CRM Blog

ACT CRM Training Webinar – Designing Database Fields

This third Webinar in our ACT Database Design Training series builds on the 2nd part (editing drop-downs) and concentrates on Defining Fields as an ACT CRM database administrator. The functionality described here works for ACT 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011.

Highlights of this ACT CRM training webinar include:

1. How to edit an existing field
2. Beware: You may not want a character field. You might prefer a currency, date or decimal field.
3. Limitations in re-using or converting an existing field or User field
4. Limitations in Naming your fields (Watch out for special characters such as hyphens and slashes)
5. The value of Mandatory Fields (using Allow Blank). We DO NOT recommend making fields mandatory.
6. What are Primary fields and are they valuable.
7. Associating a drop-down can be done at any time.
8. Multi-select vs Single-select
9. The value of Limit To List for Drop-Downs. Beware, If you Limit To List, then multi-select will malfunction!
10. Do you want to Show Descriptions?
11. Type Ahead should be enabled.
12. Default value
13. Field Format can prove valuable (e.g. Social Security Number), but is rarely used
14. Be careful in defining your Field Length. Don’t just accept the default value of 50. Keep it short if possible.

Do you need advanced ACT by Sage 2011 help or support? Do you have questions about Sage ACT add ons? Or do you simply need a review or demo of Sage ACT 2011 Premium, including its features and options for upgrading? Please don’t hesitate to contact us!

Do you require a comparison of CRM products such as ACT by Sage 2011 Premium, SalesLogix 7  (web, cloud), SugarCRM 6 (Open Source, hosted, SAAS), Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 (integrated, workflow, web based online CRM) vs Salesforce (SAAS, online web based CRM)? No worries! Just give us a call!

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ACT Database Design Webinar

This second Webinar in our ACT Database Design Training series builds on our first webinar and concentrates on editing drop-downs as an ACT CRM database administrator. The functionality described here works for ACT 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011. Highlights in this training include:

1. The true value of the Administrator role
2. Beware of Locking out other ACT users
3. The Central vs Remote database
4. Using Tools|Define Fields in the menu
5. Renaming an existing ACT field vs Creating a new ACT field
6. The ability to rename User fields (such as User 1)
7. The value of standardizing your naming conventions
8. How to edit existing Drop-Down lists
9. How to select the proper Field Types
10. Clarification: Should ACT! users be able to edit the list or rather be locked out
11. Pros and cons of Automatically Adding new items to the drop down list
12. How Drop-Downs affect your ACT Reports and Dashboards

Do you need assistance with comparing various CRM systems? Do you need a detailed CRM comparison of Salesforce, Microsoft CRM, SugarCRM 6, Sage ACT 2011, and SalesLogix Cloud? Let us know!

We would be glad to share our CRM review with you – including CRM pricing and CRM license information. Do you need help understanding SugarCRM or Microsoft CRM pricing, costs, or training plans – or simply a SugarCRM or Microsoft CRM demo? We would be glad to assist you in making the right decision for your installed CRM solution or online web based CRM system. Do you need clarity regarding CRM modules, CRM integration with Microsoft Outlook or with your smartphone (Android, iPhone, Blackberry)? No worries! Just call us.

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This is part 1 of our new ACT 2011 Premium Training videos – focused on the topic of Database Design. This video (Part 1) features one of our top consultatnts, Claire Leong, a long-time ACT! Certified Consultant and Premier Trainer. Thus these tips are not merely conventional info that you might find in a Dummies book. Instead, these tips and tricks are based on years of experience with helping our clients customize their CRM.

Items covered in this video are:

1. Introduction to Field Customization in ACT
2. What is the purpose of the pre-defined User Fields in ACT?
3. The “Referred By-Details” field should be standard in everyone’s database.
4. It’s helpful to add the field “Category” to your database.
5. “Address Type” will help clarify where you’re sending letters to.

If you need assistance or advanced support with Sage ACT 2011 – or if you simply need a demo or review of ACT by Sage 2011 Premium, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

If you have questions regarding the CRM cloud or online CRM tools, please let us know. Our trained staff of CRM consultants would be glad to assist you.

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So ACT finally did it. They came out with a strategic whitepaper on how to reach customers and prospects in a cost effective way. So here is the lowdown on how you can generate more sales leads and market to them more optimally.

Strategic E-Marketing PDF includes:

1. Understanding Permission-based Email Marketing. If you don’t get this, you will be black listed! Read this.
2. Email Marketing tips and tricks. Good and Bad subject lines. Prudence as to the “From” address. Mail-Merging fields to personalize content. And much more.
3. Building Email Lists (and loyal customers). Try offering incentives. Also try a combination of direct mail along iwth Email.
4. Tips for designing Email templates. Consider your theme carefully – as well as your illustrations. Then create top-notch subject lines and headlines. Don’t forget the content!
5. Targeting results from Email blasts and campaigns. Learn how to read your open and click reports. Learn how this integrates directly with ACT! 2011 Premium and how follow up lists of hot prospects are automatically generated and easily used.
6. Tips for practical usage of ACT Email Marketing. 4 scenarios are discussed.

Free Sage ACT! 2011 Evaluation and Feature Review

Click here to access and download our Free Sage ACT! 2011 Feature Evaluation and Review.

With this document, you will be able to identify the key improvements within ACT! 2011 as well as ACT! 2010.

Items addressed include:

1. User interface enhancements
2. Social Media
3. E-Marketing, Mail-Merge and Online Surveys
4. Sales Opportunity redesign
5. Flexible Reporting, Dashboard and OLEDB interface
6. Advanced Outlook Integration and Invitations
7. Advanced Outlook Sync for Contacts and Calendar
8. Simplified Importing design
9. Smart Tasks (Workflow)
10. Advanced Lead Management and Importing
11. Administrative improvements
12. and much more.

Free Cost Calculator for CRM Projects

Click here to access and download our Free CRM TCO Calculator Tool.

With this tool, you will be able to identify the key Total Cost line items that are relevant for any CRM implementation. We have also included data for comparing CRM software systems such as Microsoft CRM, Salesforce.com, SugarCRM, Sage CRM, Sage SalesLogix and more. You will be able to view the 3 Year and 5 Year Total Cost of Ownership for both SaaS (Online/On-Demand) and Licensed (On-premise) pricing models.

TCO line items include:

1. Annual License/User price
2. Support
3. Hardware (incl. Server and Users)
4. Implementation
5. Staff
6. Network
7. Mobile
8. and much more.

National CRM Consulting and Training

With locations throughout the United States, Accent Gold Solutions is able to provide CRM training, consulting and implementation service whereever you are. Please contact us to find out the best way to get your CRM project underway.

Remember, step 1 is to figure out what your business requirements are, and step 2 is to select the proper CRM system for your individual needs.

Being certified in various CRM systems such as Microsoft Dynamics CRM, Sage SalesLogix CRM, Sage ACT!, SAP CRM and more, we are confident we can advise you as to the proper CRM software to fit your business.

Whether you are in Chicago, Illinois or Houston, Texas, we can get your CRM solution designed, implemented and trained so that your users will love it and use it. We define our success by your CRM adoption rate. So call us to get started!

Microsoft CRM 2011 Review Webinars

Join us for our webinar series as we explore the points outlined below – and hope to provide you valuable insight about this top-rated CRM solution. We hope that our comparison with Salesforce.com will help you on in your CRM evaluation.

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Sage ACT! 2011 Premium has come out with a great, long list of improvements. Then again, ACT! 2010 also came out with a huge list of improvements.

Overall, these last 2 versions have completely redefined ACT!.  ACT! is now trying to play in the same space occupied by the big players in the world of CRM – Salesforce.com, Microsoft Dynamics CRM, SugarCRM, SalesLogix CRM, NetSuite, and Zoho among others.

And they aren’t just trying anymore. It has become a reality. With features such as completely flexible customization via Custom Tables, Lead Generation via Hoovers, Workflow automation via Smart Tasks, as well as carefully integrated synchronization with Microsoft Office (Exce, Word, Outlook, IE) – ACT! is moving upstream from Contact Manager towards true CRM.

For a complete list of ACT 2010 improvements as well as ACT 2011 improvements, click here.

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