VO-BB - 20 YEARS OLD!

CarynClark · Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2007 7:09 pm Post subject: Keepin' track...

I did a search but didn't come up with anything.

What do you guys use for your contact management database? A good ole Excel spreadsheet, Access, or some other software?

My spreadsheet is getting a little unwieldy. There must be a better way to organize my contacts.

Thanks!
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Caryn Clark... The Hip Chick Voice!

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todd ellis · Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2007 7:11 pm Post subject:

check the archives caryn - i think we talked about this not long ago ...
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scottnilsen · Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2007 7:12 pm Post subject:

I also have been using an Excel spreadsheet, and find it's getting too big.

I would also be interested in hearing other solutions.

I'll head to the archives, too...
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todd ellis · Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2007 7:20 pm Post subject:

seems like somebody mentioned ZOHO last time ...
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SoundsGreat-Elaine Singer · Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2007 7:52 pm Post subject:

Time and Chaos is a good one. Inexpensive and easy to use. They are located in Texas and their customer service is quite good too.

http://www.chaossoftware.com/
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JTVG · Backstage Pass Joined: 21 Jun 2007 Posts: 433

It's nothing fancy but Mozilla's Thunderbird email program comes attached with a nice little address book. Room for phone, address and everything else important.
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dagoldenknight86 · Guest

Microsoft Access. You can create your own database.

What I do is create fields that show me when the last follow up was, If I sent out a demo (for cold calls) Phone numbers everything. Unlike a simple address book you can keep notes and can even do mail merge with it. Very useful.

Lizden · Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2007 9:12 pm Post subject:

ACT! does the same thing which is what I use right now

But since I use QuickBooks I may be looking into their contact manager to have everything really synched.

L.
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Jeffrey Kafer · Posted: Wed Dec 19, 2007 9:47 pm Post subject:

I made my own web-based contact system with an Access database.
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CarynClark · Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 6:49 am Post subject:

Thanks everyone. I'll check this stuff out. Yeah, I thought there was a thread about this, but I couldn't find it.

Yes, Liz, that's what I was thinking too about just doing this in QuickBooks so that everything's in one place, but I'm not sure that QuickBooks (or, I didn't know until you mentioned it) has the ability to keep notes for each client.

Ideally, what I'd like is:
*the ability to keep clients' contact information
*be able to sort by type of "client" (agent, production house, etc.)
*keep notes on contact made (I tend to be detailed, like noting what I said in my email to them, etc. - otherwise I forget)
*sort by date of last contact among all categories
*the ability to print out address labels

Am I forgetting any other things you all think I might need?

Kafer, do you think a girl like me, without your vast technical background, could build her own Access database?
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Caryn Clark... The Hip Chick Voice!

"A positive mental attitude and having faith in your ability is quite different from being irresponsible and downright stupid." - Dave

Jeffrey Kafer · Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 10:14 am Post subject:

Yes, Access is super easy to do and I'm happy to walk you through it. You can then use it for mail merge to print out envelopes or labels, filter any way you want to, and even build a web-based system around it (like I did).

This of course, assumes you own Access.
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CarynClark · Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 11:05 am Post subject:

Yeah, I don't..... and whoo boy, is it pricey! I'm going to check with the hubby though and see if he has it (he owns his own business and so it might be part of the Windows package he installed).
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Caryn Clark... The Hip Chick Voice!

"A positive mental attitude and having faith in your ability is quite different from being irresponsible and downright stupid." - Dave

Lizden · Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 11:17 am Post subject:

Caryn,
ACT does that and is less expensive that Access, but is a bit unwieldy...and you need an extra linking software between it and QB or you have to enter the contact info manually...which I'm behind on! Rolls Eyes

The QB Contact Manager is an add-on to QB that is "sold separately"...not sure what the cost is on that, haven't had a chance to research that...actually I just went to intuit & found the page:

http://quickbooks.intuit.com/product/add-ons/customer-management.jhtml?view=overview#tabAnchor

Haven't gone deep in yet but looks like it's $80

Liz
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CarynClark · Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 11:26 am Post subject:

We must've been on the site at the same time Liz... I was just coming back here to give a report about the QuickBooks Customer Manager.

<sigh>.... I'm a modern girl, but this all seems so complicated. I hate change. But I know I need to do something.

One little issue I have is that I don't use Outlook (i still use my web mail) so I'd lose out on many of the benefits. I tried linking my webmail to Outlook, but for some reason it didn't work out too well and I ended up missing emails, etc. I guess I should take a look at that.

Well, lots to research and figure out. Liz, if you get the QBs customer management software, let us know how you like it. And, I'll do the same if I get it.

Smile

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Caryn Clark... The Hip Chick Voice!

"A positive mental attitude and having faith in your ability is quite different from being irresponsible and downright stupid." - Dave

Diane Maggipinto · Posted: Thu Dec 20, 2007 11:31 am Post subject:

i'm nearly certain time and chaos, or whatever the upgrade is now, is what i need, which is likely what you need, too. i've just not had a moment to download the trial version to check it out.

i'll add it to the resolution list.

when i start said list.
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