Tuesday, October 31, 2017

New Listing Page

(1:01) One of the biggest changes on the new website is the new Listing Pages for markers. A common request, especially from marinas and boatyards, was to provide an easier way to update marker data and to make it available on mobile devices. Entering new fields one at a time quickly becomes tedious when you were trying to bring all of your data up to date. I get it, I've been there many times.

(0:49) Now there's a simple way to update your data with one fell swoop. If you accessed your Marina Listing page, which I discussed in the Minute for October 17th, then you're already familiar with this new resource.

(0:42) This same page is accessed when you select "Details" from a marker in the new Live Map. You can now quickly and easily check your data and make changes or additions.

(0:38) But that's not all. These new pages do not require Flash to open. That means they can be accessed from a smartphone or tablet. That also means that boaters can write reviews for your business from any device that has internet access.

(0:31) Moving away from Flash has not only allowed the full ActiveCaptain website to be accessed from mobile devices, it also is making it more secure. However, if you are an ActiveCaptain power user, you may notice some things missing.

(0:26) The new live map will continue to add features to completely replace the old Flash Live Map. Currently, it is great for looking at ActiveCaptain markers, making changes to details, and writing reviews. If you need some of the other features like routes and measure path, the original live map is still on the website. Click the More menu and select Live Map (Flash version).

(0:13) Make sure you have created your electronic boat card. Instructions can be found at the link below. I am available to answer any questions you might have. Contact me if you have a problem or need me to turn on your Partner status for your electronic boat card.

http://www.themarinaminute.com/2017/10/activecaptain-community.html

(0:04) There are some cool things coming. Stay tuned.

(0:02) And that's the marina minute.


Tuesday, October 24, 2017

The New Dashboard

(0:56) The new website has been released and is continuing to be tweaked. One change that affects Partner marinas is a new Partner Dashboard. While it looks and acts like the old Partner Page, you now access it in a different way.

(0:48) First, you will not be able to login to your Partner Dashboard unless you have created your electronic boat card. You need to set up your account now if you haven't already. The steps are listed below:

1. Go to https://activecaptain.com and click the LOGIN button. Log in with your normal ActiveCaptain account email and password. You don't have to register a new account - you already have an account. Make sure to use your ActiveCaptain admin account.

2. Select the type that best fits your business: marina, boatyard, or business. Contact me to add a Partner designation to your card. You will not be able to access your Dashboard until I have done this step.

3. Fill in the information, read and agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, and upload a profile image. I suggest your image be your logo or some other image that will indicate your business. You can always upload or change your image at a later time. Then select Create New Card.

(0:23) Once I have received your email that your account has been set up, I will turn on your Partner status and send you an email. You are now ready to access your Partner Dashboard.

(0:17) Return to https://activecaptain.com and login using the admin account. Click on the "More" tab in the upper right and a drop-down menu will appear. Select "Partner Dashboard." If you do not see this option, make sure you are logged in as the admin and that your Partner status has been turned on. You must see "Partner Marina" or "Partner Boatyard" displayed to the left of your name.

(0:05) The new Dashboard functions just like your old Partner Page. Contact me if you have any questions.

(0:02) And that's the marina minute.


Tuesday, October 17, 2017

Marina Lists

(1:02) Last week we combined the websites into a single new portal. The transition went well. Thank you for your patience.

(0:58) This week I want to begin going over some of the new features. The first are new and improved marina listing pages.

(0:54) Marina Lists were created to provide a way for Google to access the marina content for searching and star ratings. They turned into a popular way for boaters to quickly access information about marinas within a certain geography.

(0:48) Then boaters began asking for a way to edit data and write reviews from the Marina List page. We thought that was a great idea. That feature is now available on the new website.

(0:43) To access your page follow these steps after logging in:

1.  Select the More/Marina Lists near the top right and you'll be taken to a list of countries/states that have marina listings in ActiveCaptain.

2.  Clicking on the state or province will display a list of cities where a marina is located. Clicking on a city will display a list of marinas located in that city in alphabetical order.

3. Clicking on a country will display a list of marinas located in that country in alphabetical order.

(0:30) Find your marina and click on it. A page will display the information contained in ActiveCaptain. Notice the 6 tabs across the top.

(0:26) To add to or change the information, click the Edit listing link in the upper right. Notice that you can edit more than one field at a time. Click on the tabs to edit data under that tab. When you are finished with your edits, select the "Submit changes" button located at the top and bottom of the page. Clicking on "Cancel" will cancel all of the updates.

(0:14) Boaters can also enter a review for your marina by clicking on the "Write Review" button located at the top of every screen.

(0:10) The new marina listing pages provide a quick and easy way to update multiple fields and for boaters to write reviews. Access to them along with all anchorages, hazards, and local knowledge is also available on the new Live Map.

(0:02) And that's the marina minute.


Tuesday, October 10, 2017

Attention, Attention!!

(0:54) Last week's Minute introduced you to changes that are coming with the ActiveCaptain website. The first big change is the combination of the ActiveCaptain and eBoatCards websites. eBoatCards.com is disappearing. ActiveCaptain.com is becoming the combined website. It has the user interface of eBoatCards but combines all of ActiveCaptain inside. This combined website will be known as the ActiveCaptain Community.

(0:44) We had originally planned to go live this week but are doing just a touch more tweaking. Fortunately, that gives me one last chance to nag, I mean, remind you to setup your eBoatCards account.

(0:39) While I've heard from some of you, there's still many who have not contacted me about assigning "Partner" status to your account.

(0:35) This is critical.

(0:33) When the sites have combined, you will not be able to login to your Partner page unless you have created your eBoatCard. You need to setup your account today. Just follow these steps:

  • Go to http://www.eboatcards.com and click the LOGIN button. Log in with your normal ActiveCaptain account email and password. You don't have to register a new account - you already have an account
  • Select the type that best fits your business: marina, boatyard, or business. If you are a Partner, contact me to add a Partner designation to your card.
  • Fill in the information, read and agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, and upload a profile image. I suggest your image be your logo or some other image that will indicate your business. You can always upload or change your image at a later time. Then select Create New Card.
(0:08) The goal is that you won't notice any changes as all the servers are updated. But with so many apps, versions, and technologies running on these servers, there may be unexpected issues that arise. Please contact me with any questions or problems.

(0:02) And that's the marina minute.


Tuesday, October 3, 2017

ActiveCaptain Community

(1:03) I know that some of you also receive the weekly ActiveCaptain newsletter which comes out Wednesday morning. The message from last week is important, so I am repeating it with some modifications specific to marinas. My goal is to get you ready for the changes that are happening.

(0:55) The Garmin acquisition of ActiveCaptain was the beginning of many new capabilities that will be rolling out in the next couple of months. Behind the scenes there are new servers, new configurations, and updated systems. There are new people in place who are handling the flow of data received from the community.

(0:47) The first big change is the combination of the ActiveCaptain and eBoatCards websites. eBoatCards.com is disappearing. ActiveCaptain.com is becoming the combined website. It has the user interface of eBoatCards but combines all of ActiveCaptain inside. This combined website will be known as the ActiveCaptain Community.

(0:38) We're doing this because the ActiveCaptain Community website has the expansion possibilities for adding features that we all want from this crowd-sourced, community data.

(0:26) The new website goes live this week. One critical thing you need to do is to make sure you have setup your eBoatCards account. By logging into eBoatCards, your account will be preset for working with the new website. Just follow these steps:

  • Go to http://www.eboatcards.com and click the LOGIN button. Log in with your normal ActiveCaptain account email and password. You don't have to register a new account - you already have an account
  • Select the type that best fits your business: marina, boatyard, or business. If you are a Partner, contact me to add a Partner designation to your card.
  • Fill in the information, read and agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy, and upload a profile image. I suggest your image be your logo or some other image that will indicate your business. You can always upload or change your image at a later time. Then select Create New Card.
(0:08) Our goal is that you won't notice any changes as all the servers are updated. But with so many apps, versions, and technologies running on these servers, there may be unexpected issues that arise. Please contact me with any questions or problems.

(0:02) And that's the marina minute.