I love the monthly “Is there a tool for…” threads. They show how creative people get when they’re trying to solve a problem. But they also highlight a common issue: vague asks get vague answers.
So I started paying attention to what makes a good request. Over time I picked up a few habits that help me get useful, testable suggestions fast. If you post in that thread (or anywhere you’re asking for software), try these steps.
Start with a clear goal
Say what you want to accomplish, not the feature you think you need. Goals are more useful than wishlists.
– Bad: “I need a CRM with custom fields and integrations.”
– Better: “I want to track 200 freelance clients, log calls and invoices, and automatically remind clients about overdue invoices.”
Add your constraints
Tell people the important limits: budget, platform, privacy, or integrations you can’t live without. A $0 budget changes recommendations a lot.
– Example constraints: macOS + iOS only, under $20/month, must integrate with QuickBooks, GDPR-compliant.
Share an example workflow
A short step-by-step of what you do now helps a lot. Even if you’re switching from spreadsheets, show the current process.
– “I email invoices as PDFs, then track payments in a Google Sheet. I want to automate reminders and log payments against client records.”
Use smart search strategies first
Before posting, do a quick search with these tactics. It saves time and makes your post smarter.
– AlternativeTo.net: great for switching recommendations and alternatives.
– Product Hunt: for newer or trendy tools.
– Search modifiers: put your main need in quotes and add “alternatives” or “self-hosted” or “open source”.
– Look at niche communities: subreddits, Slack groups, or forums tied to your industry.
How to evaluate suggestions
When answers come in, don’t test them all at once. Use a shortlist and a simple checklist:
– Does it meet the core goal? (Not just a single feature.)
– Does it fit the constraints? (Budget, platform, compliance.)
– How steep is the learning curve?
– Are there recent reviews or changelogs?
Try free trials with a small real dataset. That reveals UX gaps faster than screenshots or demos.
A quick message template you can copy
If you want to post in the monthly thread, here’s a short template that gets better results:
“Goal: [one-sentence goal]
Constraints: [platform, budget, integrations, privacy]
Current workflow: [one short paragraph]
Must-have: [1–2 items]
Nice-to-have: [optional items]
Thanks!”
Example filled in:
“Goal: Automate invoice reminders and log payments per client.
Constraints: macOS+iOS, <$20/month, integrates with QuickBooks.
Current workflow: I email invoices and track payments in a Google Sheet.
Must-have: automated reminders, payment reconciliation.
Nice-to-have: mobile app."
Where good recommendations come from
The best answers often come from people who’ve tried a few tools and describe pros and cons. Look for comments that say "I used X, switched to Y because...," or that list specific tradeoffs. Those are more useful than a one-line name-drop.
A few resources I check myself
- AlternativeTo (for direct feature comparisons)
- Product Hunt (to discover new tools)
- GitHub (for open-source/self-hosted options)
- Niche forums or industry subreddits (for real-world use cases)
When to ask for help vs. keep searching
Ask when your problem includes human workflows, compliance, or integrations. If it’s a pure technical spec you can usually find a solution by searching targeted queries. But once people or budgets are involved, a second opinion speeds things up.
Final thought
Good answers start with a good question. If you put in a little effort—state the goal, list constraints, and describe your current process—you’ll get recommendations you can actually try. That’s the point of the monthly thread: not just to name tools, but to find the right one for your situation.
If you want, paste your current ask here and I’ll help tighten it up before you post. I do this for myself all the time, so happy to return the favor.