Client/appointment softwareI'm looking for some options for a good client management and appointment/calendar program. Right now I use an inefficient mixture of MS Outlook, Quickbooks, Google Calendar, my paper calenders, and a ton of paper notes. I'm a mess...
What I'd love to have:
Something (software) that integrates my appointments, my to do list, and keeps my client contacts and other contacts. I'd like to to sync with my Blackberry/i-phone that I don't own yet but plan on purchasing in the near future. I'd also like it to either be able to send the appointments out to Google or some other online calendar program so I can look it up anywhere online.
I use direct mail so I'd like to be able to create mailing lists.
Any suggestions? Maybe not everything I mentioned... maybe even better?
Organization and time management are a huge issue with me, I'm hoping something like this can help me out a bit.
Thanks for any advise!
Bret Percival
Percival Photography
Maple Valley, WA
(http://www.percivalphotography.com)
First off, Slipstick is a great resource for Outlook utilities, they have a variety of tips and tools for label printing, exporting, etc.
(http://www.slipstick.com/addins/index.htm)
I haven't tried it by SyncMyCal syncs google calendar with Outlook:
(http://www.syncmycal.com/home.htm)
However if you're not hooked on GCal instead of buying SyncMyCal you can use Plaxo for free.
Both iPhone and Blackberry include software to sync with Outlook, so at least when you're ready that's easy!
I really like Outlook... I sync Outlook with my cell phone.
Outlook is a great choice!
Thanks,
-Andrey
hopefully google launches their cell phone soon. we could really use a choice here outside of proprietary closed source methods.
Thanks everyone. I appreciate the tips. I'll check them out. Slipstick has a lot of options. I'm using Outlook 2002, any feedback on updating to 2007 is worth while? I've felt like my MS office does all I need it to do so I haven't felt the need to update in years.
Justin I agree, I can't wait to see what they come up with. Google has brought some very cool things onto the world so far!
Outlook 2003 has a nice UI improvement and larger PST sizes over Outlook 2002/XP, so its worthwhile if you can still find it. Outlook 2007 I've found unfortunately to be a tad unstable, though I'm sure they'll address that in time...
I'm using Outlook 2007 and Vista... Kevin is right about it being unstable [and buggy]. In my case it could be that Vista is making Outlook 2007 unstable but it is possible that it's unstable on its own.
Couple of days ago Windows Update had a service pack 2 [?] update for Outlook 2007... I hope it solves my problems!
Good luck,
-Andrey
You can't go wrong with HighRise for contact management (by 37Signals, who also has the best project management web-based software I've seen called BaseCamp)
www.BaseCampHQ.com
It's web-based and based on a subscription model (nominal monthly fee and totally worth it).
I guess I'll hold of on Outlook 2007 for a while. I hope MS can smooth out the Vista bugs soon.
HighRise and BaseCamp both look very nice for groups of people working together. It's basically just me, in my business so it looks like those apps may be better suited for groups of people working together?
Have you looked at ACT? Try going to:www.act.com
-Rich
I haven't looked at ACT until now! I'll check it out.
I was looking at the Office 2007 site and it sparked my interest enough to download the trial version. Outlook 2007 is so different from 2002 it's going to take me a bit to get used to. It's crashed three times the first day, but today has been stable.
I downloaded the free version of syncmycal to look at and see what it does. But then I saw that Plaxo will not only sync with Outlook it will sync with multiple calenders including Google. How cool is that? Also Plaxo will sync my laptop and home computer. So syncmycal is out.
Biznik member Bob Hanley is an ACT! certified consultant and trainer. I don't use it myself, (I'm on a Mac), but from what I understand, if you choose to use Act, someone like Bob can either set it up for you, train you on it, or both.
You might want to look at Now Software's Now Contact and Now Up-to Date. Don't buy just look since Now is coming out with a completely new version called NightHawk in a month or so. This is a excellent CRM with an integrated calendar to do etc. The new version should be even better by the early info I have read. FYI I have been using Now Contact for over 8 years and have loved it. Also it's a cross platform app.
Hi Bret! Great question!
It's definitely a messy knot to have all these separate applications and software solutions that cover only pieces of the self-employment puzzle. And maybe it's the cynic in me, but a one-size-fits-all system would probably be unwieldy.
I congratulate you on your efforts to get control. And the suggestions so far are great.
It took an arm and a leg to accomplish, but when I gave up paper (calendar, notes, and all), my life got MUCH simpler. And that would be my advice to you. If you're inclined, eliminate as much paper as possible especially the calendar - since trying to update it to Outlook/Google is nothing short of nightmarish. Get around to ordering your blackberry/iphone/palm soon so you can turn over a new leaf for New Year (I got a great deal on mine on eBay).
And, lastly, I'd recommend dedicating some time to setting it all up and working out the kinks. Maybe the week between Christmas and New Year..? I suggest this because integrating new organizing equipment is like training a new employee. Give yourself the time to establish your new systems so they have time to really stick - and work for you and your business.
Care to keep us posted? I'm excited to hear how it goes for you!
Would like to hear your final decision - and my wish is for something that automatically calculates mileage between addresses of clients scheduled on the calendar!!!
Bret... If you are still interested in learning more in this area, I have scheduled a workshop next week in Bellevue that specifically addresses this common problem. We will cover network collaboration in the age of the internet. ...Howard
Good morning Bret....As Howard mentioned, there is an outstanding workshop on 1/30 that addresses your needs. It's a web based application that can easily as well as efficiantly be used to run your business. That includes e-commerce capabilities as well. Between now and then however, you can try the tool now. Go to www.ToDoz.com. Send me a message, or e-mail me at dougf@accelnet.net and I can help you get started.
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