Tom’s Planner – Surprisingly Easy Project Planning
Cash Award: 10 Feedback/Reviews Awarded $5 Each. No Awards Remaining.
Tom’s Planner allows you to create Gantt charts with drag & drop simplicity.
Target Audience: Project Managers.
Website URL: http://www.tomsplanner.com/
Feedback sought:
- What is your first impression when you open the website?
- What do you think of our tagline: “Truly easy to use project planning software”. Do you think “Surprisingly easy to use project planning software” would be better?
- On the website: what would you definitely keep and what would you change?
- When you go to the ‘pricing and sign-up page, do you find the information is presented in a clear and straight forward way?
- How would you market Tom’s Planner?
- Do you know any specific blogs, websites and/or journalists that would be interested in writing about Tom’s Planner?
- Any additional feedback/comments are welcome!
About Tom’s Planner:
Tom’s Planner allows you to create and share project plans online. It’s the ideal starting point for virtually every project and every project manager. You can publish your schedules online, collaborate on them with a team, export them to an image or MS Project with no more than two mouse clicks.
What makes Tom’s Planner stand out in the crowd of PM tools is that we approach the creation of project schedules from a visual angle instead of an abstract framework of activities and dependencies. This results in an extremely user friendly application.
The application is used by a wide audience. Current PM software is just often too complex and time consuming to learn – Tom’s Planner has been increasingly popular among its user as it provides the answer to the real problem. Not only are companies managing their resources and projects with Tom’s Planner but individuals are also planning their weddings, thanksgiving dinners or home construction projects with Tom’s Planner. In a review a user described it as:
‘Tom’s Planner, Gantt charts for the rest of us!
Cash Award: 10 Feedback/Reviews Awarded $5 Each. No Awards Remaining.
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"I am really pleased with the results from StartUpLift. The feedback that we received through the site will go a long way towards improving our service. All the responses were professional, thoughtful, and well written. I think the concept and the service that StartUpLift is providing is brilliant. ”
*My first impression is that the site is appealing. I enjoyed the color schemes and it was layed out in a way that is easy to navigate.
?*Honestly, I do not like either tagline. I think it should be something shorter and easier for people to remember.
*I would keep everything “except” for the quick tool. I think it has to many advertisements on it and it would make customers that pay attention to the content of the website.
*The signup and pricing is perfect and I would not change it. It is easy to understand and layed out in a straight forward manner.
*I would market it on linkedin, facebook and twitter.
*I am a freelance writer and could write about Tom’s Planner.
* I think you should rearrange the tabs. The about us should be first, product info then signup & pricing.
Thanks you so much for you input!
?What is your first impression when you open the website? I am inspired by all the bright colors of the website upon opening the main page. As usual, when I am visiting a new website, I look for the main tabs for the navigation of the website. I find these tabs located just under the header. The tabs contain all the tools I am searching for without confusion.
What do you think of our tagline: “Truly easy to use project planning software”. Do you think “Surprisingly easy to use project planning software” would be better? Although I have no issues with your present tagline, “Truly easy to use”, for some reason, to me, “Surprisingly easy” seem to flow better.
On the website: what would you definitely keep and what would you change? Although I do like the Quick Sign Up option on the main page, I am a little turned off by the “What Others are Saying” portion of the sign up. My immediate attention is drawn to the names on the ads (logos) of the “Others”. The impression of seeing ads take my attention away from the site. I am thinking, too overwhelming for me to read. I would do away with that, or at the most maybe leave one or two.
I would definitely keep the header the way it is. I love it!
When you go to the ‘pricing and sign-up page, do you find the information is presented in a clear and straight forward way? Yes. I love the method of having a checklist to compare the plans. I am super surprised to see that “email support” is an option for all three of your plans. That is something that I base my decisions on when signing up for a plan.
How would you market Tom’s Planner? I, personally, would market the website via all my social networking sites, such as Facebook, Twitter and Linkedin. I feel that discussing the site and it’s benefits to all my business associates is the best way to advertise.
Do you know any specific blogs, websites and/or journalists that would be interested in writing about Tom’s Planner? I would definitely start with Linkedin. I would also ask moms to mention your site on Cafemom.com. There are lots of business moms on Cafemom that are always looking for project management ideas.
I appreciate the fact that the contact tab is easy to find in all pages of the website. That is my most important consideration, always! I also feel that the pricing is current with today’s market!
?Really appreciate your input, thanks for taking the time to review our website!
?$5 awarded to vanity.
What is your first impression when you open the website?
I think the website is really busy. It is trying to accomplish too much in one place. Right when I get to the page, my eye has nowhere to focus. Should I focus on the “Try/Start” button? Or the big orange “Quick Sign up?” Or the picture of the Gantt Chart?
Once you identify what is the real selling point of the main page, you can bring the focus of the user to that point.
What do you think of our tagline: “Truly easy to use project planning software”. Do you think “Surprisingly easy to use project planning software” would be better?
I don’t like either. Both sound confusing. ~Please read comment on how to market for more information ~
On the website: what would you definitely keep and what would you change?
I would definitely keep the “Try/Start” button. Great idea! I would change the banner and get rid of the Gantt chart picture. Honestly, it doesn’t come off as “easy – to – use” That picture makes the tool look complicated. Also, you have two mouse buttons there. There is the arrow and the finger. Is that supposed to be like that?
When you go to the ‘pricing and sign-up page, do you find the information is presented in a clear and straight forward way?
The chart presents the information okay. However, the Professional and the Unlimited both say “Save 15% on annual subscription” If its $/month, how do you save annually? That is a bit confusing. Other then that, it looks good.
How would you market Tom’s Planner?
I’ve been in project management for a while and the buzzword right now is AGILE development. If you can come up with a marketing perspective on how Tom’s Planner can help with sprint planning, and help with the daily scrum process I see this becoming so much more successful.
Do you know any specific blogs, websites and/or journalists that would be interested in writing about Tom’s Planner?
If you could get people like Hirotaka Takeuchi and Ikujiro Nonaka to support the product, you could get an instant following.
Any additional feedback/comments are welcome!
?Overall, I think the product is great! My company would definitely benefit from using this product. Some additional feedback, in the product info section, you should change the video “Drag & Drop” interaction with Tom’s Planner to have useful information. Right now it says “One, one, k, k” (watch the vide, it’ll make sense) I thought the tour was good as well.
Thanks so much for taking a critical look at Tom’s Planner. Definitely going to think about what part Tom’s Planner could play in the Agile approach.
?$5 awarded to Tijo.
Answers based on feedback sought:
?1) My first impression of Tom’s Planner website is that it is visually appealing and I like the complementary colors used. The homepage is very well-designed.
2) I really like your tagline and think that it is a great way to brand your service/product. Good selling point. The question about using the word “truly” versus “surprisingly” easy to use planning software does not influence my opinion on your services. This question sounds more like a market research question in a larger study, but I personally don’t see a difference in which word. In other words – no preference, they both emphasis the same thing.
3) What I would change on your homepage is to move the tabs: Home, tour, product info., etc. above your top picture and below your logo and tagline, to the traditional place you would find them. Otherwise I like the colors and layout. Great job!
4) The pricing guide is straightforward and easy to figure out.
5) How to market Tom’s Planner is a very broad question. I see that you already employ social networking links on your website. Getting your site on StartupLift.com was a good move as well, because it gets your website out there. I would also recommend using SEO techniques so that your website is found more readily in search engines.
6) I actually do write articles for Yahoo! Associated Content, which are searchable by all search engines. I do not know about other websites off the top of my head. If you are interested in me publishing an article on Yahoo! Associated Content, email me at: zlove21(at)gmail.com
7) I like how you have the big brands and networks on your homepage with positive reviews. This creates a lot of credibility for your services. I think your website design is great and looks professional. One possible critique is that you have a lot of words in a relatively small font on your homepage. It might not be as much information overload if you prune it down a little more and keep the big and best ones and increase your font.
Thanks for taking the time to give feedback. Really appreciate it. Within the team we’ve also had the discussion about the location of the tabs, we’re still divided
?We’ll put the idea of Yahoo! Associated Content on the Marketing options list! Might get back to you on that.
- When I first opened the website, the first thing that caught my eye was the colors. They work very well together, however I thought the text was a little small – which made it a little difficult to read.
?- What about “Extremely Easy to Use Project Planning System”? If I had to choose one of the others, I would definitely choose “Truly” because it flows better.
- Although the chart gives the reader an inside look at what Tom’s Planner is capable of achieving…for me it makes the planner look a little difficult and may be a turn off to people who hate being “technical”. I would reduce the size and show a smaller portion of the planner, then have bubbles to explain what things are on the planner.
- The “pricing and sign-up” page is an excellent page. Very easy to read, straight-forward, and direct.
- I would target small business owners by using social media (Twitter, Facebook, and Linked-in). I would also use Google Adwords and focus on long-tailed keywords that would target people in need of project planning software. By using the later method, you will actually get more bang for your buck and many more people would be interested in buying your product because they are looking for something specifically.
- I am not very familiar with any blogs about Project Planning, but a quick google search retrieved Projectplan.com – which seems to be a good candidate. I would do a google search on “project planning blog”, and then contact them by email to ask if they would be interested in cross posting.
- The website has a great layout. I would change the text size and place the FAQs on a seperate page.
Thanks for your input! Will definitely think about the chart in the header, you might have a point and more reviewers mentioned the text size, so that is also something that should be looked at.
?My first impression was positive. I easily understood what the site was about, and the bright colors grabbed my attention.
I mostly like the home page layout. My one suggestion would be to move “No extensive manual” and “Easy team collaboration” above “Tom’s planner: Gantt Chart Software Key Features.” As it is now, the key features divide the four main selling points headlined in green, and that’s a little awkward. On the other hand, I really like that you have a “Try Without Registration” button in the upper right corner. That makes it very easy to see that users can have a free trial. Too many sites make the mistake of burying their free trial offers somewhere in the fine print. I also like that you have good reviews from reputable sources lining the right side. That should go a long way towards inspiring confidence in your product.
As a copywriter, I’m not that crazy about either of your taglines. They’re kind of wordy and not very unique or catchy. Even if you can’t come up with something more inventive and just want to keep it simple, you should at least make it more succinct. For instance, “amazingly easy project planning” could work. It’s still a bit of a mouthful but not as bad.
I checked out most of the rest of the site on my own–Tour, Product Info, Templates, and About Us–and generally like it quite a bit. I wonder, though, if you’re planning to have a more extensive tutorial or user guide. The information you currently have on the Tour page is a great start, but if someone is a new user, I think they would need access to more detailed info about how the application works.*
In my opinion, the Pricing and Sign Up page is clear and easy to understand. The FAQs are very helpful. I like that you explain the difference between collaborating as a team member and as a project manager. A lot of sites don’t explain important differences in their pricing plans like that, which can give users a feeling that the site is trying to pull the wool over their eyes in some way. The fact that you were upfront about this speaks well of your company and should make potential users feel more comfortable.
You want to sell your service to project managers, so I would think you should market it at business-oriented web sites and blogs, even trade publications if you can afford them. You also might want to try to get tech sites and bloggers to review your software.
Specific sites? Well, I did a quick Google search and found http://www.projectmanager.net, which appears to be a kind of social network for project managers. I noticed right away that a company called ValleySpeak, Inc. was marketing a product similar to yours in the site’s forums. Also, http://www.allpm.com seems to be a blog by a project manager. And here’s a site that has links to project management software tools: http://managementhelp.org/plan_dec/project/project.htm
*Note: When I was almost done writing this review, I finally noticed the link to your tutorial in the first paragraph on the home page. I think you should have a separate tab at the top for the tutorial because it’s way too easy to overlook this link.
?Thanks so much for taking the time to review Tom’s Planner. Really like your input on the tagline, I’m going to put that forward in the next team meeting, same goes for the Tutorial idea. New users might like a bit more guidance.
?$5 awarded to greatfeedback4u.
What is your first impression when you open the website?
This website is very appealing to the eyes. When i first opened it and took a look it made me want to scroll down and search the page to see what it is about. By doing this the website will draw more viewers have have more people sign up. I also found that the site looks very organized and easy to find things.
What do you think of our tagline: “Truly easy to use project planning software”. Do you think “Surprisingly easy to use project planning software” would be better?
While looking at the tagline i liked the first one that is used. It makes people know that this website is serious about making things easier for people. However i lilke “suprizingly easy to use project planning software” better than the first one. When i think of software i think of stuff that is difficult to use. In others words i would not expect this project planning software to be easy, it would come to a surprise for me. This is why the second one is better for a tagline.
On the website: what would you definitely keep and what would you change?
I really like the quick sign up thing. It makes it easy to register quickly for this site instead of most sites where you have to open a new window this is way more convienent. The colors are another thing on this website that should be kept. They are eye popping and draw attention. I didnt see anything i would change on this site i wouold just try to make a home page so long. I would consider condensing it a bit.
When you go to the ‘pricing and sign-up page, do you find the information is presented in a clear and straight forward way?
While looking for the pricing and sign up page i found it rather difficult to see it. I suggest putting those tabs maybe above the picture on the home site so other individuals can spot it easier. After going to the said page i looked over the pricing and i understund it perfectly. I dont see why anyone else would have a problem with it. nothin ga second read couldnt help.
How would you market Tom’s Planner?
To market Tom’s Planner i would do the same thing as you guys have already done. First make an account with all the huge websites like facebook twitter myspace and other blogging sites. This will be the biggest way to market the software and if the bugdet is high enough i would think about making a commercial to air on television to really get the new out to people that dont an accounts in any of the websites listed above.
Do you know any specific blogs, websites and/or journalists that would be interested in writing about Tom’s Planner?
I actually do not. I am not a big fan of blogging so the only website i would be able to think of would be facebook.
?Thanks a lot for taking the time to review Tom’s Planner and pointing out the location of the tabs and that you had to look for the pricing and sign up page. Good point!
?$5 awarded to kybocskay.
• My first impression piques my interest and made me want to keep reading and find out what this site is about. The colors scheme went together nicely.
• I like the “Truly easy to use project software” tagline. It just flowed together better and it works with what you are trying to achieve with this website.
• I would keep the color scheme because it makes the page Pop! I would probably move the example of the software under your buttons (Home; Tour; Product Info, etc) . I don’t see anything that I would remove; it’s all very nicely laid out.
• I think that all the information needed is here. You also have the FAQs just in anyone has any questions
• I think that you are doing really well with marketing this site on your own. You have all the social networks, comments from clients, and the companies that use your software. I would also target small business websites and forums to get your name out to a wider audience
• I really don’t have any journalists names, but there are a lot of different websites that have blogs on for business like all business, ask or you can try project management forums like pmforum.org. Maybe reach out to them and see if they can help
• I don’t have any additional feedback other than I think the site looks great and all the information is at your fingertips.
?Many thanks for your feedback. More reviewers want the labels/navigation moved, so we’ll seriously consider this.
?1) What is your first impression when you open the website?
I like the home page although it looks a bit crowded. Still, it is not so crowded to feel overwhelming. If I had to change anything, it would be the logos of the companies that you have at the bottom. Those companies are important enough to be highlighted, and not at the bottom. People not always go down there, and chances are that they will not see it. Those names will create trust.
I wouldn’t put the logos in grey either.
In general, I would add a little bit of space between the titles and the regular text so there’s a bit of white space and the text can breath a bit.
2) What do you think of our tagline: “Truly easy to use project planning software”. Do you think “Surprisingly easy to use project planning software” would be better?
Both are adequate and suit for this purpose. Still, I think that I would go for other style.
3) On the website: what would you definitely keep and what would you change?
It is hard to say but it is a bit crowded. I’d probably remove the twitter plug-in. I fail to see why I should be interested in all those “conversations” going on.
I’d also probably change the font. I’m not saying don’t use Arial, but not as the main font and yes as a fall back font. Arial is used so commonly that results a bit tiring right now. Maybe Trebuchet MS will help Windows users to see a more stylish page.
I’d definitely would change the HTML because I think that it can be improved. I feel there are too many divs and also that there are a few p elements missing (as an example, in the home page, you can read “project planning software” and a little bit of text. Everything is inside a div, but while the title uses h1s, the paragraph is not contained by a p element)
4) When you go to the ‘pricing and sign-up page, do you find the information is presented in a clear and straight forward way?
It is clear and I think that there’s no room for doubt.
5) How would you market Tom’s Planner?
Of course, social media. That’s a must nowadays.
I would do short videos-tutorials and publish them in youtube, vimeo, etc. Maybe encourage current users to record a small video of how they take advantage of Tom’s planner.
Also videos and examples to compare it with other software.
Affiliate marketing is another option.
Maybe, invite popular bloggers and project managers from major companies (if that’s possible) to write about it and to explain why they find necessary the use of a planning software, etc.
I would also use the blog as a promotion tool, giving tips and tricks of how to keep on time with projects or to make the most of them. Even some tips for management. And, of course, tips and tricks of how the software should be used if you’re a manager, or if you’re simply invited to a project plan, or if you’re a freelancer.
5) Do you know any specific blogs, websites and/or journalists that would be interested in writing about Tom’s Planner?
The only name I can think of right now is Alyssa. I know that she blogs at sitepoint.com and she normally speaks about this type of things
6) Any additional feedback/comments are welcome!
I think that adding new templates is a great idea and it seems that you’re already doing that.
I would change the “Ask Tom” a major part of the site. Feedback is important enough to have its own page, I think.
?Thanks so much for all your comments and feedback. Like your input on the fonts, we’ve been playing around with that as well. Good input on the marketing front as well and I will pass on the html bit to our developer. Thanks again!
?$5 awarded to Nuria.
•What is your first impression when you open the website?
My first impression was wow there is a lot going on here. The site looks very crowded which could scare possible future clients away. It turns people away if they feel like sites look complicated. Crowdedness gives people the idea that it is complicated.
•What do you think of our tagline: “Truly easy to use project planning software”. Do you think “Surprisingly easy to use project planning software” would be better?
When reading both taglines, I feel “Truly easy to use project planning software” gave me a better feel. The word “Truly” seems to connect to people a lot better than “Surprisingly”.
•On the website: what would you definitely keep and what would you change?
I would definitely keep the statements made about your site by the “Twitter users” and “What others are saying” but…I would not have the site crowded with them. When you have 75% of your site stating what others are saying about the site is overwelming and makes people feel as though you are pushing your service or product on them. I think you should make another tab or link for “What others are saying” and just keep the “Twitter users” on your page. That way you are still showing what others have to say about your service but you are not crowding your site with it. “What others are saying” takes up a great deal of your page and it’s large enough to be put on its own tab or link. Most people would be able to relate to “Twitter” more than these companies making statements, so therefore I think “Twitter” is better off being on the front page of the site, plus it’s small and doesn’t take up a large space. If you remove “What others are saying” from the front page of your site, it will make room to spead everything else out and your site won’t look crowded.
I really like the page layout and the fact that it is colorful. I like the pictures of your software. It gives possible future clients an idea of what the product is.
I also think it would help for you to have a “FaQ” link or tab for common questions that are asked. It’s much easier to have answers to your questions just a click away instead of having to contact the company and wait for a reply.
•When you go to the ‘pricing and sign-up page, do you find the information is presented in a clear and straight forward way?
When I clicked on the “pricing and sign-up page”, again, I notice the “What others are saying” on the side of the screen which was bothering. I really think it’s better off under it’s own link or tab.
Yes I find the “pricing and sign-up page” clear and straight forward. It’s easy to understand and gives good information. I also like the picture it shows which makes it easy to see what each package provides. I think the prices are very reasonable.
•How would you market Tom’s Planner?
The best marketing tool you can use would be social sites such as Facebook and Twitter. I notice that you are already using these sites which is great.
The only other thing that I can think of which is good for marketing is teaming up with other sites which provides services like yours but does not provide the same product or packages and put their link on your page and have them do the same. That is very good for marketing!!!
•Do you know any specific blogs, websites and/or journalists that would be interested in writing about Tom’s Planner?
No I do not. The best thing for you to do is find other people or companies which is like your sevice but do not provide the same products or packages and then go from there. I did notice that you do not advertise on Myspace. You might want to look into Myspace. A lot of people use Myspace and a lot of companies advertise on it.
•Any additional feedback/comments are welcome!
I like your site and I think it looks great. It looks very professional. I would just change a few things in which I mentioned above.
?Many thanks for all your feedback! I really like your input concerning marketing and teaming up with other services, good advise! Also think you have a good point about ‘what others are saying’, going to look into that as well.
?$5 awarded to Sierra12346.
What is your first impression when you open the website?
When I first opened the site I really liked the design of the website. I really liked how there was a planner right at the top of page. I also like how you used a pie chart to represent the “o” in Tom, very nice touch. It was a good play on the purpose of the website. I liked the bubbles used on the left of the page instead of using tabs, they can be sort of boring sometimes. Its also very clever to have a “try without registration” option. Lot’s of companies only let you use the system after you sign up. In addition to that I like how the tour if one minute long and that you emphasis that. Being that you say you say it’s truly easy to use have a short tour backs that idea up. I like how you reinforce your qualities throughout the page. Meaning there’s another chart which is in a small neat box along with another tab that lets you know you can try with registration. Often times people don’t like to give personal information right of the bat and with this system you put ease of people not having to release that information. I also appreciate that you have confidence in your website by showing what others are saying about your companies and show the companies that you currently work with. You have some big names companies and that put a lot of integrity behind your company. The key features box is great because again it seems your constantly highlighting the best of what your company has, again showing confidence in your service. Keeping it main stream it was nice to see that you could share on twitter and site of the like. I appreciated that that share box wasn’t to elaborate and that it was towards the bottom.
What do you think of our tagline: “Truly easy to use project planning software”. Do you think “Surprisingly easy to use project planning software” would be better?
For me “Truly easy to use project planning software,” is what I liked the best. When you use surprising it seems like you almost can’t believe it yourself. Truly sounds like we know this is easy so let us just show you. I believe that this tagline boat more confidence and with a company that promotes planning you want your user to feel that is will be easy to use.
On the website: what would you definitely keep and what would you change?
After looking at each tab and throughout the website I can say I would change a thing. Each tab showed just enough information not to drown the reader, again reinforcing that tom’s planner is easy to use. Furthermore, your price points were right on the money with today’s economic troubles.
When you go to the ‘pricing and sign-up page, do you find the information is presented in a clear and straight forward way?
Yes, the prices and sign up were very clear and straight forward. I liked that little box that pops up when you move the mouse around. It gives you more information about each section. I also liked how the box just went away when you moved the mouse to another section. Often times sites put the little X in the corner making it more times consuming to move through the information quickly.
How would you market Tom’s Planner?
I would market it on popular websites like Monster, Career builder, Linkden and Rat Race Rebellion.
Do you know any specific blogs, websites and/or journalists that would be interested in writing about Tom’s Planner?
One of my favorite news sites that might be interested is Democracy Now with journalist Amy Goodman and Juan Gonzalez.
Additional information:
?Keeping rotating the section of what others are saying so that people see that your company is ever evolving.
Your input is really appreciated! Many thanks for taking the time to look at Tom’s Planner!
?my impression is When I first opened the site I really liked the design of the website. I really liked how there was a planner right at the top of page and i love the colors there are so colorful and bright.
?Thanks for your input!
?Home page appears a bit cluttered. Quick tutorial did not work. “Truly easy to use project planning software”. I think is the way to go. Pricing is presented clearly and it is very reasonably priced.
I have a video/film production company and this program is easier to use that some design specifically for the video/film production industry.
I’d try making some of the templates specific to production and market it to tv production/stations.
Thanks for your time! Would you be interested in helping us create a template (or more) specific for your line of work? Maybe a good way for one of your interns to help understand the business
Of course we would add a link to your company. Contact us if you’re interested and we will set you up with an account.
?a) My first impression when i open the website is the colorful display of the layout and the abundance of subjects and information a person can choose from.
?b)I think your tagline” Truly easy to use project planning software” sounds better than ” surprisingly easy to use project planning software”.
c) On the website i would definitely keep the colorful display of the main page, but i would recommend a brief explanation of the basics behind your website like ( GANTT CHART) so that a first time user would get more familiar with the website.
d)When i went to the ” pricing and sign-up page” i found the way you compare the benefits between different price levels is very good and very clear and straight forward.
e)I would market Tom’s planner by hiring different bloggers to write about your website.
f) I personally don’t know about any specific blogs, websites, but i think if you did research about comparable websites you would probably find some leads that might help you in marketing your website.
g) Finally i would recommend keeping the same colorful display of the main page, and i would recommend marketing the website in different ways so that you will have better recognition and more exposure to people interested in using planning services.
Really appreciate the feedback, many thanks!
?When I open the page I thought is was very colorful and had big lettering and I thought that was a thumbs up. It very easy to navigate and it has alot of information on your website. The pricing is very straightforward and that’s what people like mostly is the pricing. They don’t want to sign up then find out the pricing later on. The only thing I did’nt seem to be fond of is you display too much of what others companies about your website. I do like recommendation but, its too much of it. I would rate the tom’s planner A for doing a great job on the website. Instead of companies refering your site you should have people who had used your website and they should be able to leave a comment. I think other blogs and websites will definitely like your site and they would recommend your business to others.
?Great that you took the time to look at Tom’s Planner!
?* What is your first impression when you open the website?
When I first go open your website, I like the color scheme that you have. It flows with each other and I like how you have a picture of the planner. As, I start to scroll down the page, it looks like you are trying to cram a lot of information on the home page. I think it still looks professional but I think that you can put some of the information on other pages.
* What do you think of our tagline: “Truly easy to use project planning software”. Do you think “Surprisingly easy to use project planning software” would be better?
I don’t really like either of them. I think something like “A project planning software that is surprisingly easy to use” would be better. The tagline that you have and the alternative sounds awkward.
* On the website: what would you definitely keep and what would you change?
I don’t think you need both the “what others are saying” and the users on twitter on the same page. It is basically the same thing. You should have a testimonials page if you are going to have a lot of testimonials. It just clutters up the homepage.
I like the picture on the homepage along with the try and start circle buttons up top. I also like the quick tour. I do like the idea of the quick start up but it is right next to the other sign up box, so I am not sure you need both of them.
I like the FAQ section you have and I love the about Tom’s Planner. I think having background on why you have it is important.
* When you go to the ‘pricing and sign-up page, do you find the information is presented in a clear and straight forward way?
I do think it is presented in a clear and straight forward way. It shows what each type of membership has. If people don’t understand, they can just scroll down to the FAQ section.
* How would you market Tom’s Planner?
I think having all the major companies liking your planner market’s itself but I also think advertising on facebook and other social media is key. It helps get your product and name out there for people to see. Word of mouth is also very productive. If people like your product, they will recommend your product. People are big into the social media so if a blogger uses and likes your product, they will blog about it.
* Do you know any specific blogs, websites and/or journalists that would be interested in writing about Tom’s Planner?
Problogger gets a lot of traffic. Also, maybe you can buy ad space on blogs on high traffic sites such as perez hilton and others. I know that your product doesn’t match with the site but blogs like that have high followers. Worth a try.
* Any additional feedback/comments are welcome!
I like the planner. I went through the tour and all the pages. I would definitely use it and tell my friends.
?Really appreciate your input and critical feedback. There are definitely some issues we are going to address. Thanks again!
?$5 awarded to lyndzeb.
- My first impression of the site was that it looked complicated. But after reading the “Tip” it’s actually rather simple. The colors are bold, bright and add character to the site.
The main page is crowded. I would put a link leading to a page for the reviews. Maybe give a small blurb on the front page with a partial review that links to the review page. I’d even put the box with what the Twitter users are saying on the review page.
Everything from the second gray box down should be moved to the Product Info page (except the share buttons and the “More than 30k users worldwide” and the company names that use the product).
- “Truly easy to use project planning software” is better than “Surprisingly” just doesn’t sound appealing, in my opinion.
- The only real change that I would make is where it is crowded on the front page. There’s just too much going on and by the time you get to the second gray box, you lose interest.
- The pricing and sign up page was clear & concise and left no room for confusion. The pricing packages were laid out neatly and was easy to understand.
I would still put the reviews on a page to themself instead of having them on all of the pages.
- I would market Tom’s Planner on Facebook, MySpace, LinkdIn, Digg, YouTube (a video to introduce the company), affiliate advertising, and email marketing. I would only market on Yahoo &/or Google just because a lot of folks use them. However, they wouldn’t be the primary focus of the marketing plan.
- Do you know any specific blogs, websites and/or journalists that would be interested in writing about Tom’s Planner?
Not offhand. However, you could probably go to the Associated Content of Yahoo and put up an assignment for a review there to get some freelance writers to write about Tom’s Planner.
?Many thanks for taking the time to review Tom’s Planner. It’s really helpful!
?FIRST IMPRESSION UPON VISITING SITE:
My overall initial impression was OVERWHELMINGLY FAVORABLE. The colorful, high-quality images which greet the viewer are very attractive and professional.
Would Definitely Keep:
The two main features of the homepage which immediately jumped out at me were: 1) the software screenshot at the top; and, 2)the quick signup box to the right which requires very little user input. Both are definite pluses which virtually GUARANTEE further site exploration by potential buyers.
Once signed up and logged into the software, I would keep the “Tip of the Day” box, but make it an optional aid.
Upon reaching the input screen, I found the convenient icon arrangement at the top to be very useful. I particularly liked the logo insertion capability, export functions, and Suggestions/Feedback button.
Would Change:
On Homepage: I would eliminate the very bottom section “More than 30,000 Users”, and the preceding large-print blue quote. I would also pare down the “What Others are Saying” list to the right- side to just the better-known names (PC World, MSNBC.COM, USATODAY, WebWorkerDaily). The other comments might go into a separate tab entitled “Other Accolades”, for instance.
These omissions would make the homepage less crowded and visually “busy”. It is dispensible because it is largely redundant, and detracts somewhat from the main purpose of your homepage, which, presumably is to introduce your PRODUCT to site visitors.
These changes would also, IMO enhance the overall impression and psychological impact of efficiciency and time savings which you definitely want to convey to potential customers.
“…‘pricing and sign-up page , do you find the information is presented … clear and straight forward way?”
YES, DEFINITELY! I was especially impressed by the side-by-side comparison of the various packages offered. WHAT A TIME SAVER! As a frequent online shopper, the presence of this feature alone has cinched my decision to buy. It eliminates a lot of prospective buyers’ time in trying to digest, review, and evaluate the best buy for their money. Such additional time investment often leads to buyer frustration and NO SALE. The comparison also helps facilitate higher dollar-amount purchases by providing a clear visual aid for the buyer to see the clear additional value of the more expensive plans.
The offer of a demo version is also very significant IMHO. As a consumer, I can personally attest to the added credibility which this lends to a product. Any company willing to allow a try-before-you-buy analysis of its commodity must have significant confidence in it, and the integrity to back it up.
I would suggest using paypal to process payments, however. A better name-recognized entity is invaluable when inducing people to transmit sensitive data via the internet. Despite SSL and “secure transaction” notations, nothing can replace widespread experience with and confidence in an established organization which is trusted and has a track record of fair dealings and competent service.
How would you market Tom’s Planner?
Via feeds, blogs, and sites targeted at homemakers, busy execs, small business owners, fundraising mgmt. personnel in profit/nonprofit agencies, etc.
I would mainly employ search engine keywords and phrases, web page trailers, etc. I would suggest avoiding popup windows, as most have them blocked due to the annoying nuisance which they are. Not to mention the damaged credibility which such flashy, overly-flamboyant techniques cause.
Facebook and Twitter are also good options to explore and utilize, if the message is kept professional, dignified, and concise
Do you know any specific blogs, websites and/or journalists that would be interested in writing about Tom’s Planner?
Use of objective, consumer-oriented evaluation sites is strongly recommended.
consumer reviews.org
software reviews.org
Softsea.org
BargainMeter.com
Are just a few examples, for starters.
Evaluation-based sites/blogs such as these, and market segment-specific pages which target the above-mentioned groups discussed above are your best bets. From these sites/blogs, specific journalists can be further identified as potential further publicity.
What do you think of our tagline: “Truly easy to use project planning software”. Do you think “Surprisingly easy to use project planning software” would be better?
I would personally suggest NEITHER tagline. My suggestion would be for catchier, “fresher” terms such as “quick(ly)”, “simple”, “in a snap”, etc. Example: “Simple-to-Use Software Takes the ‘Project’ Out of Your Event Planning”, or “Project Planning on Auto-Pilot is a Snap”.
All in all, you have a GREAT PRODUCT which is very practical, useful, and is sure to be HUGE SUCCESS with proper marketing. Keep me posted, and GOD BLESS – GOOD LUCK
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?Many, many thanks for your input and feedback, it has been really helpful and we are definitely going to implement some ideas. Really liked your input on PayPal, you can use Paypal to pay, but that isn’t made clear enough on the website.
?$5 awarded to Crissie.
-MY FIRST IMPRESSION OF THE WEBSITE IS THAT IT IS VERY COLORFUL AND VERY BRIGHT. IT’S VERY WARM AND INVITING AND IT MAKES ME WANT TO LOOK INTO THE WEBSITE MORE AND MAYBE EVEN BUY THEIR PRODUCT
.
-I THINK THAT THE TAGLINE IS SIMPLE AND STRAIGHT TO THE POINT BUT THE OTHER TAGLINE “Surprisingly easy to use project planning software” IS A LOT MORE CATCHY AND MORE EXCITING.
-ON THE WEBSITE I WOULD KEEP PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING AS IT IS. THE ONLY THING THAT WOULD NEED TO CHANGE IS THE ANSWERS TO THE QUESTIONS ON THE PRODUCT AS WELL AS THE About Us SECTION. THERE WERE A COUPLE OF GRAMMATICAL ERRORS IN
-THE PRICING AND SIGN-UP SECTION WAS PRETTY STRAIGHT FORWARD. IT PRETTY MUCH EXPLAINED THE PRICING OF THE PRODUCT AS WELL AS GIVE PEOPLE ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS THAT THEY MAY HAVE. THE ONLY CHANGE WOULD BE TO DO SOME GRAMMATICAL CHANGES. IN THE SECTION WHERE A CLIENT WAS GIVING THEIR TESTIMONY, THERE WAS A QUOTATION MARK MISSING. OTHER THAN THAT, THE SECTION WAS GOOD.
-I WOULD PROBABLY MARKET TOM’S PLANNER ON CLASSIFIED WEBSITES SINCE PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR AFFORDABLE WAYS TO ORGANIZE THEIR PROJECTS. I WOULD PROBABLY ALSO MARKET THIS WEBSITE AT FORUM THAT ARE ABOUT DOING BETTER ORGANIZING OF PROJECTS.
-THE ONLY WEBSITE THAT I CAN THINK OF IMMEDIATELY WOULD BE CRAIGSLIST.
-OVERALL, THE WEBSITE IS VERY BRIGHT AND INVITING AND THE PRODUCTS BEING ISSUED IS VERY USEFUL AND VERY MUCH NEEDED. EVERYONE IS TRYING TO ORGANIZE THEIR IMPORTANT PROJECTS IN AN EFFICIENT WAY AND TOM’S PLANNER IS VERY AFFORDABLE YET HAS QUALITY IN THEIR PRODUCTS. GREAT PRODUCT
?Your input is very much appreciated! Thanks for taking the time to review Tom’s Planner.
?Feedback sought:
What is your first impression when you open the website? I thought that overall your website was colorful and appealing to the eye.
What do you think of our tagline: “Truly easy to use project planning software”. I found the tagline to be straight to the point.
Do you think “Surprisingly easy to use project planning software” would be better? Actually I did; I have used a lot of different planning software like quicken, ms, and others and I found you to be very easy to learn. And the color code below was a great idea. I wouldn’t have to try to figure it out what the color mean.
On the website: what would you definitely keep and what would you change? I definitely would keep what you have like another person said the lack of price listed would be a added plus. Also, I didn’t see a place of the software to take notes? Maybe I missed it however, I always like to write notes about my meeting and what a client likes or dislikes.
When you go to the ‘pricing and sign-up page, do you find the information is presented in a clear and straight forward way? The pricing was straight forward and clear.
How would you market Tom’s Planner? I would market on all the social networks, business forums, magazines, and maybe a 7 day trial offer with a discount to buy at the end of the trail or a give away for a business.
Do you know any specific blogs, websites and/or journalists that would be interested in writing about Tom’s Planner? I have a business credit repair site; I would love to blog about this planner it’s great.
Any additional feedback/comments are welcome! I think you are on the right track with this planner everyone could use it from my college student to keep up with his assignments or a stay at home mom paying the bills to the small business.
?Many thanks for your input and feedback. It would be great if you would blog about Tom’s Planner. Let me know and I will set you up with a press account. It’s good to hear that you notice the ease.
?What is your first impression when you open the website?
1. I am a project manager at a marketing firm, and work specifically on website projects every day. Upon first visiting your site, my initial impression is that the imagery of your software balances nicely with your main copy body. Specifically, I can easily see exactly what your project is, and who it targets (ie People like me – project managers!). The balance of imagery, navigation, and copy works perfectly for my needs.
2. What do you think of our tagline: “Truly easy to use project planning software”. Do you think “Surprisingly easy to use project planning software” would be better?
Having worked with two different project management software systems myself, I believe that the second tagline, “Surprisingly easy to use project planning software” would be better. Any project manager who has used ineffective PM software in the past would appreciate the “insider’s touch” to that statement. We all know that many project management tools are simply a pain, and are incredibly hard to navigate. The somewhat conversational tone of the tagline, combined with the insightful use of “surprisingly” would, I think, appeal a great deal to project managers who want a tool from people who understand them.
3. On the website: what would you definitely keep and what would you change?
I think it was a great idea to keep your main navigation straightforward (7 items, including “Home”). I do feel; however, that the right sidebar is somewhat cluttered. I think it’s great that you have received feedback from reputable companies, and it definitely impacts my impression of your product; however, I feel that sidebar is way too busy for a homepage. I’d rather see a teaser of one or two, with a link to a full page of testimonials (maybe even through a separate blog category, which would also help with SEO value). I’d also suggest a larger, more prominent logo in the header. The logo (and as a result, the product name) is dwarfed by the schedule image. I’d like to see a much more prominent logo (Perhaps some javascript programming, no flash, with rotating imagery of various elements of your product? This would also allow for a more prominent implementation of your logo, without changing the design elements of your site significantly – in other words, minimizing any additional costs for you!).
4. When you go to the ‘pricing and sign-up page, do you find the information is presented in a clear and straight forward way?
I’m a big fan of charts, specifically when it’s differentiating between levels of a product. It’s extremely easy-to-use and straightforward. I think that the FAQ is awkward; however, and simply makes the page too long. With my screen resolution, I didn’t even know an FAQ was there until I scrolled down. I’d recommend using jquery programming on the FAQ, and on the subpages, I’d also change the size of the image. It seems that schedule image is static, and it’s redundant to have it as the image for your subpage. It also makes it that much harder to get to the information on this page. This page is pretty much the most “valuable” of the site. It’s the one that will ultimately convert visitors to customers. The imagery at this point is a non-factor. The homepage has gotten me to click on “Pricing & Signup.” Now make it easy for me to get the information I need, and convince me to buy your product.
5. How would you market Tom’s Planner?
Without a doubt I would recommend marketing this tool as a project management tool from a project management expert. A “we get it cause we’ve been there” mentality. While it’s certainly the “cool” tool right now, I also highly recommend reaching out through social media (and also integrating your blog into this mix – see below for additional commentary on your blog). I’d suggest backing up your assertions by conducting a survey with your current clients. Get tangible results for what you do right (these questions should be geared towards ease of use, of course, as well as customer service, and expertise in the industry). Then, put out the message that you are a project management expert, and Tom’s Planner is derived from your expertise and experience in project management.
6. Do you know any specific blogs, websites and/or journalists that would be interested in writing about Tom’s Planner?
I think that Mashable, although highly social media-oriented, is a great resource for business professionals. Might I also suggest that, rather than try to generate coverage yourself from other blogs, which can be difficult, perhaps your team blog about other topics relevant to project managers? Establish your team as project management experts, and offer to write “guest” blog posts for other business sites. Also, utilize your blog to, again, demonstrate your expertise in project management, not just project management software. Right now your blog seems very product-oriented. That’s great, but I don’t believe it will help much in gaining new customers (but is a great customer service tool for your current ones). I’d create some separate categories within your blog, and really branch out with those topics. Blogging on project management topics will, as I mentioned previously, also help make a dramatic impact with your SEO and Google Rankings.
7. Any additional feedback/comments are welcome!
I think your product seems very intuitive, and I must admit I am not happy with our current PM software at my full-time employer. If you’re interesting in knowing which product I use, please feel free to contact me. Also, as someone who has a significant background in copywriting (specifically for websites), I feel that your site could use a more polished voice (and better copy overall). Lastly, I highly recommend creating a custom blog design to match your website. Upon clicking on your blog, the blog did not open in a new window, and it was difficult to navigate back to your site. This could be discouraging to potential customers. By pulling the design from your website and incorporating it into your blogs (with active links matching those on your site), it will be easy for customers and potential customers to check out your blog, and your “voice,” and get back to the business at hand – purchasing your product!
?Your input has been very valuable, many thanks for taking the time to review Tom’s Planner. We are definitely going to use a lot of it to optimize the website! Let’s link through LinkedIn (Thomas Ummels).
?$5 awarded to prwriter2008.
•What is your first impression when you open the website?
My first impression was wow there is a lot going on here. The site looks very crowded which could scare possible future clients away. It turns people away if they feel like sites look complicated. Crowdedness gives people the idea that it is complicated.
•What do you think of our tagline: “Truly easy to use project planning software”. Do you think “Surprisingly easy to use project planning software” would be better?
When reading both taglines, I feel “Truly easy to use project planning software” gave me a better feel. The word “Truly” seems to connect to people a lot better than “Surprisingly”.
•On the website: what would you definitely keep and what would you change?
I would definitely keep the statements made about your site by the “Twitter users” and “What others are saying” but…I would not have the site crowded with them. When you have 75% of your site stating what others are saying about the site is overwelming and makes people feel as though you are pushing your service or product on them. I think you should make another tab or link for “What others are saying” and just keep the “Twitter users” on your page. That way you are still showing what others have to say about your service but you are not crowding your site with it. “What others are saying” takes up a great deal of your page and it’s large enough to be put on its own tab or link. Most people would be able to relate to “Twitter” more than these companies making statements, so therefore I think “Twitter” is better off being on the front page of the site, plus it’s small and doesn’t take up a large space. If you remove “What others are saying” from the front page of your site, it will make room to spead everything else out and your site won’t look crowded.
I really like the page layout and the fact that it is colorful. I like the pictures of your software. It gives possible future clients an idea of what the product is.
I also think it would help for you to have a “FaQ” link or tab for common questions that are asked. It’s much easier to have answers to your questions just a click away instead of having to contact the company and wait for a reply.
•When you go to the ‘pricing and sign-up page, do you find the information is presented in a clear and straight forward way?
When I clicked on the “pricing and sign-up page”, again, I notice the “What others are saying” on the side of the screen which was bothering. I really think it’s better off under it’s own link or tab.
Yes I find the “pricing and sign-up page” clear and straight forward. It’s easy to understand and gives good information. I also like the picture it shows which makes it easy to see what each package provides. I think the prices are very reasonable.
•How would you market Tom’s Planner?
The best marketing tool you can use would be social sites such as Facebook and Twitter. I notice that you are already using these sites which is great.
The only other thing that I can think of which is good for marketing is teaming up with other sites which provides services like yours but does not provide the same product or packages and put their link on your page and have them do the same. That is very good for marketing!!!
•Do you know any specific blogs, websites and/or journalists that would be interested in writing about Tom’s Planner?
No I do not. The best thing for you to do is find other people or companies which is like your sevice but do not provide the same products or packages and then go from there. I did notice that you do not advertise on Myspace. You might want to look into Myspace. A lot of people use Myspace and a lot of companies advertise on it.
•Any additional feedback/comments are welcome!
I like your site and I think it looks great. It looks very professional. I would just change a few things in which I mentioned above.
?I enjoyed the color schemes.the layout was great too.I think it is easy to navigate,I would keep the taglines.I would keep everything,I look for the main tabs for the navigation of the website. I find these tabs located just under the header.The tabs contain all the tools I am searching for.
?The sign-up page is very nice.it’s easy and simple.Shows you everything you need to know.I would recommend you try this product.So go get yours today
What is your first impression when you open the website?
My first impression of Tom’s Planner website is that it is very eye catching. There is a lot going on within that first page, but not so much that it is a turn off. It just makes you want to take the time out to view the different sections. The colors make it very appealing. I also really like how at the bottom it says 30.000 users worldwide and underneath it states some very well known companies. This is not so flashy that it makes it seem sort of fishy, but it is enough to make an individual wonder if all these successful companies are using this product/software maybe I should look into it for myself.
What do you think of our tagline: “Truly easy to use project planning software”. Do you think “Surprisingly easy to use project planning software” would be better?
Honestly both taglines are catchy, but maybe rewording it would fit even better. Something along the lines of The project planning software that is Truly/suprisingly easy to use. I think that I may even go so far as to go for the even catchier shock and awe statements such as “The Astonishingly easy to use project planning software that everyone is talking about”
On the website: what would you definitely keep and what would you change?
Things I would keep: The color scheme is outstanding. I also think that the button that says try it without registration is great. Everyone loves the idea of being able to work hands on with something before they make a purchase. This gives the feel that it is a great product and if you don’t believe us try it for yourself. I would also keep the way the well known companies are listed on the site both their comments on the side and at the bottom. This gives appeal and is makes the viewer of the site want to learn why these successful companies find Tom’s Planner so great. I would definetly leave that atleast to some extent. That being said I move on to things I would change.
Things I would change: I would make the what others are saying about Tom’s Planner not so large. It is very intriguing to see such well known companies have such great things to say about Tom’s Planner but its proportion to other aspects may be a bit to much. The sections that say Project Planning Software and why Tom’s Planner should be larger. Even if nothing more was added it should be bigger in font. It should appear as though the benefits of the product sell itself. Making it appear as the only marketing technique you have is boasting about what other companies have to say about your product is not the best route. Not saying that this is not appealing to see well known sites listed as people who use Tom’s Planner, because it really is. I just think there should be just as much effort put into how this product is beneficial to the everyday person/company. I really hope that what I have said is not contradictory. I do think that the appeal of seeing MSNBC and USA Today raving about Tom’s Planner is very attention grabbing. It makes the individual want to take a second look and try to find out why Tom’s Planner is so great. I just think that when they take that second look there should be more information or easier to locate information on the benefits.
When you go to the ‘pricing and sign-up page, do you find the information is presented in a clear and straight forward way?
Yes the information on the pricing and sign-up page is very clear and straight forward. That being said, under the Professional and Unlimited Sections it states it is so much a month, then at the bottom it states that these monthly fees are based on a quarterly subscription. Then under each it states that Professional and unlimited saves 15% on annual subscription. This is a little confusing. I am unsure if this means that over the year you save that much with it being $9 and $19 a month or if it means that if you pay for the whole year at once you save an additional 15%. I believe it is the second one, but I think that it could be made clearer, and if that is the case I would even go as far as to list exactly how much that is a month. Of course I guess maybe saying 15% does seem like a much bigger discount then the little amount you would be saving monthly. So maybe I am off base by suggesting that.
How would you market Tom’s Planner?
I would market it using the aspect that you have about what other (well known) companies have said about it, but then also establishing how it can help the everyday man/company. In other words I would make it clear that Tom’s Planner is beneficial to every company whether they are a small mom and pop shop or a large fortune 500 company.
Do you know any specific blogs, websites and/or journalists that would be interested in writing about Tom’s Planner?
I work from home and have done so for the last year. The site that I use the most to learn information about business tools, office tools, and job listings is http://www.workplacelikehome.com. It is a forum and it is well known. I am sure that having a post about Tom’s Planner would be beneficial and could revenue additional business for you. I do not own the site, but I am sure that someone would be willing to write about Tom’s Planner. If not I would even be willing to do so on the site.
Any additional feedback/comments are welcome!
?Overall Tom’s Planner seems very appealing and I believe that your marketing techniques are really on the right track.
$5 awarded to melaniestuber.