Hi, I would appreciate some guidance, ideas and suggestions as to how to handle my contact information and tracking sales/prospects. I will put the detail of what I have and what I want to do and if anyone has experience in this area I’d appreciate your input.
My web host provider has available for use:
– Fantastico plug-ins
– MySQL Server databases
– php, CGI, Perl
I am not currently using a server in my office.
I use a desktop, a laptop and a PDA.
Goals:
I want to be able to send messages and e-newsletters to different distribution lists/groups to my opt-in contact database. I want to do this from my web-host server because my ISP treats everyone like they’re spammers and so I never know if my messages to several hundred people will make it or not.
Currently I meet or receive calls and emails from prospects. I want to easily track my conversations with time/date.
– I would like this info to be current on my laptop, ready to use.
– It does not need to be on the web host; optional is okay.
I receive people’s contact info in many ways so I have to get their info into the database.
– I also want my laptop to have the current contact info.
Standard features like:
– auto Subscribe/unsubscribe for opt-in list
– Let them select which dist lists they want to enroll in
– Need optional ability to confirm enrollees for select dist lists.
– Create text and HTML Messages/eNews to send
I’ve installed phpList and see that I can import/export contacts. It has good features. But this doesn’t have any sales/leads tracking features.
I’m sure I could find some free laptop software for this and just write out an upload sync and a a download sync procedures. I’m just wondering if someone has some ideas. I like the open code/affordable routes but could plan towards something better.
I have MS CRM 3.0 software. I could put in a server to run this but I don’t need a server for anything else right now.
Maybe there are some standard SQL or php or CGI or Perl scripts that would do some part of this.
Thanks for the input.