So, here’s a few tips on how to use Torch better:

1) Use Pins

Pin’s are a way to mark an event or task as something special for you. When you pin something, you are only pinning it for yourself (though other users can pin the same item).

I use them to mark tasks that are my responsibility. Then on the dashboard I can toggle between uncompleted items and uncompleted items that I need to do.

2) Categorize Everything

Messages, events and Google Docs can all be placed in categories. They can also be created without a category, but try to place every item in a category. This may seem pointless early on, but it is immensely useful once the project is of any size and you are trying to find something.

For instance. If I’m trying to find a bit of text, I can search for it limiting to just search a particular category (by typing something like “search phrase category: category name”). This will produce a much shorter search result.

3) Archive Old Projects

By archiving old projects, you not only get them out of the way, but you lower their priority. So when you CC or forward e-mail into Torch it assigns it to an active project. This is particularly important if you have multiple projects with the same name or multiple projects with the same external users.

In Torch there are two different types of users: external and internal. Internal users are for people in your company. External users are for everyone else.

Internal users have access to everything. They can create bids, invoices, projects, etc. And they automatically have access to all projects.

External users, by contrast, only have access to read bids and invoices and only when they are out of the draft stage. They also only have access to a project when you specifically grant them access. They have no access to the time tracking section.

How to grant an External User Access:

Under the project that you want to grant them access to, go to the “Project” tab and select “Project Access.”

Simply checking the box next to their name will grant them access to the project.

Also, when you send an external user a bid or invoice over e-mail, it automatically grants them access to the project that the bid or invoice is in.

Torch Project Management is now available. Take a look here:

http://torch.wbpsystems.com

Torch isn’t just a tool to help you collaborate on projects, it’s also a tool for bidding and invoicing those projects. Give it a try, it’s free until September.

We’re pleased to announce our latest product, Torch, is nearing completion. Within just a few weeks, you will be able to bid, manage and invoice your projects in a simple, seamless process.

What is it:

Torch is an application to fix a “work-flow” problem. Professionals of all kinds bid, work on, then bill their work. This is such a common scenario you would think it would be a “fluid” process, but it’s not. Torch fixes that.

Torch accomplishes four tasks that would be traditionally completed by independent applications:

1. Bidding
2. Project Management
3. Time Tracking
4. Invoicing

But theses aren’t independent components. Each part of the process flows into the next. Items on a bid turn into tasks in a project. Time you spend on tasks turn into items on the invoice. In other words, you never reenter information.

Key Features:

1. Calculate bids and send them to potential clients
2. Track project progress and collaborate with messages (including e-mails), files, events and tasks.
3. Track time and associate it with events and tasks
4. Bill your clients

How much will it cost:

$9 for the first internal user, $5 for each additional internal user. External users (your clients, suppliers, etc.) are free.

Just like Heap CRM, you are not limited in any other way. Invoices, bids, projects and files are all unlimited.

I want to know more:

Stay tuned to this blog. Over the next few weeks we’ll show you in detail what Torch is all about. If you would like, you can sign-up to be emailed when Torch is released (as always, we will not sell, rent or otherwise abuse your e-mail address).