Here are some answers to your questions:

1. Some, but we successfully adressed them. For example, the URL we are using does not display the name of the customer, ensuring a good level of privacy. Also, we invited users individually, based on our own records, therefore the customer did not have to provide a batch of users on their own.

2. Participants were not coached, but we are moderating the forum. To date, we did not have to use our moderating rights though, beyond casual fixing of spelling errors and simple text formatting.

3. The system currently supports text input only, but I am looking at a couple of options for adding surveys. I would expect that 37 signals’ upcoming CRM solution will offer that out of the box.

1. Did the client have network security or related concerns (e.g. privacy?) about setting up a big batch of users?

2. Were participants coached concerning what they could or could not say?

3. Does the system require free text input or can it support coded responses? (i.e., how “survey like” is this process of gathering requirements and how do you crunch the data?)

You’re correct, there is no API at this point. We will have to convince the good folks at 37 signals to add one, or use web scrapping technologies if the end user agreement allows us to do so.