One of the great benefits of websites such as Amazon is the ability to read other peoples impartial reviews. Faced with what seems like an every growing array of choice, for an ever growing set of problems, real user reviews can help you reduce the option set so you can buy the best solution for your particular need. However this system is not without it’s problems as Tim Berry has previously pointed out. Competitors can game certain systems (including Amazon) by posting bad reviews behind a cloak of anonymity, and customers can also use them to gain revenge if their demands are not met. Reviews undertaken by established companies tend to be much rarer and are particularly valuable to customers (and producers alike).
As a software producer we are always keen to get independent reviews. We are 100% confident that we have a fantastic product in Business Plan Pro 11.0, but it’s especially pleasing when reviews come out so positively. Business Plan Pro 11.0 has just been reviewed by Company Partners, in the U.K. and has received a ‘highly recommended’ commendation – the first one Company Partners have issued since they first started reviewing business plan products and services.
When these reviews assess competitive and substitute products also, it helps inform entrepreneurs as to which products are clear category leaders. One challenge for software publishers is that prospective buyers are faced with an array of choices and until they consume the product they cannot assess its true value. Consumers are not going to buy all of the options so have to rely on marketing, word of mouth and reviews to help them decide.
We also like reviews as any negative points can help inform new features, or design changes in future editions. Thankfully any negative points we receive regarding Business Plan Pro are usually pretty minor, after all, we are fully committed and focussed on making the business planning process as painless as possible.
The Business Plan Pro 11.o review is available here.
Alan Gleeson
Alan Gleeson was the general manager of Palo Alto Software UK, makers of Business Plan Pro and LivePlan. Alan has an MBA from Oxford and an MSc from University College, Cork, Ireland. You can follow Alan on Twitter @alangleeson.
