Did you know there is more than one way to send an email from your ACT! database?  We recommend choosing which method to use based on what you are trying to achieve.  Do you recognize any of these goals as your own?

1.  I need to send an email to a contact in my database
From the detail view of a contact record, click the hyperlinked email address to open a blank email addressed to the contact.  Alternatively, you can select the email button from the global toolbar for the same result.

2.  I need to send a single email to all contacts at a single company
From a company’s detail view, simply click the email button from the global toolbar and select “write email” to pull up a blank email addressed to all of the contacts (with email addresses) in that company.  You can now write an email and send it to an entire company. 

3.  I need to send an email to several contacts in my database who share something in common
Perform a lookup to find contacts with commonalities (same birthday month, same ID/status, etc).  Once you have a list of people to whom you will send the email, click the “tag all” option which will highlight all contacts in the list.  Then click the email button on the global toolbar and select “write an email.”  The email will be addressed to the entire list.

Other options:  Back in March of this year we detailed how to email from a template, a method best used for sending one email to several people when you want to pull a contact’s ACT! info into the template (so each email can read “Dear John Smith” or “Dear Jane Doe” for a personalized effect).  Also consider an ACT! E-Marketing subscription for access to advanced email tools that will make your e-cards, new product/service announcements, special promotions, monthly e-newsletters and more really stand out.

For more information on ACT! E-Marketing, questions about emailing, or any of our services, please call our office at 847-520-0860.

Are you into DIY projects?  Some of our clients needing technical support like to take a more hands-on approach when it comes to their Sage ACT! databases, and we would like nothing more than to help them do so effectively.

Of course, we recommend you call us before making any major changes to your database, but for simple ACT! questions and quick words of advice, what is the DIY-er to do?

1)  Try asking for Help
Sage ACT! software has a built-in help menu that is a great place to start.  From the menu at the top of the screen, select Help.  In newer versions of ACT! there will be several great resources here, with links to online manuals, feature tours, and the Help Topics page.

2)  Browse through Help Topics
Help Topics, as mentioned above, is included in your ACT! software and works like a search engine.  Try searching for topics like “opening databases” or “making records private” and find some step-by-step directions to learn how to do something new.

3)  Get thee to the Knowledge Base
Trying to identify an error message?  Try the Sage ACT! Knowledge Base.  One step up from Help Topics, the Knowledge Base can help troubleshoot pesky error messages and provide you with some detailed technical advice.  Please note that performing your own ACT! technical support is best left to those familiar with ACT! software support and IT professionals, so do proceed with caution.

4)  Email KSC Support
While this option is not free, we can give you some quick information at a substantially lower price than our hourly rate.  If you send an email to support@kristismith.com asking “could you email me instructions on creating groups?” or “what is the best way to email in ACT!?” we would be happy to email you some directions so that you can Do It Yourself (call for support rate details).

If you’d like to know more about Kristi Smith Consulting support options, consider calling our office at 847-520-0860 for details on support plans, pricing and more.