Brent Frei's blog

The New Kid's First Steps in Task Management

Brent Frei — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 23:20:44 +0000

Yesterday welcomed Asana, the 323rd entrant into the online task/project management arena. This one is notable in that the founders are early Facebook alumns.... Read more

Google Apps Marketplace: Separation Begins

Brent Frei — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 10:10:54 +0000

Google Apps' Switzerland approach of not favoring any particular Marketplace ISV is a necessary stance in a growing ecosystem. But from the shoppers' perspective, the unbiased choice is both a benefit -- and a burden. Variety improves the quality and diversity of choices, but it feels like you’re drowning in all the options when searching for the best fit.... Read more

5 Fundamentals for Revving Up an Online Business Application

Brent Frei — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 23:23:08 +0000

Because Smartsheet gets kudos for its usability, I often get asked about how we decided on the fundamental design of the product. Keeping an application "easy to use" sounds simple enough. But when you've got powerful features, it's anything but.... Read more

Smartsheet Customers are Really Good Looking

Brent Frei — Mon, 08 Aug 2011 21:05:19 +0000

We’re constantly monitoring and measuring our brand in a variety of ways. But recently, during one of these exercises, one of our engineering-types pointed out “our customers are really good looking.” Not what I expected to come out of the ongoing social media monitoring efforts, but the unsolicited exclamation really made me chuckle.... Read more

Advice for Better Spreadsheet Designs

Brent Frei — Mon, 27 Jun 2011 16:47:01 +0000

Susan Harkins writes in TechRepublic about ten common pitfalls in self-produced spreadsheets.... Read more

Google Staff Picks Smartsheet in the First Round

Brent Frei — Thu, 16 Jun 2011 15:27:03 +0000

This week, Smartsheet was selected as an inaugural Google ... Read more

The 3 Mortal Sins of Online Advertising

Brent Frei — Thu, 02 Jun 2011 21:15:05 +0000

You Had Me at "Intuitive", But Lost Me at "Methodology"

A funny thing happened while Googling my own company information. I noticed a competitive advertisement that was clearly targeting folks interested in Smartsheet. In a matter of 5 minutes, the advertiser had committed all 3 mortal sins of online advertising.... Read more

To Be, or Not To Be, Enterprise-Ready

Brent Frei — Wed, 01 Jun 2011 20:54:54 +0000

That is the question. What does an online app need to include to meet IT’s growing list of requirements and guidelines and be deemed “enterprise ready”? More specifically, how will the apps you bring into the organization not make IT proclaim: Out, damn'd app! Out, we say!... Read more

Smartsheet - A Cloud App for the Classroom

Brent Frei — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 02:57:30 +0000

Those who know me well know I'm passionate about great education, and how parents, teachers, students all have to work together to make it that way. So last week's drop-in visit by Paul Erb of Tandem Friends School in Charlottesville, Virginia was particularly satisfying.... Read more

The Best iPad Business App

Brent Frei — Fri, 18 Mar 2011 19:33:11 +0000

Which is the best iPad business application? Well, we certainly think Smartsheet is a major contender. From high tech to traditional business, this video shows how broadly useful Smartsheet on the iPad can be and how anywhere access improves productivity.... Read more