Collaborating in a global startup

As my website team has been growing, we've been wondering what's the best (and cheapest) way of keeping in touch with each other. We definitely don't want to spend on getting a facility for our team. We'd rather people work from home, and keep in touch online.

Here's a sum up of the tools we use (in no particular order) to get together and collaborate. Note, all tools are very usable in their free versions:

1. Google Apps:

Google Apps is the single most important collaboration tool for us..
Apart from setting up free email (yes, 7gigs and 99.9% uptime are good enough for us, thank you) with all the gmail features, we also get google docs, google talk with chat, calendars and https connectivity for security.
Google sites is another feature that adds in another level of sharing, but we haven't got to that level yet.

2. Skype:

Skype allows us to communicate with each other over a secure channel - whether it is voice or chat.
Skype also gives inexpensive communication options - such as unlimited US and Canada dialing and your own incoming number with voicemail - for under ten bucks a month (there's another application called MagicJack which claims $20 for the whole year - but we haven't tried that out yet).
Skype is also widely used by freelancers, so it is an invaluable tool to communicate with your team and freelancers.
If you would rather not get tied to your computer with a headset, there are excellent phones like this one from linksys, which give you crystal clear communication, by connecting with your router lan cable directly.
Skype also has options of auto-forwarding to your cell phone, and conferencing, which are invaluable.
Last up, you can pay for some packages, which allow you to have a phone answering system setup on skype.

3. Projjex
Given the high costs of using MS Project, and the fact that its not really collaboration friendly unless everyone has the app on their computer, Projjex was an excellent option for us. Though I dearly miss the Gantt Chart, which I can't seem to get here, projjex allows you to track your projects to completion and has a great, easy to use interface.
In your project meetings, everyone can login to their projjex account and will know what you're talking about. Also there are reminders and advanced project tracking features there.

4. Dimdim
Oh dimdim! The best thing since sliced bread I think!
Dimdim will give you free online meetings - get people onto a desktop share, do a whiteboard together or surf the internet together. Also you have presentations and online chat.
Better still, you get a free dial-in number to conference in your listeners and have a dialogue.
Multi-party webcam is also possible, though we weren't that keen on seeing how each of us are dressed during our meetings!

Dimdim is still being developed, but is relatively stable.
We did have a concern that you can't hear people signing in and out of the call, which brings up confidentiality questions.
I have also identified another free conferencing system that looks promising: Free Conference Call

Well these were some of the great tools I came across - all free. These have greatly added to our team being in regular touch with each other.

Do you have some other tools to share?

Working by Day, Working by Night

The last few months I've been able to moonlight on my day job pretty well. I was thinking it's because I've become a time management master.

Well, the last few days sure went to prove that wrong. Its been crazy busy in my day job, and the evening job of doing the startup can slowly start taking a back seat.

Anyone out there who's been moonlighting? Any time management tips for us pseudo time managers?

PR 2.0 Books Anyone?

Have you come across any great PR books for web 2.0? Or how about websites or articles?

I've been reading up on ways to market my website, using the latest technologies. Of the different marketing books I came across, I read two of them - viz. PR 2.0 and "How to Say It: Marketing with New Media"




The PR 2.0 book, unfortunately read more like a giant advertorial. It looked like it had its own agenda of marketing companies and products behind it. IAnyway, I pursued through the book, and finally did come out with a few good insights.
Some of the information that sank deep within included:
- use twitter, blogs and bookmarking to increase awareness of your site
- keep yo0urself updated on the latest goings on in your world - use rss feedes to get you the info you need. Keep consuming all the information you can.
- there are ways of getting closer to journalists and using them for marketing - even in today's web 2.0 scenario.

The second book though: How to Say it: Marketing with New Media; was a much better read. I found the tips and tricks in this book very handy for helping in marketing your website. I recommend this book for its well organized content - and great insights from belting out great blogs, podcasts and e-zines; and also info on how to get people signed up for them.

The startup journey

Heya All - My heartiest apologies for not having written sooner!

So my fledgling website is getting ready to take flight! It's been many vendors, many consultants, designers, SEO specialists, and advisors, even partners - all coming and going - since I last blogged.
There have been many folks giving out advice and criticism. Many books read - on how to manage people, how to manage companies, how to manage time, how to market, how to get noticed in web 2.0...
I have spent enormous amounts of time with my fellow teammates, inspiring, getting inspired...

I also found a coach along the way.

At the end of it - I'd say - you have yourself, and your belief in yourself - that takes you through thick and thin. It's most important to be eternally optimistic, yet open to feedback. Listen, and let your heart decide, your logic navigate. Handle the rocky waves when the advice you hear is not what you wanted! But ultimately, its not the nay-sayers, it's you, who decides.

The journey of a startup is to be traversed to be believed.

Moving to a dedicated server

And we're getting ready to move to a dedicated server.

I took this call, since I did not want to have to move the website when it is drawing crowds. It will increase our monthly costs, but I'm willing to take that cost in. Afterall, this is our primary link with our customers, and we want it to be a good quality one.

The vendor I went with, is softlayer, and so far, I'm happy with their services. I went ahead with a plesk control panel, and it is doing the job just right. It was not too difficult to pickup. I initally thought I'll avoid a control panel, and try configuring right at the operating system level - but I realized I was spending too much time in trying to administer the website. My recommendation - go ahead with a control panel such as plesk or CPanel.

likebucks will be moving to its dedicated server on the coming monday. Exciting.

Requirements: he said/she said

Now that our website development is coming closer to completion, conversations about the finer details of the requirements ensue. Mind you- not always the pleasant type of conversation! The conversations would typically revolve around what was agreed upon & what costs more.
Eg- if we said users can write comments, did we mention that they can edit their own comments?
I can now understand how disconnects between the requirements writers ( who want it all) & requirements implementers ( who tend to take a minimalist approach- especially in a fixed price scenario), take place.

Nonetheless we've been through some rounds of discussions, & trust between us was maintained through to the end. I do believe trust is an important part in any long term relationship.
So we have been able to make it through & maintain a great relationship too.

Beta comes alive

After many-many days of dreaming, designing & negotiating, likebucks has a decent beta version uploaded.

I was delighted to go online & see the work my developers had done. They had put up many of the features I had wanted without much hand holding and it was just the best feeling to see my dreams turn into something tangible

I met someone this afternoon for an entirely different purpose but I couldn't help mentioning likebucks and the fact that a Beta release had gone live!
Of course the reaction I got was like who??

Anyway now that the beta version is up I can walk prospectives through the site- Be they prospective investors customers or employees.
I saw a group called 'the vacationeers' online who have made hilarious videos about google products. So I contacted them & asked them to make something for me too. Lets see if that gets somewhere

Exciting times lie ahead!