button? Like perhaps a blogger could drop it into their site and it automatically sits on the left side of the screen, for example. Like the way this 'Feedback' button is positioned on Contribune's site. This might lower the barrier of entry just a touch and foster a general expectation of where to find the button as more and more sites add it.
You're doing rock star work. Keep it up!
Best, Joe
Like the Update!
Christian! I like the new version. Kudos for updating it so fast. It's something I haven't mentioned, but I also like how you're pulling the platforms' logos.
What do you think about sharing upwards of three actions in the pop-up. They say 3 is a magic number. Wonder what the key info is to provide the user w/the info. they need before reaching in for more if they want to get involved.
I really like your to-do list and the questions you poise around branding. I think your "plain and simple" option may help convince web masters to add the widget - since it won't interfere w/the web site's brand. I'm pulling my inspiration from the UserVoice Tour Page "UserVoice is all about your brand...You'll be the hero. Your customers won't even know we're there."
That's also what I like about calling it the "Take Action" button - it sounds ubiquitous.
Looking forward to your next development version! Best, Joe
PS - Helpful?
Latest development version online (22 Mar 2009)
I've uploaded the development version from Sunday, 22 Mar 2009. You can try it out here.
Clicking on the "Take Action" button now results in a small box popping up (instead of a list filling the whole screen like before). Only one action is shown (instead of 10; I will add a pagination to let users go through more actions).
I added a "To Do List" section to Detailed Project Overview.
Re: "Take Action button"
Hi Christian,
I've been watching your Take Action button submission come together. Screen shots of your initial prototype will most likely be featured in the e-newsletter of one of our official sponsors on Monday as part of a promotion on Change the Web. If you're inspired to push forward on this submission through the weekend, I'd encourage you to do so. Come Monday, I suspect there will be a bunch of eyes on your Take Action button.
By the way, if you're not already a member of the Social Actions Developers Google group, you might want to join and then share any plans you have for the app ahead of the April 3 deadline.
I'm sure the Google group would be responsive with feedback. Also, feel free to leave additional progress reports here on the NetSquared platform.
http://groups.google.com/group/social-actions-dev
All the best,
Peter
Peter Deitz
Social Actions
Latest development version online
The latest development version is now online. You can test it here.
Actions now relate to the content. You can have multiple buttons per page and tie them to sections to show more suitable actions.
Dude, I totally agree.
Dude, I totally agree. Hopefully this application will get us the exposure we need to connect with those who have similar ideas and want to collaborate. distance learning degree Plus, I think our idea of an intelligent "command center" for the information going in and out of OpenMRS, especially when the medical records are distributed amongst multiple clinics, is really cool.
online management degree | online occupational safety degree
Late Feedback
Christian, I've been meaning to offer feedback much sooner. I'm very excited about your app and pointed to it from the My.SocialActions blog last week.
I really like what you've done with it and how you've continued to enhance it in "Getting Real" like style. I did have a chance to test it and was awesome to see "related" actions.
I wonder what we can learn from the success of services like UserVoice and GetSatisfaction (both of which implement a "Feedback" button & site overlay). Particularly, it might be interesting to think of a smaller overlay - like a tinier box that opens up around "Take Action" while perhaps (less important) also letting the user access the rest of the site. Is this possible, a good idea?
I like that you're exploring branding - that stuff is key.
Maybe also letting the web master choose a cause area they care about to display actions around that cause. So if I'm a "climate change" blogger, I can choose to always show climate change actions. This wouldn't be to replace the "related" magic - just as an alternative. As an example, this is an option Eric Cooper added for the Related Ways to Take Action WordPress Plugin.
There are also two new API fields that may be of interest for connecting people to the top actions per query:
I've very excited about where you're going with the Take Action button and hope you'll publish the dev version again and keep us up to date with your progress!
Joe Solomon
Social Actions
Great Idea
Really great- huge potential. My question is how do you become one of the projects that is searched? Is it through social actions?
Excuse my naitvety if this is an obvious question....
Looking forward to see this release!
Awesome Idea!
Christian, This is an awesome idea! I'm a huge proponent of a "Take Action" button and submitted a similar proposal to the last Social Innovation Camp.
Have you built the button - or are you working on it through March? One reason I ask is because one of the Challenge criteria is to also include a functional app. The other reason I ask is because I can't wait to see it in action! :-)
Best,
Joe Solomon
Director, Social Actions' Change the Web Challenge
what would make the
what would make the difference between classic blogs and 2.0 blogs? how the non-profit organisation could consider to use the web as a tool not only for communication?
First public testing possible & Feedback wanted
@Joe: Thanks!
@all: I released the development version for testing purposes yesterday. Today, I updated the Detailed project overview (see above) with emphasize on where I need feedback. Please let me know what you think about the application so far, what kind of logo would fit the best and if websites should be able to customize the application.
I took a look at your source
I took a look at your source code - I like the implementation removing common stop words and cleaning up the characters. We might be able to collaborate on some different techniques to map the keywords in an article to actions - Social Actions Tuner has some of them but I'm not sure how well it would work on single articles.
Nice work!