Sales Management Plus is a software program that can help you take your business to the next level. Your management team saw the benefit of the program and has given you this great tool. TMMG hopes that, with these newsletters, we can share with you some of the features it holds that you may not know about, making it more valuable for you. 

In this issue:

• Best Practices - Using SMP and Outlook 2000 to track your open activities

• Tips and Tricks - Step by Step procedure on creating a Text based Bulk E-mailer

• Training - Need some extra help learning SMP. Try our Online Tutorials

Best Practices

Using the Activity Module to effectively track your Tasks and Activities with Outlook

We use the Activity module in SMP to assign tasks not only for ourselves but for other members of our team. By regularly synching with Outlook I know what tasks I have outstanding. As you  work on the tasks make notes in the "Task"  from within Outlook. The next time you synch SMP and Outlook any notes you have made are updated in SMP. What a great way to keep you up to date with your outstanding activities. This only works if you use the "Task" that was originally created in SMP. 

This column is where we would like to share with other users Best Practice SMP Implementations  that have made a difference in your business. We would like to hear from you. If you have a Best Practice to share send it to danimontoya@taylormmg.com

Tips and tricks

Sending personalized text Based E-mailers 

Outside sales people take note…this is perfect for you! 

The Internet is quickly becoming the medium which people prefer to correspond with others, whether it is through highly detailed web sites or individual e-mail correspondence. For years the electrical industry has relied on standard bulk mail, bulk faxing or handing out flyers…it was expensive, time consuming and you never knew if it really got to the intended recipient…until now. 

With SMP you now have the ability to send personalized text based or HTML based emails.  Now you can send each of your customers an individual message inviting them to your counter day, informing them of an upcoming class or  seminar, or letting them know about a new product that just hit the market, with just a click of a mouse. What better way to stay in touch with your customer.

This issue will focus on creating and sending a text based message. 

• From the Market Analysis screen filter down to the customers whom would be interested in your message. Not filtering on any criteria will give you your entire list. Don’t worry, we can remove contacts later if necessary.  Hit Run.

• With your list of customers in the Market Analysis form, click Mailers.

• Set “Market Via” to “email” and hit run. This will filter out any contact without an e-mail address.

• With “Select” set on “Both” you can now go through the list of contacts and deselect any customers who you do not want the e-mail to go.

• Change the “Select” to “Selected Only”  and hit Run. Only those contacts that you would like to receive the e-mailer should remain.

• It is a good idea at this point to save your list. File/Marketing Lists/SaveAs

• Once you are pleased with the list of recipients of your emailer, click File/ Email. A window will pop up asking if this is an Actual Mailing. Saying “Yes” will record the date and title of the email in “Activities” for that customer.

• You are now presented with the E-mailer form. Your cursor is flashing in the body of the E-mail. Type your message. Do not hit a “hard return” unless necessary.  Don’t forget to sign it!  If you would like to send a link to a web address be sure to include the entire URL such as http://www.mydomain.com/thispage.htm

• Fill in the subject

• Select any attachment you may be sending with the e-mail.

• Select the Greeting (This will give your customer that personal feeling)

• Select “Text Only” and be sure that “Send” is selected in the Send/Save box .

• When you are ready to send the e-mail click “Create E-mailer”

That is all there is to it. I do recommend that you send it to yourself as a test before you send it out. You can do so by creating a “Marketing List” with just your e-mail address. You will be able to see the e-mail before sending it out to make sure the formatting and everything else looks correct. 

SMP Training - TMMG has made learning SMP as easy as the using the internet with our series of "Online Tutorials". These short movies take you step by step through SMP in your time frame and in your order.

http://www.salesmgmtplus.com/TutorialMovies/Menu.htm

If you would like a CD which contains the same tutorials please contact your administrator. 

Contact Information

Dani Montoya
714-847-7788
danimontoya@taylormmg.com

We would love to hear about how you have used SMP to grow your business and any best practices that you would like to share.