What's GOOD at AppSumo this week!?
Discover the best AppSumo deals this week, including an in-depth look at Closely for LinkedIn automation, FirstBook AI for rapid book writing, Software Subscriptions for expense tracking, and Keevi for video repurposing. Get the ratings, pros, and cons for each tool to make informed decisions.
Let's break down each tool and see what's good at AppSumo this week!
Closely [00:29]
Closely
First up is Closely, a LinkedIn and email automation tool that helps you grow your network and manage cold email outreach. The standout features include:
• Comprehensive campaign builder
• Built-in safety features to prevent account flagging
• Dedicated IP addresses
• Chrome extension for manual LinkedIn interaction
• LeadFinder database for direct prospecting
Compared to its competitor Aimfox, Closely is more technical but offers more features for power users. While Aimfox feels more polished, Closely provides more capabilities for those willing to learn the system.
The LeadFinder database, while useful, has limitations compared to LinkedIn's vast user base. A community tip suggested using the Keywords and Industries tab for better results, which improved search results but still couldn't match LinkedIn's reach.
One user pointed out that automated emails include an unsubscribe link that can't be customized. While this might seem like a downside, it's worth noting that this is often required for bulk emails and helps prevent your messages from being flagged as spam.
Rating: 7.8/10
FirstBook AI [04:58]
First Book ai
FirstBook AI is an AI-powered tool designed to help you write your first book in under 24 hours. Despite my initial skepticism, I found the process surprisingly smooth and effective.
Key features:
• AI-powered outlining tools
• Quick turnaround time (under 90 minutes in my test)
• Multiple writing modes for different levels of AI assistance
• User-friendly interface
The tool does have a minor UX issue where it returns you to the main dashboard after each step, requiring extra clicks to continue your work. However, the actual writing process is straightforward:
- Provide your book premise
- Review the AI-generated outline
- Write the first chapter
- Add personal anecdotes
- Let AI complete the rest
There's also a more structured mode that provides guidance while letting you maintain more control over the writing process.
Rating: 7.3/10
Software Subscriptions [08:47]
SoftwareSubscriptions
Software Subscriptions helps you track and organize your business software expenses. The tool offers several useful features:
• Clean, intuitive interface
• Monthly and annual subscription tracking
• Calendar view for upcoming charges
• Chrome extension for easy addition of new subscriptions
The main interface excels at helping you visualize your software spending and manage your subscriptions effectively. However, the License Key Management feature feels incomplete and poorly documented.
The license management system seems designed to track license assignments to employees or clients, but it has limitations:
• Can't assign multiple licenses to the same user
• Unclear documentation
• Limited use cases for most users
While the core subscription tracking features work well, the license management aspect needs improvement. As one user commented, there's some irony in buying software to manage your software purchases, but for those who need to stay organized or enjoy tracking their tool collection, it serves its purpose.
Rating: 6.4/10
Keevi [12:14]
Keevi
Keevi is an AI-powered video repurposing tool that converts long-form videos into shorts or vertical content. The tool offers several promising features:
• Multi-platform publishing capabilities
• Language translation for subtitles
• Fast processing for shorter videos
• Automatic clip generation for long-form content
However, the tool has several limitations that impact its usefulness:
Editing Restrictions:
• Limited camera movement control
• No detailed editing options
• Fixed caption styling across all videos
• Awkward clip selection timing
The tool often creates clips that start mid-sentence, making the content feel disjointed. The inability to adjust caption colors per video also creates problems when switching between light and dark backgrounds.
Several users mentioned Minvo, a former AppSumo lifetime deal, as a potential alternative, though I haven't personally tested it.
Rating: 3.9/10
Conclusion [14:43]
This week's tools offer a mix of capabilities, from content creation to business organization. While each tool has its strengths, they also come with limitations to consider. Closely stands out as the strongest offering, particularly for those needing LinkedIn automation tools, while FirstBook AI surprises with its effectiveness despite the ethical questions it raises about rapid book creation.
Remember to consider your specific needs and use cases when evaluating these tools. As I always say, it's better to focus on tools that truly serve your business rather than accumulating lifetime deals that might not get used.
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