Get a CRM recommendation built around your business, not a one-size-fits-all package. The Act!™ perfect-fit CRM tool asks a few quick questions about your seats, contacts, marketing needs, and budget, then recommends an Act! Advantage plan. Options range from core CRM to email marketing, interactive quotes with payments, online scheduling, website chat, and customer portals. Answer the questions to find your fit, then contact us for help getting set up.
What is Act! and how is it different from using spreadsheets or a basic contact list?
Act! is a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) platform designed specifically for small and mid-sized businesses that want robust capabilities without enterprise-level complexity.
Unlike Excel or a basic contact list, Act! goes beyond storing names and phone numbers. It helps you:
- Centralize customer data – Keep contact details, interaction history, preferences, and notes in one place.
- Manage your pipeline – Track opportunities, stages, and revenue forecasts with built-in pipeline management and reporting.
- Automate routine work – Use scheduling, reminders, and marketing automation to reduce manual follow-up.
- Segment and analyze – Slice your database by segment, behavior, or status and use analytics to understand trends.
Customers often highlight that Act! delivers the sophistication of larger CRMs at a fraction of the price, while staying user-friendly and easy to set up. Many users have relied on Act! for 15–20+ years, citing its flexibility, strong database, and the ability to tailor it to their specific workflows.
In short, Excel is fine for basic lists, but a CRM like Act! is built to reimagine how you manage relationships, sales, and marketing so you can improve productivity, customer loyalty, and growth.
How does Act! help me choose the right CRM setup for my business?
Act! offers a Smart CRM Evaluation Tool that acts like a personal consultant to help you find your best-fit setup.
Here’s how it works:
- Quick questionnaire – You answer a few questions about your business size, budget, and goals.
- Team structure – You indicate whether you work independently or collaboratively and how your team shares tasks.
- Marketing needs – You specify if you want email marketing tools such as pre-built templates, drag-and-drop editors, and real-time performance metrics that link directly to contact records.
- Contact volume – You share how many contacts you plan to manage and import.
- Feature wishlist – You select additional capabilities you care about, such as:
- Interactive quotes with automated follow-ups and payment processing
- Online appointment booking with calendar sync and confirmations
- Live chat that converts website visitors into leads stored in Act!
- Customer surveys, web forms, and self-service customer portals
- Priority support and VIP-style service options
Based on your answers, Act! recommends a configuration that aligns with your size, budget, and growth plans, including whether cloud or on-premises deployment makes more sense.
You’re not left to figure it out alone. Every subscription includes free onboarding with a live product expert and a dedicated Account Manager (a real person, not a chatbot) to guide setup, data import, and best practices so you can get value quickly.
What features and support can I expect from Act! day to day?
Act! is built to support your day-to-day work across sales, marketing, and customer service, while giving you access to real people when you need help.
Core CRM and sales features
- Contact and relationship management with histories, groups, and search.
- Opportunity and pipeline management with reporting and analytics.
- Mobile access from Apple iOS and Android so you can manage contacts, activities, and opportunities on the go.
- Customizable fields, layouts, and processes, plus Custom Tables to track industry-specific data (e.g., financial services, manufacturing, real estate).
Marketing and customer engagement
- Email marketing with templates, drag-and-drop editors, and real-time performance metrics tied to contact records.
- Marketing automation to nurture leads, send targeted campaigns, and tailor journeys based on customer behavior.
- Interactive quotes with automated follow-ups, dashboards, and secure payment processing.
- Online appointment booking with automated confirmations and schedule sync.
- Live chat that converts website visitors into leads stored in Act!.
- Customer surveys and web forms that feed data directly into Act! and trigger follow-ups.
- Customer self-service portals for 24/7 access to account information and documents.
Onboarding and ongoing support
- Complimentary onboarding with a live expert for every new customer (no extra onboarding fees).
- A dedicated Account Manager focused on your success from day one.
- Access to phone, chat, and email support, plus enhanced support options depending on your plan.
- A robust knowledge base, online resources, and a monthly training webinar series with tips and best practices.
Customer feedback consistently highlights that Act! is easy to use, configurable, and efficient, helping teams stay organized, maintain touchpoints, and avoid missed sales opportunities, all while keeping support accessible for non-IT users.