[CMS]

Does anyone use any database management software?

I use ACT! and I've found it a godsend. You can set up many different letter templates etc. and search your database by lots of criteria.

Say, for instance I want to send one particular letter to Estate Agents in TF3 I put 'Estate Agents' and 'TF3' into the sort criteria and send the one letter to everyone. It will do it by fax or email too if you have that information stored.

It really is a fantastic bit of kit.

There are also 'bolt ons' that you can buy such as e-grabber. This is where it really comes into its own.

For instance, I can look up 'Solicitors in Shropshire' using something like Yell.com and e-grabber will grab all of the info and drop it into ACT! I can then send the one letter to the lot!

Anyone thinking of growing their business fast should seriously be using something like this.

More info here http://www.act.com/products/2006/who/index.cfm

What do you use?

[Eureka Ventures]

CMS

I've spent hours typing in prospects' details into MS Word's Mail Merge from the Law Society directory.

I used to think ACT! was just another mail merge software. Apparently not! The e-grabber will come in handy when I need to target other postcodes.

Is ACT! fairly user-friendly?

Thanks for the timely info.

Freddie

[garyj]

What version of ACT do you use? I've been using Publisher for years and typeing a new address into each letter  very time consuming and boring. ACT  does look good but I see its a SAGE product and they aren't the easiest of software to use.

[CMS]

That surprised me too. I use Act 2000 which up to now has always been a Symantec product. They must have just sold it to Sage ?

I find it very easy to use.

Freddie, this will print your letters and envelopes.

My mailshots go something like this.....................

1. Look up 'whatever' on Yell.com
2. Use egrabber to grab it into Act
3. Mail merge into a letter template
4. Print
5. Run them through the printer again to put letterhead onto paper
6. Use Act to print all envelopes
7. Run envelopes through again to put logo on envelopes.

The total time for the mail shot is about 1 hour BUT most of that is just printing time. The actual work involved by me is less than ten minutes for a 100-200 mailshot.

[mxg]

This is one of the things on my "to do list" - there are hundreds of others too!

[mxg]

Oops!

As I already said, this is one of the tasks on my to do list.

But this thread has prodded me in to action and I am ready to take the plunge subject to getting answers to a few questions

What are the benefits of Act Professional over Act 6 - I would guess that Act6 is suitable for the sort of operation that most of us run.

Is there any real need for the SageCover if you are reasonably IT literate ? Presumably you could always sign up at a later date if you have a problem

Mick

[CMS]

I'm not sure but I think that the 'professional' allows for more 'users' but as I said earlier, my version is the Symantec version. I didn't know until last night that it's now marketed by 'Sage'.

I have an idea.................

If I were to put the Symantec version install files on my website, would that be a breach of copyright if you just downloaded it to 'have a look'?

Not sure how big it is and how long it would take to download but it's just a thought.

[mxg]

CMS

Thanks for the kind offer but you might be on shaky ground if you did that and I have signed up on the Sage site to receive a 30 day evaluation copy anyway.

The one job that this would allow me to do that has been too daunting to date is to mailshot all of the people that we have done one off jobs for so that we can re-establish contact as a tried & tested entity.

Mick

[CMS]

I think you're probably right. Good luck and let us know how you get on.