Storing customer's information / a.k.a. How to manage clients?

[Dimitry]

Hi, community!

I want to store some information about each customer that I have, like what products I've sold to each client, what a problem I had with client, some other data...

So I wander how other people manage their clients. Maybe there are some programs that you use, or something else?

P.S. Excel is not the answer that I'm looking for ...

[drmike]

Really depends on what software you;re using to sell items to your clients. Some of them have tracking on who's bought what.

if you;re doesn;t, a password protected wiki may work for you with each client on their own page.

[HTMLBasicTutor]

Originally Posted by Dimitry

So I wander how other people manage their clients. Maybe there are some programs that you use, or something else?

Save all correspondence w/ the client - same a copy of emails back and forth, invoicing and receipts of payment. I have a folder for each customer w/ sub folders for email and invoicing in my email client and I also back up the info to corresponding folders on an external hard drive.

The old fashioned way (which might make the tax people happier) is to have a filing cabinet with files for each client. You can have a sheet in the file to keep a record of phone conversations. Insert copies of invoices, receipts from PayPal/credit card co. and correspondence.

A contact management system is another suggestion. Something like Maximizer is set up for what you are talking about. Possibly the Entrepreneur Edition will satify your needs. Note: I'm not anyway affiliated with this firm. I have used their contact management system.

[Dimitry]

Originally Posted by htmlbasictutor

A contact management system is another suggestion. Something like Maximizer is set up for what you are talking about. Possibly the Entrepreneur Edition will satify your needs. Note: I'm not anyway affiliated with this firm. I have used their contact management system.

Thanks friend! I think that's exactly what I'm looking for!

[webron]

What kind of businesses or clients you have. It always depend on the scenario. As what others may say, the software you can use should really reflect or become effective for your clients.

You can rent or hire a programmer to do some coding for your customer software too. That way, it can become more customized for you and your clients.

[mjtaylor]

You might want to look into ACT ... a contact management software program. In some fields there are industry specific programs. Top Producer for real estate, for example. Check with other professionals in your field, perhaps.

[MayaLocke]

Maybe something like ACT which is contact management software.

[ChaibiAlaa]

Even a simple Access database can do what you want, everything depend on the softwares you are using to sell and to order online.

[snakeair]

Originally Posted by mjtaylor

You might want to look into ACT ... a contact management software program. In some fields there are industry specific programs. Top Producer for real estate, for example. Check with other professionals in your field, perhaps.

Originally Posted by MayaLocke

Maybe something like ACT which is contact management software.

Was already mentioned if you read all the replies.

I do like the idea MJ metioned about with talking to other professionals in your field. They might have something that fit's there work load perfectly.

[Hades]

If you have a generic business (ie: with no special needs and no weird infrastructure) you will be fine with any of the solutions that are available and have been offered to you already, and if none of them suits you, you can still Google "CRM" and look for more.

Alternatively in case you cannot find a CRM that does what you need, you should consider hiring a software company to develop one for your business only, it may be expensive but it will pay off with the time you save.

[RKMVirtualAssistant]

I would suggest Javelin. It provides online access through any computer through a user name and password. You can insert your customers contact information then make notes regarding each customer. You can also create tasks associated with customers (creating a to do list for you). You can also BCC javelin on any correspondence, so that your correspondence is also right there with your notes. My company uses it, and it works. (Note: I am not associated with Javelin.)

[Hades]

TC I hope you don't mind but I have renamed this thread to something more concise due to 2 off topic responses from people who didn't read more than the title before they started typing...

To those who got their responses removed, please remember that we have quality posting guidelines in this forum, so keep that in mind if you want to participate