We took a risk, this is the video on the front page of our website… Do YOU think it’s effective?
Please give us your uncensored feedback straight from the gut in the comments below, is it: Perfect, Good, or Terrible? Help us out and tell us why.
We took a risk, this is the video on the front page of our website… Do YOU think it’s effective?
Please give us your uncensored feedback straight from the gut in the comments below, is it: Perfect, Good, or Terrible? Help us out and tell us why.
February 17th, 2009 at 11:48 am
Perfect!
As a small business owner, the video speaks directly to me and my bookkeeper’s issues…
I’ll give TSheets a try.
February 17th, 2009 at 11:52 am
Very creative video and I like the idea of creating a cartoon character to deliver a serious message but it left me wanting more.
I’ll give it a “Good”
Oh, and you were right. The Green Bookkeeper was definitely a risk but I think people will see it as humorous rather than being offended.
February 17th, 2009 at 11:59 am
I love it except for the “inside the mouth” shot with the teeth, tongue, and uvula. It’s distracting to the words and kind of gross.
The Marge character is great – she looks like nobody – so is able to relate to everybody.
It explains the benefits REALLY well!
February 17th, 2009 at 12:02 pm
You asked for gut responses:
Not fond of the mouth/uvula and words spewing out, but that’s just a personal preference. Messaging is good. I think the 98% retention rate is a huge point and I’m glad you hit it and called back to it again at the end.
It wasn’t too long, which is always a problem with corporate video. Nice narration.
February 17th, 2009 at 12:03 pm
Nice. It explained what TSheets is to me (I’ve been a little confused). Very good.
February 17th, 2009 at 12:17 pm
I like it. If I had employees, I would use them based on the video
February 17th, 2009 at 12:23 pm
It’s a very effective video, and sends a very clear and well presented call to action. The style of the animation, though, while not bad at all, seems at odds with the overall style and vibe of Tsheets. The animation style evokes a mid 80′s episode of Heathcliff (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cxI5fSp1cco), and while I know you’re not presenting Marge as being representative of Tsheets, you are presenting her as being representative of a customer’s employee, and that does say something about who you think they are, and by extension, who you think you are (you’re here for them!) – and like I said the script and audio are great – and the animation is too, but given the larger context of the site/service that frames it, the style of the animation causes a little bit of dissonance for this viewer. Maybe the visual style could be a little bit less goofy. Maybe a little kitschy like the drawings on an emergency card in an airplane. Could still have fun with that…
February 17th, 2009 at 12:54 pm
Great concept, full of life – need to get to the product quicker from intro.
February 17th, 2009 at 1:06 pm
Like it overall. Agree with the dissonance mentioned mlsamuelson’s comments and the suggestion by ukSlinkie to move quicker from intro to product. If you’re going for the small biz market, we crazy busy entrepreneurs often have a short attention span! Perhaps running the video (or at least the audio?) at 1.5 times its current speed. I don’t think that would be too fast for your market. Enjoyed it overall. Am glad to have another tool to recommend to my small biz clients – tsheets sounds great, and who could pass up a free trial?
February 17th, 2009 at 2:28 pm
I like the idea of the ability to clock in from my iPhone, but what if I don’t want to allow my employees to clock in from a mobile device?
February 17th, 2009 at 2:32 pm
Excellent question. You can assign whether an employee is allowed to use a mobile device to clock in or out. For that matter, you can pretty much prevent an employee from using any device that is not approved. See our FAQ for some more detail on how this works.
HTH,
Jared
February 17th, 2009 at 2:52 pm
I found it interesting. I intend to try it to understand how it works. Good work.
February 17th, 2009 at 2:54 pm
I like the commercial, it hits the mark for explaining what the product is, how it’s used and that it saves money! That’s what people are looking for.
the 98% retention rate is a great mention.
We love the product now and we’ve seen the recent updates. Could we post your video our on blog???
February 17th, 2009 at 3:03 pm
The video does a good job of presenting the product and how your it will benefit the client, however it seemed a bit long. I found myself wandering about half way through the video. Seemed like a bit too much story. I also agree with Micheal that the retention rate is a good mention.
-Ben
February 17th, 2009 at 3:13 pm
“Good”
It seems a bit amateur. The voice over needs to be professionally recorded and scrubbed. There is a reverb in the room and it is obvious by the hesitations that they are reading a script. There are a few points in the animation that lack attention to detail, and that detracts from the overall presentation. Also, the message needs to be more concise, pick three key points and stick to them. Lastly, insist on not having the 3rd party pitch at the end. That just kills it.
Also, I totally agree with the previous posters about the mouth sequence. Gross, loose it.
February 17th, 2009 at 3:21 pm
Hi MIchael, thanks for the comments! Matt N. is going to send you a link in a moment that you can use to embed the video in your blog, if you’d like.
Thanks,
Jared
February 17th, 2009 at 3:35 pm
I like it, other than the aforementioned mouth sequence. That’s a bit over the top. My other comment is that it’s a great explanation of why a small business might use Tsheets, but as a freelancer, it does nothing to explain why I might use it.
February 17th, 2009 at 3:35 pm
I like it. But the video controls should not be over the video image.
February 17th, 2009 at 3:39 pm
Matt- I am hard pressed to endorse an animated webclip message – but I will. I think the clip is well done and the narration was on point. My preference would be that you use us (Viralintermedia.com)) and use live actors…but of course thats what we do. That being said; the message comes across well and I actually get the throat, words, uvula sequence. – eugene
February 17th, 2009 at 4:13 pm
I love it…I have beemin dealing with employees for a short amount of time and minimum wage doesn’t typically come with the genius prerequisit. I have tried a self created time sheet that they abliterated in a two week period making it unusable. SInce using tsheets I haven’t had to figure out who works when and how many hours they were supposed to be paid for. I love the video and I love TSHEETS…I totally get who this video is meant to attract.
February 17th, 2009 at 4:21 pm
Matt,
Looks really good! The video is very effective and it conveys your message well. Great work. Your site is very well re-designed- clean and to the point.
February 17th, 2009 at 4:35 pm
As an IT decision maker, I felt the message came through loud and clear. Without having to dig through your site and figure out what you do and what your advantages are, I simply watched a 2 minute video and was clearly informed of your product. It also left me wanting to know more about integration with other apps & mobile use.
The cartoon approach may not work with some people, but it did for me.
February 17th, 2009 at 4:38 pm
I think it’s great. It’s short and entertaining enough it kept my attention and conveys the information very well. My only negative thought is that it doesn’t seem to fit with the level of professionalism I’ve seen from TSHEETS marketing previously. It seems as though you’re shooting for a broader demographic and it might not hit home as well with the high level decision maker.
February 17th, 2009 at 5:17 pm
Very well done video. Really addresses the issues that confronts most bookkeepers in regards to time reporting. It also addresses the various uses that TSheets can use – office or field, and use of various internet-compatible instruments (computer, cell phone, etc.). I recommend the use of this video and it is really self-explanatory to the marketing of your product.
February 17th, 2009 at 5:25 pm
The video did a good job at providing value proposition. I did not like the voice-over. It did sound like it was getting read and moved to slowly.
February 17th, 2009 at 5:28 pm
It was good, because it was strong on benefits and weak on features and use.
February 17th, 2009 at 5:28 pm
It was good because it was strong on benefits and weak on features and use.
February 17th, 2009 at 6:22 pm
Excellent video, says everything I need to ohear as a small business owner.
February 17th, 2009 at 9:23 pm
I liked it. It definitely worked for me (a so-called Business Decision Maker). Random idea — a little ticker that scrolled across the screen showing accounts/industries TSheets has served.
February 17th, 2009 at 9:24 pm
Love the hook. Some of the details were a bit busy, like I had to watch it several times to read the whole sign on the door. But the hook really stood out. I felt like Charley the Tuna getting reeled in. If it were up to me, simplify the background details, take some of the rough edge off of Marge, and maybe give her some biceps!
February 17th, 2009 at 9:30 pm
A great visual for the concept of time recording from outside sources.
February 17th, 2009 at 9:44 pm
I love the tour of the system. Could I get to an information page or contacts page without going through it? If so, I think it’s great!
February 17th, 2009 at 9:54 pm
I like this version much better! Way to go!
February 18th, 2009 at 7:53 am
The video grabbed my attention right away and kept me interested. It was short and to the point. If I owned a business, I’d be going for the free trial. Nice job Matt.
February 18th, 2009 at 8:24 am
I like it. I think it’s right on
February 18th, 2009 at 10:47 am
Well done – great explanation of all the advantages of T-sheets. Just as the other comments on the shot of the mouth, etc., I would definitely lose that part of the video.
February 18th, 2009 at 12:55 pm
I LOVE the video and just blocked out time tomorrow to give the program a try. I have known about TSheets how many months now, and this is finally getting me to make time to try the tool ~ I say the video works!
February 18th, 2009 at 3:37 pm
Matt:
I would of rather to see the video that Matt produced that is currently on your blog. Since I am in a different age demographic rather perhaps the rest of the comments, cartoons are nice and cute. But that is it, nice and cute.
Matt spoke the language as a previous business owner that is in the same boat as a lot of self employed individuals are currently in now who need help trimming costs. He spoke with conviction and passion. I could really relate with Matt on this point.
Showing in the video how much dollars it saving, $120K really got my attention and other users who are advociates of tsheets sold me. I have used it a week and now am completely hooked on Tsheets.
Looking forward to the day I can access tsheets up here in Canada via text and my trusted pda. I using the Jott addon and simply loving it.
Count me as one of your new found apostles of tsheets
It is when he had
February 18th, 2009 at 4:14 pm
Hey buddy, love the video…showing where the money is saved is going to catch the attention of the potential buyer!
February 18th, 2009 at 5:15 pm
Nice video…. clever and speaks to the issue.
February 18th, 2009 at 6:18 pm
I use the product, it’s great! The ad has some pluses, and some room for improvement. I like that it’s relatively quick, and the last part if presented very nicely. However Marge and that whole area just look yucky.
I assume you did that on purpose because you want people to associate yucky with paperwork, and nice with tsheets.
Either way, it’s presented well overall and it’s a great product. Keep up the innovation!
Cam
February 19th, 2009 at 7:53 am
It’s a cute, informative ad for a great product.
February 19th, 2009 at 9:07 am
Terrific. I get it. I understand your product/service. I understand the problem it solves. I understand the value I get from it.
February 24th, 2009 at 1:20 am
Very nice, very funny. It’s great. Don’t worry about it!
February 24th, 2009 at 12:44 pm
Nicely done, but I think you need to be more aware of your audience. You want to impress the secretaries, not make them feel lame with the name “Marge” or weird a green skin color.
Also, companies that want to invest in a product like T-Sheets are looking to move up in the business world, becoming more professional. This video does not reach out to a professional audience. The target seems to be more small-businesses, like lemonade stands.
I love T-Sheets, however. I think it’s a great service.
February 27th, 2009 at 11:42 am
“Good”
Not sure you guys need it. We love TSheets and didn’t need this to be convinced to sign up. I kinda agree with Christie. I can’t possibly see myself presenting this to the suits who just don’t have the patience for the silliness. Having to turn down the volume on my machine so everyone else in the office wouldn’t be annoyed or overly curious by the narration is a hassle and prevented me from understanding some of it.
Nice work, but superfluous in my opinion.
March 9th, 2009 at 4:15 pm
Continues to promote stereotypes of administrative assistants as passive-aggressive, difficult women who are sticklers for detail and are an unpleasant necessity. Simply offensive.