Submittable

Submittable has made our publishing experience enjoyable, rather than laborious.

Aspetti positivi:

Its ease of use makes it a joy to work with: it's a clearinghouse, a reply tool, and an organizational tool all in one.

Aspetti negativi:

As it has in the past two years, I'm sure it will continue to improve it's functionality in a few of its features. For example, I'd like our readers/editors to be able to receive submissions immediately instead of me having to assign everything, but remain on a blind level, and also not be able to decline the work, just leave notes as they currently can.

It Changes The Way I Do Things

Commenti: Awesome. Very helpful, easy to use. Simple and straight forward interface. It saves a lot of my time and really help me organize my submissions, and the best of all, which I didn't expect to find, is the plethora of contests I didn't find anywhere else (or it will take me a lot of time to find).

Aspetti positivi:

I wish I found Submittable earlier. I used to look for writing competitions through google and other search engines. The problem is they are sometimes outdated, inaccurate and very limited search result. I also have tons of bookmarks to help me remember which competitions I sent them too. When I submit a lot, I lost count and all I did was just wait for emails that inform me about the results. I found Submittable when some of the contests required me to use Submittable. It became a delight because the interface is very use friendly and I started to explore more, and I was in for pleasant surprises. I like the way it organizes my contests, I no longer forget which and where I submit them to, and the great thing is I'm also able to track the feedbacks for those contests instead of rummaging through my emails about forgotten or non-existent results. But the best thing is I can find way more contests through Submittable, and filter them the way I want to, from entry fees to genres. It saves a lot of time and effort and there are tons of contests.

Aspetti negativi:

None so far. I haven't had chance to explore other functions like creating my forms, but from what I use Submittable for, everything is satisfactory. It's an apps that does what it promises and more.

Submittable is user-friendly, but only for applicants.

Aspetti positivi:

The product is easy for applicants to use, with simple forms and clear application guidelines. Generally, we have had many applicants have no issues while applying, which is definitely a positive about the platform.

Aspetti negativi:

For administrative staff who work grant programs on the back-end, features such as advanced reporting are sorely lacking. It's difficult to build these reports and pull through the data you need. Additionally, there are many small issues that Submittable merely provides "work-arounds" for, rather than solving problems. For example - tables that are put directly into an application form export as a separate file, and then would need to be merged in order to package applications. While the platform might make the process of applying smooth for applicants, there seem to always be headaches for our staff when processing applications afterwards.

Why Use Submittable

Aspetti positivi:

1. Submittable is user-friendly. 2. Preparing to receive new documents for new projects is not time-consuming. 3. Submittable makes it easy to reach a broader audience by making projects searchable within the platform. 4. Readable for users. 5. Ability to generate reports.

Aspetti negativi:

1. Window to reply to submitters is too small. 2. Difficult to deactivate payment feature if a submitter has paid.

Love the Ease of Sumittable

Commenti: We've loved our experience with the Submittable team. They system and the team continue to impress us.

Aspetti positivi:

Great Customer Service - and ease of the system for both applicant and reviewer are fantastic

Aspetti negativi:

wish they had a more comprehensive CRM - which this is in the beta stage, it doesn't work for us because we do not require our applicants to have a UEI or be a non-profit.

Submittable saves us time

Commenti: Our Institute is small and is not endowed. Thus the cost is a big issue. I believe we have a discount, but I don't know how much and that question on your survey didn't allow for the "I don't know" response. I am on the front-line and the applicants seem satisfied with the process.

Aspetti positivi:

I like the way Submittable allows for use of multiple programs.

Aspetti negativi:

The restriction on the number of reviewers we can have as 'active' at one time is a royal pain! I would prefer to use 3 reviewers per applicant on one project, but I cannot because the time overlaps with another project and we have separate reviewers for each.

Good experience

Commenti: Very good overall, I can manage the platform by myself mostly

Aspetti positivi:

Easy to manage, specially submissions and reviews

Aspetti negativi:

Costumer service is not that fast and effective

Great platform, highly customizable

Commenti: Smooth, positive, pricey but ultimately worth it.

Aspetti positivi:

Our team loves the ability to make each form and application its own. This platform has allowed us to expand greatly the number of applications we can process and it has made the review process much smoother.

Aspetti negativi:

Despite it being a great platform, we find it difficult to keep up with the expense. For what it provides and the way in which we use it, it's a very costly platform.

Seamless use for admins and applicants

Commenti: Being able to keep all program data in one place has proven the investment into Submittable time and again. I rarely need to reach out to customer service to solve problems because of how easy the product is to use.

Aspetti positivi:

Implementing this product was simple. It makes it seamless to use on the administrative end, and rarely do applicants have questions when applying. Having all data and messaging in one place is especially important so that multiple admins can access this easily.

Aspetti negativi:

Changing information on forms can be improved. It would help to have a 'Hide Question' option so we can take out a question yet retain the data from past applicants without deleting the question and answer entirely.

Submittable Review

Aspetti positivi:

Easy to use software, lots of functions to choose from.

Aspetti negativi:

The price is high compared to other call for speakers' software.

Submittable is a staple for me.

Commenti: I have used Submittable for years. It has never let me down.

Aspetti positivi:

The flexibility. I've used Submittable for so many different types of projects from manuscript submissions to personnel data to event applications, and so much more. You can create any kind of form you want and track the data.

Aspetti negativi:

There is a learning curve, but Submittable offers great help.

Submittable Found a Need and Filled It

Aspetti positivi:

I like that they function as a gatekeeper for our contests, add to our authenticity, and help us maintain a level playing field.

Aspetti negativi:

Sometimes I struggle with posting contests, but when I ask questions I've gotten help. I wish you could help us put the word out. Loved being listed in your newsletter.

Great platform for tracking entries to a writing competition.

Commenti: One of the most positive vendor partnerships we have.

Aspetti positivi:

Customer engagement and support is phenomenal. Feedback is solicited and when useful, incorporated into a new release. Platform is inherently easy to use and manage.

Aspetti negativi:

Ability to add co-entrants at any point in the process and have multiple people receive platform communications.

Easy for Everyone to Use

Commenti: It is a great platform that is easy to use on the front and back end.

Aspetti positivi:

Applicants with low-tech/computer experience can use it. Works well on all types of devices (even an old iMac).

Aspetti negativi:

As a grant manager, I want to be able to view more details regarding Draft Applications submitted by applicants, so that I can provide better technical assistance. At least, it would be good to be able to view the names of applicants in the draft applications report or be able to filter by city or zip code. Also, I wish that in the main application view you could filter by address- This would be very helpful.

Easy navigation for new users

Aspetti positivi:

When I started in this role, I had never used Submittable. It is easy to learn and manage. I mostly use it for grant management and form automation. It is not complicated to navigate, has great resources to learn how to use features, and eases our workflow.

Aspetti negativi:

I don't have a cons to share at this moment.

Submittable...How do I love you? Let me count the ways!

Commenti: Try me another day...I am out the door to a meeting.

Aspetti positivi:

Making the decision to shift our application process to online, I was concerned that it would meet the needs of the artists and writers applying and also ease transition for a middle to senior aged office team with varying degrees of electronic saavy. Needless to say we continue to remark on an almost daily basis how we LOVE Submittable. Ease of use was foremost and the Submittable staff are always right there with customer support. Any concerns or suggestions were addressed and often appeared as Submittable staff tweaked and updated the software. Likewise input from customers is often solicited. This open process continues to make the software better and better as new features are added and functionality is streamlined. Over the years Submittable continues to be software service and customer oriented. From staff and applicant feedback, I understand that Submittable greets anyone from neophyte to expert electronic guru users with the same degree of respect, patience, expertise and professional service. I especially appreciate the ease in navigating the software features. Ease in accessing and reviewing all areas of our applications, accessing correspondence with applicants and reviewers, sending out requests for character statements automatically, controlling access to all areas of the application and processes as needed have streamlined the time and task of handling actual materials. No more incomplete applications. Electronic deadlines hold fast.

Aspetti negativi:

Do I miss having USPS delivering stacks of applications for weeks on end around deadlines, when apps just pop up on the list in Submittable? Do I miss the file prep for each application as materials dribbled in little by little and were sometimes incomplete even after the deadline due to weather etc. when that is all tracked by the software? Do I miss handling over and over sections of the application and loosing track when interrupted in the process when a click of a mouse brings me right back? Do I miss being stuck at my desk surrounded by stacks of applications when I now access the applications anywhere there is wifi...even 12 time zones away which is what I did for the last batch of applications? Do I miss being burdened by attempts to streamline or simplify a labor intensive process only to discover all the benefits of using Submittable? Do I realize how staff are freed up to manage more productive tasks in the office than pushing files and paper? Do I realize that the staff team are excited to see applications appearing on their screens, versus groaning when the USPS truck drove into the parking lot? Do I realize how much more economical Submittable is versus staff time and energy factored in with hand processed applications? Do I realize how much more fun it is to problem solve around tailoring the software with Submittable staff to address a need? Do I wish our staff team had transitioned to Submittable sooner? Yes, no regrets we are HUGE Submittable fan

Reliable and Effecient

Commenti: I enjoy my work, and Submittable gives me confidence to stay organized and productive. I will learn to do more with it as I proceed and learn how to utilize what's available that I haven't tried yet (e.g. blind readings, running contests, etc.) The experience has been a very good, and as we grow our journal's submission rate which correlates to our growing readership, Submittable, I believe, will be an excellent tool for me as managing editor and the people who assist me.

Aspetti positivi:

I am able to manage my submissions quite easily with Submittable. It has many sorting options, and several tools to make reading a large amount of work manageable. Working collaboratively with other editors is possible and efficient because of the filtering functions (such as the use of labels, storing submissions, ordering them by date, alphabetically, etc.) and team management tools (such as the assigning of certain tasks to certain individuals, easy messaging, dissemination of work, etc.) I like the basic look/visuals of Submittable, as it is relatively intuitive to use. Furthermore, when I encountered troubles or had questions, I was given friendly and quick help over the telephone, as well as through their chatlines. Editing our site is also very easy.

Aspetti negativi:

I don't like that some services are offered to certain levels of subscriptions and not to others. I'd rather have a good, fair price for the use of Submittable's full functions. It's not always clear to me what I have in my subscription, even though not too hard to check, I suppose. Also, to "test" how forms will look to submitters seems a little complicated, but not too bad once going through it. I feel a little "blind" when sending out ACCEPT/DECLINE. Not sure what the solution is, however, and really does not present any real trouble for me.

Jentel Residency

Commenti: Instead of handling applications by hand, we are able to focus on accuracy and applications increase annually. Makes life so easy!

Aspetti positivi:

The product covers all the bases, ease of use for staff, review panel, and applicants. They are always listening and improving their product

Aspetti negativi:

Any questions we have are always addressed. Support is amazing and we cannot praise them enough

Indispensable!

Aspetti positivi:

It allows the applicants to easily submit their portfolio material in a large variety of file types.

Aspetti negativi:

Of late, it has become less user friendly with the by dividing into project and program, and having a separate qualification step. Mostly I have had tech help when I needed it within a day, but in the beginning this assistance was much quicker and more helpful. Also, this could be a useful platform for research, especially surveys, if there were more ways to analyze the data.

Undergraduate Research Grant Management

Aspetti positivi:

Easy to use and customizable forms, flexible workflow, and all-in-one platform.

Aspetti negativi:

Annoying limitations and lack of sophisticated form logic.

Not entirely intuitive, but doable for digital immigrants. "Chat" folks are responsive & helpful.

Commenti: Ease of receiving submissions, as opposed to the manual email system we had in place. Also the ability to link donations as an option when paying. It's a timesaver in processing submissions that allows us to get right to the content, rather than shuffling emails back and forth to our editors.

Aspetti positivi:

It works VERY well for receiving, tracking, reviewing literary submissions. So organized. Helps our statewide editorial team stay connected for working and communicating. Tutorial and articles are helpful tools when setting this up.

Aspetti negativi:

"Up ad running in 15 minutes"? Not likely. Big down side, is that it is EXPENSIVE for non profits, despite the discount. Monthly plans ding you bigtime for signer and submission allotments. We use Premium plan, the next step up is a GIANT leap up in price but also benefits. But we cannot afford that. I would like to see a product for bonafide all-volunteer non-profits with small budgets. Arts organziations are struggling these days.

A Dream for Users and Administrators Alike

Commenti: Overall, Submittable makes my life easier practically on a daily basis. It makes submitting and tracking my work a breeze, and I'm so thankful!

Aspetti positivi:

As a freelance writer, I use Submittable on a weekly (and sometimes daily) basis, and I am so grateful that it's become so common in publishing circles. Its ease of use sure beats licking stamps and endless trips to the printer, and I love that I can track all my submissions in one place.

Aspetti negativi:

The one caveat I have about Submittable is that, unlike some of its predecessors, it does not provide a place for applicants to enter an alternate name, as in a nom de plume. I use a pen name myself, and the absence of this feature has caused me some trouble. (I was once awarded a prize and the site listed my legal name instead of my nom de plume--which was fixable, but also avoidable.)

Submittable review

Commenti: For our initial needs, it works great, but it is expensive for what we do with it.

Aspetti positivi:

I started it three years ago, and it is very user-friendly. Has helped our group grant, review team.

Aspetti negativi:

For what we use it for (3 grants) it is very expensive.

Online Submissions Are the Future

Commenti: Many publishers use Submittable as a way to accept manuscript queries or submissions. There are several advantages to the author. Once you have an account, you can access all of your submissions. That makes it easier to find things again, versus e-mail submissions. And it's faster and cheaper than submitting through the mail, which many publishers don't even accept anymore.

Aspetti positivi:

When submitting queries or manuscripts to publishers, this is a relatively fast and easy method. Because the publisher sets up the fields they want, it's easy to know what you need to include, and where to put it.

Aspetti negativi:

The text windows are small, so when you paste in large blocks of text, you have to scroll to double check or change things.

Submissions Made Easy

Commenti: Since I first Submittable after being recommended to use it by a writer colleague, I have loved it and recommended it to others. As someone who has worked in publishing for years, Submittable makes doing submissions 100% easier and saves me countless hours of time, that I can now happily devote to my writing projects.

Aspetti positivi:

As a writer, I absolutely love how easy Submittable makes the submission process to me. I simply on the name of a publication, review what they're looking for, whether they have fees or not, their deadlines, and choose to submit my writing or not, all in an easy to use interface. Also, I can easily review all of the work I've submitted under the submission tab, so I can what was accepted or denied, and keep track of all the publications I've submitted my writing to.

Aspetti negativi:

I honestly can't think of anything, because before I found Submittable, I did had to research publications, deadlines and all of the information has at just a click away, by myself.