Yes, a brand-new, even better version of ACT! is about to be released. With end-user feedback and improvement suggestions in hand, the folks at Sage are committed to creating and re-creating an ACT! system that will work harder and better for you.
So whether you have recently upgraded or are still happily using ACT! 2005 , you'll want to take a look at our top 10 list to see which features you could be enjoying in your daily work life.
Drum roll please...
In no particular order, the top 10 reasons you should upgrade to ACT! 2011 (and why should you care) are:
10) Advanced security that prevents sensitive email history from attaching to ACT! user records. Some things are meant for your eyes only.
9) A redesigned welcome page with ACT! feature videos. Can't figure out how a new feature works, or simply need a refresher on an ACT! tool - watch a video right from your ACT! welcome screen.
8) Are you wanting to buy a new computer, or maybe you just did? ACT! 2011 is fully compatible with your new Windows 7 OS. Whew, one less thing to worry about as you set it all up..
7) Did that fast-running, new computer come with 32-bit Office 2010? You guessed it, it's completely compatible with ACT! 2011. It's looking better and better, isn't it?!
6) You can now set up a two-way sync between your ACT! database and your Outlook calendar and contacts. That's right - not just your calendar, but your contacts too!
5) Your new two-way ACT!-Outlook syncing feature is designed so you have complete control over which contacts sync. We all know how much you adore Aunt Millie, but your whole team doesn't need her contact info in their database. No offense, Aunt Millie!
4) Use Sage Business Services Info for ACT! to link your database to your Hoover's account and have access to 85 million executives and 65 million companies. Specify your ideal client criteria in Hoover's to narrow possible leads, then easily pull those contacts into your ACT! database. Think of how fast you can build a lead list with this great tool. And if you don't have a Hoover's account, you should think about getting one now!
3) Smart Tasks! Finally, there's a way to automate everyday, critical-to-success processes for yourself or your team. Set up Smart Tasks to automatically schedule a follow-up with that new lead you just met, or with a prospect who you haven't heard from in a while. Kick your customer service into high gear by having alerts that notify you of your clients' (or family) birthdays, anniversaries, etc. Aunt Millie will be so excited to get that on-time birthday card. Can't you just feel the warm fuzzies?
2) Create graphic-rich, professional marketing emails using Sage E-Marketing for ACT! tools. Then, have them send automatically with Smart Tasks. Talk about your nice marketing combo! Create it, activate it, and... nope, that's it, all done. How easy!
And the number 1 reason to inquire today about your ACT! 2011 upgrade...
1) Take advantage of the pre-sale discounted pricing! ACT! 2011 prices will never be lower than they are right now. Don't delay - ACT now (no pun intended)!
Contact us for more information on how ACT! 2011 can help your business run more smoothly and efficiently!
To compare your current version of ACT! to ACT! 2011, click here to review the ACT! version comparison chart.
If you've tuned into my recent webinars, you've heard my analogy of drip marketing being the best employee a company could have. Yes, it is a tongue-in-cheek statement. However, when I explain the analogy to new drip marketing clients, they begin to view the initial drip marketing efforts involved in a whole new light. Let me explain...
A drip marketing campaign is a highly-effective tool for automating your marketing messages - and for freeing up your time to pursue other business activities (attending baseball season-openers, for example). To create a successful drip campaign, there is some initial pre-planning and email template creation involved, and it does take considerable time to set-up. So people often ask me, "Well then, how does this actually save me time and money?"
And here is where my analogy comes into play. I simply ask you to consider Drip Marketing (DM) a new employee for just a moment and let's look at how it can successfully contribute to your business.
As you know, with any new hire, you need to invest some initial time training and over-seeing that person. He/she needs to become familiar with the basics, such as how to clock-in, where the office supplies are located, how to use the phone/computer/other systems; then, you move into the meatier elements that help them perform their core job responsibilities. When you think about it, a lot of initial effort goes into training that person to work independently. Then what happens? They quit a year later - and the process starts again. (Insert very large sigh.) With DM, you never have to worry about that! Hence, why I call it the best employee you'll ever have. Look at the other benefits:
- It's cost-effective: With a subscription rate as little as $30/month or at most $150/month, it will likely be the cheapest "salary" you pay. DM has no benefit requirements, it won't call in sick or take vacations - in fact, it works 24/7 and 365 days/year. It won't lie or steal your trademarked secrets or coveted office supplies. DM saves you money, while it makes you money!
- It's efficient: You spend some initial time developing a thorough, well thought-out campaign, and once it's launched, it will automatically send what you want, to who you want and when you want it sent. You can rest easy while on that much-needed tropical vacation knowing your customers are still receiving your important messages. In fact, unless you tell them, they'll never know you were gone. Can someone say, "Pass me my 9 iron, and another fruity umbrella drink, please?!"
- It will save you time long-term: It eliminates the time spent scrambling to send out another thrown-together marketing piece; the time spent before each email questioning who to send it to and when; the time on the tropical golf course talking your assistant through how to send that email blast you forgot needed to go out. Also, Swiftpage allows you to easily duplicate your campaigns and simply tweak the templates with new or updated info, eliminating future upfront time.
- You can easily view and analyze your campaign results: The Swiftpage reporting tools track the results of your email blasts and allow you to export the results into excel or, for ACT! users, you can upload that data directly into each contact's record. Then, upon your tanned and well-rested return from said tropical get-away, you can follow-up with them without missing a beat.
- It helps you to build better business relationships: By continually and consistently reaching out to your leads and clients, you are nurturing that relationship and building their trust and loyalty. People buy from people they know, like and trust. You want that to be you!
An automated marketing system, like DM, can not only help you save time and money, but best of all, it can lead to increased sales and referrals. And an "employee" doesn't get much better than that.
By the way, anyone seen my sand wedge??
Let's face it, given today's economy, it's a buyers market - and us buyers know it. As a frequent buyer myself, I admit that I have gotten more selective about what I buy and who I buy from. I also unabashedly admit to having increased expectations about the products and services I am purchasing. To capture my loyalty, you must do more than send out the occasional, random sale offer, or on the opposite end, overload my mailbox with daily sales offers that don't really pertain to my buying needs or patterns. You must deliver consistent, long-term meaningful messages or offers that show you understand and value me (or my business, for all you BTB companies).
You NEED to implement a comprehensive, automated marketing system to achieve maximum marketing success. You NEED to follow one of my favorite business mottos in 2010 to succeed - Go BIG or Go Home! With automated marketing, you can:
B... Build professional, long-term, targeted marketing campaigns designed to...
I... Increase brand awareness; Increase consistent client and prospect follow-ups;
Increase customer relationships and loyalties; Increase savings of time
and money; all so you can...
G... Grow your business!
Don't let your competitors beat you to it. Start automating your marketing initiatives. Go BIG - don't Go Home!
Feel free to attend our upcoming public webinar, Maximize Your Marketing with ACT!, during which we will demonstrate how to easily create and send automated marketing campaigns.
