Design and writing consultant J. Bentley recently blogged about how Backpack is the tool that has helped him more than any other in his recent switch to freelancing.
Over the past few days, I’ve had the pleasure of getting a paying writing job and some logo work. I am officially freelancing. The tool that has helped me more than any thus far is 37signals’ Backpack. When I first opened the account I had no idea what to do. It’s a service with unlimited options and for that, it seemed, no options. I couldn’t imagine how I would use it. In the beginning I only had the vague idea of a to-do list. I wanted a simple daily to-do list that could be accessed from anywhere.The way Backpack is set up you have a few options at the top. You can add a List to the page, a Note, a Writeboard, a Divider and a Tag. They are added instantly when you click. So, using the List feature I was able to get a simple to-do going. I thought that was all I’d ever use it for. As things went on and I needed to be more organized, I was able to add another page with Monthly goals separated by weeks and by those that will take place over the entire month.
Then I decided to make a calorie counter page. I don’t know what I’ll make next. The examples page has so many diverse pages, people planning a wedding, organizing guitar tab, selling stuff, choosing fonts. There are plenty of ways to use it, that’s what makes it so intimidating to start and so addictive once you do.
Do you use a 37signals product in an interesting or noteworthy way? Let us know.
