Provide a demo online or lose my sale.

Provide a demo online or lose my sale. 09/27/2009

I'm writing a software review right now. It's the weekend. I'm a procrastinator. Article is due tomorrow. Enough said?

So I have set up prior phone calls to get info from most of the companies, but I have also expected to get much of my detailed information via their website.

I figured I could either view a video demo or download a trial copy of the software and play around with their features. (We call that self-service. We expect that everywhere these days.)

Surely I could identify some unique and special attributes on my own. Right? Well, maybe. Some of the websites require you to fill out a bunch of info and then wait for someone to call you back to provide you access to the demo.

That is a sale killer.

If I am a prospective buyer who wants to do research, I am probably going to be doing that during times when no one is manning or woman-ing your telephone. Do you think I am going to want to wait around until your people show up to see what your product can do? Give me something that makes me interested enough to wait for normal business hours.

And don't tell me how great it is that your product is sold by the module or runs on SQL. For goodness sakes, we've been doing that with accounting software since 1984. What is exciting, unique or different about your product? And do you have a fun customer or two I can read about on your site?

Don't get me started. Software websites are so bad - and they are old school. Not hip, not interesting, and don't use video.

The last thing you want in a person who's reviewing your software is a crabby procrastinator.

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Geni Whitehouse
Countess of Communication

Brotemarkle,Davis and Co. LLP

Author of How to Make a Boring
Subject Interesting : 52 ways
even a nerd can be heard

Read about my next book and evil plan - hatched on Pi day of 2011.

I am an accountant on a mission. I want to permanently remove the blight of BORING that has attached itself to members of my profession.

But the boring blight doesn't stop there. It's everywhere. I've found it in wineries (although it's a tad more palatable when served with alcohol), in science labs, even in Art museums. And technology people carry the "B" gene too. But the condition need not be fatal.

I work with CPAs through my strategic partner, Mentor Plus, an
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crave for more than 19 years.

I lecture around the country to
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I was a partner in an Atlanta CPA firm when I realized technology was
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ever since.

And through some stroke of absolutely amazing luck, I now find myself in Napa -- the most gorgeous, hospitable place imaginable.

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I am a graduate of the Jeff Justice
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I am not unbiased, nor do I wish to be. I have done work for anyone and everyone in the software industry or the accounting profession. But if I am not impressed by what you do or can't find an angle that is interesting or unique, I won't work for or with you. And if you are stodgy or boring, there are not enough dollars or even euros to make me help you.

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