You might think (we certainly did) that with all the databases in the world there would be a simple, low-cost tool for maintaining mail and email contacts.

There are programs that will do this, but the most sophisticated are really sales prospecting tools that are too complex and too expensive if you have multiple users.

And when we examined the most basic tools we realised they were too basic. Because in fact, while ease of use is critical, contact data is far from simple.

People and organisations

You probably want to track people but you also want to track organisations. The people may belong to an organisation. Or multiple organisations. Or none. You may need to write to them at an organisation or at their home address.

If a person leaves an organisation, you may want to stay in contact with them in their own right. Or not. And you may want to stay in contact with the organisation they have left.

So the database must be relational, allowing you to link people to multiple organisations and organisations to multiple people.

Sorting

Usually you'll want to target your mail or email to people interested in that subject. So you'll want to categorise contacts and sometimes choose contacts meeting specific criteria.

What these criteria are may seem obvious to you, but the answer is different for every organisation. So the database has to be flexible in letting you define categories. And those categories may apply to some people and organisations and not others.

Extra info

While to database is about making contact, you'll soon want to file extra info with it. Perhaps notes on when you met them, even a photo or a document, maybe a record of what you've mailed them.

Easy access

Most people maintain their databases in spurts, in stolen minutes, wherever they are.

Connect is web based so you can access it from multiple computers. Open your database at work, open it at home, open it in someone else's office and it will always be up to date.

Multi-user

As soon as a database starts to build up and deliver value, everyone wants a copy.

In fact, every-seat access is critical to database success; it's only when everyone is doing updates and using the information that you get full return on your investment (and a chance to reduce the number of competing databases you have to deal with).

If you're paying per seat licence fees they start to add up quickly, but Connect includes unlimited seat licences. That's a big offer to encourage fast take-up within your organisation and put a long-term cap on your costs.

Costs

Surprise! Connect costs just $295 including GST plus $19 per month for hosting. That's for one database for an unlimited number of users, with anywhere internet access. It includes one hour of live training and business hours telephone support over the first month.

Minor updates are included within the life of the purchased version (typically 12 months). Major updates (new version number) are available at an upgrade discount of 50% within six months of release. If a major update is released within three months of your purchase you will receive that update for free. You can continue to use a version after a new version has been released, for as long as you want, but after a while it may not be supported.

Action

Phone or email to arrange an on-line demonstration. At a time to suit you, we'll call and talk you through Connect using our demo version. Then you'll know exactly what you're getting, before you commit.

We're sure you won't be disappointed: we're regular emailers and bulk-mailers and we created this program to overcome our disappointment with existing contact management programs.

Why is Connect hosted?

See Why hosting? for a full explanation.