Show HN: I built this CRM Tool for Windows. Thoughts? • Hacker News Board

Re: Show HN: I built this CRM Tool for Windows. Thoughts?

#11

Post by dalacv » Wed, Nov 21, 2012, 6:21 AM UTC

fleitz wrote: post #3

Less software, more people. Outline benefits not features, no one cares that you have slick-reports generation, they care about "Reports that will land you your next bonus". Same with the desktop thing, why should I care that people say the Desktop is dead. Instead say "Access your CRM while you're in the air for FREE" and then put an infographic together of how much the average business person will save in one year…

You're completely right. I will work on changing the content to highlight value vs. features.

Thanks!

Re: Show HN: I built this CRM Tool for Windows. Thoughts?

#12

Post by harman » Wed, Nov 21, 2012, 6:28 AM UTC

ruff wrote: post #10

Small thing—but not sure I'd buy a product from a company called "Dangerous Apps" It's been a while since I've used Goldmine, ACT, or any of the more SMB focused CRM apps but it's definitely not clear why I'd choose CRM Fly vs those products. i'd emphasize simplicity and ease of use—there are a lot of folks out there who benefit from sales tracking tools who simply don't need everything out there. Would, however, sug…

Some of the points already covered in the above comment.

Some use cases you can think over: 1: The Tasks created in CRMFly gets synchronized with Outlook tasks. 2: Same goes for Calendar. 3: Have the app as Web based and use the windows client to provide offline access.

Change the name of the Company and raise the Price a bit higher, $5 is too low.

Re: Show HN: I built this CRM Tool for Windows. Thoughts?

#13

Post by ruff » Wed, Nov 21, 2012, 6:28 AM UTC

ruff wrote: post #10

Small thing—but not sure I'd buy a product from a company called "Dangerous Apps" It's been a while since I've used Goldmine, ACT, or any of the more SMB focused CRM apps but it's definitely not clear why I'd choose CRM Fly vs those products. i'd emphasize simplicity and ease of use—there are a lot of folks out there who benefit from sales tracking tools who simply don't need everything out there. Would, however, sug…

BTW, another approach is eventually tackle a vertical... perhaps you'll end-up being the #1 CRM app for small practice attorneys, dentists, accountants, etc... you can potentially carve out a niche there, give yourself more focus on whom you want to build for and what their problems are, and find venues for better addressing those markets. I know several folks who started out thinking "broad", received limited but helpful initial adoption, talked to their customers and saw patterns of the types that seemed to have the biggest unmet needs and were actively seeking new ideas/solutions. Then you start to double down.

Re: Show HN: I built this CRM Tool for Windows. Thoughts?

#14

Post by ryanhuff » Wed, Nov 21, 2012, 6:31 AM UTC

I didn't see any email integration. Does that feature exist? Being able to have your interaction history (email, phone call notes, etc) for your clients in one place is important for many people.

Re: Show HN: I built this CRM Tool for Windows. Thoughts?

#15

Post by gauravpandey » Wed, Nov 21, 2012, 6:36 AM UTC

I think you should give it for 3 to 6 months free trial. Anyone who will use it for this long will be your happy customer anyways. Then you can charge a reasonable amount. Putting prices low may not help you much.

Re: Show HN: I built this CRM Tool for Windows. Thoughts?

#16

Post by beatpanda » Wed, Nov 21, 2012, 6:41 AM UTC

My nonprofit is in the market for a CRM tool, but none of us would be able to use this — we're an all-Mac shop.

Does your app have any way to import external data sources (preferably automatically)? Lots of organizations looking for CRM tools look for features that allow them to plug them in to tools they're already using.

Re: Show HN: I built this CRM Tool for Windows. Thoughts?

#17

Post by wavesounds » Wed, Nov 21, 2012, 6:42 AM UTC

I used to work for a company that customized Microsoft CRM. Im not sure I understand this, do your client's have to buy a Microsoft license to use this? You're using their API right? It looks just like out of the box Microsoft CRM, are you sure your not going to get sued trying to sell this?

Sorry if im being negative maybe with some more explanation on the site it would make more sense to me and your customers who are probably doing the same comparison I am.

Re: Show HN: I built this CRM Tool for Windows. Thoughts?

#18

Post by dalacv » Wed, Nov 21, 2012, 6:45 AM UTC

beatpanda wrote: post #16

My nonprofit is in the market for a CRM tool, but none of us would be able to use this — we're an all-Mac shop. Does your app have any way to import external data sources (preferably automatically)? Lots of organizations looking for CRM tools look for features that allow them to plug them in to tools they're already using.

It will, but that will need to be way down the line. I can basically use an ORM layer to handle the integration with legacy data.

Re: Show HN: I built this CRM Tool for Windows. Thoughts?

#19

Post by aspratley » Wed, Nov 21, 2012, 6:45 AM UTC

I haven't tried it so these comments are just about the sales pitch:

Have you talked to potential customers? What do your potential customers want, what needs aren't being matched by someone else?

Your opening sounds empty to me. Your product doesn't look like every other CRM tool, it doesn't look like peoplesoft, salesforce, sugarcrm. To me it looks a bit out of date. That's not necessarily a bad thing. I've worked with plenty of people that feel far more comfortable with something "more traditional". I would go with an opening selling the straight forward to the point nature of the product.

Personally I prefer to see the price/buying options before I click a buy now button.

You are selling a CRM product but your first screen shot is of a task list with personal items on it. Loose weight etc. As a customer this doesn't shout this software will help me manage customers and make more money.

The description on the customers screenshot is incorrect.

It looks like this is a product for a single person/freelancer as it doesn't allow sharing of data. That's going to limit your audience.

Personally I'd sell/develop the customer management/communication features more - how is it easy to keep trac of conversations, does it hook into email can I merge my calendar? I'd consider a mobile version for people visting clients on site.

Re: Show HN: I built this CRM Tool for Windows. Thoughts?

#20

Post by dalacv » Wed, Nov 21, 2012, 6:47 AM UTC

wavesounds wrote: post #17

I used to work for a company that customized Microsoft CRM. Im not sure I understand this, do your client's have to buy a Microsoft license to use this? You're using their API right? It looks just like out of the box Microsoft CRM, are you sure your not going to get sued trying to sell this? Sorry if im being negative maybe with some more explanation on the site it would make more sense to me and your customers who a…

This was done in a very short amount of time using DevExpress' XAF. Also, this CRM looks like every other CRM. That is also true. But that is the nature of CRM tools. They all look the same.