Balsamiq nice mockups

Last Updated on Wednesday, 3 December 2008 09:20 Written by Steve Wednesday, 3 December 2008 09:20

I downloaded Balsamiq’s Mockup tool last week and have played with it a bit. I’m pretty impressed as it smartly hits a sweet spot between quick and dirty and presentation ready.

Mockups is an Air app for doing interface designs very quickly. There is a library of common interface elements: web browser chrome, input field, google map, tabs, etc. You simply drag these onto your mockup and go. Most have some simple configuration: title bar of the browser chrome, value showing in the drop down, etc.

Yesterday a user of mine asked for a specific feature in Salesforce.com. I used Mockups to draw it for my post, and for my Salesforce.com Idea post. I think the image speaks volumes in support of the idea.

I’ve tried lots of other mockup tools: Visio, Denim, Illustrator, Pencil, and many more that are now defunct. I like Balsamiq’s product a lot and I think you’ll see it in my posts for the foreseeable future.

I only wish someone would build some Salesforce.com widgets (like object lookups) and a Trac integration, I’d be in heaven!

Campaign Inclusion Reports

Last Updated on Wednesday, 3 December 2008 07:59 Written by Steve Wednesday, 3 December 2008 07:59

When you’re doing complex relationship management, you’ve got a number of outreach activities going on. Parties, one-on-one meetings, special nurture tracks, etc. It can be very bad for the relationship you’re trying to develop if these activities are in conflict. You need to make sure they all play nice together as far a content, timing, and execution goes.

You also need a system to help you grab people depending on which activities they have been a part or, or have not been a part of. Example: give me everyone who attended our luncheon and isn’t on our special VIP nurture track. It’s these people who I want to reach out to with some special information. But I don’t want the VIPs to get this info, because they’re getting something in a couple weeks that is more in-depth.

Right now Salesforce.com can’t do this kind of reporting. I can look at inclusion on certain campaigns, but can’t look across campaigns. I wish I had a report with this kind of interface:

This way I could pull out people based on what they have and haven’t done. If you agree that this is a worthwhile feature, please vote for this idea!

Thankful for my family

Last Updated on Monday, 1 December 2008 09:44 Written by Steve Monday, 1 December 2008 09:44

I hope everyone had a nice Thanksgiving!