When Does Web2.0 Equals Lack Of Information?
Here’s the inside scope on Kidino. I am starting a new business. What is it? Well, I am not telling. But anyway, in the process, I have been looking around for an invoicing system that I can use. I found a number of online invoicing systems from Web2.0 companies. And they all look promising to me. But I am frustrated with the lack of information the website gives…
Web2.0 has been associated with a number of things. Many people have different perspectives on what Web2.0 is. Let me tell you what I see in Web2.0.
No, it’s not just about designs. To me, looking at how people do business today, the Web2.0 movement is about opening up your business and giving the power back to the users of the Internet.
First of all, you see that people of the Internet dictates what’s important and what’s not, via Stumble, Digg, Technorati, and all of these other social bookmarking sites. And you see the people get online to networking a much more smarter way with Facebook, LinkedIn, MySpace, etc.
And many tools and software now days are being offered as a web-based application. And these web-based applications are not a closed application. They offer a way for you to communicate back and forth to the application they built. How? Through API (application program interface). Which means, you can build your own application to support the existing main application. And then, followed by SaaS (software as a service), like the invoicing solution that I am look for.
Take a look at Facebook, which allows outside developers to create applications for Facebook users to use inside Facebook itself. And you also see Google offering a number of ways for other applications to talk to its Adwords, Google Map, etc…
And Web2.0 is also being associated with simplicity. You see this in their design and also in their web copy. I like the simplicity as it makes complicated things seems easy. I have always been fascinated at how certain websites, web designers and companies are able to sell with really short web copy. I have always like the clean design that they have, but I worry I won’t be able to sell with the short copy.
So I admire these websites.
But then again, after some thoughts, I am starting to question — is it the website and copy that sells the product, or the media (including blogs) attention that attracted them the customers.
Well, you can’t deny that some Web2.0 companies are really good at PR and attracting media attention. Maybe that is what selling the service or the product.
I say this because, in the search of the invoicing system that I can use, in their simplicity and minialist approach, many of these websites don’t provide enough information for me. When I can’t find the information I want on their site, I do have a few other options:
[+] scour for the information in their FAQ, Forum, Knowledge base… if they have any. And most of the times, it’s not really organized. You will be wasting a lot of time.
[+] search on the Internet for reviews on the website/service.
[+] give them my credit card details (or Paypal) for a free 30-day trial.
[+] get in touch with them… email, phone, chat… could take sometime before you get an answer.
Frankly, none of these options are really convenient for me. I wish they would just put that information on the website. If I found 20 invoicing solutions
Anyway, what I am looking for is an invoicing software that:
[+] supports online payment via Paypal & WorldPay
[+] automatic invoice creation on recurring fees
[+] supports multi-currency (as I will be serving local and international clients)
So far, I haven’t found any web-based invoicing software that supports WorldPay. Even if they do, well, they didn’t explain it well on their website.
Though we advance in the Internet culture with Web2.0, there’s no reason to provide very little information about your product or services. Simplicity is one thing, but providing enough information is another.
Most of the times, I am technical person. I want to know what an application can and cannot do.
