Please Help Me!!!!!

[retailcube]

Hi Everyone

I have just started a small online business and am in desperate need of some software to store all my contacts in. I have over 2000 customers to date but my filing cabinet is going to explode.

At my old job i used ACT! 2007 by Sage which was pretty good but from what i can see, quite costly and has had poor reviews.

Sorry to bleet on but does anyone know of a cheap but very effective way for me to store my customers on my PC??

Im a "one man band" so it will be only myself that will need access.

any advice greatly appreciated!!

Thanks

Paul

[Masterfulmatt]

Hi Paul

I'm no authority on CRM software, but was in a similar position as you.

I picked up copy of act 6.0 for the following reasons.

Good reviews

Stable platform

Less processor power needed.

Can buy "Act 6.0 for Dummies" etc

Very cheap to pick up a new copy

More recent versions of ACT have gone downhill, more features, but doesn't work as well and used colossal amounts of your processor, or at least that is the general concensus.

There are other benefits to Act 6.0 is you have more than one pc..pm me if you want any more info.

Matt

[new2bus]

Do you have microsoft office installed

I use microsoft office outlook and it does all my needs

what is your need for the software other than a storage facility?

[mke]

For a complete and sophisticated CRM, SugarCRM or vtigerCRM, both free.

For something more basic, try Thunderbird email client - more secure than OE or Outlook and has some pretty cool plug ins for just about anything you may need to keep in touch. It has a pretty complete address book and lots more.

[DavP72]

Hello Paul,

If you are using a Windows PC then the address book application is really basic but simple to use. It should already be installed. I work in a small office during the day and we all use this program for our contacts.

Go to Start (bottom left of screen)> All Programs > Accessories > Address Book

It is integrated with the email programs Outlook and Outlook Express.

If you need to make a back up copy you can export into an Microsoft Excel file.

Dave

[Steve2507]

Any database app or spreadsheet app will do what you need for 2K customers.

If you haven't got Access or Excel look at open office, very cheap (free) and very easy to use.