Propel for ACT Client Newsletter
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Welcome [[First Name:78]] to the July / August issue of the Propel Newsletter and remember please let us know about topics of interest for you and we might even record it as a video for you !
Besides a trip to the USA there is a lot happening in the ACT world right now and that's the forthcoming release of ACT 7.0 or ACT 2005.
ACT 2005 to be released in September 2005
Well we can finally talk to you about it !
Details on the features and benefits and how to upgrade will be handled in a separate email to follow in the next months issue however this is just a short article to keep you informed. The planned Australian release date is toward the end of September 2004.
2005 is the most significant upgrade since ACT! 3.0, with many customer-requested features, including the new Company record, an easier way to import databases, layouts, and report templates, and innovative new features like http synchronization and the new group scheduling features.
ACT 2005 has been rebuilt ACT from the ground up and is the biggest change since ACT 3 over 10 years ago and now has a totally new "backend database" which is Microsoft's SQL server and MSDE.
Have a look at the feature list which compares ACT 2005 to ACT 6.0 and there's many changes !
Click here for more pre-release information and screen shots of ACT 2005
Ok we have been trialling ACT 2005 for a few months now and heres the main points from OUR point of view:
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Super Improved Database
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Similar easy to use interface
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Improved functionality
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Super new Calenders
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Activity Series way better for automating your own systems !!
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Tight Outlook Integration
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Images can be placed anywhere on the layout perfect for properties
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Sales Opportunity section vastly modified and better for appraisal tracking
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Improved Security options for networks
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Improved syncing features
You will be able to install ACT 7.0 and have it run side by side with ACT 6.0 although it does affect your default associations within ACT but you can test it while running ACT 6.0
Clients with ACT 6.0 are eligible for a upgrade to ACT 7.0 at a yet to advised upgrade rate.
Overall its a great new release and way BIGGER than any release in over 15 years but there are some things which need to be mentioned and how it will affect existing clients:
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ACT 2005 still has some minor bugs which will no doubt need a month or 2 to iron out after its release date in Australia at the end of September.
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ACT 2005 versions of ACT for Palm and Pocket PC will not be released until towards Christmas or a little later and we will let you know as soon as we know.
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The minimum RAM needed is 256 meg but we think you need 500 meg - this may mean new pc's for some of you if you want it
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We will advise you when we consider ACT 2005 is ready for you
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Propel Version 3 will be released prior to Christmas
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Propel 3 upgrade option for all existing clients
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Propel 3 documents and video to assist in upgrading will be provided
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Propel training video's will be upgraded in the new version of ACT prior to Christmas
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Support for ACT 2005 and converting to Propel 3 will be available to clients on Support Contracts only.
What this means is by all means get excited because the new version is fantastic BUT wait a little until we let you know its ready for you and we will keep you informed in our monthly emails about what's happening with it.
Activity Series in ACT - Automated Add-ons
There has been a deal of interest in this subject lately and I thought it worth a revisit to bring you up to speed on how to make ACT automatically send out emails and letters to your clients based on a pre-determined campaign.
There are basically around 5 different ACT addon products which will do this and they have all been reviewed and range in price from $150 US to $1300 US. The $1300 one even has letters and campaigns from Tom Hopkins and is pretty comprehensive albeit expensive.
The other 4 are around the $200 US mark and all do a similar thing but only 1 of them does it in a simple and easy way would you believe. My pick is the Pinpoint Tools one ( $149 US )which is part of the Pinpoint Tools "Toolbox" and it has been around a long time and is still pretty good . Have a look at it here and download it and try it free for 15 days. If you like it and want to buy it you can order it through us as well at the same price listed on their site.
Auto-Scheduler
Auto-Scheduler lets you schedule multiple events with just one click.
You can create, apply and reuse all the action plans or campaigns you want.
Those events can be any combination of calls, meetings, to-do's, letters and even emails! You can define, save, reuse, or modify your own Plans of Action, configured precisely for your specific sales strategies and business needs.
Auto-Scheduler works hand-in-hand with Letter Manager (see below) so you can schedule letter and email events inside the campaigns and generate them automatically on the days scheduled.
Letter Manager
Schedule and generate letters and emails just like you schedule to-do's.
Pick the date and print all your letters and send all your emails for that day… using different templates for different people or complete mass mailers.
Letter Manager automates the entire correspondence and follow-up process. It works as a stand alone scheduler, or in conjunction with Auto-Scheduler (see above).
Bear in mind that ACT 7.0 has a way improved Activity Series which while it wont auto mail out the letters has some features you wont see in any other addon option and maybe its worth waiting to see.
Create PDF documents - for Free!
Portable Document Format (PDF) is the de facto standard for the secure and reliable distribution and exchange of electronic documents and forms around the world.
Cute PDF Writer is the free version of commercial PDF creation software. CutePDF Writer installs itself as a "printer subsystem". This enables virtually any Windows applications (must be able to print) to create professional quality PDF documents - with just a push of a button!
FREE for personal and commercial use! No watermarks! No Popup Web Ads!
In this months issue:
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ACT 7.0 !
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Automated Activities
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Free PDF creator
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Pocket PC update
ACT User Group - Melbourne
For those clients in Melbourne please note that there is a forthcoming User Group Meeting with details as follows:
Time: 6.00 pm to 7.30 pm
Deakin University
Cnr Elgar Rd / Burwood Hwy,
Topics covered will be:
Auto Updating Databases
Propel and ACT Issues
1. Backup ACT Daily
If you use a PDA or sync ACT to anything at all like Pocket PC's or your home pc via email do a daily backup !
We suggest saving a file daily with the actual date ( e.g. 210704.zip ) this doesn't take up much space and means you can "roll back" to any day you want if you suffer data loss or your database gets messed up for some reason.
If you use Office 2003 you need to click here to make ACT and Word 2003 a happy team!
3 . Propel 2 Support Page
It has all sorts of links to help you with ACT & Propel as well as around 120 minutes worth of training videos and the Propel manual.
Make sure you look at this page if you are wanting to sync ACT to your Pocket PC - its a must read !
Propel Support / Training
Like to get more from Propel and ACT and really start firing??
Have a look at some of our value for money training and phone support options including Internet Training also:
1. Half Day on-site
$400 plus GST in Melb and Syd or plus travel costs elsewhere. Have your database cleaned, letters setup correctly, reports created and modified and get a system going and be way more effective!
2. All Day $700 plus GST
Note on Pocket PCs & Palm
Just a reminder on syncing your Propel data to PDA's. The Pocket PC link for ACT and ACT for Palm both DO NOT allow the syncing of custom data fields which includes much of the Propel fields like "Vendor......" or "Purchaser....." etc.
The Pocket PC will sync most of the contact data and also the home address info in particular and has some "mapping" options also to help.
Check our PDA Support Page for more info
ACT Web Sites
Miscellaneous Bits / Archive
March 2004 Ascendant Newsletter
Auto Updating Your client database in Outlook & ACT & more.
ACT Addons, HTML Templates, Pocket PC & more..
Property Bits page with extra info on email marketing and much more.
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