There are many differences between Act Pro and Act Premium Cloud. For long time Act users one of the most obvious differences is that Act Pro is a one-time purchase and Act Premium Cloud is an annual subscription. The price is $299 for Act Pro and $420 annually for Act Premium Cloud.

Why in the world what an average Act user pay for a subscription?  Great question.

When you buy Act Pro you purchased the software and you are responsible for everything. If you want service you need to pay for it or do it yourself. Act Premium Cloud offers free technical support. Act certified consultant such as myself typically charge between $100 and $185 per hour for technical support.

The difference in price in the first year between the two is $120.

In that first year if you use one hour of technical support Act Premium Cloud has easily pay for itself. But there is more. Act Premium Cloud allows you to access your data using the traditional Act desktop software and any device that will access the web. You can use a browser on your computer such as Google Chrome or access your data via an iPad, iPhone or tablet. If you travel with a laptop computer and have a desktop in your office you can access your data via a web browser or a database specifically designed for each computer to synchronize and keep your data intact on both your desktop and laptop computer.

In addition to the free technical support we create a backup of your data. If the computer is lost, stolen or destroyed, you can rest assured that your data is intact. You also get free updates to the next version of Act when they are offered; typically, in the fall of each year.  But let’s face it, the real hit to the wallet occurs in the second year. If you purchased Act Pro there would be no additional cost to you the Act consumer. If you have an annual subscription, you will pay the annual fee. So, what else do you get for your money at this point in time?

Act has a new tool called Act Marketing Automation.

Act Marketing Automation is a high and email program that works right within Act. There is no need to export your contacts to an external program such as MailChimp or Constant Contact. Everything is self-contained and therefore affords you the ability to see the results of your email campaign as they relate to your contacts in your Act database. This is an incredibly powerful feature. Act Marketing Automation allows you to create complex drip campaigns with a simple and easy to use template editor. Now I am not going to lie on this point: this software takes some thought, patience and practice. But what it truly does is turn Act into a marketing powerhouse.

Act Marketing Automation is evolving. Act Marketing Automation is going to take Act to a new level and I urge you as an Act consumer to start thinking differently. In fact, I challenge you to stop thinking about Act as a simple tool that you purchase once and forget about. I want you to think about Act as a tool that you can utilize to do some amazing things for yourself and your business.

Can I be blunt? Act Premium Cloud is going to cost you approximately eight dollars per week. That is a few cups of coffee. If you cannot utilize Act to pay for itself many times over than that tells me you have not received the training you deserve. That is where I come in, I specialize in helping people do more with Act software and I urge you to reach out to me to learn how I can help.

Let me pile on here for just a moment. Act has the ability to communicate with other software programs that are web-based. I must confess I am still wrapping my mind around all of the possibilities that abound for Act users. This is a discussion for another day. But I want you to know that Act is growing with your needs in mind and I ask you to change your mind and start thinking of Act differently.

If you do not, you will be left behind.