Recognition, relationships and a roll-out — that’s one way you could describe the past few months at PollStream. Take a look at what's new with us...

	One of 10 to Watch Market intelligence and services provider IDC named PollStream as one of ten leading innovators in their report "Ten Canadian Cloud Solutions to Watch." PollStream was chosen along with such companies as BoardSuite, FreshBooks and Rypple as a company that demonstrates the speed, flexibility and services needed to deliver dynamic new solutions in cloud computing with a potential to make a lasting impact in the information and communication technology market.
	One of Canada’s Top 20 Innovators Backbone Magazine, Canada’s leading business technology review, also named PollStream as a top pick, citing the company’s vision and strategy along with attention to customers and a dedication to delivering ROI in the long run. Finalists for the PICK 20, Web 2.0 Awards were selected on the basis of five criteria—ROI, competitive advantage, ongoing value, execution and innovation.
	Partnership with Rideau Recognition Solutions Rideau Recognition Solutions, a leader in the recognition and incentive industry, has begun an exclusive partnership with PollStream to enhance its online recognition portal. Rideau chose PollStream because tools like The Hive make it possible to create a truly interactive community where workers and management share accomplishments, activities and team successes.

With social media growing at mind-blowing rates — 67% of the online population now participates in some form of interactive community — it comes as something of a shock that corporate executives continue to rely on one-way, top-down communications. It’s time for upper management to move out of its comfort zone, suggests Caroline Ray in an recent article published in The National Post.

In today’s competitive environment it is more than a little surprising that corporations aren’t doing everything in their power to keep employees engaged and operating at top levels. Ray cites a recent Watson Wyatt Communication ROI study that shows companies with effective internal communication have higher employee engagement levels, lower turnover rates, and overall higher market value.

Yet many companies seem committed to ignoring today’s social media tools in favor of traditional top-down "newsletter style" announcements. According to an International Association of Business Communicators 2009 Employee Engagement Survey, 56% of top executives simply do not engage with employees via social media.

PollStream solutions provide companies multiple avenues to move beyond the static to the truly interactive — our Poll, Comment Engine, Sparkplug and Hive solutions tap into participants' fundamental desire to declare and compare ideas, opinions and recognition. PollStream quickly transforms this desire into a relevant and rewarding exchange that builds meaningful relationships online.

Take one of the world's largest financial institutions and add one of the world's best-known scientific organizations, and you have a partnership that will cause people to sit up and take notice. That's the hope of RBC, which recently embarked on a multi-year relationship with the National Geographic Society as part of the RBC Blue Water Project. RBC donated $200,000 to fund a Freshwater Fellow with National Geographic, as well as sponsoring the organization's fresh water website and an online video game. RBC will also run ads about the value of water in National Geographic's flagship print magazine.

RBC is using PollStream to help amplify its efforts at promoting the Blue Water Project. For example, PollStream helped drive internal dialogue and provide a channel for water education resources as RBC developed the initial branding and strategy for the project. PollStream then provided interactive channels for an educational public microsite. And now, RBC is using PollStream to engage visitors on the National Geographic freshwater site, providing an educational poll that encourages visitors to learn more about water preservation and conservation.

• TD Insurance
• TD Bank (USA)
• USDA