Salsa Is Here

12:00 AM Mar 15, 2007

Today is the first day of the rest of your e-advocacy. Salsa, DemocracyInAction's new user tool, goes from public beta to public release today. And your online communications won't be the same again. Far more than a user interface, Salsa is a comprehensively new architecture of the DIA Constituent Relationship Management toolset, packing:

• A powerful and intuitive query generator
• Custom report generator
• Personalized user dashboards
• A sweet new e-mail interface tied to advanced features you'll find in no other CRM
• And yes, a smoother, more pleasing navigation and interface

In fact, that list just scratches the surface, and some of the transformative potential of Salsa's build will only become apparent in the months ahead. But all that lies ahead. Today, we celebrate the new day.

The Smell of Salsa in the Morning

First things first. If you're in D.C. or anywhere within about a two-state radius, get yourself to our release party tonight at Rumberos in Columbia Heights, with a couple hundred of your closest heavy thinkers and heavy drinkers. We don't mind saying we're (in?)famous for our parties. We'll make it worth your while. No matter where on the map you call home, you're probably wondering: what does Salsa's debut really mean for me? As we noted in last week's "What to Expect" message, March 15 represents a milestone in a progression rather than a sudden shift. Hopefully, you've already been at least playing around with the public-beta version by logging into Salsa with your regular DIA account. Today begins the process by which the stable version of Salsa that has emerged from the public beta begins the transition to becoming the sole DIA platform.

For Current DIA Users

When will you be required to start using Salsa? We'll be asking you to start routinely logging in to Salsa by mid-April. During this time, the "legacy" DIA interface will remain available and supported. We'll stay in touch as Salsa continues to progress. But change is always a little bit uncomfortable, and it's important that you do begin switching all DIA users in your organization to Salsa by mid-April so that they have time to make a smooth transition. Beginning in mid-May, Salsa will become the sole way for you to use DemocracyInAction, and support for the legacy interface will end. You'll want everyone who needs to use our system to be ready to roll by that time, although of course we'll continue to have Salsa webinars that are open to anyone. Using DIA and know another group who might benefit by doing so? Invite them to take a test-drive with a discounted setup fee.

For New or Prospective Users

We've already begun setting up all new accounts in Salsa and conducting trainings (online or off) only in Salsa. Brand-new users have it easiest, since there's nothing to unlearn: Salsa will be the sole point of contact for those groups. Consultants or other third parties serving multiple groups should be aware that they may serve organizations who are at different points in the process. Want to dive in but daunted by the fees? Apply for a DIA Empowers grant by April 1 to get a full year's service free of charge -- no commitments, no surprises.

For Everyone

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