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Read more: Why ACT! Users Are Rethinking That $500/Year Renewal — and Looking at Zoho Instead
For many long-time ACT! users, the software has been a reliable companion—tracking contacts, managing relationships, and keeping sales efforts organized for years (sometimes decades). But lately, there’s a growing sense of hesitation when that annual renewal notice shows up, especially when it’s hovering around $500 per year. And the question is simple: Is it still worth it? The Breaking Point: Paying Act! to Keep Access to Your Own Data One of the biggest frustrations longtime ACT! users…
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Read more: Creating Custom Reports: ACT! vs. Zoho CRM — A Tale of Two Eras
Reporting is where a CRM either earns its keep or exposes its age. On paper, both ACT! and Zoho CRM offer “custom reporting,” but the experience of creating those reports—and the value you get from them—could not be more different. If you’ve ever tried to build a custom ACT! report and then built one in Zoho CRM, you already know: one feels like archaeology, the other feels like modern analytics. When Act! moved from Act 6.0 to the…
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Read more: Zoho One Includes a Virtual Smorgasbord of Products
Zoho One includes a virtual smorgasbord of 40+ products, but these are my favorites: Zoho CRM: The heart of Zoho One this is the place to keep all the data for your contacts. Zoho Books: Tired of QuickBooks – and the large price tag? Zoho Books has all of the QuickBooks functionality with the extra convenience of avoiding double entry into both your CRM and accounting software. Optionally allow your Sales Team insight into a customers invoice…
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Read more: Installing ACT! v27 Premium Desktop: A Journey Through Time (and Reboots)
Installing software in 2025 should be simple. Click a button. Maybe wait a few minutes. Get coffee. Done. Installing ACT! v27 Premium Desktop, however, is not an installation—it’s an experience. One that involves patience, reboots, research, and a surprising amount of self-reflection. Step 1: Download Act!… and Wait I bought myself a new laptop for Christmas and needed to install Act! The adventure began with downloading the Act! installation files. Not a quick, tidy download—but a sizeable…
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Read more: Exporting ACT! Notes and Histories: Why Most Users Can’t — But Tech Benders Can
If you’ve ever tried to move from Act! CRM to another CRM platform, you may have discovered a frustrating truth: while migrating basic data like contact names, phone numbers, and emails is fairly straightforward, getting your Act! Notes and Histories out of the system is another story entirely. In fact, for the average user, exporting Notes and Histories from Act! in a usable format is nearly impossible without specialized tools or technical knowledge. Act! stores this information…
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Read more: Why Zoho CRM Plus Crushes Act! CRM: A Deep Dive
Choosing a CRM isn’t just about tracking contacts — it’s about enabling your business to sell smarter, market better, and support customers consistently. Zoho CRM Plus is a complete customer-experience suite, while Act! CRM is more of a traditional contact management tool. And when you put them side by side, the advantages are hard to ignore. What Makes Zoho CRM Plus Different Zoho CRM Plus is more than a CRM. It bundles multiple apps into one integrated…
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Read more: How to Export Your Data from ACT! CRM
If you’re ready to move on from ACT! CRM, you may be wondering how to export your data. The truth is, getting your information out of ACT isn’t as simple as hitting “export.” Here are two important facts you need to know: 1. ACT! is a Relational DatabaseYour contacts, companies, activities, and opportunities are stored in separate tables. That means you can’t just create one clean spreadsheet of all your data. Instead, you’ll end up with multiple…
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Read more: Tech Benders Achieves 159% Growth in Zoho Sales
This year has been a milestone for Tech Benders—we’ve experienced an incredible 159% increase in total revenue as of 8/27, and the driving force behind this growth has been our strategic shift from selling Act! software to Zoho CRM solutions. The move to Zoho has not only expanded our offerings but also allowed us to better serve our clients with tools designed for today’s business needs. Unlike Act, Zoho provides: Scalability: From small businesses to enterprises, Zoho…
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Read more: Importing and Exporting: It’s So Much Easier in Zoho CRM Than in Act! CRM
Data is the lifeblood of any CRM system. Whether you’re switching platforms, updating contact info, or simply backing up your data, the ability to easily import and export records is critical. If you’ve ever tried performing these tasks in Act! CRM, you already know it can feel like solving a Rubik’s cube blindfolded. Fortunately, Zoho CRM offers a breath of fresh air. Here’s a breakdown of why Zoho CRM outshines Act! CRM when it comes to importing…
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Read more: 🧹 Database Cleanup: ACT! CRM vs Zoho CRM – Who Does It Better?
Act! CRM has been around for decades—over 30 years! And many businesses have loyally used it just as long. But even the most loyal Act! users have likely faced this recurring issue: database clutter. A few years ago, I shared some helpful tools available in Act! to help with cleanup—everything from deleting old histories to removing blank contacts. But how do these tools compare to what’s available in Zoho CRM, the modern cloud-based CRM that many businesses…
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Read more: The End of Windows 10 Support on October 14: What It Means for ACT! Software Users
As the tech world marches forward, a significant milestone is approaching: Microsoft will officially end support for certain versions of Windows on October 14, 2025. For everyday users, this might just seem like another update on the horizon. But for businesses relying on specialized tools like ACT! CRM software, this change carries deeper implications. What’s Happening on October 14? Microsoft has announced that on October 14, 2025, it will officially end support for Windows 10 (and potentially…
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Read more: The Great CRM Size Showdown: ACT! CRM vs. Zoho CRM
When it comes to choosing a CRM (Customer Relationship Management) system, one factor that often gets overlooked is database size. If you’re planning to host your CRM database on the web, you might be wondering: How much space do I actually need? Today, we’re comparing the storage needs of ACT! CRM (which uses SQL) and Zoho CRM to help you understand what you’re getting into. ACT! CRM: The SQL Behemoth ACT! CRM is a veteran in the…
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Read more: Migrate from Act! CRM? Are you Serious?
Back in 2017 I had to make a difficult decision. After many, many years invested in Act!, it was finally time to move on. A decision I didn’t take lightly! My relationship with Act! had been a long one. I’d written 7 books on Act! as well as created a set of learning videos for LinkedIn Learning. I’d built up deep knowledge of its database, not only in how tables are related but also the quirky way…
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Read more: ACT! Pro is Gone, But Zoho CRM is Here to Save the Day!
For decades, ACT! Pro was a trusted name in customer relationship management (CRM) software, helping businesses track leads, manage contacts, and use a sales pipeline. However, as of 2023, ACT! Pro is no longer available for purchase. While this marks the end of an era, it also opens the door to new opportunities. Enter Zoho CRM: a modern, cloud-based solution that’s more than capable of filling ACT! Pro’s shoes—and then some. Why ACT! Pro Was Phased Out…
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Read more: Act Scheduler vs. Zoho Cadence: What’s the Difference?
Having the right task scheduling tool can make all the difference when trying to automate your business. Both Act! and Zoho have functionality designed to automate follow-up tasks. Act! has the Act Scheduler and Zoho has many automation tools, the most recent one being Zoho Cadence. Act Activity Series: Act!’s Only True Automation Feature The “Activity Series” feature in Act! was added to Act! 6 or roughly in 1999. It allows you to create a series of automated Activities…
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Read more: Tech Support: From Act! Desktop to Zoho CRM
Ah, the 1990s—a simpler time when your biggest tech worry was whether your dial-up modem would scream its way to a connection. Back then, if your computer misbehaved or you needed to install software like ACT! CRM, help often came in the form of a living, breathing tech support agent. That’s right: a human being would show up at your house or office, toolkit in hand, ready to rescue you from the abyss of error messages and…
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Read more: Recent Email about Your Act Software
You might have received an email this week regarding the relationship between Act! LLC and Tech Benders. Act! LLC, formerly known as Swiftpage LLC and Sage LLC, may be undergoing restructuring and has decided to take over your account directly, rather than using me for support, servicing, and sales. Many of my customers have already contacted me with their questions and concerns, so I encourage you to do so as well, either by phone or by email.…
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Read more: The Act! Attachments: A Nightmare Waiting to Happen
Act! has been around for 40 years. You might think of it as an old house; new features were sometimes added but unfortunately they do not always work as planned. The biggest offender? The dreaded Act! “Attachments” folder. Proper file management is crucial for any business. It improves efficiency, reduces stress, and prevents data loss. The Act! attachment folder completely undermines these basic principles. This single attachments folder often becomes a chaotic dumping ground for every email,…
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Read more: ACT CRM: What You Need to Know
There have been a lot of changes going on in the Act! world. In addition you’ve probably been receiving some scary messaging from the folks at Act!. I’m hoping I can explain them to you as easily as possible. Question: I’ve been getting messages about my version of SQL; does that mean Act! will stop working: Answer: No! You can read more about that here. Question: I have Act! v24 which is no longer supported. Can I…
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Read more: Act to Zoho Conversions: More Questions from Act Users Wanting to Convert to Zoho
I’ve been doing a lot of Act to Zoho conversions lately. I have written several previous articles on what to expect when you convert your data and where to start. Here are a few great questions I received from one of my Act to Zoho conversion clients recently along with my answers in RED: After the migration, will we still have access to Act – desktop and/or cloud? No, not if you don’t renew your subscription. However,…
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Read more: The Comedy of CRM Software Demos: Why Reality’s Not in the Script
I am often asked to give an Act! demo or a Zoho demo. I’ll do them but the truth is that I feel they can be very misleading. Like a movie trailer, they show the highlight reel without the bloopers. Relying on them alone is like expecting a microwave dinner to taste like a chef’s masterpiece. CRM Software Demos: Fantasy vs. Reality Demos are the superhero movies of software – flawless on screen but not quite the…
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Read more: I Want to Save All of My Outlook Email as Attachments in Act
I just turned down a potential Act! client. No one likes to lose business but I knew we were not going to be a good fit. The prospect had been using Act! for “over 15 years.” He ran a security business and needed to keep “at least 7 years’ worth of data.” So far so good. He was currently self-hosting his database on an Amazon server and was plagued by slowness and error messages. The only cure…
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Read more: The Case of the Missing Act! Contacts
This week brought not one but three clients that called me upset that Act! had “eaten” some of their contacts. In all cases we were able to solve the mystery of the missing Act! contacts and hopefully prevent it from happening again. When a user feels that contacts have gone MIA from their Act! database I can think of a number of possible culprits: Someone has changed the access rights to contact records. Someone has been playing…
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Read more: Working with Custom CRM Tables & Modules
Many CRM software users get confused with the distinction between fields, records and entities. In a CRM product, a field is a single piece of information such as a zip code, e-mail address or phone number. A record is all the associated fields for a single entity. An entity is a set of records. For example, you might have a Contact Table that allows you to add multiple contacts to your CRM, an Account Table that allows…
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Read more: Take the SPECS Approach to Your CRM Implementation
In the course of writing 14 CRM books, and working as a full time CRM consultant for the last 20 years, I am fortunate to be blessed with a fairly constant stream of new CRM clients. I have observed that they fall into two very different categories: Those that have forged ahead on their own, learning by trial and error. Those that want a bit of guidance prior to proceeding. Frankly, I make quite a bit more…
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Read more: Should I move to Zoho or Stay with Act?
I have consulted in Act for over 20 years. As a result I am often asked by my clients whether they should remain in Act or move to Zoho. The response varies on a case by case basis. Here are a few things to ask yourself when deciding between Act! or Zoho: What am I unhappy about with Act!? If you have outgrown Act! and need more powerful usage such as integration to other systems then moving…
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Read more: CRM in a Remote Environment – ACT! or ZOHO
I have consulted in ACT! for over 20 years. More often than not, especially in the current Covid environment, companies require “remote access” to all of their data. I have Act clients and I have Zoho clients. So which CRM is better in a remote environment: Act or ZOHO? Zoho, hands-down. I used to explain that the process was fairly simple in ACT!: Install ACT! on the Server Install the Sync Services on the server Install ACT!…
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Read more: DIY CRM – Why It Won’t Work and How To Get Help from The ACT! and ZOHO Consultants
There is a famous story about Pablo Picasso. A woman is strolling through a local park when she spots Picasso sitting on a bench. She summons the courage to speak to him. “Excuse me. You’re Pablo Picasso right?” Picasso smiles and nods yes. “Would it be possible to have you sketch my portrait? I’ll be happy to pay you.” Picasso agrees and studies the woman carefully for a few moments before taking out a pen and paper.…
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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: Why Hire an ACT! CONSULTANT?
An Act! consultant can get you up and running quickly so that you will soon be able to see the benefits of Act for yourself.
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Read more: Act! Consultant Wins Featured Partner Service Award
Tech Benders is pleased to announce that Act Consultant Roy Laudenslager recently earned the spot of Featured Partner on the Act! Community forums. Laudenslager was honored for his numerous contributions in answering questions for Act! Users and for His Act! expertise and contributions. Laudenslager is no stranger to receiving awards for his knowledge of Act! software. In 2007 he was awarded the Act! Community Service Award for his involvement with the Act! Community; he was chosen from over 500…
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Read more: Having Trouble with ACT? Hire an ACT Consultant!
The Act! software is a great tool for businesses, but you may be having a hard time getting the most out of it. If you find your operation struggling with the expansive software, you should consider bringing in a certified Act consultant to assist you in operation of the software. These professionals are here to help you get your software up and running, and to assist you in customizing the software specifically for your operation’s needs. An Act!…
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Read more: Act Usage: Use Act to Increase Lead Generation and Improve Customer Loyalty
Most businesses understand that Act!is a game-changing tool that will allow them to work smarter and build their businesses faster. Just as building initial relationships with prospects is important, so is customer retention. Using Act to help with your targeted marketing efforts will insure that your business will continue to thrive. Track Prospect and Client Engagement through Act! Histories It is imperative that you record histories of your prospect and customer interactions into Act! This will enable…
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Read more: 10 Act Myths: Easy Solutions to Your Act Database Issues
Although most ACT users are “ACT FanACTics” they are sometimes a bit technically challenged. Here are a few “myths” I often hear.
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Read more: Hiring an Act Consultant: The smartest investment that you’ll ever make
Hiring an Act consultant is a smart investment if you own Act! and want your business to grow. Sales are the lifeblood of any business and having a good sales pipeline along with a good foundation of clients is important if you hope to make your business more successful. An Act! consultant can customize your Act! database to reflect the areas that are unique to your business and use them to grow your business. An Act! consultant…
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Read more: Optimize Act! E-Marketing Blasts with a Few Simple Tips
When I work with Act users with either Swiftpage E-Marketing or Act E-Marketing I like to point out that there are two separate but equal processes: Composing and sending an e-blast Reporting on the results If you are sending an E-mail blast in Act to more than 50 contacts I strongly recommend that you use an ESP (email service provider) so that you can measure your result. Using either Swiftpage E-Marketing or Act E-Marketing means that those…
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Read more: I Need to Convert My Act! 5.0 Database
I had someone call me last week who was enraged that Act! Support was not able to help them convert their Act! 5 database (circa 1999) to the latest version, Act! v17. Another customer couldn’t understand why Swiftpage wasn’t willing to convert their 1997 Maximizer database to Act. The customers felt that this service should be provided “free of charge.” I like to compare software to cars. Both require routine maintenance. Both offer support plans “should…
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Read more: Need help with your Act! software? Call the Act Experts!
You’ve seen my posts about the benefits of bringing Act! CRM into the workplace, the help it can provide in customer management and organizing the office, and how it can not only save you money but increase it by making your business more efficient. You decided your business couldn’t do without it, so you bought it. But now you’re lost. You can see the potential of the program, but implementing it is a different story. Like any…
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Read more: Act for Web: Putting Your Act Database in the Clouds
It seems these days that everyone wants to have use Act hosting so they can view their Act! database in the clouds. We provide Act! web hosting and think we do a great job of it: We provide you with all the support you need to get started We give you with the ability to access your Act! data on your desktop, through a browser, on smart phones and on tablets. You aren’t locked into a long…
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Read more: The Act Dialer
The number of businesses that are moving over to VOIP phone systems is on the rise. VOIP phones offer many advantages, including lower monthly phone bills and nifty ways to connect your remote employees. For me, the biggest benefit of VOIP is that it allows you to integrate your office phone to Act!. Your computer must have access to a dial tone in order for it to integrate to your CRM software. Ten years ago most computers…
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Read more: Using Act Software to help bring Thanksgiving into the workplace
On Thanksgiving, we take pause to appreciate what we have and to celebrate with family and friends. Numerous customers and even vendors impart the feeling of Thanksgiving within your company and your Act software makes it easy to thank them. As we begin to anticipate the new year, it’s the perfect time to think about what we are appreciative for. It’s also a chance to acknowledge customers who have made your year a success. Here are a…
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Read more: Why Cheaper is Not Necessarily Better When It Comes to an Act! Consultant
The major focus of my business comes from being an Act! consultant. With all due modesty, I am great at what I do. I often come up with the perfect solution to a client’s problem in an extremely timely fashion. I did not garner my CRM knowledge through osmosis; I spend quite a bit of my time keeping up to date with technology other than just Act!. Today’s reliance on the Internet has made for very…
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Read more: Exporting Your Act! Data to Excel is as Easy as 1,2,3
Many Act! users routinely head to the Export Wizard to send their information not realizing that there is a much easier method for exporting Act! data. You’ll find the Export Current List to Excel icon at the top of the Contact, Group, Company, Opportunity, History and Task List views. If the button is “greyed out” it means one of two things: · You are not a Manager or Administrator of the Act! database, or you are a…
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Read more: 7 Reasons that Marilyn Monroe Would Have LOVED ACT! CRM…
I came across a great post written by fellow ACT consultant M Scott Schaffernoth. I laughed for ten minutes when I read it and Scott kindly offered to share. Her Parts May Have Often Been Ditzy Blondes, But Marilyn Monroe Was a Smart Cookie and She Would Have Loved ACT! CRM It would have helped her to keep track of the correct spelling of people’s names (the first time she signed an autograph as “Marilyn Monroe” –…
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Read more: How many people are actually reading your ACT E-Marketing e-mails?
Many of you already know the common definition of assume; if not, look at the word again and break it into smaller pieces: ass_u_me because that’s just what happens when you “assume” something. ACT E-Marketing is a wonderful tool. It’s easy, inexpensive and it works directly from ACT. And, as is the case with all e-mail service providers (ESP’s) there is a wealth of data that we can collect on our e-marketing campaigns. One of the most…
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Read more: ACT! E-Marketing Vs “The Other Guy”
I often expound on the virtues of ACT! E-Marketing, formerly known as Swift Page E-mail. I thought I’d share a conversation with one of my clients who had some reservations about switching to ACT! E-Marketing from one of the “other guys.” “Hey Karen, I know you push ACT! E-Marketing. I use MailChimp and I’m pretty happy with it. Tell me why you think I should switch to ACT! E-Marketing.” “Well Mr. Customer, I love the fact that…
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Read more: Ways to Host an ACT Database
It seems that these days “everyone wants to be in the clouds” but alas, many business owners don’t know what that means and/or how to get the job done. There are a number of ways to access an ACT! database “from the clouds.” You can use a product like CompanionLink to sync ACT! to Google. You then install the Google app on your iPad, iPhone or Droid. You would be able to access and/or edit your contacts…
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Read more: Wishing You a Wonderful Holiday
‘Twas the holiday season and all through the house, Not a creature was clicking, not even your mouse. The stocking were hung by the “Windows” with care, Glad that Win 7 was finally there! My clients were sleeping, all snug in their beds, While visions of Microsoft danced in their heads! Elf Karen has taught you that ACT can be fun, And the software you need for your business to run. It’s a great way to keep…
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Read more: Use Act During the Holidays to Keep Yourself Organized
I can’t claim that CRM software will help you get your holiday shopping done on a timelier basis but I can claim that it will help automate many of the office chores to make you much more productive and efficient.
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Read more: Good Marketing is Nothing More Than a Marathon Match
If you’re any kind of sports fan then you heard about the marathon John Isner/Nicolas Mahut match at Wimbledon this year. Of course, as a marketer I can see how that same mind-set and determination would lead to great results in the marketing world.
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Read more: Old Dogs Must Learn New Software Training Tricks
If I need training on a rapidly changing site such as Facebook I’ll be using lynda where I know I’ll get the latest and greatest information.
