Client Spot client collaboration now includes retainer tracking - at your request! - Virtual Assistant Forums

Tess · #1 (**permalink**) 02-07-2008

I just received a note from the makers of Client Spot, offering all members a free 'basic' account with signup by March 1st.

Here's what the makers of Client Spot have to say about their new product:
"ClientSpot is a Web-based service designed specifically for virtual assistants to collaborate with clients and subcontractors on projects. When email just isn’t enough, ClientSpot brings together all the pieces of your client and team interactions, from project and task management to file sharing, time tracking, and calendaring.
ExtremePlanner Software is the company behind ClientSpot, and we’ve been creating software to make virtual work easier to manage since 2004.
We love the virtual assistant industry and what it’s doing to enable more and more people to grow their businesses without hiring full time employees, create better work-life balance, and to do it all from the virtual assistant’s choice of location, whether home, office, or coffee shop."

To take a virtual tour of the product with sound click here.

I've signed up for a free account myself and am mucking around in there, would love to know what anyone else thinks - if you sign up for the free account, feel free to reply to this thread with your own initial impressions, etc.

UPDATE: The guys at Client Spot have really listened to what you had to say and have updated the program to include retainer tracking!! Also, the free account is still available - they've extended that offer indefinitely!

ciboney · #2 (**permalink**) 02-07-2008

Thanks Tess! I've been looking for something like this.

tildavirtual · #3 (**permalink**) 02-07-2008

I've been using Basecamp and this one looks quite comparable. I've signed up for a free account and I'll let you know how it compares.

The key to anything like this is to keep it updated.

Write Associate · #4 (**permalink**) 02-07-2008

I just signed up for the free account and can't wait to get started! Thanks Tess - you always find such great deals for us.

dabsdesigns · #5 (**permalink**) 02-07-2008

Just signed up. Thanks for sharing!

Rosanna · #6 (**permalink**) 02-21-2008

Thanks for sharing that. What a great resource! Signing up....

vainparadise · #7 (**permalink**) 02-21-2008

I signed up too!

Delady · #8 (**permalink**) 02-23-2008

I'd had this site bookmarked for a while as a potential tool, but had not realized there was a deadline on the free account!

Thanks Tess!

Bette C · #9 (**permalink**) 02-29-2008

I'm wondering who has been using this site and how it's going? And does anyone know how it compares to Basecamp? I'm trying to figure out how you would assign a task to a sub-contractor? And is their a way a client can go on there to retreive files? Is is even possible with Basecamp?

Bette Creek

tildavirtual · #10 (**permalink**) 03-01-2008

I've been using Basecamp for about 6 months now and I love it. It does have it limitations but here are my findings for now:

Basecamp
- able to have private conversations between you and your subbies. You just need to add them in under your company.
- able to sort files and messages into categories. Particularly helpful with grouping passwords together etc.
- Can't assign a due date to tasks
- Can subscribe to the feed via RSS or Ical
- Can use milestones to record due dates but its a pain and I usually forget to put them in
- Have a writeboard feature which can be used to collaborate on writing projects. You can see each version and see who has added what.
- Can integrate with their chatting software and chat in real time through basecamp.

Client Spot
- Can add due dates to tasks
- Cheaper then Basecamp when you start to add the number of open projects I have (any given time about 30, with some clients having more than one)
- Less robust but has an excellent timing feature that you can export for QuickBooks (I can't because I'm in Australia and our QB is way way different to the US one - even looks different)
- No chatting

Overall findings
I think I'll stay with Basecamp. I have tried and tested so many that I could possibly review more but won't, otherwise I'll go a bit

The only other software out there that would make me change is Central Desktop. It is more project management focussed and can integrate with their webinar software. That would be COOL! Price is comparable with Basecamp.

HTH

Tess · #11 (**permalink**) 03-11-2008

Just wanted to update the thread to let everyone know, these guys are really listening to what you have to say about the product and have made numerous updates recently.

1. They deployed some updates to ClientSpot that include a first cut of retainer
tracking, as well as a new start/stop task timer.

More about the new features here:
http://www.myclientspot.com/clientspot-product-update

Also, this product is STILL being offered at the free level - they've extended that offer beyond March 1!

Check it out here.