Do you use Customer Relationship Management software, like Salesforce.com?

When I was a cubicle dweller, of course, I used Outlook, but as a solo Web designer and copywriter, it seemed like overkill.

Besides, although I own Outlook (and the rest of the MS Office suite) I prefer web-based and preferably open source solutions. Because I use multiple computers and multiple operating systems (Windows, Linux), a Web-based solution seemed ideal.

I’ve long used Highrise from 37Signals, and it’s fine — for what it is. But it’s not really CRM, and I’ve never been able to make it an intrinsic part of my workflow. It doesnt have an inbox, and I often forget to BCC client emails to my dropbox, so I end up without records of what I’ve done or said to a client. So what’s the point?

This weekend, I spent hours scouring search engines, small-biz websites and dozens of reviews looking for a better CRM solution.

I eliminated lots of them for lots of reasons, then spent hours torture-testing what seemed to be the best Web-based CRM solutions for small and solo businesses like mine.

The surviving candidates include Relenta, Capsule CRM, and Tactile CRM. I signed up for free trial accounts for all three. I’m still testing them, but so far my favorite is Relenta.

Email-oriented CRM

It’s not perfect by any means, but I think they’re on the right track. Or at least, their orientation (prejudices?) match mine.

First, Relenta is email-oriented. I live in my Inbox, and often use it as a de facto to-do list, flagging and starring messages as reminders. So far, it doesn’t appear Relenta lets me color-code or flag messages, although there’s something called “Filters” that I still haven’t explored which might do the trick.

But it might not matter, because Relenta puts my to-do list (“Activities”) just one click away. In fact, their whole ethos is for everything to be just one click away: Inbox, Contacts, Activities (To-dos) and files (both email attachments and uploads).

Activities can be viewed as a complete list by date, today’s only, or on a monthly calendar. The calendar design won’t keep Google’s people awake at night, but at least Relenta has one — unlike a lot of so-called CRMs.

Also one click away is your contact list. Like all CRMs, Relenta makes it easy to import existing lists as CSV files.

But here’s a real treat:

Every time an email arrives, it offers to create a new contact using info from the email (left). Very slick! If the email is from someone already in your address book, it can automatically assign it to that contact.

When you click on a contact, that person’s entire “activity stream” appears: emails, notes, to-dos,file attachments, everything. Excellent!

As the screenshot also shows, you can also create an activity (i.e., a to-do) right from the guts of the email — another very handy feature.

Another benefit: it integrates beautifully with Google Apps email.

Too expensive?

This isn’t a full review, of course — just a first impression. But so far I’m really pleased to have found a streamlined CRM that works the way I do, with (almost) everything I need, and boats an attractive interface, too.

On the down side, Relenta is more expensive than Capsule or Tactile CRM. At $25/month it costs less a Highrise solo account, but does much, much more. You could even cancel your AWeber or Constant Contact account and use Relenta to send out your e-newsletters (although I wouldn’t advise it, for fear of getting your personal email address blacklisted).

Besides, if your business can’t afford $25/month, you don’t really have a business.

Well, that’s my take so far. If you’re a small or solo biz, what’s your choice for CRM? Tell me in the comments.

Update:

After almost three full days of use, I’m giving up on Relenta.

The main culprit, imho, is Relenta’s email client. It’s OK for the basics, but not for business use. You can’t create bullet lists, even in the rich text/html version? Seriously? Also no threaded conversations.

My conclusion: if Relenta’s email client is so limited that I can’t use it for my client communications, then for me its overall usefulness falls apart. So for now I’m back to switching back and forth between Gmail and Nirvana for my to-dos.

That’s my take. Your mileage may vary. Hey, you may find it perfect.

This casual Italian dining favorite is located on Allen Ave. in Portland (ME), just north of Forest Ave. Owner Bob Napolitano and his kitchen wizards create delectible Italian dining masterpieces in a casual, comfortable setting.

In addition to the main dining room, there’s a cozy tavern, and a game room with a mammoth flatscreen TV — the 2nd largest in Portland!

Bob and Dan wanted Brunos extensive Italian food menu displayed on the website, as well as downloadable as pdf. No problem!

Bruno’s recently opened a roomy new Ocean Star banquet room, equipped with a full bar, state-of-the-art audio-visual and tele-conferencing facilities, plenty of free parking — even a dance floor and fireplace!

General Manager Dan Napolitano pointed out it’s perfect for your next birthday party, family reunion, business meeting, rehearsal dinner, wedding reception, engagement party or retirement dinner. Take a look next time you’re here — if you can tear yourself away from the tasty calzones, pizza (with homemade dough made fresh daily) or other seafood and Italian delights.

Bruno’s is open Mon-Thurs 11:30 am – 9:30 pm, Fri-Sat 11:30 am – 10:30 pm. Tavern hours are Mon-Sat 11:30 am – 1:00 am. Closed Sundays.

You really must check it out again. See what these happy diners said. If you haven’t been to Bruno’s lately, or (God forbid) you’ve never been, you’ll be glad you did.

Owners Rob Pinkham and Aldo Vallecillo contacted me to redesign their old website, which was cumbersome, hard to read, and impossible for them to update themselves.

After several discussions, they opted to have Maine Creative Services totally re-design and rebuild their site from the ground up. The emphasis was on maintaining their branding and existing color scheme, ease of DIY updates, and a relaxed, comfortable atmosphere — just like Roost itself.

As Rob put it, the entire website makeover was done quickly, painlessly.

“We’re very, very happy with our new website that  Tom designed and built for us. It is especially significant that he guided us to a website format where we can  update menus and photos ourselves quickly and easily, without having to wait for someone else’s schedule or incurring additional costs.

“On a scale of 1 to 5, I’d say I am a 5. I was impressed with Tom’s very reasonable fee, prompt return of emails, and his willingness to do more than proposed. He is eager to make sure every customer is satisfied. That’s why I’ve already recommended him to others. Come to think of it, one of Tom’s previous clients  recommended him to us!”

About Roost Cafe & Bistro

Rob and Aldo bring an eclectic flair to regional cuisine, hand-crafting exquisite yet affordable breakfasts, lunches, dinners, entrees and appetizers. They also do something I wish more restaurants did — let diners sample multiple items instead of a single entree.

PS: Check out Throwback Thursdays and their gluten-free menu and products, too.

-Tom

Viral marketing is an excellent and inexpensive way to get people talking about your blog. The primary component to viral marketing is people talking about something, anything, that will guide people to your website for more information. This technique is not as new as some people seem to think and print magazines have been using the power of viral marketing to sell issues and subscriptions for years. There is no reason that you cannot use this power to get more readers for your blog.

Here are 5 excellent viral marketing tips from print magazines that you can follow to gain more exposure and higher readership for your blog.

#1. Get People Talking About You

One way that print magazines have grown in popularity is by getting people to talk about the magazines themselves. For instance, many newscasts include phrases like, “according to a U.S. News and World Reports article…” or “People magazine reports that…” As long as the magazines continue to gain people’s attention and make them talk about the articles written between their covers, they will sell subscriptions.

With an internet blog, the story is no different. Set your blog up with quick ways for people to share your post on Facebook, Twitter, Digg and other social networking sites where there will be more sharing and discussion of your post. Post your blog articles on your own profiles for these sites and see how your own friends can help you get the word out.

Word of mouth is critical to viral marketing, remember this the next time your are writing a post for your blog.

#2. Go Against the Grain

Don’t be afraid to be controversial! If possible, use a controversial headline that will make your readers take a second look before they even start reading the article. Most people read only a few sentences before deciding if an article or post is worth sharing. Do whatever it takes to make them share your posts!

#3. Have Guest Posters

Many a print magazine will feature a celebrity writer or feature a celebrity on their cover in order to get the attention of the celebrity’s fans. Why not try this yourself. See if you can get someone well known or popular to contribute to your blog. This will bring people to your blog to read the contributors post. It will most likely end with them looking at what else you have to offer. You can gain a lot of readership this way.

#4. Talk About Popular Culture

Regardless of whether your blog is about popular culture or not, if you are able to talk about the hottest movies, music and artists you will get people interested in reading what you have to say. It’s even better if you can combine your blog’s topic with an artist or band to create a potentially viral post, eg. The Ten Most Tricked Out Cars From 50 Cents Videos. Another example are the Harry Potter movies or the Star Wars movies. There are entire sections of the population who will seek out anything they can find about these movies prior to their release. Perhaps your blog will get discovered if you are able to post something interesting about an upcoming or newly released film.

#5. Forget Gimmicks

High quality viral marketing is a result of people talking about you, not about some gimmick you tried on your blog just to get their attention. High quality means that they will keep talking about you and not only talk about your gimmick until someone else does something cooler. Print magazines don’t do gimmicks. They offer content in their subject area and they are straightforward in how they offer that content. Following this rule of thumb is a good idea. Advertising gimmicks are just that, a gimmick. What you are looking for is a way to develop a following of people who talk about you and share your blog with their friends and family members.

Make an impact on your readers and let them make an imprint on their friends that will send them straight to your blog. This is the technique of viral marketing. It is a very effective technique if you know how to make it work for you. You can save a tremendous amount of money and time if you can develop a viral following. Print magazines have been using these five techniques for a very long time and they always manage to get their issues flying off the shelf. Reading your blog doesn’t cost your readers a penny, and that gives you a solid advantage. You can get people talking and keep them talking, sometimes through your own prodding and sometimes just by the quality content and smashingly successful headlines that you craft to catch your readers’ attention.

Most of us sit in front of a computer a lot, so clicking Google is a lot faster than finding — then flipping through — the phone book. Not to mention you can’t enlarge the font in the phone book, like you can in your browser. (How? Click CTRL and the + sign of your numeric keypad.)

So it’s no surprise that telecommunications companies in many states are getting the OK to discontinue printing and distributing those dusty old relics of a bygone era. Even the phone companies themselves admit that most people now use the Internet rather than letting their fingers do the walking when they want to reach out and touch someone.

That’s also why it’s essential for your small business to have a website today.

Footnote: Ironically, today is the last day of operation for Google’s free 411 alternative, 1-800-Goog.