I was recently approached about reviewing an app for a software publisher that I’d never heard of before. To me, they were a “No Name Company,” though that may not be totally fair, since another ChurchMag author had heard of them…because they had approached him previously for a review. I was given some warnings about this company’s software, how it was incomplete, lacking some basic features, and more than a bit frustrating.
Nonetheless, I threw caution to the wind and accepted the software for review.
And it was incomplete, lacking some basic features, and more than a bit frustrating.
So, rather than be negative and blast an app developer, who isn’t necessarily doing a terrible job, I thought I’d instead bring to you this cautionary tale that comes with a very strong moral:
Beware the No-Namers!
Ok, that sounded a bit dramatic, but it can be a bit traumatic if your spend what little money your church has for software on an app that looks really good but can’t necessarily deliver the goods. That being said, let’s talk about three things that you should look for in software.
1) Bigger Might Be Better
Brand isn’t everything, but it is something. The biggest worry I have about some of the apps that I’ve really invested in is that they’re mostly run by very small developers who are here today and could very easily be gone tomorrow. Now, that’s not to say that a larger company is necessarily failure-proof, but I think they are still a safer bet.
2) Compatibility is Huge
This is something I didn’t realize until I started working with this No-Namer, but a lot of these types of apps have proprietary file formats that won’t be compatible with other, more universal apps sold by bigger developers. In my example, I was using this software to develop a poster, and I realized that after I finished reviewing the app, that I’d no longer be able to edit this file. What that meant was, that I was wasting my time on this poster—it was a real project that I needed to get done—because I would have to recreate it later.
3) Steak Should Come with the Sizzle
What I did like about this app was how eye-catching its templates were and how amazing my project looked. It really looked polished, but then I went to use what I thought was a rather basic feature, it wasn’t there. Be careful on this one, because this is where you could really find yourself in a pickle if a feature that you regularly rely on isn’t a part of the app you’ve purchased because the app is too new or two basic to come with all the right bells and whistles.
All in all, most apps out there will work fine for most users, but if you’re looking to up your game, then you definitely want to avoid some of these no-name apps that clutter up the various “app stores” out there. Speaking of app stores: please check reviews left by people who’ve purchased the app, and if you’ve found a good one, leave a review to so that others can know that this app is worth their time and money.
Of course, if you’ve found a bad one…
You know what to do.
Have you ever bought a No-Namer?
How did that work for you?
Oh, you look upset. Is it too soon?
Eric Dye says
Thank you for sharing your experience, Phil. I’ll remember this the next time I am tempted to “save a buck or two.” 🙂
Phil Schneider says
It’s always a battle for me. I am a cheap, cheap man.