Introduction: In this tutorial, we will walk you through the process of entering your first contact into ACT, a popular database management system. ACT is widely used for managing contacts, sales, and customer relationship information. Whether you are a beginner or transitioning from another system, this guide will help you get started quickly.

1. Accessing the ACT Database:

• After logging in to ACT, you will see a screen similar to the one below.
• On the left-hand side, click on “Contacts” to access your contact list.

2. Adjusting the Browser View:

• Depending on your browser, you might notice a bar in the middle of the screen.
• Use the two-headed arrow to resize the screen as per your preference.
• To adjust the zoom level, use “Ctrl + ” to zoom in and “Ctrl – ” to zoom out. Use “Ctrl + 0” to reset to the default zoom level.

3. Understanding “My Record”:

• When you open ACT, the first contact you will see is called “My Record.”
• “My Record” contains your contact information, as you are the owner and primary user of the database.

4. Creating a New Contact:

• To add a new contact, click on “New” from the left-hand menu.
• A blank contact form will appear with various fields to fill in.

5. Entering Contact Details:

• Fill in the contact’s information, such as name, company, phone number, email, etc.
• Certain fields, like the “ID Status,” may require specific details for better organization (refer to ACT sales course for more details).

6. Saving the Contact:

• After entering the contact details, you can click on “Save” to save the contact.
• Alternatively, navigating away from the contact form automatically saves the changes.

7. Searching for Contacts:

• To find a specific contact, click on “Lookup” from the left-hand menu.
• In the dialog box that appears, enter relevant search criteria (e.g., last name starting with “FL”).
• Click on “OK” to perform the search.

8. View Options:

• If there’s only one matching contact, it will appear in the “Detail View.”
• If multiple contacts match the search, the “List View” will display the options to choose from.
• Click on the contact’s name to view or edit the contact details.

Conclusion: Entering your first contact into ACT is a straightforward process that allows you to efficiently manage your contact information. By following these steps, you’ll be well on your way to using ACT effectively for your business needs. Feel free to explore more features and functionalities of ACT to optimize your contact management experience. Thank you for reading, and have a great day!