ACT! 2009 Demo Database

When you install your ACT! software, a demo database is also installed so that you can play with your new software and learn more about using it before you create your own customer and prospect database. Ever wonder who creates and updates the database? Yeah I know… probably not. But as a piece of trivia, it is me.

Each year when I write and update the ACT! QuickStudy Guide, I also update the demo database as well. The demo is used for practice exercises in the QuickStudy Guide, so it helps if I can design the database in a way that encourages users to better understand the functionality of the new version of ACT!.

In addition to making it work better with the QuickStudy guide, the inside sales team often asks me to include certain things so that they can better demo the product to prospects. This year I added customized templates and reports to the demo database, along with several other features. For example, the demo database is designed so that for the next 12 months, no matter when you open the database, you will see open and closed activities and opportunities for 3 users in the database (Chris Huffman, Allison Mikola, and Ernst Anderson). So there are opportunities that closed in July 2009 (even though July 2008 isn’t even over yet).

Another piece of trivia. Chris Huffman has been the primary logon user for the ACTDemo database since the beginning. The company that Chris runs has changed over the years from CH Imports… to CH Gourmet… to the current CH TechONE. When ACT! included the ability to maintain photos with each contact record (several versions ago), I needed to select a photo for Chris Huffman. It was at that time that it occurred to me that no one really knew much about Chris. So, I made her a woman. You can see her photo on the Home Address tab on her record. Be sure that the ACTDemo layout is displayed.

You can see more obscure facts about the demo database in ACT! 2009. There is an attached file on the Notes tab that fills you in.

LinkedIn

Social Networking is the hot topic these days. I’ve recently started playing with LinkedIn and Twitter. Can it make you any money? Not sure yet, however, in filling out my profile, LinkedIn asked if I would like to see other members that went to the University of Kentucky during the same years that I was there.

I have tried to find my college roommates several times over the years, but it can be hard to find women if they have since married. I knew their maiden name, but have no way of knowing what their married name might be. I looked and of course couldn’t find them. Then my eyes stopped on the name Patricia. I didn’t recognize the last name, but she was in marketing. I followed through to the website and found a photo of the college roommate I hadn’t spoken to in over 20 years. We’ve had a fun time catching up.
 
I also located a fellow MBA graduate, but he was easier to find (no name change). Even if I never make any money from this new tool, the time I spent so far was more than worth locating and reconnecting with 2 great friends.

However, I am determined to take this further to see where I can go with it. Oh yeah and my LinkedIn profile is: View Susan Clark’s profile

ACT! PlatinumCARE Release-Huh?

ACT! just released this new product offering PlatinumCARE. It has taken me a bit to get my arms around what they are offering. Even for partners, they are sending us information in multiple e-mails, each with 4-5 documents attached explaining different parts of the program.

For me I like to see things all in one place so I can analyze what the deal is. Well I finally put it all together on my Platinum CARE web page and I think it is a pretty nice offering (only available until 9/30/2008). If you are already an ACT! 2008/10.0 user, the deal is sweetest for you. You can upgrade to version 11 for about a third of your normal upgrade pricing, plus get a whole bunch of bonuses. If you own an older version of ACT, they are throwing in the bonuses for the regular upgrade pricing.

If you are remotely interested in upgrading, then you might want to check out the offer while it stands.

Yeah, It’s Finished

The final pdf, edited version of “The Official ACT! by Sage QuickStudy Guide” (for ACT! 2009 software) is off to the printer. In order for me to write, I need to have long periods of uninterrupted time. I don’t see clients. I limit my access to emails (a very easy distraction). I sit on the couch cross-legged with my PC on my lapdesk and write away. My family brings me meals and then clears them away so I can continue on with unbroken chains of thought. I eat popcorn when I am stumped with how to more clearly explain features. Some years I gain more weight than others. (Regardless, it is back to the gym for me.)

When I have been this isolated, it is also a little hard for me to get back to working with people again. I start with the overflowing emails in my Inbox that need to be answered and then move to starting to work with clients again. There is always some project waiting for me. Maybe some documentation for Swiftpage’s new Drip Marketing. Hmm.