CRM Blog

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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ACT! Premium 2011 now connects with your Mobile device! I love my EVO, and I love my ACT! Now they mix very well!

Access Sage ACT! from wherever you are with ACT! Mobile Live, a cloud-based mobile service that delivers Sage ACT! to your BlackBerry® and Windows Mobile® devices.

With ACT! Mobile Live, you keep the details with you. You’ll always have your Sage ACT! contacts, calendar, meetings notes, conversation history, and upcoming activities, because all of this is easy to find and update from your phone. No more missed meetings, misplaced phone numbers, or forgotten customer details simply because you’re out of the office and away from your computer.

It’s designed for your mobile device.

Get more out of the phone you already own. ACT! Mobile Live works with BlackBerry and Windows Mobile devices. Support for iPhone® is coming soon!

Keep the details with you and add new.

View your Sage ACT! contact and calendar details on your phone. See meeting notes, conversation history, and upcoming activities, and be instantly informed about your customers. And you can add new details when you’re out and about.

Bypass the learning curve.

You’re already used to your mobile device interface. ACT! Mobile Live uses your phone’s built-in address book and calendar so you can view, add, and edit contact and calendar details in the same familiar way you do today.

Setup is a breeze.

Forget about IT nightmares. Set up and deploy ACT! Mobile Live in three easy steps-simply sign up, set up, and sync. You can go live today and enjoy the convenience of paying on a 12-month basis, because ACT! Mobile Live is a subscription-based service.

Backup via an online portal.

ACT! Mobile Live is ready for you wherever you are. Not only can you access Sage ACT! from your phone, you’ll have access from the ACT! Mobile Live online portal. This gives you online access, plus a backup with your data in case your phone is lost or stolen. And your data is available if you switch phones later.

ACT! Mobile Live Features

Do you need to find out more details or to better understand your mobile options with ACT?. Just contact us for more info or an online CRM demo. Our trained staff of certified CRM consultants would love to assist you.

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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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CRM Tip: Get to know the CRM Demo Database

This might sound like an obvious CRM tip, but there are times when it can be extremely useful to use the ACT or CRM demo database.

Here are a few examples:

1. You want to test a new feature and don’t want to affect your live data
2. You want to troubleshoot a bug. It can be useful to see if that bug exists in the demo database as well. If it does not, then the issue lies in your live database. It might be corruption or a bad record.
3. You want to test your layout editor options and see the results - without messing with your live environment
4. Your database is very large and you want to test a feature (such as backup) without waiting 10 minutes.
5. and many more!

To read the entire document, click here.

Free ACT! Premium 2011 Feature Overview – Reviewed by our CRM staff

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 Excel Tool – Calculate CRM Total Cost of Ownership

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

With this tool, you will be able to identify the key TCO 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.

Nationwide ACT CRM Consulting and Training

With offices throughout the United States, the CRM Alliance 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 A is to figure out what your business requirements are, and step B 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 require CRM consulting, training or support in Fort Worth, Texas or San Jose, California, 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!

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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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