An Interview with Christian Nielsen

Forum hosts are a vital part of the TechSoup Community. The responsibility of a message board host in the TS Community is to answer questions, facilitate discussions, and provide resources to community members. As host of the Hardware Forum, Christian Nielsen makes recommendations on computers, modems, recycling and other types of hardware. He also answers technical questions. Nielsen’s company, Nielsen Technical Services, specializes in search engine optimization.

TechSoup: How did you become involved with nonprofit technology and why?

Christian Nielsen: My involvement with nonprofits is really limited to my role in the forums at TechSoup. I have never worked for a nonprofit although I did work for a company that provided management services of a couple of nonprofits as the IT Manager.

I first became involved with computers in 1981 as a hobby. After a few years I had learned enough to be hired into a job working with them. Every job since then has been very much involved with either computer operation, programming, consulting, networking, or repairing them.

TS: You joined My TechSoup in February of 2002. How did you find the site? What made you become a part of the community?

CN: I was looking into volunteering for some nonprofits as a way to network and provide some exposure for my Internet consulting business. It seemed like a good way to help out others and also try to pick up some new customers. Most nonprofits are like any small business that has a lack of funds and resources, as well as expertise with technology.

I originally started posting at TechSoup to promote my business, but also to help people. I have yet to contract with a paying customer through TechSoup, but I get great satisfaction is being able to share my knowledge and experience with those organizations that are working to make the world a better place.

TS: What is the most important thing for nonprofits to know about computer hardware?

CN: Computers don’t have to be overly complicated or expensive. Older hardware, and software for that matter, can still do valuable work and be much more cost-effective to get the job done.

If you don’t have a huge budget, find a computer person that realizes the latest and greatest may not be the most effective solution for getting the job done. Of course, you have to be careful to not acquire equipment that is so far behind the curve that it will have to be replaced in six months to a year.

TS: According to your profile, you are an Internet consultant. Can you tell us more about your position?

CN: My company, Nielsen Technical Services was started in 1986 to provide data recovery services back when it was a very obscure subject. We expanded into computer repair and consulting and then in 1997 changed our focus to general Internet consulting. We are now specializing in search engine optimization where we edit a client’s Web site and submit that site to search engines and directories to increase the traffic and exposure to Internet searchers.

TS: How has your knowledge of technology and position as an Internet consultant enabled you to help nonprofit organizations?

CN: Aside from helping to resolve computer and hardware problems for nonprofits, I also help nonprofits deal with the other pressing problem: being short-handed. By helping them automate as many processes as possible, it lessens the workload on the staff members.

TS: Describe your perfect computer-free day.

CN: I have a great breakfast with my wife, Kumiko, and we visit an art museum where I am approached to create a one-man show for an exhibit. After being treated to a nice lunch by the museum curator, we part with a promise to get back to them. We head for a local coffee house and talk about the theme for the art show. We then take a nice walk around one of the more pleasant Minneapolis lakes and feed the ducks. After seeing a great Japanese movie at the local theater, we discuss some of the finer points about what the director was trying to tell us. Dinner is an all-you-can-eat sushi bar with lots of green tea. After I arrive home, I check my e-mail to find all my clients are pleased and are sending me a small bonus for past work. TechSoup has only one new post, and it turns to be an odd question about a hardware problem that I remember solving about six years ago, so I am able post the information and answer the question before Ozzy does.

What? You didn’t really think there would be a day with out computers did you?!