General Instructions for Using the Feature Comparison Matrix Spreadsheet

1. This spreadsheet is to be used as a 'template' for comparing email vendors across a set of predetermined
features. Change it as you wish to better reflect your particular situation.
2. I suggest you save the original 'template' file and copy it with another name, this way you still have the original
file and formulas intact in case you need to go back after a 'screw up' situation.
3. The feature matrix worksheet is setup for 5 vendors and 15 features. If you have more vendors or more
features, you can easily copy the columns with formulas and adjust for additional features/vendors. Any problems
4. Procedure for using the comparison matrix:
a) Start the spreadsheet by listing the vendors on the Vendor column indicated in the spreadsheet.
b) Then scroll down to "TABLE 2 - Feature List" and enter the name of the features you're evaluating vendors
against.
c) Complete "TABLE 2" by entering the "Feature Value" based on TABLE 1- this tells you how important each
feature is for you. Feel free to change the definitions, but the overall idea is that the more valuable a feature is,
the higher it's score value should be.
d) Go to the comparison matrix and start grading each vendor based on the features they provide. You can also
change the column names from "Feature1", "Feature2", etc.. To the actual feature names you are using in TABLE
2.
e) As you grade each vendor/feature set, the formulas on the spreadsheet will automatically calculate the
weighted score for each vendor. Scroll to the right and you'll see the total scores and total weighted scores for

Tips on using the matrix

- Print it out and take it with you on vendor demo sessions. Go grading them as they walk you through the demo
and
show
you'score'
their features.
- After
each
column in the matrix, there are hidding 'weighted score' columns. To see the hidden columns,
simply select two adjacent columns and right click to select 'unhide'. Example: to show the hidden column "D",
select columns "C" and "E", then right click and select 'unhide'.
- Be careful when deleting scores on the matrix. If you simply select cells across multiple columns (highlighting
multiple columns with your mouse) and hit 'delete', you may accidentally delete hidden columns which contain
- Use the "notes" column" (far right side of matrix) for annotations and your impressions of different features and
'soft' features.

Problems? Questions? Formulas not working? Feel free to contact me at

Vendor Comparison Matrix

Vendor / Features

Feature1

Feature2

Feature3

Feature4

Feature5

Feature6

Feature7

Feature8

Feature9

Score

Score

Score

Score

Score

Score

Score

Score

Score

Feature10 Feature11 Feature12 Feature13 Feature14 Feature15 TOTAL SCORE

Score

Score

W
e

Score

Score

Score

Score

Vendor1

Vendor2

Vendor3

Vendor4

Vendor5

TABLE 1 - Weighted Score Table

Feature Need

Feature Value

Don't Care About the Feature

Nice to Have Feature

Must Have Feature

TABLE 2 - Feature List

Feature Value

Feature1

Feature2

Feature3

Feature4

Feature5

Feature6

Feature7

Feature8

Feature9

Feature10

Feature11

Feature12

Feature13

Feature14

Feature15

TABLE 3 - Vendor Grading Table

Grade Description
Grade Value
Vendor Doesn't Comply
0
Vendor Complies Partially
1
Vendor Complies Fully
2
Vendor Complies Above and Beyond
3

(Fill in the valued under "Feature Value" based on TABLE 1 definitions)

(Use the values from this table in the matrix above. Give for each vendor a 'grade' on how they perform for each feature)

Vendor Comparison Matrix

TOTAL WEIGHTED SCORE

Notes

0
0
0
0
0

Vendor Comparison Matrix

Vendor / Features

WYSIWYG HTML
Editor

Auto-convert HTML
to Text email

A/B Testing

Easy behavior-based
segmentation

Auto retry if email

bounced

Remove contact after 3 hard

Newsletter Templates
bounces

Yahoo / Hotmail Email

previeew

Feature9

Feature10

Score

Score

Score

Score

Score

Score

Score

Score

Score

Score

ABC Email R Us

SPAM Like You Mean it

Grandma's Email Corp

TABLE 1 - Weighted Score Table

Feature Need

Feature Value

Don't Care About the Feature

Nice to Have Feature

Must Have Feature

TABLE 2 - Feature List

Feature Value

WYSIWYG HTML Editor

Auto-convert HTML to Text email

A/B Testing

Easy behavior-based segmentation

Auto retry if email bounced

Remove contact after 3 hard bounces

Newsletter Templates

Yahoo / Hotmail Email previeew

Feature9

Feature10

Feature11

Feature12

Feature13

Feature14

Feature15

TABLE 3 - Vendor Grading Table

Grade Description

(Fill in the valued under "Feature Value" based on TABLE 1 definitions)

(Use the values from this table in the matrix above. Give for each vendor a 'grade' on how they perform for each feature)

Grade Value

Vendor Doesn't Comply

Vendor Complies Partially

Vendor Complies Fully

Vendor Complies Above and Beyond

Vendor Comparison Matrix

Feature11 Feature12 Feature13 Feature14 Feature15 TOTAL SCORE

Score

W
e

Score

Score

Score

TOTAL WEIGHTED SCORE

Notes

Score
12

17

- very nice interface for A/B testing and results reporting

13

15

- awesome way to preview emails before you send. Good tech support.

- very cheap! Lacks in features though