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Read more: ACT! Sticker Shock: Why Longtime Users Are Feeling the Pain
For years, many loyal ACT! users enjoyed a simple arrangement: buy the desktop version of the software once, install it, and use it for years without thinking about another payment. It was reliable, familiar, and for many small businesses, it became the backbone of customer management. Then came the dreaded computer upgrade. Many longtime users are discovering that their older versions of ACT! simply will not run properly on newer Windows 11 machines. What worked perfectly on…
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Read more: New Year, New CRM: Why It’s Time to Say Goodbye to ACT!
The New Year is all about fresh starts. We clean out closets, set new goals, and promise ourselves we’ll finally get organized. But what about the technology running your business? If you’re still relying on an ACT! database, chances are it’s not exactly helping you start the year strong. Slow performance, outdated functionality, and recurring technical issues can quietly drain productivity—and patience—day after day. When Your CRM Becomes the Problem ACT! was a solid solution years ago, but…
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Read more: Yes, We Can Help Fix ANY Act Database!
This message from my website absolutely made my day: Visitor: “Do you work with Act! for DOS 1.1?” Me: “Is that a typo? You mean Act! 21.1, right? Act! 1.1 is nearly 30 years old.” Visitor: “Nope. Still using Act! 1.1. Attached a photo.” Before I moved on to Zoho CRM, I spent over 20 years consulting on Act! and have since converted hundreds of Act! databases to Zoho. Some switch for more functionality, others for better…
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Read more: Act! Premium Cloud vs. Act Premium Desktop: The Features You’ll Miss Most
What’s Missing in Act! for Web Act! for Web brings the convenience of browser access, letting you work from anywhere without installing software. But if you’ve been using Act! Premium for Desktop, you’ll quickly notice that the Web version still doesn’t measure up in several key areas. Missing Word Processor and Mail Merge: Act! for Web doesn’t include the built-in Word Processor or the classic mail merge tools. That means no easy way to create or customize templates…
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Read more: Act 6.0 – Yes, We Still Support It!
Back in August, 2000 I ran an Act 6.0 launch event. I was super excited as it had been over 4 years since a previous release of Act, and this version had Outlook integration! I planned for the event for months in advance. I enlisted over a dozen Act Add-On vendors to attend and have booths to display their products. I advertised the event in the local papers (remember those?), enlisted dozens of volunteers, booked a great…
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Read more: ACT! CRM and Windows 11: What You Need to Know
As more ACT CRM users begin upgrading to Windows 11, it’s important to understand how the change may impact your ACT! CRM software. While Tech Benders continues to support ACT!, we can’t guarantee that older versions of Act will work reliably on Microsoft’s latest operating system including Windows 11. For many long-time ACT! users, this can be frustrating. Each new computer or system update raises the same questions: Will my ACT! still run? Do I need to…
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Read more: Why You Don’t Need to Purchase the Act QuickBooks Link If You Use Zoho CRM
Back in 2019 I wrote this article about the QuickBooks Link that connect Act to QuickBooks. Fast forward six years and I’m finding that many businesses running on QuickBooks eventually look for tighter integration with their CRM. Here’s the truth: you don’t need to purchase a link between your Accounting and CRM software if you use Zoho One. Here’s why: 1. Zoho Books Already Integrates Seamlessly Zoho Books, Zoho’s own accounting software, connects natively with Zoho CRM.…
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Read more: Sticker Shock: Why Zoho Beats ACT Advantage on Price and Power
When it comes to choosing the right CRM for your business, the options can be overwhelming—and sometimes, the prices downright shocking. If you’ve taken a peek at ACT Advantage lately, you might’ve experienced a little sticker shock. Don’t worry, you’re not alone. Let’s break it down. ACT Advantage is a familiar name in the CRM world, offering basic contact management and a few bells and whistles. But at around $30 per user per month, you might start…
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Read more: Thinking About Upgrading Act to Windows 11? Here’s Why You Might Want to Wait
I get it—Windows 11 is shiny, new, and packed with features. But before you hit that upgrade button on your trusty Windows 10 machine, let’s talk about a few things that might make you pump the brakes, especially if you rely on ACT! (which uses SQL) for your daily workflow. 🚨 SQL Users, Beware! Upgrading to Windows 11 can sometimes cause compatibility issues with your existing SQL installation. In some cases, it may stop working altogether, forcing…
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Read more: Important Information regarding the retirement of Act! Connect Link
Act! Connect Link, the third-party technology that enables Web-API-based features to operate with the Act! Premium Desktop product, is being retired by the vendor on December 31, 2024. If you are using one or more of the following features in conjunction with your Act! Premium Desktop Subscription an action must be completed BEFORE this date to ensure uninterrupted use of these features: Act! Marketing Automation (AMA) Act! Companion Mobile App Zapier-based Integrations As noted above, you should make a decision…
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Read more: How Do I Export All of My Data Out of Act CRM?
One of the most common questions I get is, “How do I export Act data out of Act CRM.?” Most users have figured out that they can easily export their Act contacts to an Excel spreadsheet. If not, you can read my previous blog article. But what about the rest of the data including the Act Notes & Histories, Act Opportunities, and the Act Activities. No problem; I can help export every last drop of your Act…
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Read more: Important Notice for Act! Customers
Act! users have been bombarded recently with some very scary looking Act! notifications. You might have received an email, a pop-up in your Act software, or even an actual letter sent via US Mail (remember those?). Theoretically, Act! has no way of knowing what version you have installed on your desktop. If you are using Act Premium for Desktop v24 then you will see a pop-up appear periodically telling your that your Act software has been “discontinued.”…
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Read more: Thinking of Moving From Act to Zoho? We Can Help!
Moving from Act to Zoho can be as easy as, well, the ABC’s. Or in this case the A-Z’s. Switching from ACT to Zoho CRM could be a great move for your company – or a total disaster! Zoho offers a lot of flexibility, with features like workflow automation, AI-driven insights, and extensive integrations. Plus, the user interface is more web-friendly than that of ACT. To create a smoother transition from ACT to Zoho CRM, we can…
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Read more: What’s New in Act! Premium v26?
If you are an Act subscriber you received a message last week announcing that Act v26 Premium Desktop has been released. Those of you who are already Act subscribers can download and install Act v26 at no cost. Better yet, those of you who purchased your Act subscription through Tech Benders need only reach out and I will send you complete installation instructions. If you are currently using a version of Act that is prior to Act…
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Read more: Act! Releases the New Act Premium Cloud Mobile (APC) App
ACT! Premium Mobile is a mobile app version of the ACT! CRM designed to help you manage your contacts (and sales) from your mobile device. Key features include: Contact Management: Access and manage customer and prospect information from anywhere. Calendar and Activity Management: Schedule meetings, tasks, and follow-ups with reminders. Opportunity metrics at a glance: Track sales opportunities and progress through different stages of the sales process. Find specific contacts with proximity search: Search radius filters to…
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Read more: Important Notice for Act! Customers
It started as a trickle; my phone started ringing today and I saw dozens of incoming email sitting in my Inbox. Microsoft is ending security support for Microsoft SQL Server 2014. Your Act! Version is at risk. Yikes, Chicken Little, the sky is falling! Life as I previously knew it, at least my Act life, is over! What is an Act user to do??? And, most importantly, does this affect me? First let’s define “security support.” Quite…
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Read more: Your version of Act! will be retired on August 31, 2024
There’s no better way to start your day than to jump out of bed on a beautiful summer’s day, grab your morning coffee, fire up Act – and see a rather ominous message pop up on the screen telling you that the Act 2024 software you just purchased and/or installed, is being retired. Apparently, at least according to the number of panicked emails and phone calls I received, not everyone was thrilled to see this message.…
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Read more: Move Your Act Pro Data to Zoho Bigin
I have received literally hundreds of inquiries since Act Pro was discontinued. Some of my Act Pro customers understand this decision and ultimately move to the subscription based Act Premium for Web ($360-480/user/year) or Act Premium Desktop ($450/user/year less discounts) version. Others, however, “refuse to move to a subscription” and decide to use their Act Pro version until it literally “stops working.” Unfortunately, my experience has been that their Act Pro stops working at the worst possible…
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Read more: Act! CRM Software’s Year-End Promotions
If you are an existing Act user looking to purchase an Act Perpetual license I can’t help you as they no longer exist. However, I can make sure you get the best deal when you move into an Act Premium subscription. The end of the year isn’t just a time for reflection; it’s an opportunity to prepare for the future. And, if you are an existing Act Pro user, now is the time to prepare for a…
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Read more: Adding Holidays to ACT Calendars
Every year many of my clients ask me if there is a way to get holidays loaded into their ACT! database. Unfortunately, holidays do not come pre-loaded in the ACT! calendar. Obviously, some holidays such as the Fourth of July and Christmas are easy to add manually. However, other holidays such as Easter and Chanukah are almost impossible to add without at least a peak at another calendar. I’ve devised an easy way of getting holidays to…
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Read more: What In the World is Going on with Act Pro Pricing?
By now you’ve probably that the Act Pro product is no longer available. IYes, it is true that the Act Pro product is being discontinued but it does not mean that you have to panic. You have a number of options and things to understand. First the fine print: If you have ACT! v18 Pro or newer your software will not stop working. If you have Act V17 Pro you will not be able to install it…
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Read more: Act! for Mac CRM Software: Yes, You Can Have Act! on Your Mac
There is not a version of Act! for “the Mac.” In fact, there has not been a version of Act! that was Apple compatible since Version 4. I agree, it would be nice to have one but unfortunately it just can’t happen; Act uses SQL as its database engine and SQL is a Microsoft Product so the chances of ever having a Mac version of Act are slim to non-existent. However, there are a few work arounds…
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Read more: Act! Perpetual Licenses: No They Are No Longer Available
Since the discontinuation of the Act! Pro product on September 15, 2023 my mailbox has been flooded with the same question: “Where can I buy an Act! Perpetual license?” In a nutshell, the answer is “nowhere.” Act Pro users are furious that they were once able to “buy” their Act Pro license and use it for years and years without additional costs. That begs the question: how can any company stay in business with only occasional sales?…
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Read more: Act 5/2000 and Act 6.0 – Yes, We Still Support Them!
Back in August, 2000 I ran an Act 6.0 launch event. I was super excited as it had been over 4 years since the release of Act 2000, and this version had Outlook integration! Act 6 was sold in a physical box in those days. The box included a CD and instruction book along with your license number. If you were sneaky you could share your software with your friends as there wasn’t an enforced registration. Wow.…
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Read more: ACT! Pro Users – Begin Again with Bigin
Yes, it’s true. Effective September 15, 2023 you can no longer purchase a copy of ACT! Pro. I’ve had no less than 3 dozen phone calls in the last 3 weeks from ACT! Pro users expressing their dismay, concern and/or outrage. And they all have the same questions: Where can I get a copy of ACT! Pro? Answer: you can’t. What product can you recommend that won’t require me to pay year after year? Answer: I don’t…
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Read more: My Act Outlook Integration Stopped Working!
One of the most common questions I receive from Act users is about the Act and Outlook integration. Some users complain that they could never get it working at all. Other users report that the Act Outlook integration “just stopped working.” If you have never used the Act Outlook integration there are three simple rules for using the Act Outlook integration: You must make sure that your version of Act is compatible with your version of Microsoft Office.…
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Read more: An Act! “Subscription” Doesn’t Mean “Cloud”
Sometimes I feel like a broken record. I am constantly receiving emails from Act! users telling me that they don’t want to purchase an Act! subscription because they “don’t want to have their data in the clouds.” Let me make this as clear as possible: having an Act! subscription does not mean your data will need to reside “on the web.” For whatever reason, many Act! users equate a paid subscription with “the cloud.” This is simply…
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Read more: Act Perpetual Licenses: They Are No Longer Available
Since the demise of Act Pro on September 15, 2023 my mailbox has been flooded with the same question: “Can I still buy an Act Perpetual license?” In a nutshell, my answer is “NO!” To fully understand perpetual licensing you need to understand two key concepts: End User License Agreement (EULA): Most software has a EULA and Act is no exception. The EULA is that legal jargon that most of us ignore by clicking NEXT when installing…
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Read more: The End is Here for Act Pro
A couple of years ago Swiftpage announced that they would no longer sell the Act Pro product. Indeed, there was no Act Pro v23; however, there was an Act v24 Pro. Yesterday, Swiftpage announced that they are sunsetting Act v24 Pro on September 15, 2023 after which time you will not be able to purchase additional seats of Act Pro. How Does the Sun Setting of Act Pro Effect You? This is your last chance to upgrade…
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Read more: Act Pro is Being Discontinued: What Are My Options?
The last day to purchase Act Pro v24 will be on September 14, 2023. Here’s what you need to know: I want to continue using Act!. What are my options? Do Nothing. Maybe things will change. Maybe you’ll never need to add more users. Maybe you’ll never buy a new computer. Maybe Microsoft will never release new versions of Office or Windows. Maybe you’ll win the lottery and never have to work again! Upgrade to Act! v24…
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Read more: Act! v25 Premium Desktop is Here!
This week Act Premium v25 was released; here is a rundown of my favorite features: New Act v25 Premium Desktop Features Act! Insight Advanced Dashboard Builder: create advanced, custom Act Dashboards Advanced querying allows for multiple sets of criteria Create new dashboards based on contact, group, company, and opportunity data Pull in associated field data Configure grouping SMS Text Messaging: Text messaging is an affordable and efficient way to reach your contacts. Open rates are 4x greater than traditional…
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Read more: Using Zoho Analytics to Create Act Reports
At Tech Benders we specialize in both Act and Zoho. And we understand that once you get your information into your CRM system, you may need to get it out again in the form of a report. The Act Report Writer has not changed in over 20 years. Although Act users can make simple edits to most of the existing reports, creating advanced Act Reports requires a very advanced knowledge of Visual Basic Scripting. Even then one…
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Read more: Act! Premium Cloud – How It Differs From Desktop
Many of my long time Act users want to transition to Act! Premium Cloud but wonder how it differs from Act Pro or Act Premium desktop. Act! CRM Cloud is the web-based version of the Act!. It offers most all the features and functionalities of the traditional desktop software, but with the added advantage of being accessible from anywhere that you have an internet connection. This makes it ideal for companies with remote users. The cloud version…
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Read more: Help with ACT Installation
So, you’ve purchased ACT and you’re ready to install it. Sounds easy, right? Sure it is – if you’ve got your ACT together! Here’s a few hints that will help speed you on your way: Make sure that Windows is up to date by rebooting your machine. If you are going to be integrating Act with any of the Microsoft Office products (Outlook, Word or Excel) make sure that they are installed and working correctly prior to…
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Read more: What are the Differences between Act Pro and Act Premium
Act Pro vs Act Premium There are 10 basic differences between ACT! Pro and ACT! Premium: ACT! Pro will only work for up to 5 users in a database even if you purchase additional licenses. ACT! Premium has contact level security; that means that in addition to have Public and Private contacts you can allow groups of users to access contacts – or be prevented from accessing contacts. ACT! Premium has field level security; that means that…
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Read more: The Future of Act v21 Pro
Act v21 Pro is no longer available. Sorry. It’s been discontinued. David F wrote this email to me today: “I’m using version 20.1.120.0 Update 8. I’ve been using Act! almost from the time of it’s entry into the marketplace. As I understand the situation, Act! Pro version 21 will become unsupported after Nov. 30, 2021 and Act! Pro will no longer be sold. Am I correct? I’m trying to decide if I should switch to Act! Premium. I am…
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Read more: Reminder: Your Act! v24 Upgrade is Available
Last week my phone started ringing off the hook; Swiftpage had sent out an email announcing the release of Act v24 and the demise of Act v22. The message started, “As you’ve likely heard, Act! v24 was released last fall, and as an Act! subscriber, you have access to all new versions released, including v24! To ensure you benefit from important updates and enhancements, we strongly recommend being on the latest version of Act!.” The message went…
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Read more: Questions About Act Pro v24? Here are your answers!
I recently received this email recently from a client with a whole lot of questions about Act v24 Pro: Are you aware of any enhancements / bug fixes in v24 Pro, or did they just rebuild it for 64 bit? This is not an upgrade of v22 Pro is it? The $449 is for a new, stand alone license, correct? I can install v24 on a new machine and keep v22 running on another machine, correct? I…
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Read more: Your Act! Software is Being Retired
Oh my! Whenever I receive a barrage of email from panicked Act! users I can pretty much assume that Swiftpage sent out a new mailing went out. The latest one informed users of Act V21 that their Act software is “being retired.” Rest assured, there is no need for immediate panic but you might want to be aware of a few changes. When software is “retired” it means that no new changes will be made to the…
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Read more: Act Pro v24
Purchase Act Pro v24 Here. ACT! Pro – It’s b-a-a-a-a-ack! ACT! Pro is back – for a short time only. Yes, the product that you were told had been discontinued has been “undiscontinued.” Is that even a word? In any event you can make your purchase of ACT! Pro v24 for $449.99. And yes, this is a “one time perpetual” purchase. And no, it does NOT include any support although I will send you installation instructions. You…
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Read more: Act or Zoho – Which Way Do I Go?
Act! or Zoho: which is the best way to go? I received the following emails from one of my clients this week. It’s typical of what I have been hearing from so many of my clients lately. They are not happy with Act but don’t know what to do. “Karen, I’ve been using ACT for 20+ years and working with you for the last several years. I feel like ACT is getting too “glitchy” and less and less…
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Read more: ACT CRM. ACT Essentials – What’s in a Name?
Act by Sage. Sage Act. Act Premium. Act Pro. Act for Web. Act Growth Suite. Act Saas. Act CRM. Act Companion. Act Essentials. What’s in a name? In this case, a whole lot of confusion! Although the Act product has been owned by Swiftpage (who purchased it from Sage Software) since 2015 the upper management has changed (and changed and changed) numerous times since then. Those changes have brought changes to everything from the product naming to…
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Read more: Your Act Premium Subscription Now Includes AMA (Act Marketing Automation
Good news for all of you Act Premium subscribers: starting with your April, 2021 renewal you will now be receiving the Basic Version of Act EMarketing free of charge with your paid subscription. What does that mean to you? Quite simply, you will be able to send out 2,500 templated emails each month to your contacts using your Act groups. This is a great way for you to explore the the functionality of Act Marketing Automation. Need…
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Read more: Act Pro is Back – for a limited time at least
ACT! Pro – It’s b-a-a-a-a-ack! Just in time for Halloween ACT! Pro is back – for a short time only. Yes, the product that you were told had been discontinued and been undiscontinued. Is that even a word? In any event you can make your purchase of ACT! Pro v22 until Halloween Eve (October 30th, 2020) for a mere $319.99. I say “mere” at this is supposedly a $30 savings. I am hearing that Pro will also…
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Read more: Act! Support Changes Effective October 1, 2020
If you are an ACT! subscriber you’ve probably received an email from SwiftPage letting you know that the Act support you had thought you had purchased was being yanked out from under you. Don’t shoot the messenger here; I am as ticked off about this as you are! When you purchase a year-long gym membership you expect it to last for 365 days. And when you purchase an ACT! annual subscription you would hope that the terms…
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Read more: Act v22 Pro is On Sale From the Act Consultants at Tech Benders
Please note that ACT v22 PRO is no longer available. Please contact us for other options. Q: How can I purchase Act v22 Pro? A: Sorry, ACT v22 Pro is no longer available for purchase. Q: Can I continue to use Act v22 Pro after June 30? A: Yes, and you’ll be able to purchase support through June 30, 2021. However, no new update patches will be released. Q: Will Act v22 Pro work with Office 365?…
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Read more: Hey CRM Guru – ACT! vs ZOHO? Which Way Do I Go?
As a 20+ year ACT! Certified Consultant and the author of 7 books on the ACT! CRM software, ACT! users represent a large portion of my business. And as a ZOHO Partner I’m often asked: “Which product is better? ACT! or ZOHO?” This question is a challenging one to answer. Both ACT! and ZOHO are great products; it totally depends on what you’re looking for. But here are my thoughts on Act vs ZOHO. ACT! Pro Single Users:…
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Read more: Act Premium Subscriptions: I’m Confused About Moving to Growth Suite!
Current Act Premium Subscription subscribers have been receiving emails lately that are, frankly, pretty confusing. Their “plans” are being changed. If you read between the lines this most probably means that the prices, they are a changing! But, in order to entice loyal users with Act Premium Subscriptions there is currently a great promotion in place to help you out. The issue is understanding it! So I’m going to try to clear up your questions. First thing…
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Read more: Act! Pro – All Good Things Must Come to an End
You probably have already received a notification from SwiftPage that Act! v22 Pro will be the last version of the ACT! Pro product. You probably have questions so here’s what you need to know: This does not mean that you will “lose” your database. This does not mean that ACT! is “going away.;” you can upgrade at any time to the Premium/Growth Suite product. This does not mean that you “must host your database in the clouds.”…
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Read more: The Act QuickBooks Link: Link Act to QuickBooks to Prevent Double Entry
Are you using both ACT and QuickBooks? Tired of doing double-entry? We’ve got the answer!
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Read more: Act Growth Suite – All You Need to Know to Get Up and Running
Act Growth Suite – What You Need to Know NOW In my last article I gave you a fifty cent history of the various Act E-Marketing solutions. I also mentioned that two of them, Swiftpage E-Marketing and Act E-Marketing were being discontinued, and that the Act Marketing Automation product had been renamed to Act! Growth Suite. If you followed all of that you are a very clever reader and it’s time to get to the real benefit…
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Read more: Act! Growth Suite – A Little Naming History of Act E-Marketing Solutions
Act! Growth Suite – Part 1 Anyone remember New Coke? Me neither. Manufacturers often like to change naming conventions; why, I’m not sure. Maybe they feel compelled to “freshen” things up a bit, or maybe their marketing folks just needed further justification for developing new strategies. I have been bombarded by questions lately from confused Act Customers; I’m hoping this article will help straighten any confusion on the part of existing Act users. Act!, Sage Act! or…
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Read more: What are the Differences between Act Pro and Act Premium
Act Pro vs Act Premium There are 10 basic differences between ACT! Pro and ACT! Premium: ACT! Pro will only work for up to 5 users in a database even if you purchase additional licenses. ACT! Premium has contact level security; that means that in addition to have Public and Private contacts you can allow groups of users to access contacts – or be prevented from accessing contacts. ACT! Premium has field level security; that means that…
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Read more: Important Information Regarding Your Act License
Act License Error Message In November I held a webinar about the changes that were being made to the ACT! license services sometime after December 31, 2018. In the webinar I showed you how to update your ACT! version if you were on ACT! v18 – v21. This update would automatically change your existing license number to the newer format. On Friday, I started to receive frantic phone calls from users that were receiving a message telling…
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Read more: Act Licensing Update: Y2K or Armageddon?
I learned today that SwiftPage will be issuing an Act licensing update as of January 1, 2019. This change will impact all existing ACT! users. I have been selling, supporting and customizing ACT! for over 20 years and this change will have a bigger impact on ACT! than anything I’ve ever seen before. Honestly, at this point no one really knows what might happen on January 1, 2019 when the new licensing system takes place. I could…
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Read more: Help! I Think I Have a Corrupted Act Database
We recently repaired a corrupted Act database for a client. In fact, it’s the SECOND time we’ve repaired his database. Needless to say he was not a happy camper, although he was thrilled to get ALL of his data back safe and sound. Needless to say, we wanted to make sure this never happens again so we questioned him on a few common Act database corruption “gotchas” Do you perform weekly maintenance? Do you have large amounts…
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Read more: Constant Contact vs Act E-Marketing: Do You Know the Difference?
I am asked to compare Constant Contact vs Act E-Marketing several times a week. My explanation revolves around all the benefits you receive from using Act Emarketing. Constant Contact and Act Emarketing are both “email service providers.” That means that these products send out your messaging using their servers. Typically you must pay a fee of some sort to use these services. In exchange for this fee the email service provider offers you several benefits including: Including…
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Read more: Introducing Act v20 – What’s Not to Like?
I know what some of you are thinking – another year, another Act! version. Like it or not, technology is not standing still and one of the reasons that the Act! software product has thrived for over 30 years is that Act! has always kept up with the times. In fact, you might even argue that Act v20 is slightly ahead of its time. When SwiftPage moved to a subscription platform for their Premium product they knew…
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Read more: Curious about what’s new in Act v19.1? You can find out here!
Curious about what’s new in Act v19.1? You’ve come to the right place! Act has lots of great new features including: Act eCommerce Connections Connect with popular eCommerce solutions BigCommerce, Ecwid, Etsy, Shopfy, Volusion, and WooCommerce for visibility into customer purchase history in Act! Premium. Use those details to have informed sales conversations and send targeted marketing campaigns. Setup is fast and easy—no technical expertise needed. Act! Companion Mobile App Capture details on the spot using your…
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Read more: Happy 30th Birthday Act! Software – You Don’t Look a Day Over 10!
Wow! As hard as it is to believe the Act software program is celebrating its 30th birthday this year. If you’re into numbers that translates into 19 versions, six owners and millions of users. Believe it or not, it is not unusual for me to have a client tell me that he’s been using Act! for nearly 30 years, or that he still has his version 3 installation disks. Act! users are extremely loyal and with good…
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Read more: Are You Ready to Upgrade to Act! v19?
I’ve been personally using Act! Premium v19 for my own production database since it came out earlier this month and feel that Act! v19 is “ready for prime time.” However, there are still many Act! users of prior Act! versions who have not as yet upgraded to Act! v19. My e-mailbox has been flooded with questions so I’d like to take this opportunity to answer a few of them. I am an Act! subscriber; how do I…
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Read more: ACT For Web aka Act Premium for Web aka Nexus aka Act CRM Standard
ACT for WebWho says you can’t have your cake and eat it to? Not us! There are lots of companies who will sell you a “cloud-based” CRM solution – for a hefty monthly fee. And just try to wrestle your database away from them.
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Read more: Act 6.0 – Yes, We Still Support It!
Back in August, 2000 I ran an Act 6.0 launch event. I was super excited as it had been over 4 years since a previous release of Act, and this version had Outlook integration! I planned for the event for months in advance. I enlisted over a dozen Act Add-On vendors to attend and have booths to display their products. I advertised the event in the local papers (remember those?), enlisted dozens of volunteers, booked a great…
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Read more: Act Premium v18.2: Make Sure Your Act Software is Up to Date
We’re excited to announce that Act! v18.2 is now available! If you are an Act! Premium subscriber, you are entitled to receive the latest Act! Premium updates and enhancements as they’re released. If you are currently on Act! v18 Pro some of the new features (specifically those that focus on the web.api) do not apply to you; however, you’ll still want to take advantage of the quality and performance improvements. What’s New in Act! 18.2 The all-new…
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Read more: Don’t Get Marked as a Spammer: Use Act E-Marketing
I usually don’t mix politics with my Act! consulting but I read an article over the weekend that just fascinated me mainly because it showed that even the wealthiest folks with ostensibly the best consultants can run amok when it comes to e-marketing. Unfortunately, the story reminded me of all too many of my Act! e-marketing prospects! It seems that “the Donald” forayed rather late into e-marketing and sent somewhere in the neighborhood of 50-60 million emails…
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Read more: Act EMarketing Blasts will increase your productivity
We all receive an over abundance of e-mail, and your Act! E-Marketing blasts might get lost in the clutter. Here are a few tips that will increase your “open rate” when using Act EMarketing. Concentrate on the words you choose. The subject line makes the first impression on your email audience so avoid selling language and gimmicks. More importantly, keep subject lines succinct; six to ten word subject line typically have the highest open rates. Be aware…
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Read more: It’s Time to Purchase Your Discount Act Software
Are you still running an older version of the Act! software? Maybe you’ve thought about upgrading to a newer version, but were not sure it would fit into your budget. Act! is much more affordable than you might think, especially when compared to other solutions such as Salesforce. And Tech Benders will insure that you purchase the correct Act version at the best possible pricing. We sell discount act software. The latest version of Act! Premium is…
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Read more: Snappier with Zapier: Using the Act web api
Using Zapier to import data into Act! is an easy-to-set up method for adding information into Act! from your various other business sources. Zapier does this by performing ‘zaps’ that automatically collect useful data from commonly used applications such as PayPal, Woofu, and Slack and transferring that data into your Act! v18.1database. The most obvious reason for using Zapier is that we can update contact information automatically between two different applications and avoid having to do “double-entry.”…
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Read more: The Benefits of Act v18: Find Out What’s in it for You
Whether your business is large or small you know the amount of time it takes to keep organized, track customers, follow-up with them, and market your products to them. It can be overwhelming to keep track of all the details and have everyone in your organization on the same page. This is where customer relationship management (CRM) software comes in. Introducing Act v18. Act! CRM offer many benefits including contact organization, email capabilities, notes for each customer,…
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Read more: Act! and the Surface Pro
When I purchased my new all in one tablet last year I thought I was going to purchase the Microsoft Surface Pro. However, I decided on the Lenovo Yoga 900 because the comparable Surface Pro model was much more expensive and there was a wait time of nearly 6 weeks. Turns out I made a great decision as I’ve seen problems with Act! and the Surface Pro. I’ve been really happy with my Yoga. I had no…
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Read more: Act v18 is Here!
We’re really excited about this version of Act! because it adds new features designed to make you more productive in less time. But don’t just take our word for it – see it yourself! Go to my You Tube Channel for video demonstrations on all the features. Click Here to Purchase Act! v18 at a Discount! Act is available in a number of versions: Act v18 Pro: for single users or small groups who don’t require remote…
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Read more: Act! v18: Find out about the latest version of Act Software
We’re really excited about this version of Act! because it adds more new features than any previous release.
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Read more: Act and Windows 10: What You Need to Know Before You Upgrade
I have had numerous calls and emails from Act! users over the course of the last month asking me if Act! will work with Windows 10. I’ve also had a number of calls from users who have updated to Windows 10 with various outcomes. My advice? If you are using Act! v16 or older I would not recommend upgrading to Windows 10 unless you also upgrade your version of Act!. Swiftpage plans to release a hotfix release…
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Read more: Act! Premium Moves to Subscription Model
As one of the top Act! resellers, I wanted you to be aware of this news: Starting on May 15, 2015 Act! Premium moved to a Subscription platform. Starting then, you will have two options for purchasing Act! Premium software: Pay an Annual Subscription that you will need to renew annually. If you don’t renew your software will “go away” when your subscription runs out. Pay twice as much for a Perpetual License that you can optionally…
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Read more: Act! v17.1 Update Released
For all of you who are currently using Act! v17 – or thinking of moving to v17 I have great news: Act! v17.1 is due to be released on Wednesday, February 25th. This update is free to all users of Act! 17. New features include: Act! v17.1 Call List Improvements You’ll notice an expanded Call List tool bar that includes the option to: Select and create Lookups from the entire Call List or user selected parts of…
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Read more: The Importance of an Act Consultant
Now that you have purchased Act! v17 for your business you may think that hiring an Act! consultant is a waste of time and money. The software does it all already doesn’t it? Wrong! Act! is only beneficial to your business if you utilize it properly, and that is what an Act! consultant can help you with. Not sure about how to install and implement your new Act software? An Act consultant can help you with that. They…
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Read more: Act for Mac CRM Software: Options for Having Act on Your Mac
No, Virginia, there is not a version of Act! for “the Mac.” In fact, there has not been a version of Act! that was Apple compatible since Version 4. And yes, I agree, it would be nice to have one. So please, don’t call me looking for a Mac compatible version of Act!. And no, I don’t know of any Mac CRM product that comes close to Act!. Mac users: Swiftpage is listening to you and I…
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Read more: Act! v17
We’re really excited about this version of Act! because it adds more new features than any previous release.
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Read more: Act v17 is Here!
Act v17 was release on October 23, 2014. E-marketing which means Act! users will have the ability to design and send e-marketing pieces in the newly designed editor and have more options for tracking their effectiveness directly within Act! . It also means that all users of Act v17 will receive a complimentary Act E-Marketing Subscription! Smart Task improvements that will allow the automation of future actions based on field changes and even on your Call List…
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Read more: ACT! v17 Software is Here and It’s Better Than Ever
The newest release from the ACT! team, ACT! v17 software, is here and it is better than ever! If you run a business, you need to see what this software will be able to do for you. ACT! 17 makes setting up integrated work flows, sales automations, and nurturing marketing leads easier than ever before. One of the key areas that users wanted to see improved in the latest software release from ACT! was the ability to shift seamlessly between the…
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Read more: Act! Software Verticals
Act! can be used by virtually any industry. The out of the box contains over 70 contact fields as well as additional Company, Group and Opportunity fields. You can change these fields to make them your own, or add additional fields to make Act! more closely align to the way you are used to doing business. There are certain industries that particularly like Act! both because of its price point and its flexibility. The Act Gurus…
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Read more: Act! E-marketing and an SPF Record
Back in 2008 I wrote a blog article recommending that you switch to an Act! E-Marketing account if you were sending out marketing blasts of over 50 emails/send. Here it is 2014 (gasp!) and I’m still passing out that same exact advice. However, as the world of the internet – and e-mail – gets more and more complex you need to become a bit more knowledgeable if you expect your e-blasts to arrive unscathed at their intended…
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Read more: Act and Windows XP Sunset
If you have an older computer with an older version of Act, you might be wondering about the Act and Windows XP sunset options. Windows XP, the operating system of choice for most PC users for over ten years, is being officially phased out as Microsoft “sunsets” support for the product in all respects. I loved XP but I’ve had no problem adjusting to my newer machines that have Windows 7, 8 and 10. So what does this mean…
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Read more: Act! v16 (aka Act! 2014)
We’re really excited about this version of Act! because it adds more new features than any previous release.
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Read more: ACT 2013
Act 2013 will become obsolete on 9/30/15 If you are using Act 2013 there are a few important pieces of information you need to know. If you’re using Act 2013 you’ll want to upgrade to the latest version of Act by the end of the month. After September 30, 2015 you will not be able to purchase additional licenses, and you will lose your ability to upgrade with special discount pricing. If you’re interested in moving to…
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Read more: ACT Software History
A few weeks ago I wrote about some of the changes that ACT! has experienced during its 25 year history. I received a call this week from one of the original ACT! co-founders , Mike Muhney, prompting me to take you on another trip down Memory Lane in Mike’s own words. “The mid-1980s were a vibrant, competitive time, even compared to today’s software landscape. At the time, the PC software world was ruled by three main companies…
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Read more: ACT! Software Naming Conventions
I have a page on my website that offers free software for the old ACT! 6 product. Unfortunately, ACT! 2006 users frequently try to download and install those freebies and find that they don’t work. Let me make this abundantly clear – ACT! 6 and ACT! 2006 are not the same product. If you’re not yet confused, let me try harder. Potential clients will call with questions on “ACT! 8” when they actually need help with “ACT!…
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Read more: Happy 25th Birthday ACT!
Wow! As hard as it is to believe the ACT! software program turned 25 this month. If you’re into numbers that translates into 14 versions, five named owners and millions of users. I received an e-mail this week from a long ACT! user who was complaining about everything from the confusing naming conventions for ACT! software to the fact that his old ACT! wouldn’t do any “new tricks” but that the “new” ACT! wouldn’t run on his…
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Read more: ACT 2012 is Here!
There’s a reason why ACT has been around for over 20 years and has over 6 million users world wide. It’s a great product! In addition to all the great functionality found in ACT 2011, here are some of the brand new features: The ACT Scratchpad Kiss your pen and paper good-bye! The ACT Scratchpad is a separate program that runs outside of ACT! You can use it with or without opening ACT!. Use it to quickly…
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Read more: Market Unto Others as You Would Have Them Market Unto You
Put yourself in the shoes of your prospects when designing marketing materials. What has more appeal – a sales pitch or useful information? Which one would entice you enough to open it and which one would be instantly deleted?
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Read more: ACT! 2011 COOKBOOKS GO “R.A.W.”
Two books on the ACT software program by Karen Fredricks have been selected by Packt Publishing for inclusion in their R.A.W. (Read As We Write) program.
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Read more: I’m Thankful for the New ACT! 2011 Service Pack 1 (SP1)
In the ACT! realm I’m happy that Sage just released ACT! 2011 Service Pack 1 (SP1).
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Read more: ACT Importing Software
I personally use an importing product and recommend that you use one as well if importing into ACT on a regular basis.
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Read more: Top 10 Reasons to Upgrade to ACT 2011
If you’ve been sitting in the Stone Age and are still clinging to your tried and true version of ACT 6, you might want to take a look at the features that you missed by not upgrading previously. Here’s my list of the Top 10 best new features in ACT 2011.
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Read more: Upgrading to ACT 2011 Will Actually Save You Money
Technology upgrades should be considered a necessary, recurring cost of doing business. You can’t run your business without a telephone and office supplies, and you shouldn’t be running a business with outdated technology. Ironically, technology is the single best way to lower the overhead of a business.
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Read more: Link ACT to Your Mobile Phone
sync act to your cell phoneYou use ACT. You’ve got a smart phone. And you want to link the two together! Companion Link is the product you need. CompanionLink will synchronize your ACT! data with your phone
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Read more: QuoteWerks – ACT Quoting Software
QuoteWerks integrates seamlessly with contact managers like ACT! and ACT! for Web, eliminating the need to re-type customer information. QuoteWerks also has its own built-in contact database.
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Read more: FREE ACT History Fix
In ACT! 2011, the New History window (CTRL + H) defaults to Appointment instead of Call as in all previous versions. Find it annoying? Download the free ACT addon.
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Read more: There is a Cure for the Summertime Marketing Blues
If spring represents the time to clean-up your database, then summer should represent the time for the smart e-marketer to ramp up their marketing efforts. Take advantage of the slow time to plot your future marketing efforts.
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Read more: Think Before You Send
I spend a great deal of time working with my clients on creating e-marketing campaigns with the use of an ESP (e-mail service provider) However, much of the day to day e-mail that so many of us send can also be problematic.
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Read more: Four Hidden ACT Software Easter Eggs
This being Easter weekend I thought I’d share a couple of my favorite ACT Easter eggs. In case you’re not familiar with the term, a software Easter egg refers to a bit of hidden code in the software. Although these Easter eggs are all represented by fields and aren’t necessarily hidden, they do tie into other parts of ACT which you might not be aware of.
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Read more: Singing the Customer Service Blues
Software companies are in the same boat as your local hardware or office supplies store. Hard as it may be for the average consumer to believe, software companies are in business to make money – or at least to remain solvent.
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Read more: My Love/Hate Relationship with Amazon
I’ve decided to stick with Amazon for their book reviews but leave other reviews to the experts!
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Read more: ACT 2010 Will Soon be Here!
ACT 2010 is here and it’s all about social networking!
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Read more: Why Can’t I Just Use Outlook?
For me, not using ACT to manage a business is tantamount to using an abacus to total a long column of numbers.
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Read more: This Isn’t Your Granddaddy’s ACT!
ACT! has been around for over 20 years – and it just keeps getting better and better! Find out if you should upgrade to ACT 2009.
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Read more: Should I upgrade to ACT 2009/11?
It’s here – ACT! 2009 – right on schedule. So, do you need to race out and upgrade?
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Read more: Don’t Believe What You Read in Amazon
As the author of four “For Dummies” books on ACT I am often asked to comment on the negative reviews that a potential user might find on the Internet. Please realize two things about these comments: People tend to voice opinions when things go wrong, not when things are working well. You have no idea as to the level of expertise of the writers of Internet reviews. I love Amazon – for book reviews. However, I doubt…
