Sign Up Now You’re invited to my free Zoho Wednesday Webinar on Wednesday, May 27 at 12 PM EST. Join us for our FREE Wednesday Webinar on Wednesday, May 27 at 12:00 PM Noon EST as we cover one of the #1 questions I receive from Zoho users — email setup and marketing communication inside Zoho. We’ll discuss…
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…
Zoho One gives you 45+ fully integrated apps in one powerful platform—eliminating the cost, complexity, and headaches of managing multiple systems. The result? Lower expenses, better visibility, and a business that runs smarter and faster. It’s not just a better deal—it’s a competitive advantage. Try Zoho One Now. Zoho One Sales & Marketing Apps…
Let’s be honest. Prospecting often looks like this: Open CRM.Open LinkedIn.Search company.Search people.Click profiles.Get distracted.Twenty minutes later you’re reading someone’s post about their dog getting promoted to “Chief Happiness Officer.” There’s a better way. LinkedIn Finder for Zoho CRM helps you find the right people at the right companies without leaving your CRM—or falling down…
View the Webinar You’re invited to my free Zoho Wednesday Webinar on Wednesday, March 18 at 12 PM EST. In this session, I’ll demonstrate 12 new features in Zoho CRM that can help you work smarter, stay better organized, and get even more value from your CRM. Whether you’re a long-time user or fairly new to Zoho, you’ll likely discover…
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…
In the fast-growing ecosystem of business software, recognition isn’t handed out lightly—it’s earned. That’s why the recent promotion of Karen Fredricks from an Authorized Zoho Partner to an Advanced Zoho Partner marks a significant achievement, not just professionally, but as a reflection of consistent client success. What This Promotion Really Means Within the Zoho Corporation…
Bigin had a busy year in 2025, rolling out smart upgrades designed to save time, reduce manual work, and improve how you connect with customers. Here’s a quick look at the most useful new features and why they matter. Easier Scheduling with Booking Pages: Bigin now lets customers book appointments through simple, no-code booking pages.…
I’ve always known Zoho had strong marketing… but my recent trip to Canada proved that Zoho’s marketing team might actually be telepathic—or at least incredibly efficient. It all started on the New Jersey Turnpike. I’m driving toward the exit for the GW Bridge, mentally preparing for the gridlock that only New York City can provide,…
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…
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…
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…
Watch Now Are you getting the most out of your CRM? Whether you’re currently using Zoho or Act, there’s a good chance you haven’t tapped into some of Zoho’s most powerful (and often overlooked) features. Join us for a free, live webinar where we’ll showcase 10 Zoho CRM features that can save you time, boost…
I receive a lot of inquiries about Zoho’s product line. There are three basic Zoho products: Zoho Bigin, Zoho CRM and Zoho One. And there are additional levels for both the Bigin and CRM products ranging from free to $480/year/user. If that wasn’t confusing enough there also Zoho One that includes both Zoho CRM Enterprise…
View Now If you’ve ever felt like your Zoho data is trying to tell you something—but you’re not quite sure what—it’s time to tune in. We’re hosting a free, practical webinar all about Zoho Reports & Analytics. Whether you’re using Zoho CRM, Zoho Bigin, or Zoho Analytics, this session will help you get more value…
When it comes to managing customer relationships, Zoho has a whole toolbox ready—but two of its most popular options are Zoho Bigin and Zoho CRM. If you’re wondering which one fits your business better, here’s a friendly breakdown. 🚀 Zoho Bigin: CRM Made Simple Zoho Bigin is like the “CRM Lite” version of Zoho CRM.…
When customizing your Zoho CRM modules, choosing the right field type is key to capturing accurate and useful data. Whether you’re setting up a sales pipeline, contact form, or support ticketing system, understanding the field types available in Zoho CRM can streamline your workflows and enhance your reporting. Here’s a comprehensive breakdown of Zoho CRM’s…
In a previous article I talked about the escalation in the Act CRM product when they introduced “Act Advantage.” If you’re looking for a cheap CRM – or one that doesn’t carry an annual subscription – there is no better price than FREE. That’s right: Zoho CRM has a FREE edition. If you’re just starting…
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…
Spring has sprung – and so have a lot of amazing new Zoho CRM features Expanded Messaging Integrations: Now connect with customers via Line, in addition to improved WhatsApp features like message templates, threaded replies, and audio previews.Zoho Advanced Account Management: The new Account-Based Marketing (ABM) add-on helps identify and engage high-value accounts through enriched…
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…
You use Zoho CRM. You’ve got a smartphone. And you want to link the two together! Luckily, you don’t need to buy any extra software—Zoho has you covered with its free Zoho CRM mobile apps for iOS and Android. With the Zoho CRM apps, you’ll have instant access to your leads, contacts, accounts, and deals…
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…
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…
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…
As the author of 14 books on various CRM products I receive a ton of questions every week both from my own clients and prospective clients. Here are the top five questions people often ask me about CRMs along with my responses. What’s a CRM, and do I really need one? One of the most…
I receive a lot of inquiries about Zoho’s product line. In a previous post I outlined Bigin, the entry level Zoho product. In this post I’d like to give a quick comparison of the Zoho’s full-scale CRM products. Whether you’re ready to simply replace your existing maze of spreadsheets and scattered notes, or want a…
I field a lot of calls about various aspects of CRM; I have yet to receive a call from a CRM user asking to add more work into their schedule. I am, however, asked for just the opposite: “How do I Avoid Doing Double Entry between my CRM and other applications that I use?” Typically,…
Zoho has just surpassed the 100 Million Users Mark. I am not surprised. Zoho represents an amazing value in today’s world of software. I personally moved my own software from Act & QuickBooks to Zoho One over 5 years ago and have never looked back. Prior to moving my accounting from QuickBooks to Zoho Books…
Are you currently using CRM software and feeling that it might be time for a change? The world of Customer Relationship Management is constantly evolving, and finding the right CRM solution for your business can be a daunting task. That’s why we invite you to join our exclusive webinar, where we will help you explore…
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…
Struggling with content for your eMarketing Campaigns? This webinar will help! If you have either Act Premium or Zoho CRM your account includes a FREE eMarketing Account. Unfortunately, many of you are not using it and don’t know where to start. This webinar is designed to get you up and running quickly by giving you…
2023 started off with a bang – particularly where Zoho is concerned. Over the past 12 months Zoho has released over 150 enhancements. Here are a few of my personal favorites: Roll Up Summary fields: This will give you a count of key touchpoints (number of deals, calls, etc) on a per contact basis. Global…
Losing weight got me to thinking how I could apply the same concept to removing some of the “dead weight” often found in databases. Although I work with a variety of CRM solutions I find that my clients deal with the exact same issues.
I’ve written several articles comparing Act! to Zoho. Most of my Act! users simply don’t want to change. Occasionally clients do want to move to Zoho and are wondering: where do I start? Here are my planning steps: Determine level of Zoho you need. There are two questions I normally ask prospects: How many custom…
I’ve written 14 books on various CRM products as well as created training videos for LinkedIn Learning. There are 10 pitfalls I see all the time; learn simple ways to avoid them! Whether you use Act, Zoho or another product, most CRM users struggle with the same issues and questions. Join me as I share…
Start your free trial of Zoho One Here! Replace your patchwork of cloud applications, legacy tools, and paper-based processes with one operating system for your entire business. Zoho One includes over 40 apps designed to manage all facets of your business. And they are all included as part of Zoho One for one low price!…
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…
Whether you are running a start-up that needs an easy, low-cost accounting system or you are a well established company that has outgrown your existing accounting system you might consider taking a look at Zoho Books. There are several reason you might find Zoho Books to be a great accounting solution for your business including:…
No matter what kind of business you have, you need the proper software to run it and the proper hardware to run it on. But with so many platforms available, it can be difficult to make a decision That’s where a great Zoho CRM Consultant can help. The initial foray into software for many startups…
There’s no doubt that QuickBooks is a great accounting system used by over three million subscribers. After all, it is the Number One selling accounting product in the US. However, not everyone who uses QuickBooks loves it; in fact, I often hear from my clients that they actually hate it. However, many QuickBooks users feel…
A prospect called me this week. He had a ton of issues with his Zoho CRM usage and was looking for a Zoho Consultant. Apparently Zoho CRM had “lost things” including his notes from his old Act product. He found Zoho CRM to be “confusing” to the point where he didn’t even know how to…
Sales can be a series of ups and downs. Rejection can be rude and brutal, and it can be constant. You might feel that you are being crushed by quotas. It can make the salesperson wonder why he chose this profession, question the meaning of life and consider asking for a refund on his college…
It is easy to remove records in ZOHO. Fortunately, it’s just as easy to recover them! The ZOHO Recycle Bin stores all the records from all the CRM modules as and attachments that are deleted from the ZOHO CRM.
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…
Accounting might be the hardest part of running a business. One mistake might keep you awake for hours. That’s why you need Zoho Books. Zoho Books will make most of your accounting hassles disappear. This online accounting software makes everything cloud-based and completely digital so you can better manage your finances, automate business workflows, and…
I did it! Last week I finalized my conversion from QuickBooks to ZOHO books. I’ve been working on this since January. I am not a slacker; frankly, I was just scared to make the final plunge. After all, I have been using QuickBooks since I started by business over 20 years ago. I am a…