A CRM (customer relationship management) system, like Act!, is a software application that helps businesses manage their relationships with current and potential customers. A CRM can help you boost your sales, marketing, and customer service performance, but you need to use it effectively. Here are some tips on how to make using a CRM easier:

• Minimize fields: Only fill in the fields that are important and helpful for your business objectives for each contact or opportunity. Don’t include unnecessary or redundant information.
• Customize layouts for user roles: Show only the fields and related lists that are relevant to each user’s role and group on the page layouts and views. Customize them according to the user’s duties and responsibilities.
• Autofil when possible: Use validation rules to ensure data quality and reduce the number of required fields. Don’t make users enter data that is not critical or that can be obtained from other sources.
• Integrate with other apps: Streamline your workflows and avoid data duplication by integrating your CRM with other tools and platforms that you use, such as calendars, websites, email, and customer support. This can help you improve your efficiency and productivity.
• Workflow makes for less work: Make your CRM do the work for you by automating repetitive and manual processes, such as sending follow-up emails, updating statuses, and creating tasks. Use workflows, triggers, and actions to save time and effort.
• Segment your data:  Segment and organize your contacts into groups based on criteria such as industry, location, stage, and interest. This can help you tailor your marketing and sales campaigns more effectively and communicate more personally.
• Train: Make sure your CRM users and managers understand the benefits and features of the CRM and how to use it properly by providing training and support. This can help you increase user satisfaction and adoption.
• Mandate:  Set clear expectations and goals for your CRM users and track their performance and feedback by mandating the adoption and usage of the CRM across your organization. This can help you measure and improve your results and outcomes.

By following these tips, you can make using a CRM easier and more productive for your business. A CRM can be a powerful tool to help you grow your customer base and revenue, but only if you optimize it for your needs and preferences.