It’s interesting getting feedback from web designers.
We have been building 2ndSite for over three years now. There is still a lot we have in mind and many places we plan to go.
One of the things that has really helped us grow and guide our development is user feedback. We like it and we encourage it.
Recently, I have noticed a spike in requests for more flexibility in the invoice design templates offered by 2ndSite.
This is good feedback and we’ll certainly get to that. That being said, I’m curious about this feedback.
At 2ndSite we offer Direct Link InvoicingTM. When you send an invoice with 2ndSite a brief text email is delivered to our client. In that email is a link. When clicked, the link logs your client straight into your system and they are presented with the invoice you sent them. Once inside your system your client can see all their past invoices. They can also see the address you have on file for them, past payments and more.
Because you can customize the colours and add your logo to your system and your invoices, your clients get an experience with your ’system’ when they log in. This experience is what we have focused on and allowed you to customize to a decent degree. We have not focused as hard on the customizability of “Invoices” to date, though they include your logo, fold nicely into a window paned envelope and convey a professional image. Instead, we have focused on delivering an experience, which to my mind is more powerful than the look and feel of an everyday invoice - a business document that is relatively run of the mill. Experiencing your system is not run of the mill and helps you stand out in your client’s mind. Or so we hope…
Anyhow, we will be offering more invoice customization, but I wanted to share my thoughts on the invoice “experience”. Our clients tell us their clients love getting their invoices via 2ndSite (though the clients don’t know they are using 2ndSite - that’s key).
We are in the business of making small and medium sized businesses look good. In today’s internet world, looking good is more than appearance - it is about delivering a positive brand experience. It is about standing above the crowd. Direct Link InvoicingTM helps with that.
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6:09 pm
“Before signing up with 2ndSite, I was preparing my invoices using an Excel spreadsheet! I probably forgot 50% of my billable time before I ever had a chance to enter it into my spreadsheet. Man, I'm glad those days are gone. Ever since I signed up with 2ndSite, my billing accuracy and consistency have increased dramatically. I'm certainly billing for much more of my time. That is directly translating into higher revenues for my business.
I love being able to set up recurring bills and having the system handle the distribution automatically.
This Testimonial not solicited!
-Mike
http://iSatisfy.com“
5:27 pm
“Michael, I have to agree with your reasoning behind the simple invoices.
They are effective, they keep our brand, and most importantly, they work!
For a document that will be seen maybe once or twice and then filed away into oblivion, I would prefer that SecondSite sticks to making the functionality as easy and effortless as it can be (which reminds me, the box that admin/staff uses to reply to a support ticket is WAAAY too tiny).
–
Rodney
(digging secondsite! I've already collected on more service invoices in my first 2 months than I did all last year. Thanks for helping me stay organized)”
5:31 pm
Rodney: thanks for the feedback! It's great to hear back about these things and rest assured you are not the only person who sees things this way (and that includes the REPLY BOX! I've forwarded that on to the powers that be…)
Thanks for posting.
1:03 pm
Rodney: Mike forwarded your comment to me. I hope you enjoy the bigger reply box
Daniel - 2ndSite Web Developer