Creating and maintaining a solid and clean database of your contacts is a crucial part of your business. It tracks all of your contacts, your correspondence with them, and important details like account information, payment terms, etc. Virtual Dawn typically uses two database platforms for clients who use me to maintain their databases: Sage ACT! and Excel.
Sage ACT! is a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software. It is offered as a computer-based product or accessed as an online platform. Sage ACT! keeps you prepared for all the interactions you have with your customers and vendors. You will always be prepared with recent emails, meeting notes, task reminders, and social media profiles, because ACT! keeps all of these details in one place.
For clients who can manage with a less detailed database, Virtual Dawn uses Microsoft Excel; a spreadsheet application sold as part of Microsoft Office. It organizes data in a series of rows and columns. Excel data can be sorted, formatted for multiple applications, and displayed as graphs, charts, or text.
If you’re using Sage ACT! Virtual Dawn will:
• Add, edit, and delete your contacts
• Maintain the integrity of your database
• Search your database to eliminate duplicate contacts
• Create and maintain contact groups to segment your contacts
• Edit Criteria Rules of Groups
• Add notes and details to your contact’s profile
• Create and run queries to meet your required criteria
• Create, customize and export information to Microsoft Excel
• Create your mail merge templates
• Create your mail merge documents
If you’re using Excel Virtual Dawn will:
• Create column headings and formatting for your database
• Add, edit, and delete contacts, rows or columns
• Maintain integrity of your database
• Sort your database to give you the relevant information you need for each use of your database
While these are the most common tools I use, I’m more than happy to work with any database system you are currently using. If you don’t have a database system in place, I will recommend one that works with your specific needs and capabilities.
