Do we really need another free online document-collaboration tool? Very possibly, yes — if it’s lightweight, easy for non-techies to use, designed
specifically for reviewer annotation, and allows an unlimited
number of users to give feedback on a document.
Crocodoc has
all those things going for it — and you don’t even need to sign up for an
account to use it!
This is not a full-fledged online editing and collaboration tool, not
by a long shot, but the strength of Crocodoc is in its simplicity.
Upload your PDF file, Microsoft Word document, or PowerPoint
document from your computer or from an online location, and it’s stored
on the Crocodoc servers at a hard-to-guess URL you can share with your
colleagues. The obscure URL will be adequate security for many routine
purposes, but a Pro user account ($8/month or $36/year) will give you
enhanced security, password protection, and a few other features. If you
stick with the free version, just be careful not to lose that URL as
it’s the only way for someone to find your document.
Basicand familiar annotation tools — highlight, strikeout, text notes, and sticky notes for longer memos — make it
easy for the least tech-savvy of your board members and volunteers to
pitch in with their feedback, without risk of messing up your original
document. It’s compatible with almost all browsers and operating
systems. And, as noted,
any number of people can be invited to review and annotate your
documents without any of them needing to sign up for an account or
login in any way.
Quick, simple, zero commitment, free.
Mind you, after a few rounds of feedback, or if there are a great
many reviewers in the loop, your document could get a bit “busy” with
mark-up. For that reason, I’d see this as most useful for
short-timeframe projects, to save your work group from getting buried in
a flood of CC’d emails as the document makes its rounds.
Check out Crocodoc at http://crocodoc.com/demo, and share your thoughts in the comments:
Can you see a use for this quick collaboration tool in your organization?
