5 ms·

Project Bubble: possible basecamp alternative? Please review.

14 points by stulogy 16y ago

stulogy 16y ago
I recently had your feedback on my Invoicing app, well this one is for Project Management. I'd love your thoughts - particularly on the home page. Does it explain the product well enough and is it catch enough to make you want to sign up? We've got nearly 6000 users so far.
- random42 16y ago
  Eyeballs or customers, If I may ask?
- mattroid 16y ago
  How many paying customers do you have?
folletto 16y ago
The video doesn't start - I know it could be a line problem, but it should me blazingly fast everywhere, since that's what you're using to sell your product. And once started, it's tiny! Also, excluding the video there aren't any screenshot around, and the "Tour" is just a list with tiny thumbnails. Excluding those things, however, I think that everything else is well done: it clearly states the price (maybe, add a high-level offer with an high price tag) and explains pretty well some advantages. Also, the try button is everywhere so it's ok. :) Why don't you offer a basic free-forever account with like: 1 user, 1 project, 1 invoice/month, etc. Something like this. I think it would be perceived really better than a 30-days test (that will still exists!).
- stulogy 16y ago
  hey good feedback thanks. - I'll look in to the speed issue. - the screenshots, i'll maybe make those lightboxes - I'm not sure what you mean by high-level offer? - the free forever is basically freemium and i'm trying to get away from that, but i'll consider it. I wondered about making a 7 day trial but like you say making the 'after 7 days you get put on your free account', or something like that.
  - folletto 16y ago
    High-level: I mean something with a steep price tag, with maybe high margins for you. Something like "1000 users, 24/7 assistance" with a really high price. Or something less. However, I think that you should be able to offer also something "high end". Think about restaurant menu design: the highest priced item isn't almost ever bought, but it raises the bar for everyone else. It's a matter of perception. Of course, you must be able to satisfy that high-end request, so if you can't do 24/7 assistance I don't mean you should still add it. :) Freemium: I agree on your positions. Just maybe think of a small, really small solution that could be free forever. This one is also a matter of perceptions. If you hurry me with 30 days of testing, I think twice before subscribing, since I need to do that at a time when I'm going to have 30 days of test time. Otherwise, I'll just subscribe and I'll test it when I can. Some days of full trial and then put on free is a good solution imho.
ErrantX 16y ago
The demo is great in that you are dropped into it quickly and given a pointer on how to start (add a project). It would be cool to see this expanded - so that after a demo project is created it steps you through some other aspects of the system (adding tasks etc.) and shows off the features.
patio11 16y ago
Features don't sell software. Benefits sell software. If you have two minutes of my undivided attention, why are you telling me about dragging and dropping when you could be telling me much better my life is going to be if I use your software.
- stulogy 16y ago
  Yep - you are totally right. I will probably rework the video to talk about how the software can really save your time and hassle.
  - joubert 16y ago
    I read somewhere once that you need to sell people: sex, or making money, or saving money. I.e. You have to touch their hearts or their pocket.
    - stulogy 16y ago
      Hah. Well Project Bubble can't give the first thing (I don't think!) but it can do the other two. I'll make it clearer.
- DanielStraight 16y ago
  I would actually like to see more information on features, but at a higher level. A good 90% of what was shown in the video can be achieved in an Excel sheet. The invoice generation was the only truly interesting thing in the video. Not only are there already 100 apps that let me make a list of projects and under each a list of tasks and under each a list of todos, I can do that myself in 15 minutes in Django or Rails or even Excel. What makes your product different? That's what I want to know.
random42 16y ago
Couple of things. 1. Readability - I find light fontcolor on light background color difficult to read. 2. I was trying to look for pricing information. Even after 3 clicks or so, I was not able to find it. (It may be there on the website, just saying that It is not readily accessible.. or I might have missed to notice it :)).
- cx01 16y ago
  It also took me some time to find the prices. They're on the lower right corner of the frontpage.
antidaily 16y ago
will save you time, and money! unnecessary comma??
resdirector 16y ago
When I created a project, it took me back to the dashboard, telling me "No account activity". Perhaps it should either say "New project created: [project name]" or take me to the projects tab.
- stulogy 16y ago
  Hiya, It shouldn't do that it should redirect to the Projects tab when you add a Project. I've tested this and it works for me, so I'm trying to work out how you've done it. What page were you on before, and what had you done prior to clicking the add project button? Thanks.
  - resdirector 16y ago
    Here's a video of it: http://www.folderboy.com/public?sid=1274782273670&tn=false&file=project-bubble.wmv http://www.folderboy.com/public?sid=1274782273670&tn=fal... Using Chrome on a Vista machine.
  - resdirector 16y ago
    Here's a video of it: http://www.folderboy.com/public?sid=1274782273670&tn=false&file=project-bubble.wmv http://www.folderboy.com/public?sid=1274782273670&tn=fal... Using Chrome on a Vista machine.
maushu 16y ago
The blue background color. Maybe it's because I'm just tired but I could hear my eyes screaming while reading the text. Perhaps some sort of eye-friendly background in the middle below the text?
freddier 16y ago
The video shouldn't be on a lightbox. Never. OK, don't put it as SWF player from the beginning, but once I click that play button, I expect to see the video playing RIGHT THERE where it is, ASAP. I would never imagine to see a sudden lightbox appears in the middle of the page after a click. I don't see the point in that UX decision, I'd really like to know why.
- stulogy 16y ago
  Hiya, Well the video needs to enlarge so that's the only reason why really - so people can see the video more clearly. However the call to action has grown quite a lot in recent updates to the home page so it could be part of the home page now as it turns out. Be keen to get other people's opinion on this.
keyle 16y ago
It's great but I wouldn't sign up - at least right away - because the homepage doesn't really says what it does best and why it's a better product. Maybe I just don't desperately need yet another online project management tool... Sell it better!
- stulogy 16y ago
  If you're happy with your current PM software I guess then no sales pitch in the world could convince you to move over to our software. However, for those that are hungry for a "simple online project management app" - this will be music to their ears hopefully. But I take your points on board. Any marketing advice for how to word my text on the home page would be appreciated.
petervandijck 16y ago
OK this will be a little harsh, just a few points about the homepage. 1. Design and text are not very good. Both should be improved a lot. For example, this is just an awkward sentence: "We're so sure you'll find Project Bubble the easiest online project management software." 2. Yes, you need plans for more users, or you are excluding exactly the types of companies that may use you. 3. The music in the video is distracting. Plus all the other comments here. Hope that helps a little. Good luck!
- stulogy 16y ago
  Nope, it's not harsh. I take every comment on board. I've rewritten the sentence on home page. What do you mean we need plans for more users, we have 3 plans, one of which is unlimited users?
AmberShah 16y ago
Holy cow. I could look at the page for only 30 seconds before the blue started burning my eyes. Tone it down.

14 points by stulogy 16y ago

I recently had your feedback on my Invoicing app, well this one is for Project Management. I'd love your thoughts - particularly on the home page. Does it explain the product well enough and is it catch enough to make you want to sign up? We've got nearly 6000 users so far.

random42 16y ago
Eyeballs or customers, If I may ask?
mattroid 16y ago
How many paying customers do you have?

folletto 16y ago

The video doesn't start - I know it could be a line problem, but it should me blazingly fast everywhere, since that's what you're using to sell your product. And once started, it's tiny! Also, excluding the video there aren't any screenshot around, and the "Tour" is just a list with tiny thumbnails. Excluding those things, however, I think that everything else is well done: it clearly states the price (maybe, add a high-level offer with an high price tag) and explains pretty well some advantages. Also, the try button is everywhere so it's ok. :) Why don't you offer a basic free-forever account with like: 1 user, 1 project, 1 invoice/month, etc. Something like this. I think it would be perceived really better than a 30-days test (that will still exists!).

stulogy 16y ago
hey good feedback thanks. - I'll look in to the speed issue. - the screenshots, i'll maybe make those lightboxes - I'm not sure what you mean by high-level offer? - the free forever is basically freemium and i'm trying to get away from that, but i'll consider it. I wondered about making a 7 day trial but like you say making the 'after 7 days you get put on your free account', or something like that.
- folletto 16y ago
  High-level: I mean something with a steep price tag, with maybe high margins for you. Something like "1000 users, 24/7 assistance" with a really high price. Or something less. However, I think that you should be able to offer also something "high end". Think about restaurant menu design: the highest priced item isn't almost ever bought, but it raises the bar for everyone else. It's a matter of perception. Of course, you must be able to satisfy that high-end request, so if you can't do 24/7 assistance I don't mean you should still add it. :) Freemium: I agree on your positions. Just maybe think of a small, really small solution that could be free forever. This one is also a matter of perceptions. If you hurry me with 30 days of testing, I think twice before subscribing, since I need to do that at a time when I'm going to have 30 days of test time. Otherwise, I'll just subscribe and I'll test it when I can. Some days of full trial and then put on free is a good solution imho.

ErrantX 16y ago

The demo is great in that you are dropped into it quickly and given a pointer on how to start (add a project). It would be cool to see this expanded - so that after a demo project is created it steps you through some other aspects of the system (adding tasks etc.) and shows off the features.

patio11 16y ago

Features don't sell software. Benefits sell software. If you have two minutes of my undivided attention, why are you telling me about dragging and dropping when you could be telling me much better my life is going to be if I use your software.

stulogy 16y ago
Yep - you are totally right. I will probably rework the video to talk about how the software can really save your time and hassle.
- joubert 16y ago
  I read somewhere once that you need to sell people: sex, or making money, or saving money. I.e. You have to touch their hearts or their pocket.
  - stulogy 16y ago
    Hah. Well Project Bubble can't give the first thing (I don't think!) but it can do the other two. I'll make it clearer.
DanielStraight 16y ago
I would actually like to see more information on features, but at a higher level. A good 90% of what was shown in the video can be achieved in an Excel sheet. The invoice generation was the only truly interesting thing in the video. Not only are there already 100 apps that let me make a list of projects and under each a list of tasks and under each a list of todos, I can do that myself in 15 minutes in Django or Rails or even Excel. What makes your product different? That's what I want to know.

random42 16y ago

Couple of things. 1. Readability - I find light fontcolor on light background color difficult to read. 2. I was trying to look for pricing information. Even after 3 clicks or so, I was not able to find it. (It may be there on the website, just saying that It is not readily accessible.. or I might have missed to notice it :)).

cx01 16y ago
It also took me some time to find the prices. They're on the lower right corner of the frontpage.

antidaily 16y ago

will save you time, and money! unnecessary comma??

resdirector 16y ago

When I created a project, it took me back to the dashboard, telling me "No account activity". Perhaps it should either say "New project created: [project name]" or take me to the projects tab.

stulogy 16y ago
Hiya, It shouldn't do that it should redirect to the Projects tab when you add a Project. I've tested this and it works for me, so I'm trying to work out how you've done it. What page were you on before, and what had you done prior to clicking the add project button? Thanks.
- resdirector 16y ago
  Here's a video of it: http://www.folderboy.com/public?sid=1274782273670&tn=false&file=project-bubble.wmv http://www.folderboy.com/public?sid=1274782273670&tn=fal... Using Chrome on a Vista machine.
- resdirector 16y ago
  Here's a video of it: http://www.folderboy.com/public?sid=1274782273670&tn=false&file=project-bubble.wmv http://www.folderboy.com/public?sid=1274782273670&tn=fal... Using Chrome on a Vista machine.

maushu 16y ago

The blue background color. Maybe it's because I'm just tired but I could hear my eyes screaming while reading the text. Perhaps some sort of eye-friendly background in the middle below the text?

freddier 16y ago

The video shouldn't be on a lightbox. Never. OK, don't put it as SWF player from the beginning, but once I click that play button, I expect to see the video playing RIGHT THERE where it is, ASAP. I would never imagine to see a sudden lightbox appears in the middle of the page after a click. I don't see the point in that UX decision, I'd really like to know why.

stulogy 16y ago
Hiya, Well the video needs to enlarge so that's the only reason why really - so people can see the video more clearly. However the call to action has grown quite a lot in recent updates to the home page so it could be part of the home page now as it turns out. Be keen to get other people's opinion on this.

keyle 16y ago

It's great but I wouldn't sign up - at least right away - because the homepage doesn't really says what it does best and why it's a better product. Maybe I just don't desperately need yet another online project management tool... Sell it better!

stulogy 16y ago
If you're happy with your current PM software I guess then no sales pitch in the world could convince you to move over to our software. However, for those that are hungry for a "simple online project management app" - this will be music to their ears hopefully. But I take your points on board. Any marketing advice for how to word my text on the home page would be appreciated.

petervandijck 16y ago

OK this will be a little harsh, just a few points about the homepage. 1. Design and text are not very good. Both should be improved a lot. For example, this is just an awkward sentence: "We're so sure you'll find Project Bubble the easiest online project management software." 2. Yes, you need plans for more users, or you are excluding exactly the types of companies that may use you. 3. The music in the video is distracting. Plus all the other comments here. Hope that helps a little. Good luck!

stulogy 16y ago
Nope, it's not harsh. I take every comment on board. I've rewritten the sentence on home page. What do you mean we need plans for more users, we have 3 plans, one of which is unlimited users?

AmberShah 16y ago

Holy cow. I could look at the page for only 30 seconds before the blue started burning my eyes. Tone it down.