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Posts Tagged ‘ACT! 2005’

Which Came First the iPhone or ACT!?

Posted in ACT! Software Tips, tagged , , , , , , , , , on February 8, 2010 | 1 Comment »

A past client of mine just informed me that she has left ACT.  First, she couldn’t get it to work with her Treo and then she became disenchanted with the new version of ACT and the way it worked with her new iPhone.  For the record, I introduced her to CompanionLink and we got her Treo working just fine, until it didn’t.  Getting a phone to work with ACT is doable; however it can be a frustrating experience.

My concern for her and my ACT clients is that the phone they purchase inhibits the effective use of ACT as a business tool because the needs of the phone override the fundamental goals of most ACT users: taking care of clients and managing prospects.

So which is more important, ACT or your phone?  In my opinion, ACT is a great tool for running a small business and if the phone you purchase impacts the effective use of ACT, then you shouldn’t buy it, unless you are prepared to purchase additional software to sync the phone with ACT.  In addition, you will need to devote some time and energy to the process to get everything working properly.  So, mentally prepare yourself for this task first and I think the frustration level will be taken down a notch or two.

Last but not least, I’m fairly certain that just when you get everything working properly, and you’ve become an expert at all the software involved, your phone will die and need to be replaced with the latest and greatest!  Oh…fudge.

Resources: www.companionlink.com

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My Client is a Pothead: A Social Networking Tale

Posted in ACT! Software Tips, tagged , , , , , , , , , on January 27, 2010 | Leave a Comment »

I use a tool called Social Networking for ACT! that works with older versions of ACT! and it turns ACT! into a social networking powerhouse

I called my client one day and Social networking for ACT! had searched for his name and that’s when I found out he was part of the local reefer society.  I was shocked; my client is a pothead (or so I thought)!  The reality is that he was a member of the local saltwater marine aquarium society and his name was listed on their website and Social Networking for ACT! found it.  I love that story.

The best thing about this tool is the amount of information you can find, and the worst thing about this tool is the amount of information you can find.  I say that because you will find so much that you’ll need to set time aside to deal with what you’ll find.

I recently found an email list with more than 200,000 email addresses.  The list was a local company’s opt out list (that the web people had exposed on the web) and I happened to find it.  The company was local so I actually called and spoke to the owner and told him what I found so he could remove it.

I previously wrote that I had not yet upgraded to ACT! 2010, even though it has a few new tools for built right in: social networking and SwiftPage.  Let it be noted that you can get SwiftPage without upgrading by visiting www.swiftpage.com and you can also purchase Social Networking for ACT! from Durkin Computing that will help you embark in social networking via ACT!

If you are new to ACT!, I highly recommend it.  If you are considering upgrading because of some of the new tools, let it be said that you have options.

Price: $39.00 and get an additional 30% off using the promo code tony.  Note: I gain nothing by this transaction.  www.durkincomputing.com/ACTAdd-onsSocialNetworking.aspx

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Confessions of an ACT! 2010 Non-Upgrader

Posted in ACT! Software Tips, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , on November 4, 2009 | 1 Comment »

I’m having a real hard time deciding whether or not I should upgrade to ACT! 2010.  I’m a longtime ACT! user, since ACT! 2.0 and I’m a huge ACT! fan.  As I age, I’ve started to question the validity of constantly upgrading to new software versions for a number of reasons.  Maybe I just look at it different these days.

I will eventually upgrade, but when my clients and students ask me if they should upgrade to ACT! 2010 these are the things I ponder on their behalf before I advise them:

1.)    The software is new and it might have bugs, so as a rule of thumb I tell people to wait about three months before they even consider upgrading.  Let the early adopters be the real beta testers.  This is my advice for all software upgrades, not just ACT!.

2.)    What’s broken (if anything) with your current version?

3.)    What are you not accomplishing today that you think the new version will help you accomplish tomorrow?

4.)    Are you rich?  If so spend the money.

5.)    What new features in the new version are really new?

6.)    What is it that would make you more effective and efficient every day?  For example, if you could reduce the amount of time you spend on processing your daily email, would you be better served to focus on that first?

7.)    Do you have time to burn?

8.)    Are you the type that has to have the latest and supposedly greatest?  If so, you are going to do it regardless of what I advise.

9.)    How many customers do you have in your database?  When is the last time you called them to say hello?  When is the last time you emailed them?  If you don’t know the answers to these questions, then focus on getting the answers before you upgrade.

10.)  Do you use any other products that work with your current version of ACT! that you will need to upgrade if you upgrade to the newest version of ACT!?

In my next post, I’ll review the pros and cons of ACT! 2010.

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Before upgrading to ACT! 2010, ask yourself these 10 questions

Posted in ACT! Software Tips, tagged , , , , , , , , , on September 8, 2009 | Leave a Comment »

Here are 10 questions to ask yourself about ACT! before you upgrade to the newest version:

  1. Do you know how many contacts you have in your ACT database and who they are?
  2. How many clients are in your database?
  3. When is the last time you contacted your clients?
  4. How many prospects are in your database?
  5. When did you last contact your prospects?
  6. Do you have a plan in place to contact your clients?
  7. Do you have a plan in place to contact your prospects?
  8. Is my time better spent purchasing new software or organizing and maximizing my investment in the version I now possess?
  9. What are my goals for the data I now possess?
  10.  Before I upgrade, what is ACT going to do for me that I can’t do now?

It is my belief that ACT is but a tool, and if you use that tool wisely you can accomplish great things.  The key is setting goals and mastering the fundamentals.

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ACT Tip: Pick My Brain: A One-Hour Free Consultation

Posted in ACT! Software Tips, tagged , , , , , , , , , on June 10, 2009 | 1 Comment »

I’m so confident that my insights and advice can help you become more productive ACT user, that I’m willing to give you one-hour free consultation to prove my worth.  All you have to do is call and setup a time to speak to me.  Offer expires 6-30-2009

Below are some suggested topics:

Customize layout

No contact left behind

Setting up email

Email marketing campaigns

Managing marketing campaigns

Simplifying ACT!

Sharing ACT!

Developing Prospect Lists

Setting ACT! Goals

Getting a grip on your data

Customizing Reports

Sales Opportunities

ACT! Add-on products

Leveraging ACT!

ACT! Training & Consulting

Understanding the importance of scheduling

Managing ACT! users

Client follow-up excellence

Database maintenance

Basic troubleshooting

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ACT Scheduler Now Available in ACT 2009 Standard

Posted in ACT! Software Tips, tagged , , , , , , , , , on May 28, 2009 | Leave a Comment »

Something new in ACT 2009 Standard is the ACT Scheduler; in previous versions of ACT (2006, 2007, 2008) it was only available in the premium version.  It is also available in the Premium version of ACT 2009.

The ACT scheduler allows automated backups, database maintenance and Outlook and ACT calendar synchronization.

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Backing up ACT with Carbonite

Posted in ACT! Software Tips, tagged , , , , , , , , , on May 28, 2009 | 2 Comments »

A client of mine had his computer crash. Luckily, I had suggested he subscribe to Carbonite (an online backup service) and he was able to recover all his ACT files and all his other data.  

When we attempted to restore his ACT data we ran into an issue; a file was corrupted.  I suspect he had a virus.  Because ACT is made up of more than one file I urge you to do a regular backup of ACT so you have the option of restoring ACT from a backup, in case you run into issues with the files.  If you save the backup on your hard drive, it will be backed up by Carbonite. 

To create a backup, select File | Backup on the ACT menu.

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The Boston Business Journal

Posted in ACT! Software Tips, Basic Computer Tips, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , on March 10, 2009 | Leave a Comment »

I was recently interviewed by the Boston Business Journal (January 23-29, 2009) for an article about how to choose a computer trainer, “The right click: Recession pays for computer trainers,” by Keith Regan. I’ve included an excerpt:

Computer training professionals say the industry has evolved dramatically in recent years. As personal computing has become ingrained in everyday life, the need to teach basic skills has waned considerably. At the same time, the Internet has opened up new avenues for teaching skills to workers.

“Ten years ago, e-mail was new, the Internet was new and even Microsoft Word was new to a lot of people,” said Tony Holowitz, the founder and president of John Anthony Group in Arlington.

Holowitz’s firm now offers an online training option to all clients as well as in-person training in skills such as the contact management program ACT, Web-design programs and other applications.

“When you talk to the trainer, do they speak in technical jargon that’s going to difficult for employees to understand?” he added. “You’ll also want to know if they use the software they’re teaching on a regular basis. I teach QuickBooks and ACT to a lot of small businesses and, because I use them on a regular basis to run my own business, I can really relate to how people want to use them.”

A good training firm will also offer a variety of options for training, perhaps using a combination of in-person training and online support. Web-based options may enable employees to learn at their own pace, which may suit some worker’s learning style better while others may need the immersive experience of in-person, classroom-style teaching.

Here is a link to the entire article: http://www.johnanthonygroup.com/Tony_Holowitz_Boston_Business_Journal.pdf

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Forget about ACT! to Make it Effective

Posted in ACT! Software Tips, tagged , , , , , , , , , on March 2, 2009 | Leave a Comment »

We have created an online goal setting tool and we invite you to try it out.  Please visit: http://www.johnanthonygroup.com/goals.htm

Overview
When I start working with a new ACT training and consulting client the first thing I tell them to do to prepare is to forget about ACT.

When you open ACT it can be exciting but also overwhelming when you start to realize its potential.  And you can waste a great deal of time if you don’t prepare properly.  The first step to making ACT work best for you is to set some goals.  What is it you hope to accomplish?

ACT is merely a tool that can be used to help salespeople and small businesspeople run their lives more efficiently.  If you are not careful, you can also waste a lot of time getting caught up in the bells and whistles of the software, which is why it’s important to forget about what ACT can do initially and focus on what you’d like it to do to accomplish your goals.

I can tell you from experience that a client with clear-cut goals such-as “I want to call all of my clients quarterly and I want to send them an email monthly”-is much more likely to make ACT a great tool for their business.

Please visit: http://www.johnanthonygroup.com/goals.htm

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To Blog or Not to Blog

Posted in ACT! Software Tips, Basic Computer Tips, tagged , , , , , , , , , on January 23, 2009 | 1 Comment »

If you are an ACT user there is a good chance you are a salesperson or a small business person.  Have you considered a blog to promote your business?

If you are considering starting a blog, your first consideration should be time?  Do I have the time to write for my blog?  Second, do you like to write and share information or is it an effort?

I send computer tips via email to my clients as a way of staying in touch with them.  Now, I post the tips on my blog and send an email to my clients with links to the tips on my blog.  This strategy opens my information to the whole world, not just my clients.  The potential exists that if you don’t like to write you could post recordings or videos on your blog as well.

I recently read a book entitled “Naked Conversations” by Robert Scobel and Shel Israel that discusses the impact of blogs on society and business and I’d suggest the book if you are considering starting a blog.  The book was published in 2006 and is slightly outdated, but is a good resource none the less.

Here is a link to Shel’s blog: http://redcouch.typepad.com/weblog/.

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