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dlachance Veteran user Mississippi 344 Posts |
Hello all,
I would like to find out what the Mac users are using for managing customer data and such? Thanks, Dorian
-Dorian LaChance
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James Munton Inner circle Dallas, TX 1199 Posts |
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Keith Raygor Special user Naples, FL 968 Posts |
James,
Thanks for the tip on Daylite - I was not aware of it. Dorian, Also, at the IBM/SAM convention in Louisville last week, I had an opportunity to sit down and play with Bob Miller's MagicBase Pro. He had a booth in the dealer's room. Here's the website: MagicBasePro.com It was built on a Mac, specifically for us, and was so easy to use, yet so thorough in its design, I was very impressed. Custom designed letterheads going out to specific clients based on user-defined criteria, with tie-ins to your calendar, and maps to gigs, and show lists - plus much more I'm forgetting. Bob seemed like a very nice guy taking time to answer all questions and he has a trial version on his site. I'm not affiliated with him, but was impressed with the work he'd done. |
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gadfly3d Special user 963 Posts |
I am really sold on ACT
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Skip Way Inner circle 3771 Posts |
Personally, I prefer Ralph the Great's ShowToolsPro over MagicBase...personal preference. Also designed for the MAC, I just feel that STP is more user friendly and has more features.
How you leave others feeling after an Experience with you becomes your Trademark.
Magic Youth Raleigh - RaleighMagicClub.org |
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MichaelKent Special user 560 Posts |
I also use Daylite
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richards New user Brian Richards 82 Posts |
I have been wanting to switch to Mac for quite a while, but the one thing that has kept me was this issue...CRM software. I am also an Act (Act 6) user. I do not want to upgrade Act, as the new owner/designer of the program (Sage) turned it into a beast the swallows memory...it is slow.
I need a program that is customizable and can sync with a treo 650 (eventually a Blackberry or iPhone). I also need it to merge not only physical documents, but email messages as well (I am not sure if ShowToolsPro or MagicBase can do that). Finally, I prefer to use Quickbooks for accounting and I love the fact that I can also sync my contacts with Quickbooks currently in Act 6 (so that I do not have to re-enter their information). Can anyone tell me if Daylight is able to do most of this? The guys at the Mac store are nice, but didn't seem to have a clue. Just curious... |
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Kevin Viner Loyal user San Diego, CA 203 Posts |
Brian,
The newest version of ACT (2008) is MUCH better than 2005, 2006, and 2007. Might be worth trying out. Some great new feature,s and much better integration with Outlook, etc.
Warmest regards,
Kevin Viner Corporate Magician in Los Angeles, CA | Magician in San Diego | Magician in Orange County, CA | |
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BobMillerMAGIC! Regular user MN 103 Posts |
To Skip Way, and others who are referring to the old MagicBase:
The new MagicBase Pro is completely re-designed from top to bottom. If you haven't downloaded the latest demo, released July 20, 2008, then you haven't seen MagicBase. The new user-friendly interface is intuitive and improves work flow. Along with all of the things that you'd expect CRM software to do, it will also help you to plan shows, print packing lists, contracts, envelopes and mail-merge letters, right from the program. And it has a marketing screen for you to plan advertising campaigns, assign customers to it, and then do bulk mail, or email with a click. We are going to be continuing to update and improve this. So, if there's something that MagicBase Pro doesn't do yet... just wait, we'll add it. Download a free demo at http://www.magicbasepro.com.
PreDate: The NoMem Calendar Trick
http://www.BobMillerMagic.biz |
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Gordon Special user Chicago 692 Posts |
Daylight. Seriously, it's industrial strength just like ACT and is very easy to customize for how you want to work.
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dlachance Veteran user Mississippi 344 Posts |
$200 for Daylite or $200 for magicbase......i think Ill pick MagicBase from what I have seen so far.....
-Dorian LaChance
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JamesTong Eternal Order Malaysia 11213 Posts |
Thanks, I'll take a look at MagicBase Pro for my own needs too.
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Carducci Special user Denver 543 Posts |
An open source version worth considering is SugarCRM. It's free, can run on a mac, or on your website. It takes some time to configure but out of the box it does everything you would want a CRM package to do, including allowing you to easily create, send and track email campaigns.
I like that my database is hosted online because that way I have everything I need, wherever I am. (and I have my calendar synching with my iphone) |
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Ashkenazi the Pretty Good Veteran user Northern California 366 Posts |
Hi Folks,
Looking for CRM and found this thread: I strongly disagree with the Daylite endorsements above. Here's why: Daylite - still Boo Sorry Folks, I'm whacky - I think I should be able to treat software as an aid, not a liability. I followed the steps (twice), and got the problems I outlined: *corrupted data *categories not preserved from AB plus *repeated installations yielded no better results *conflicting error messages (I have screen shots showing it's syncing, and stating that it can't sync) *condescending attitude of developers (gee, it works fine for us) When I buy something, I don't expect to have to pay extra to make it work. I don't pay a consultant to make my car work, nor Address Book, nor Safari, nor programs that are relatively sophisticated, and work just fine, thank you. Daylite was for this sole-proprietor a big mess. I challenge any of its defenders to start with a 3k + database, a Mac that works just fine, and an iPhone, and have it work. I read so much good about this product (who knows why), and gave the company many chances to make it work. I review it here as a poor product, without reservation. Best Wishes, AtPG
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We could have been practicing! |
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Matthew W Inner circle New York 2456 Posts |
I used to use an access database, but I don't like it much.
Now, I made an invoice template that I fill out with all of the information, I print out a copy and have them saved on a disk. The names of the files are like this "Joe Schmoe - January 1st 2009" This works so much better.
-Matt
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Loyal R Elite user Canada 417 Posts |
I use MagicBase Pro and I love it!
Dare to Dream...
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James Munton Inner circle Dallas, TX 1199 Posts |
Ashkenazi,
Sorry you had such a hard time with DayLite. I think the reason you have seen so many good reviews for DayLite is that so many people love using it. I have over 12,000 contacts in my database and never had a problem. It syncs everything to my iPhone perfectly. If you were getting corrupted data messages, it may be that your data was corrupted before it even got into DayLite. What program were you using before? Were you able to get Daylite installed (and syncing) before you imported your existing database? And have you been successful in getting your data into any other CRM program? By the way, for anyone who uses DayLite, there is one add-on that is awesome... CrowMatrix With one click, I get a matrix in my browser of all my shows today. Then I click each link once to get google maps for the directions between each show. No typing! Plus, you can create a group of contacts within X miles of a given address. So if I book a school show in another town, I can quickly create a group of schools within 20 miles and send them all an email telling them I'll be in town. Best, James |
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Ashkenazi the Pretty Good Veteran user Northern California 366 Posts |
Hey James,
Thanks for the thoughtful response. Indeed, all of the data was initially from Address Book. Repeated phone call appointments to the folks at MarketCircle were broken (by them). I tried to be understanding (I'm sure they get all sorts of computer illiterates taking their time), but such wasn't the case with me. Simply put, I've never had to read a manual for the software I use day-to-day. It works fine the first time (like when I first got my iPhone - and it even "knew" to grab my email accounts and start checking them - and such wasn't the case with Daylite. I wrote with the nice fellow at MagicBase Pro, and he explained that data doesn't synch. Of course, that's why we have computers: to avoid repetitive, automate-able tasks. : ) So not what sure to do anymore: I envy your working system. Please send me a pm with screen shots so I can mope. Cheers, AtPG
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We could have been practicing! |
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ScottRSullivan Special user 874 Posts |
Thanks everyone for your experiences!
I just downloaded the trial version of Daylite and will reply back here after working with it for awhile. I've always kept my contacts in Address Book and my events in iCal so both can sync perfectly with my iPhone. I use custom groups for contacts, like "Prospects" and "Clients" to name two (I actually have a few categories as per "Book Yourself Solid"). To me, the syncing and 'Mac' experience are top qualities, as well as having customizeable tags, like I can do in Wordpress. Perhaps this is a call to write a new app from the ground up. If anyone is interested, I can program in Cocoa (and learning iPhone version of it). I wouldn't even mind sharing this new CRM with the Mac community of magicians if you are interested. This is a learning process for me, too! |
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Donald Dunphy Inner circle Victoria, BC, Canada 7563 Posts |
I'm not a Mac user, but another option when it comes to CRM are programs that exist online at servers, rather than on your computer.
Instead of buying the program outright, you do pay a monthly fee. They don't own your information -- you do. You can import it. You can export it. You don't have to worry about installing anything on your computer. You don't have to worry about crashes or back-ups. You can access from any computer with an internet connection. Cross platform. It's secure. Etc. Oprius is one example. I think there's even a lead capture widget that you can install on your website, that puts the info right into your database. - Donald
Donald Dunphy is a Victoria Magician, British Columbia, Canada.
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