Online apps that’s worth using
I must admit that I never thought that online applications would ever replace desktop software solutions, but in the last couple of weeks, I’ve been using some applications that are doing just that… I’ve been using Basecamp, Freshbooks and CampaignMonitor on a daily basis since getting back to freelancing and they’ve been worth every single dollar I’ve spent on their monthly subscriptions (in the case of CampaignMonitor, you just pay for the emails you sent out).
So yes - all three of these applications are premium services, only available on a paid-for basis. This means I’ve included some other online applications that I use for free (i.e. Gmail, Twitter etc.), as these aren’t necessarily replacements for desktop software (as is the case with the other three I mentioned.
Here’s a quick summary of how I utilize the three applications at the moment:
- Basecamp: I do all my project management and collaborations on there now - albeit with business partners, collaborative designers / developers or clients. Using Basecamp has already cut down on my e-mail considerably and I think the fact that everything I’m working on at the moment, is in one place - really makes thing so much more efficient.
- FreshBooks: I’ve actually just started using FreshBooks and have only sent out a handful of invoices, but I find the interface so refreshing and easy to use. I’ve been using their Time Tracking Widget for MacOSX (which is fantastic for tracking your time on client projects) and I’m in the process to explore their integration options with Basecamp.
- CampaignMonitor: What a joy to use! After blogging about this a while back, some of you suggested that I try out CampaignMonitor and I have seriously not looked back yet. The features are just incredible and it is super-easy to design a newsletter. I’ve been using it primarily for communication with users of our Premium News Themes. The best feature (by far) has probably got to be the reports that you can generate for individial newsletter campaigns (i.e. tracking the amount of opened or bounced e-mails, whether links were clicked etc.).
All three of these applications has really become part of my daily operations and have added a competitive edge to my business activities. Sure, these cost money - but so does desktop software and considering that I’m just starting out a new business, this is a really cost-efficient solution for me. I also believe that the future cross-integration of these applications will only add further value, with early-adopters benefiting the most.
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