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September 8, 2009

Jumpchart – Create Websites without Hassle

ss-jumpchart

At its core, Jumpchart is essentially a really easy way to layout a website. They use Textile, which is a simple markup language, (though they also have a more visual (WYSIWYG) interface available on the sidebar) and they cater to users who want an easy way to create the basic elements of a website. It may not be the solution for everyone, but we think Jumpchart might is perfect for small web design shops and savvy web users who want to streamline the process of launching a website.

One of the things we like most about Jumpchart is their focus on both collaboration and revisions. They address the problem many website builders face: that is, clients who routinely make revisions during the development process. Jumpchart makes it easy to adjust site layouts with a couple of clicks, meaning less stress when it comes time for change.

Of course, what we like most about Jumpchart is how interactive it is: everyone involved in a project can log on and view the site, making suggestions and seeing where you’re headed. This takes out “the middle man” so to speak, saving everyone a lot of time and headache. Overall, while Jumpchart might not be for everyone, we highly recommend it to users looking for a simple, streamlined experience.

Practical Uses:

  • Invite your copywriter to Jumpchart and collaborate on your website
  • Show your client the progress of their nonprofit website as its being built
  • Communicate with your photographer about changes to your e-commerce website

Insider Tips:

  • Add generic elements [lipsum] or [photo] as placeholders while you work
  • Use the reorder function to drag misplaced pages to their proper spot
  • The easiest way to include form inputs is by using the formatting pallete
  • Create subpages when you want a page a level lower than the one you’re on

What we liked:

  • Great embedded collaboration features
  • The overall simplicity and feel of the site

What we didn’t like:

  • Some users may not like Textile as the primary coding method

Alternatives:

Company Info:

Costs:

  • Plans for free, $5, $25, and $50 per month

Comments

  1. Thanks so much for the review! I am worried that you might have missed the true point of Jumpchart by a bit. The idea behind Jumpchart is not so much to lay out websites, but to collaboratively plan the content, and navigation for a website. Maybe that’s 2 different ways of saying the same thing, but I thought I would add my 2 cents! Anyway, thanks so much for the review, -it’s my first visit to your site: Nice work!

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