how does business contact manager compare to other programs? trimimports 5/27/2007 9:19:00 PM I am trying to determine hwo deeply to get involved in bcm. I have had issues with it that lock me out until I can get outside assistance. Contatc info is crucial. What is most reliable and flexible program?

RE: how does business contact manager compare to other programs? Bob Heiney 5/29/2007 3:27:00 PM It really depends a lot on how you plan to use the application. Are you in sales, customer service, or some other field? What industry are you in? Are you primarily interested in email marketing, sales, or sales management? These are critical first questions. From there, you can begin to develop criteria for assessing Outlook along with BCM. I have looked at nearly all of the "Contact Managers". The startling discovery I made, and others may disagree with me on this: Outlook 2003 along with some targeted add-ins may give you the most reliable and practical and useful Contact Manager you can buy. Carefully read the threads on this Message Board to find out what others are saying about Outlook 2007 and BCM 2007. There are very few good points to either of these poorly conceived applications. But there are bugs galore in other Contact Management software applications produced by other companies as well. My vote currently: Outlook 2003 with select add-ins. Good luck! Bob "trimimports" wrote: [Quoted Text] > I am trying to determine hwo deeply to get involved in bcm. I have had issues > with it that lock me out until I can get outside assistance. Contatc info is > crucial. What is most reliable and flexible program?

RE: how does business contact manager compare to other programs? "mrtimpeterson via OfficeKB.com" <u8453[ at ]uwe> 5/29/2007 5:11:03 PM Bob, I am genuinely curious about which select add-ins you are using with Outlook 2003. Can you post any links for reference? -THP Bob Heiney wrote: [Quoted Text] >It really depends a lot on how you plan to use the application. Are you in >sales, customer service, or some other field? What industry are you in? Are >you primarily interested in email marketing, sales, or sales management? > >These are critical first questions. From there, you can begin to develop >criteria for assessing Outlook along with BCM. > >I have looked at nearly all of the "Contact Managers". The startling >discovery I made, and others may disagree with me on this: > >Outlook 2003 along with some targeted add-ins may give you the most reliable >and practical and useful Contact Manager you can buy. > >Carefully read the threads on this Message Board to find out what others are >saying about Outlook 2007 and BCM 2007. There are very few good points to >either of these poorly conceived applications. But there are bugs galore in >other Contact Management software applications produced by other companies as >well. > >My vote currently: Outlook 2003 with select add-ins. > >Good luck! >Bob > >> I am trying to determine hwo deeply to get involved in bcm. I have had issues >> with it that lock me out until I can get outside assistance. Contatc info is >> crucial. What is most reliable and flexible program? -- Message posted via OfficeKB.com http://www.officekb.com/Uwe/Forums.aspx/outlook-bcm/200705/1

RE: how does business contact manager compare to other programs? Bob Heiney 5/29/2007 5:53:01 PM Hi Tim, My profession is sales & marketing. I need a good graphic email client, an ability to quickly dash off an email or Word Doc, and some basic automated task follow-up ability. One add-in that gives the Outlook user powerful ability to one button write an email merge or MS Word doc is Office Documents 4 available for trial download at: http://www.software-solutions.co.nz This skillfully crafted add-in turns your pokey Outlook 2000, 2003, or 2007 into a useful Contact Manager. You can easily create mail merge templates for emailing or snail mailing. You can easily create distribution lists that contain your specific selection criteria. The application lets you set up automatic journaling generated from emails and snail mails. Set up is quick and easy. I have had few problems with Office Documents 4. A corrupt template generated an error message upon entering a screen. Deletion of the templete dispatched the error message in a hurry. There's an additional add-in available by the same developer to assist you with envelopes and lables. It gives you the same one button ability. Simply select a contact and press a button. Like magic, Outlook prints your contact's address on your choice of envelope styles or labels. The two software applications cost about $100. You can download a trial version with full functionality at : http://www.software-solutions.co.nz By the way, I do not represent the developer or have any association with them other than as a user who purchased their software. Here are some other links: www.mapilab.com www.speedfiler.com www.sperrysoftware.com www.outlook4team.com I haven't tried all of these but some have good potential. My current favorite is Office Documents 4 from http://www.software-solutions.co.nz Bob Heiney Bob[ at ]writeheiney.com "mrtimpeterson via OfficeKB.com" wrote: [Quoted Text] > Bob, > > I am genuinely curious about which select add-ins you are using with Outlook > 2003. Can you post any links for reference? > > -THP > > > > Bob Heiney wrote: > >It really depends a lot on how you plan to use the application. Are you in > >sales, customer service, or some other field? What industry are you in? Are > >you primarily interested in email marketing, sales, or sales management? > > > >These are critical first questions. From there, you can begin to develop > >criteria for assessing Outlook along with BCM. > > > >I have looked at nearly all of the "Contact Managers". The startling > >discovery I made, and others may disagree with me on this: > > > >Outlook 2003 along with some targeted add-ins may give you the most reliable > >and practical and useful Contact Manager you can buy. > > > >Carefully read the threads on this Message Board to find out what others are > >saying about Outlook 2007 and BCM 2007. There are very few good points to > >either of these poorly conceived applications. But there are bugs galore in > >other Contact Management software applications produced by other companies as > >well. > > > >My vote currently: Outlook 2003 with select add-ins. > > > >Good luck! > >Bob > > > >> I am trying to determine hwo deeply to get involved in bcm. I have had issues > >> with it that lock me out until I can get outside assistance. Contatc info is > >> crucial. What is most reliable and flexible program? > > -- > Message posted via OfficeKB.com > http://www.officekb.com/Uwe/Forums.aspx/outlook-bcm/200705/1 > >

RE: how does business contact manager compare to other programs? "mrtimpeterson via OfficeKB.com" <u8453[ at ]uwe> 5/29/2007 9:20:36 PM Bob, Thanks for your timely reply. I will check some of these out. How are you tracking your sales opportunity records? Do you use the native Outlook journal? Share more if you are inclined because I always like to "sponge-up" various Outlook sales related best practices that others find useful and pass along. There is much street level expertise among users in this newsgroup. -THP Bob Heiney wrote: [Quoted Text] >Hi Tim, > >My profession is sales & marketing. I need a good graphic email client, an >ability to quickly dash off an email or Word Doc, and some basic automated >task follow-up ability. > >One add-in that gives the Outlook user powerful ability to one button write >an email merge or MS Word doc is Office Documents 4 available for trial >download at: >http://www.software-solutions.co.nz > >This skillfully crafted add-in turns your pokey Outlook 2000, 2003, or 2007 >into a useful Contact Manager. You can easily create mail merge templates for >emailing or snail mailing. You can easily create distribution lists that >contain your specific selection criteria. The application lets you set up >automatic journaling generated from emails and snail mails. > >Set up is quick and easy. I have had few problems with Office Documents 4. A >corrupt template generated an error message upon entering a screen. Deletion >of the templete dispatched the error message in a hurry. > >There's an additional add-in available by the same developer to assist you >with envelopes and lables. It gives you the same one button ability. Simply >select a contact and press a button. Like magic, Outlook prints your >contact's address on your choice of envelope styles or labels. > >The two software applications cost about $100. You can download a trial >version with full functionality at : http://www.software-solutions.co.nz > >By the way, I do not represent the developer or have any association with >them other than as a user who purchased their software. > >Here are some other links: >www.mapilab.com >www.speedfiler.com >www.sperrysoftware.com >www.outlook4team.com > >I haven't tried all of these but some have good potential. My current >favorite is Office Documents 4 from http://www.software-solutions.co.nz > >Bob Heiney >Bob[ at ]writeheiney.com > >> Bob, >> >[quoted text clipped - 30 lines] >> >> with it that lock me out until I can get outside assistance. Contatc info is >> >> crucial. What is most reliable and flexible program? -- Message posted via OfficeKB.com http://www.officekb.com/Uwe/Forums.aspx/outlook-bcm/200705/1

RE: how does business contact manager compare to other programs? trimimports 5/30/2007 12:25:00 AM "Bob Heiney" wrote: [Quoted Text] > It really depends a lot on how you plan to use the application. Are you in > sales, customer service, or some other field? What industry are you in? Are > you primarily interested in email marketing, sales, or sales management? > > These are critical first questions. From there, you can begin to develop > criteria for assessing Outlook along with BCM. > > I have looked at nearly all of the "Contact Managers". The startling > discovery I made, and others may disagree with me on this: > > Outlook 2003 along with some targeted add-ins may give you the most reliable > and practical and useful Contact Manager you can buy. > > Carefully read the threads on this Message Board to find out what others are > saying about Outlook 2007 and BCM 2007. There are very few good points to > either of these poorly conceived applications. But there are bugs galore in > other Contact Management software applications produced by other companies as > well. > > My vote currently: Outlook 2003 with select add-ins. > > Good luck! > Bob > > > "trimimports" wrote: > > > I am trying to determine hwo deeply to get involved in bcm. I have had issues > > with it that lock me out until I can get outside assistance. Contatc info is > > crucial. What is most reliable and flexible program?

RE: how does business contact manager compare to other programs? Bob Heiney 5/30/2007 1:21:01 AM Hi Tim, I don't use Sales Opportunity tracking currently because in my industry (manufacturing) I never get to directly see my sales from start to finish. I sell through distribution. This makes the waters a bit murky when it comes to accurately tracking opportunities and sales. However, you raise a very valid point. I don't see anything in bare bones Outlook that could pass for Opportunity Tracking unless one was to get into the netherworld of VBA and forms design. Certainly BCM can do this but in my humble opinion, it's just not worth suffering through the horrible performance and bugginess of the application. I have gone from ACT, to Chaos Software (www.chaossoftware.com), to Goldmine (awful- not worth giving you the website), to Outlook 2007/BCM 2007. BCM 2007 is unbearable and I finally uninstalled it. Chaos Software is fine software for basic contact management and sports a worthy Opportunity Tracking module. It could be better but for $59.95, WOW, what a deal! ACT used to be absolutely the best contact managment software on the planet. And it may resume its Royal Position in the future if the developers keep working on it. I just found a contact manager I'd never heard of: Prospector, Vertical Marketing Technologies. Perhaps I can update you on this software sometime in the future. I downloaded an evaluation copy. Best regards, Bob Heiney bob[ at ]writeheiney.com "mrtimpeterson via OfficeKB.com" wrote: [Quoted Text] > Bob, > > Thanks for your timely reply. I will check some of these out. How are you > tracking your sales opportunity records? Do you use the native Outlook > journal? Share more if you are inclined because I always like to "sponge-up" > various Outlook sales related best practices that others find useful and pass > along. There is much street level expertise among users in this newsgroup. > > -THP > > Bob Heiney wrote: > >Hi Tim, > > > >My profession is sales & marketing. I need a good graphic email client, an > >ability to quickly dash off an email or Word Doc, and some basic automated > >task follow-up ability. > > > >One add-in that gives the Outlook user powerful ability to one button write > >an email merge or MS Word doc is Office Documents 4 available for trial > >download at: > >http://www.software-solutions.co.nz > > > >This skillfully crafted add-in turns your pokey Outlook 2000, 2003, or 2007 > >into a useful Contact Manager. You can easily create mail merge templates for > >emailing or snail mailing. You can easily create distribution lists that > >contain your specific selection criteria. The application lets you set up > >automatic journaling generated from emails and snail mails. > > > >Set up is quick and easy. I have had few problems with Office Documents 4. A > >corrupt template generated an error message upon entering a screen. Deletion > >of the templete dispatched the error message in a hurry. > > > >There's an additional add-in available by the same developer to assist you > >with envelopes and lables. It gives you the same one button ability. Simply > >select a contact and press a button. Like magic, Outlook prints your > >contact's address on your choice of envelope styles or labels. > > > >The two software applications cost about $100. You can download a trial > >version with full functionality at : http://www.software-solutions.co.nz > > > >By the way, I do not represent the developer or have any association with > >them other than as a user who purchased their software. > > > >Here are some other links: > >www.mapilab.com > >www.speedfiler.com > >www.sperrysoftware.com > >www.outlook4team.com > > > >I haven't tried all of these but some have good potential. My current > >favorite is Office Documents 4 from http://www.software-solutions.co.nz > > > >Bob Heiney > >Bob[ at ]writeheiney.com > > > >> Bob, > >> > >[quoted text clipped - 30 lines] > >> >> with it that lock me out until I can get outside assistance. Contatc info is > >> >> crucial. What is most reliable and flexible program? > > -- > Message posted via OfficeKB.com > http://www.officekb.com/Uwe/Forums.aspx/outlook-bcm/200705/1 > >

RE: how does business contact manager compare to other programs? "mrtimpeterson via OfficeKB.com" <u8453[ at ]uwe> 5/30/2007 8:13:44 PM Bob, Have you ever used the Prophet SQL add-in from Avidian? If so, I would like your thoughts on this as I have recommended it as a simpler BCM alternative to many a frustrated BCM users on this site. www.avidian.com. Thanks for the dialogue. -THP Bob Heiney wrote: [Quoted Text] >Hi Tim, > >I don't use Sales Opportunity tracking currently because in my industry >(manufacturing) I never get to directly see my sales from start to finish. I >sell through distribution. This makes the waters a bit murky when it comes to >accurately tracking opportunities and sales. > >However, you raise a very valid point. I don't see anything in bare bones >Outlook that could pass for Opportunity Tracking unless one was to get into >the netherworld of VBA and forms design. Certainly BCM can do this but in my >humble opinion, it's just not worth suffering through the horrible >performance and bugginess of the application. > >I have gone from ACT, to Chaos Software (www.chaossoftware.com), to Goldmine >(awful- not worth giving you the website), to Outlook 2007/BCM 2007. BCM 2007 >is unbearable and I finally uninstalled it. Chaos Software is fine software >for basic contact management and sports a worthy Opportunity Tracking module. >It could be better but for $59.95, WOW, what a deal! ACT used to be >absolutely the best contact managment software on the planet. And it may >resume its Royal Position in the future if the developers keep working on it. > >I just found a contact manager I'd never heard of: Prospector, Vertical >Marketing Technologies. Perhaps I can update you on this software sometime in >the future. I downloaded an evaluation copy. > >Best regards, >Bob Heiney >bob[ at ]writeheiney.com > >> Bob, >> >[quoted text clipped - 55 lines] >> >> >> with it that lock me out until I can get outside assistance. Contatc info is >> >> >> crucial. What is most reliable and flexible program? -- Message posted via OfficeKB.com http://www.officekb.com/Uwe/Forums.aspx/outlook-bcm/200705/1

RE: how does business contact manager compare to other programs? Bob Heiney 5/30/2007 8:29:00 PM Tim, I really need to download a trial copy of that software but they don't offer one. The last time I looked at Prophet, I had the following 2 reservations: 1. Speed & performance; if Outlook 2007 is slow, why would Prophet be fast? 2. Price; Prophet is $149 & up (on sale today only!) But- it looks like it may be a great alternative to ACT & Outlook 2007/BCM. Thank you for the tip! Bob "mrtimpeterson via OfficeKB.com" wrote: [Quoted Text] > Bob, > > Have you ever used the Prophet SQL add-in from Avidian? If so, I would like > your thoughts on this as I have recommended it as a simpler BCM alternative > to many a frustrated BCM users on this site. www.avidian.com. Thanks for > the dialogue. > > -THP > > > > Bob Heiney wrote: > >Hi Tim, > > > >I don't use Sales Opportunity tracking currently because in my industry > >(manufacturing) I never get to directly see my sales from start to finish. I > >sell through distribution. This makes the waters a bit murky when it comes to > >accurately tracking opportunities and sales. > > > >However, you raise a very valid point. I don't see anything in bare bones > >Outlook that could pass for Opportunity Tracking unless one was to get into > >the netherworld of VBA and forms design. Certainly BCM can do this but in my > >humble opinion, it's just not worth suffering through the horrible > >performance and bugginess of the application. > > > >I have gone from ACT, to Chaos Software (www.chaossoftware.com), to Goldmine > >(awful- not worth giving you the website), to Outlook 2007/BCM 2007. BCM 2007 > >is unbearable and I finally uninstalled it. Chaos Software is fine software > >for basic contact management and sports a worthy Opportunity Tracking module. > >It could be better but for $59.95, WOW, what a deal! ACT used to be > >absolutely the best contact managment software on the planet. And it may > >resume its Royal Position in the future if the developers keep working on it. > > > >I just found a contact manager I'd never heard of: Prospector, Vertical > >Marketing Technologies. Perhaps I can update you on this software sometime in > >the future. I downloaded an evaluation copy. > > > >Best regards, > >Bob Heiney > >bob[ at ]writeheiney.com > > > >> Bob, > >> > >[quoted text clipped - 55 lines] > >> >> >> with it that lock me out until I can get outside assistance. Contatc info is > >> >> >> crucial. What is most reliable and flexible program? > > -- > Message posted via OfficeKB.com > http://www.officekb.com/Uwe/Forums.aspx/outlook-bcm/200705/1 > >

RE: how does business contact manager compare to other programs? "mrtimpeterson via OfficeKB.com" <u8453[ at ]uwe> 5/31/2007 5:44:15 PM I have no interest in agressively promoting the Avidian Prophet add-in but I can provide you the following thoughts to your reservations: 1. They do have a no hassle 30 day refund policy that works just as well as a "free-trial." 2. The design architecture of the app has a simpler and contains a smaller foot print with fewer new data objects to manage. It adds a very robust opportunity record and also a company level relationship record. The reporting tool is very full featured. The most significant difference is that it does not require a separate Contacts db from your Outlook pst folder. The SQL will automatically write and mirror all Outlook pst contacts directly into the db thus making it more scalable to co-exist within an Exchange environment. -THP Bob Heiney wrote: [Quoted Text] >Tim, > >I really need to download a trial copy of that software but they don't offer >one. The last time I looked at Prophet, I had the following 2 reservations: > >1. Speed & performance; if Outlook 2007 is slow, why would Prophet be fast? >2. Price; Prophet is $149 & up (on sale today only!) > >But- it looks like it may be a great alternative to ACT & Outlook 2007/BCM. >Thank you for the tip! > >Bob > >> Bob, >> >[quoted text clipped - 39 lines] >> >> >> >> with it that lock me out until I can get outside assistance. Contatc info is >> >> >> >> crucial. What is most reliable and flexible program? -- Message posted via http://www.officekb.com