Fix the Paper Hole

One of the most gratifying things about being in our fourth year of taking the pain out of paperwork is that our customers can pretty much explain everything about our vision, mission, value proposition and goals better than we can.

We missed this recent post on Chris Brogan's widely-followed blog, but it really nailed what we are about.  Interestingly, 7 of the commenters on the post turned out to be our customers and recommended us as the solution to the Paper Hole:

"I’ve got a problem. As a professional speaker and someone running an online marketing agency, I am often in a situation where someone sends me a contract to sign. Makes sense. LOTS of businesses run on contracts. Here’s the thing: I’m a digital nomad. I rarely visit the office. I don’t have printers and fax machines. Think about it.

The Process

1. Someone sends me something to sign in email.
2. I look at the email for days.
3. I plead to just send an email signature.
4. Seven reminder emails later, I find my way to Staples (or *.placewithprintersandfaxes)
5. I print the form/contract.
6. I sign the form/contract.
7. I dig into my iPhone email to find the fax number, can’t.
8. I email the person to remind me of their fax number.
9. I listen to bad in-store music and make small talk with the Copy Center person, who hates everyone.
10. I get the email.
11. I dial the fax number.
12. It takes four tries.
13. The fax goes through.
14. Weeks later, the process is complete.

It’s 2009

Can we please stop the paper thing? Isn’t there another way?

I know there’s not, but if nothing else, I feel better for explaining why you’re still waiting for me to sign whatever it is"

LOL.  This is about 10x better than our "ugh with the fax" video from early 2006 - thank you Chris.

It also shows we have to continue to get the word out as he'd never heard of us.  But fortunately, 7 of our customers reached out in the comments and singled EchoSign out as the solution to this mess.  To Chris -- thank you for the great 2009 update of our value prop.  To our customers -- thank you for the support.

Scott Schnaars 02.05.09 at 11:29 am

Hey Chris,

I had the same problem. A few quarters ago, I signed up for a service called EchoSign. Works beautifully, even over mobile devices.

Good luck.

 Perry 02.05.09 at 11:31 am

I was recently introduced to Echosign by someone on the other side of a contract, as an alternative to the sign/email/scan dance.

http://www.echosign.com/

Catherine Shinners 02.05.09 at 11:58 am

Use Echosign

 Mark Copeman 02.05.09 at 11:59 am

Digital signatures are definitely the way forward… Are they legal and above board?

This article explains all…

Who to buy from? Echosign are great and have been around for years

 Chris Walker 02.05.09 at 1:55 pm

I use Echosign for digital contracts. I write about my experience with on-line contracts at my real estate website:
http://www.walkerswholesalehouses.com/get-signatures-on-your-contracts-via-email
Opening a small account is free and I get my signatures signed and delivered in under 1 hour. No faxes!
Chris Walker
Walkers Wholesale Houses

 Jeffrey Blake 02.06.09 at 12:49 pm

Ditto on EchoSign

 Amir Sadeh 02.05.09 at 5:49 am

Check out this product from BT in the UK [EchoSign-powered BT eSignature].. I have used it once when BT (!) sent me a contract to sign!

http://www.btbroadbandoffice.com/broadband-and-internet/business-applications/esignature

Seemed pretty painless, and it is legally binding here in the UK!