Introduction: Welcome to Tony Holowitz’s top 20 tips for individuals, sales managers, and business owners looking to make the most out of ACT software. As an experienced ACT teacher and consultant, Tony shares valuable insights and strategies to help you streamline your workflow, stay organized, and boost productivity. In this blog post, we’ll delve into his tips and break them down into headings, tables, and lists for easy reference.

1. About Tony Holowitz Tony Holowitz is an ACT teacher and consultant with years of experience helping businesses optimize their use of ACT software. He is known for his expertise in various computer training areas, including QuickBooks and Microsoft Office. You can reach out to Tony through his website, TonyTheTeacher.com, or explore his ACT tips and resources on 365ActSolutions.com.

2. Tip 1: ACT as a Tool for Organization Tony emphasizes that ACT is just software and won’t magically make you more organized. The key is to have a solid organization system in place before utilizing ACT to its fullest potential. Being organized from the start will ensure that ACT enhances your productivity and efficiency.

3. Tip 2: Forget About ACT (Initially) Tony recommends temporarily forgetting about the features and functionalities of ACT. Instead, focus on your business needs and goals. Make a plan and determine how you want to use ACT to support your objectives effectively.

4. Tip 3: Set Clear Goals Write down your business goals and objectives. Let Tony help you use ACT as a tool to achieve those goals efficiently. Whether it’s consistent phone follow-ups or regular email communication, having well-defined goals will keep you on track and organized.

5. Tip 4: Create a Monday Plan Develop a Monday plan with a list of tasks you need to accomplish each week. These could include regular client follow-ups, specific tasks for prospects, or other essential actions. Having a structured plan will help you stay organized and focused.

6. Tip 5: The Importance of the ID Status Field The ID status field is crucial for efficient contact management. Tony suggests keeping this field simple, with “Clients” and “Prospects” as the most important categories. Using the ID status field properly enables you to easily find and manage your contacts.

7. Tip 6: Upgrading ACT Software Tony discusses upgrading to ACT Premium Cloud, which allows access to ACT on multiple devices. He weighs the pros and cons of upgrading and emphasizes the importance of choosing the option that aligns with your business needs and budget.

8. Tip 7: ACT Premium Cloud Features Tony highlights the benefits of ACT Premium Cloud, including free technical support, regular updates, and seamless access to your data from anywhere. The cloud option offers increased flexibility and lower IT costs.

9. Tip 8: Consider Device Compatibility While ACT Premium Cloud provides accessibility across various devices, Tony advises users to consider screen sizes and adapt layouts accordingly. Be mindful of the user experience on different devices, especially mobile phones.

10. Tip 9: Embrace Dictation Features Make use of dictation features available in ACT and other tools, such as Dragon Dictation. Utilizing voice input can streamline note-taking and data entry, saving time and improving accuracy.

11. Tip 10: Simplify ID Status with Required Fields To ensure contacts are always properly categorized, Tony recommends making the ID status field a required entry. This prevents contacts from slipping through the cracks and helps maintain organization.

12. Tip 11: Customizing Layouts ACT allows you to customize layouts to suit your specific needs. Tony suggests getting creative but avoiding overly complex layouts that might hinder productivity. Keep the layout simple and user-friendly for better efficiency.

13. Tip 12: Avoid Becoming a Database Manager Strive to keep data entry simple and efficient. Avoid excessive data entry, which can take up valuable time that could be spent on other productive tasks.

14. Tip 13: Leverage the Power of Groups Use groups strategically with group membership rules to automatically populate relevant contacts based on criteria. This simplifies finding and reaching out to specific target groups, such as prospects to follow up with or clients to update.

15. Tip 14: Prioritize Histories over Notes Tony advises using histories instead of notes for better data retrieval. Histories provide a more organized and searchable database of communication with contacts, streamlining the follow-up process.

16. Tip 15: Master Email Communication Learn all about email features in ACT, including ACT email marketing, SwiftPage email, and Outlook integration. Email is an essential tool for communication, and mastering its functionalities will enhance your effectiveness in reaching out to clients and prospects.

17. Tip 16: Explore Add-Ons for ACT and Outlook Investigate various add-ons that can enhance ACT and Outlook functionalities. These add-ons can provide additional features and tools to support your business needs and simplify tasks.

18. Tip 17: Simplify with ACT Premium Cloud Consider the benefits of ACT Premium Cloud, including accessibility from any device and regular backups. While it incurs ongoing costs, it can save on technical support and upgrade expenses in the long run.

19. Tip 18: Size Matters in the Cloud Keep in mind the screen sizes of different devices when using ACT in the cloud. While it offers convenience, ensure that the user experience remains optimal on all devices.

20. Tip 19: Explore API Integration ACT Version 18.1 introduces API integration, allowing ACT to work with other software. Explore how this integration can enhance your business processes and data synchronization.

Conclusion: By following Tony Holowitz’s top 20 tips for ACT, you can streamline your workflow, stay organized, and maximize your productivity. Implementing these strategies will help you leverage ACT software to its fullest potential, benefiting both individuals and businesses alike. Remember, ACT is just a tool, and the key to success lies in having a well-organized approach and clear business goals. Embrace these tips and make the most out of ACT software for your business success.