Document exchange services
As a writing and editing business, Red Pony had always relied on email for document exchange and project management, especially since many of our clients are located in other cities and sometimes other countries.
But when we started to encounter the occasional file transmission and storage capacity problem at both ends of the communication chain, we went looking for a better solution.
There are a number of project management applications with a file exchange component available. They range from very basic ones you can use for free, to paid services that incorporate extra features and a greater degree of flexibility. We use Basecamp (basecamphq.com), for which we pay a small monthly fee. This online project collaboration tool enables us to establish document version control as well as facilitating client communications.
Version control is vital in any large editing project, and all sorts of problems start to arise when different versions of different documents are flying between a dozen different people using a variety of email clients. Having a central point for document exchange backed by a simple and documented process for its use can save you hours of work trying to track down the latest version of a document containing those vital changes. It also prevents your email getting clogged with large files.
Using a central point for document exchange ensures that you and your collaborators are always on the same page – literally.
