PC World Doesn’t Get It
PC World wrote us up a few weeks back, and despite saying that FreshBooks “will handle your billings and collections with aplomb”, I have to say they totally missed the point.
First of all, what makes FreshBooks exciting? We’re serving a previously un-served need by allowing people to send invoices and collect payments without being bound by the tedious requirements of traditional accounting software – or by software that is not designed at all for invoicing (such as Word and Excel). Instead, what does PC World harp on? All the ways FreshBooks is not accounting software.
I took time to explain UnAccounting services and why the thousands of businesses we serve love them, but like I said, PC World just doesn’t get it. They think you *need* accounting software when chances are, if you are a service-based business who wants to take the pain out of collections, you don’t.
I thought PC World was about technology and what’s next, and they of all publications would appreciate how we are serving an unmet need for small businesses who need help with their receivables. I was wrong. Heck, PC World did not even include a hyperlink in the article. What year is this anyway? 1984? The web is about links – leaving links out of online articles is not exactly cutting edge, is it?
And I almost forgot, they have factual inaccuracies in the article. They rated FreshBooks a 74 out of 100. Apparently this qualifies for a “good” rating in their books. The trouble is, the two “cons” (i.e. negatives) they cited for using FreshBooks are that we do not include “accounting features” (um…exactly. That’s the point. Am I missing something here?) and that we don’t handle inventory – which we do! By the way, we asked the author to correct the inventory inaccuracy; it’s been over a week and so far no movement on that.
There’s a lesson in here for anyone being interviewed: sometimes they’re not going to write things the way you said them. This is nothing new.
sends more invoices than there are 
10:19 am
Mike, you’re coming off as an ungrateful brat. The title of the story is “Freshbooks.com”. Don’t you think PC World’s readers are smart enough to know how to find your Website? Why would a link be necessary when your company’s URL is the title of the article?
Aside from the part about inventory, the article is accurate. The author was explaining that your service does not have all the features that the top accounting software packages offer and that is true. Whether or not YOU believe those features are necessary is irrelevant.
The author has a responsibility to provide factual and pertinent information to the readers so that they can make an informed decision about whether or not they want to try your service.
It seems that you’re venting because you’re not happy about the score. Get over it. PC World’s article brought you a lot of exposure and yet you’re complaining and making it seem as if the article is riddled with inaccuracies.
10:40 am
Fair enough…I guess. Honestly, I’m not fussed about the score, and I never really was. The inaccuracy was more unsettling, especially that it remains unchanged.
Here’s my beef – this was a product review…we’re an invoicing service (at this point in time) – not accounting software, so why measure us against that stick? I also spent a lot of time explaining that – as Scott Cook the founder of Inuit explains – there are twice as many people in the US using Word and Excel to manage their books than there are people using QuickBooks. I trust this applies in non-US markets as well with other accounting software providers. So the real story is that millions of people don’t want accounting software.
As for acting like a brat – you can see it that way if you like. Frankly this is one mention in one periodical. Am I supposed to swoon because they wrote about FreshBooks? Are they above reproach? The answer is no. My point was they don’t get it. My position now? Unchanged.
10:58 am
Point taken. What really bothered me the most was this comment – “sometimes they’re not going to write things the way you said them.”
If reviewers or journalists simply repeated what the company CEO or spokesperson told them then they might as well turn their brain off and just get in the habit of posting press releases.
Can you imagine if PC World would review Microsoft Vista and just repeat the company line and tell their readers that they will be wow’d by the product. What if the reviewer found out that a lot of games run better on XP than on Vista but the spokesman from Microsoft told him the opposite. What should the reviewer tell his readers?
I guess we’re just looking at this from different perspectives. In your case, you feel Freshbooks was slighted and misrepresented. I believe that the reviewer was fair and compared your software to accounting packages because your target market mostly comes from people who have used accounting software in the past.
It would be counterproductive for PC World to review your service without comparing it to accounting software. I agree with you about the inaccuracy about how your service tracks inventory, but that’s pretty much all we agree on. Also, there is a link to your Website located at the top right hand side of the article.
I think PC World’s review was fair. Your review of their review… not so much.
11:17 am
Leonard – you make a good point with the “sometimes they’re not going to write things the way you said them” aspect.
I want the media and press to be independent, fair and accurate. I don’t want them to regurgitate anything I say, or any other company for that matter. That said, I also think my speaking back to them via a blog post like this is one of the things that keeps them honest, and I’m entitled to my opinion aren’t I? No one in the media should take what an interviewee says and print it verbatim. Nor should we (the people) read what they write and not challenge it. Look at this blog post…you are challenging me and that’s a good thing. That’s what it’s all about.
As for comparing us to QuickBooks, I don’t want to belabour this too much, but I do want to be clear: while we will be offering more traditional accounting services like estimates and expenses soon, we are a time and billing app presently – not accounting software. There are plenty of time and billing apps to compare us against if what you are trying to do is compare us. We have been reviewed by many other companies – some of whom are competitors to PC World. To date no one has tried to compare us to accounting software, for what I would say are obvious reasons.
11:37 am
Ok Mike, maybe I misunderstood your position. I agree with your stance on openness and how media should be independent and fair.
I’m not going to argue with you about your target market since you obviously know more about this than I do. However, I made that point because I’ve read more than a few comments on your forum about how people have converted from Quicken to Freshbooks.
I still think the reviewer would be remiss not to compare Freshbooks to accounting software packages, or at least mention how your service can replace these software packages. To do this, they would have to compare what you offer and that means pointing out what features you do not offer.
But I do agree that you are not in direct competition. I just don’t think that the review was unfair by doing some comparison. I am aware of your direct competition but I would think the majority of your customers have used Quicken or a similar application and very few have used a service from your direct competitors.
Anyway, great blog and great service. I look forward to seeing what else you guys come up with. Judging from the functionality and slick look of both your service and your Website it’s clear that your team is very capable.
11:54 am
Peace Leonard. Thanks for the comments and please continue to sound off anytime you feel inclined. Comments like yours keep us on our toes and keep us on track…and everybody needs that kind of influence.
Much obliged,
- Mike
8:44 pm
On a more practical note, a while ago I called one of your people when I was investigating Freshbooks to see if its something we should introduce our clients and readers to. No fault of your rep – he was very responsive — but my main question was unanswered, so seeing this thread makes me inquire again because I love the concept of what you’re doing and some of our clients / prospective clients might benefit from it.
The question is (and I know, you’re not QuickBooks – we love QB and do lots of QB consulting but we’re looking for options for clients hence I’ve been tracking your company for a while with great interest)…
…how do your customers generate financial statements (P&L and Balance Sheet) to analyze their profitability, apply for bank loans, and get taxes done? What would they do if a prospective acquirer wants to see their financials during due diligence?
Do you have any past posts or discussion threads that offers some suggestions I could pass on to clients?
Thanks – in general, and for bringing a fresh product to the market – I’ve checked out a few other up and coming (or not) on-demand solutions and nothing’s piquing my interest like Freshbooks is.
D
3:41 pm
David – I’ve been offline and on the road…when I have a moment to spare I’ll reply to your question in detail. Thanks for asking,
- Mike
4:30 pm
Some people don’t understand business. Leonard, before you attempt to criticize an entrepreneur ever again and make a fool of yourself, go and take a few business classes. Business is all about making connections. You ever hear the phrase, “you wash by back and I’ll wash yours”? The only thing Mr. McDerment is guilty of is not schmoozing the PC World editor.
In the old days, a few hundred bucks or a visit by a paid for hooker was all you needed for a good review. It was a small price to pay for some good press. Nowadays, it has to be more discrete since some “moral” bloggers have nothing better to do than dig up dirt on other people. So instead of offering cash or adult services you now have to hold people’s hands and subtlety make it clear that if a positive article is written it will be worth their while.
Free and fair press? Keep dreaming. It’s a nice thought but extremely naive and it’s just not the way the world works. Mike, you seem like a good fella but like every entrepreneur you want to make the big bucks and you want to obtain more influence. I hope you were just toying with young Leonard when you wrote those things. You and I both know that in order to achieve success you must play by the rules that govern the real world.
If you need some pointers on getting good reviews I would be happy to give you some advice. You’re right, that guy did a butcher job on your business and your instinct of retaliating on your blog was correct. Don’t allow know nothings like Leonard to stop you from following your instincts.
Regards,
Eli Roth
2:45 pm
Mike, I echo the “ungrateful brat” comment above. I’m guessing this is the first time you’ve talked to the press, is it? There will be inaccuracies and spin that the journalists themselves put on your story. That’s the game man. You need to figure out how to work with it. Inaccuracies? Demand a correction. Spin? Spin before you get spun. Again, if you’re a CEO and you’re not playing the game, you’re going to get played like you did with PC World. Don’t be naive about it…
2:48 pm
BTW, It seems to be that you are being compared to QB due to the similar price point. at $15-$20, does it make sense to have a full accounting app, or a scaled down invoicing app?
5:47 pm
Spoiled brat my… you know what. In “bizniz” you must attack whenever possible.
Steve Morris, Quick Books Pro costs $200+. Freshbooks service costs anywhere between $14 – $149/month. It’s the service that keeps making you pay.
Still, there is a huge market who are…what’s that word… wowed by web 2.0 service apps so they will drop mad cash (as the kids say). The price could be 3x more and there would still be a market.
8:18 am
I’ve had the experience of speaking via phone at length with a reporter. It was a great conversation. He asked questions, I answered, we made jokes, we laughed, we bonded. I explained everything as I would to a friend. Little did I know I was actually being prepared for the PIG ROAST. (well seasoned!!) It seems as if the entire conversation was ignored. Clear points that I thought he wanted to know. Nope. Treat reporters, good and bad, like the “prosecuting attorney”. They are not there to do you a favor. They have “their” life, “their” job, and “their” interest at heart. Not yours.
FB is “exactly” what I needed to operate my business. How could a reporter (who is not a business owner) even “begin” to explain the benefits and cons of FB? Did he open an account and start using the software to operate his business? Did he do a review from the stand point of what “other” business owners “need” and how it will help or hurt them?
Quickbooks = slow books. I don’t need accounting software like quickbooks. I only need to know who owes me money and to let them know and keep letting them know they still owe. The accounting part is done separately via a separate program.
If the reviewer wanted to get a good understanding that was “non biased” maybe he should have interviewed some users of FB to see how it has helped or not helped them? To get an honest view of the software… (no offense Mike, but everyone loves to hear wonderful things about their creation, so it might not have been as non biased as you think, which is understandable.)
btw.. I didn’t read the article, but have enjoyed this blog greatly. I don’t need a PC world article to tell me about FB. I think a great place to get a review of your software would better be found with: http://www.whir.com/
You’ll find a much more service based industry “streaming” for software like FB and finding nothing but software like modernbill (which REALLY stinks) and other “host billing software”.
I’d contact them and ask them to review your software. They also print a paper magazine that goes out to the subscribers. I’ve been getting it for years and honestly, it’s the only magazine I read with much interest each time I get it.
James
9:21 am
And now, I scroll down this page to see your flashing ad that says you already have had a review with http://www.whir.com. How the heck did I miss that!??
I had to google discover FB.
In my last post above “streaming = screaming”