Building Engine Awesome

Easy Isn’t Always Easy: The Paradox of User-Friendly Software

In the world of software, the term “user-friendly” is often thrown around as a selling point. The idea is simple: if a product is easy to use, it will appeal more to potential users. However, as many have discovered, “easy” isn’t always as easy as it sounds.

Take, for instance, the process of setting up new software. Even if the software is designed to be user-friendly, the setup process can be daunting. There are often numerous steps to follow, adjusting settings and making decisions. This can be a significant hurdle if you’re not tech-savvy or simply short on time.

I’m sure you’ve come across “wizards” that present a series of steps, each requiring you to make a decision or enter information. While these wizards are intended to simplify the setup process, they can sometimes add to the complexity. You may be unsure about your choices, or you may find the sheer number of steps overwhelming. There is a real fear of making the wrong selection and not being able to quickly change it.

That’s why there are consultants. There are consultants for everything. Even for software that claims to be super easy, there are still consultants. Their job is to make easy software… easier.

Consultants are not just technical experts; they are also problem solvers. They understand your unique needs and requirements, and they work to tailor the software setup to meet these needs. They ask the right questions, listen to your responses, and use this information to configure the software in the most effective way possible. You probably wouldn’t pay for a consultant unless the software is already going to be a substantial financial commitment.

At Engine Awesome, we always struggle with making our software easy and keeping it powerful. It’s certainly a fine line. We’ve streamlined the options and removed anything that even reminds a user of a database. We also use the WordPress block editor (Gutenberg) as our no-code builder. Millions of people use it every day when building WordPress websites, and they will feel right at home using the same editor in Engine Awesome. Being familiar with something can make it seem easier.

We’ve introduced Application Templates that allow you to install a full-featured application with one-click. Even though (we believe) it’s super easy to build an application from scratch, we realize that you may need a starting point, and that’s where our templates come in.

But we understand that “easy” isn’t always easy. That’s why we offer a white glove service to handle your setup process. Many of our customers are just too busy to set up an application. Even if it’s easy and will make their life easier, we get it. You just don’t have the time. You have a business to run or work to do. So, we’ll take care of it for you.

Just as we brought Paul Graham’s wisdom into our team through AI, we bring the same level of innovation and forward-thinking to our product and services. We believe in making things truly easy for our users, and we’re always looking for ways to improve and enhance the user experience.

Our goal is to take the concept of “easy” and elevate it to a new level. We understand that time is a valuable resource, and we aim to help you save as much of it as possible. With Engine Awesome, you can have the best of both worlds: user-friendly software and a hassle-free setup process.

So, the next time you hear “user-friendly,” remember that “easy” isn’t always easy. But with Engine Awesome, it can be.

We’d love to hear from you if you have any suggestions on how we can improve our product or services. After all, making things easy is a team effort. And at Engine Awesome, our team includes you.

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