if anyone use mind mapping?

[kate3burn]

Hi!

I'm now researching the possibility of using mind mapping for marketing tasks. If one can share his ideas about this?

It seems to be a great way for information visualization, for instance we can make visual persons and relations between them, or put in proper order marketing data.
I've started with this article: Customer map and I'm now researching the posibility of using Mind Mapping.

If one can suggest some tool? Mind Manager, Mind Pad ... ?

Nice idea and nice graphics used.

Kate

[greeneagle]

Hello Kate3burn and welcome aboard WebProWorld,

"Mind Mapping" is a great way to present a complex (no real limit) project, idea, plan or proposal and print it out on roll paper conveying linear thought along as many channels for any duration a project requires.

That depth of presentation is always stark, and makes an impression. It's power partially resides in it's ability to convey the "complex" as "simple", in a short period of time.

This one seems pretty good and the best part is, that it is free:

"Free Mind".

If you prefer more integration of graphics, capabilities and compatablity I recommend "Visio".

A wealth of support is available on-line such as "Visio Discussion Groups" and "Visio 3rd Party Solutions", etc.

Internet viewing software is available:

The Microsoft "Visio® Viewer" offers free exchange viewing of Visio drawings and diagrams inside their Microsoft Internet Explorer version 5.0 or later Web browser.

I have personally used Visio to convey $multimillion B2B projects to the President and VPs of a Fortune-500 Company, with great success. In that presentation I presented a linear flow printed on roll paper 20ft long, starting with a brain symbol and branching out to encompass several departments, sub projects, challenges, costs, benefits.... There is no limit to "Brain Mapping". The presentation only lasted an hour, with questions and answers.

From there it can be all broken down into "Mocrosoft Project" projects for detailed Administration.

Hope this helps,
Ken

[kate3burn]

Originally Posted by greeneagle

"Mind Mapping" is a great way to present a complex (no real limit) project, idea, plan or proposal and print it out on roll paper conveying linear thought along as many channels for any duration a project requires.

OK, I’ve spent few days researching mind mapping tools carefully. So here are my thoughts:

1) I like Mind Pad for it’s custom topics, such as Contact. It allows create topics with custom properties. Also, it’s inexpensive (costs 129$) and has nice interface.
2) Mind Manager is a market leader. Most Fortune 500 companies use it. One of the most expensive (costs 229$).
3) FreeMind – open source. I do agree that it’s not as polished as Mind Pad and Mind Manager, but it’s free to use.

Other tools: ConceptDraw, Visio, … most of them are as expensive as Mind Manager and also fully features, but not known much as a good mind mapping tool.

I’m not really experienced in evaluating mind map tools, but I still cannot decide whether I should buy pretty-good and in-expensive Mind Pad or Fortune Companies’ choice - Mind Manager.

Kate