Any Basecamp users here? Share

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JulianTrueFlynn

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Feb 8, 2013
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Basecamp is the hub of my business, I try and make sure everything work related is in there - even down to that's where I discuss everything with clients. Makes my life 10x easier.

Any tricks/tips you guys have been using with Basecamp lately? How do you have your account set up? What tools are using in addition to Basecamp (for support)?

My typical set-up:
My accounts with clients I have 1 to-do list that's called "Deliverables" and then I have a bunch of private to-do lists with all the tasks for dev/marketing.

For my non-client accounts (personal) I just have all the to-do lists out, not private.

Tools I use to help Basecamp:
  • Headquarters - Apple app for desktop notifications/task checking for Basecamp. Simple but helps a lot.
  • Toggl - Time tracker that hooks up with Basecamp, used to use Harvest.
  • Google Drive/Box.com - Extra storing and can use IFTTT for Basecamp email to Box.com/Google Drive folder.
  • IFTTT - For creating systems with Basecamp emails to things like Box.com like I said above.
  • Zapier - Going to start connecting this to HighriseHQ and Basecamp + tons more systems you can set up. Very interesting for business API's.
 


I liked Trello a lot until they added those big blue boxes that made me have to scroll my list of projects when it used to all fit on one page.

I've only used Basecamp from employee-side, but I'm going to have to check some stuff out now - thanks OP. This month I'm all about trying to automate simple shit that wastes time to make life easier moving forward, I'm keeping track of everything I do on a regular basis and then making a system to make it as easy as possible.
 
Pheasant said:
I've only used Basecamp from employee-side, but I'm going to have to check some stuff out now - thanks OP. This month I'm all about trying to automate simple shit that wastes time to make life easier moving forward, I'm keeping track of everything I do on a regular basis and then making a system to make it as easy as possible.
Click to expand...

I've been doing that more recently, and part of the reason I started this thread/shared tools (hoping more people share what they do). If you want to automate this stuff def check out the tools I mentioned, especially Zapier and IFTTT (which you have to use Basecamp email + box/dropbox/google drive combo).

There's no greater feeling than making something completely hands off that used to be a daily/weekly task.

edit: and for system/time management if you record EVERYTHING through Basecamp everything will be documented. If you combine it with Toggl/Harvest you can start making very precise business decisions on what to automate/outsource because you know how much effort it takes you.
 
Zapier looks badass, I started poking around last week it's on my list too.

And some sort of password manager, some sort of to-do list manager (prolly Basecamp or trello), something to organize bookmarks, something a-la Evernote (But I've tried Evernote five or six different times and just haven't gotten into it..), getsnapy.com to help with quickbooks online..

Any other tips of basic stuff I should be looking into? Thx WF
 
Pheasant said:
Zapier looks badass, I started poking around last week it's on my list too.

And some sort of password manager, some sort of to-do list manager (prolly Basecamp or trello), something to organize bookmarks, something a-la Evernote (But I've tried Evernote five or six different times and just haven't gotten into it..), getsnapy.com to help with quickbooks online..

Any other tips of basic stuff I should be looking into? Thx WF
Click to expand...

Do as much as you can through Basecamp - that's the point (so that's including your to-do list). Accounting programs hook up to Basecamp too. The point of any project management system is to treat it as the center of all your projects so you have all your information in 1 place.

I would get Lastpass for your password management. Then you have your VA's make accounts and you can share individual passwords with them. I know a lot of people organize their password in the Text documents Basecamp has, but that's not very secure and there's no permission control on that.

Not sure on bookmarks? What's with WF and bookmarking a lot? I have like under 50 and I thought that was messy. Haven't had to share any bookmarks to anyone so I'm not good here.
 
JulianTrueFlynn said:
I've been doing that more recently, and part of the reason I started this thread/shared tools (hoping more people share what they do). If you want to automate this stuff def check out the tools I mentioned, especially Zapier and IFTTT (which you have to use Basecamp email + box/dropbox/google drive combo).

There's no greater feeling than making something completely hands off that used to be a daily/weekly task.

edit: and for system/time management if you record EVERYTHING through Basecamp everything will be documented. If you combine it with Toggl/Harvest you can start making very precise business decisions on what to automate/outsource because you know how much effort it takes you.
Click to expand...

Zapier doesn't exactly explain how their software works. How does it automate tasks? Give me an example.
 
Rage9 said:
Have you tried Asana? I always thought Basecamp was too... simplistic.
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I have reviewed Asana and I gotta say it looks amazing, but I have so many clients in Basecamp already and so many workflows built around it with VA's that it would suck to move.

I have to say it's a shame I didn't find Asana earlier :-/ I'm happy with Basecamp though, Asana just looked more robust in what it could handle.
 
Have you been able to do:

EVERNOTE (specific tag or ?) SCREEN GRAB -> BASECAMP (SPECIFIC) PROJECT FILES

EVERNOTE (specific tag or ?) SCREEN GRAB -> Dropbox (SPECIFIC) Directory

DROPBOX (SPECIFIC DIRECTORY) -> Mirrored on Basecamp


IFTTT search for 'evernote' has thousands, but 'evernote basecamp' has nothing related.
EDIT: Their built in features seem to work better: https://ifttt.com/connect/evernote/dropbox has a couple options.


I have a problem keeping up with my screenshots for projects locally & in basecamp instead of keeping them practically useless in Evernote itself. Being able to automate this will really help my update time frames that's for sure.
 
Basecamp is the easiest to learn at first glance but my favorite is Asana and I am even starting to like Trello a lot now that I've had a chance to learn it for a week or two.
 
ToddW said:
Have you been able to do:

EVERNOTE (specific tag or ?) SCREEN GRAB -> BASECAMP (SPECIFIC) PROJECT FILES

EVERNOTE (specific tag or ?) SCREEN GRAB -> Dropbox (SPECIFIC) Directory

DROPBOX (SPECIFIC DIRECTORY) -> Mirrored on Basecamp


IFTTT search for 'evernote' has thousands, but 'evernote basecamp' has nothing related.
EDIT: Their built in features seem to work better: https://ifttt.com/connect/evernote/dropbox has a couple options.


I have a problem keeping up with my screenshots for projects locally & in basecamp instead of keeping them practically useless in Evernote itself. Being able to automate this will really help my update time frames that's for sure.
Click to expand...
https://zapier.com/zapbook/box/basecamp/998/upload-new-box-file-to-basecamp/

Something for Box, I don't know for Dropbox. I switched from Box.com from Dropbox because Box.com is better for teams.
 
JulianTrueFlynn said:
I actually went from Trello to Basecamp, and I can't even fathom how you can say Trello is better. Maybe for like certain fields like I hear dev shops work well with Trello. I can't imagine dealing with clients in it.
Click to expand...

What's the issue with using Trello for clients?

At a glance, a client can see exactly what is being worked on, and where the status of each of the steps of the project are at. The client can see who is working on something, and provide them with feedback. You can @John the client and get their attention to particular card/list/upload.

Your post makes it pretty clear you use Basecamp mostly for to-do lists. Well, Trello is to-do lists on steroids. 37 Signals has barely updated Basecamp since it's inception.
 
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