I was just curious as to what software people use to take a mailing list and print out envelopes and letters that are addressed to individual people.

All responses are welcome and appreciated.

One of the best commericial databases is ACT! It works with MS Word.

MS Word can do what you ask by itself envelopes and stationary letters.

I had Maximizer and loved it until I switched to Act!

Thanx a bunch, Dennis. I have MS Word, but never bothered checking to see if it did that. I have always just used it for basic word processing. I knew MS had to have something to do mail merges, but I figured it was part of Outlook or something.

Just to echo what Dennis said
Word may be all you need
with it's Mail Merge facility

but for real power
you can't beat ACT

Timothy Hyde
http://www.magiccoach.com

That's right. MS Word's mail merge also will create the database file for you, which is your list of names and addresses etc. Word also offers advanced programming of the mail merge. For example, one group of people could get different versions of the letter based on their zip code, or any other bit of information in the database. Go to "Tools / Mail merge."
Jim

Jim,

Thanx so much for those little tidbits of info.

Brent,

Corel WordPerfect has an extremely efficient mail merge program. It makes it a breeze to print envelopes.

If you're sending envelopes to clients though, I'd consider hand addressing them.

That alone could be the difference between "A" pile or "B" pile mail.

Robert Bloor

If you can't face hand writing each envelope, then I would recommend using window envelopes - it'll save on labels and time!

The mail merge function in Windows has served me well.

See ya!
Joe L.

MagicBase has multiple mailing list categories that can mail-merge to envelopes, letters, Thank-you cards, etc.

Jibby,
"Windows" doesn't ahve a mail merge function. Windows is an operating system. Maybe you meant Word for Windows, which is an application program? Common mistake.
Jim

Can I ditto what has already been said !!! ACT 6.0
Absolutely the best for what we do - I have it set up as a post card reminder as well as updates to different client fields not to mention that is automatically attaches to your contacts.

I have heard so much about act and I think I am going to invest in it the start of the new year. It looks like the perfect way to manage my client and lead generation databases and use it as reminders when to do my mailings. Do you guys really like and use ACT? What are the great things you get most out of the program?

Kyle

First off, ACT is an entire set up - Word processor, data management, calander, email, all through ACT. Everythng I do pertaining to business is done through ACT - that way, the program works for me - single entry stuff and it automatically attaches to your contact.
I suggest if you are serious about what you do and want to get organized, try ACT

Man does this sound like a commercial or what ?
Check out http://www.act.com and do a bit of research.
I use a smartphone ( Basically a palm and phone in one )and have it synched with my desktop and ACT - that way when I am on the road, I can automatically have everything with me - even attachments ( Contracts and riders ).

Excel works well too. You place the name, address, city, zip and phone in their own cells. Then you buy lables from the office store(Avery)and it will print the cells you define. you could also set cells up for the client type (i.e.) B-day, corp etc. I have ACT but print my lables from excel. I have not figured out how to print lables from ACT yet.

Labels from ACT are simple - Select your contact and go to "File" - "print" - from the drop down select "label"
VERY easy - ACT will even print the envelope for you.

This is all great stuff. I think ACT runs for 200.00 and I will have to look into it. I certainly want to get a copy as I hear it is a wonderful program and just what I am looking for to get myself better organized. Just a lot of money to fork out at the moment. Thank you all for the reviews on ACT and the information. I am even more eager to get it now.

Kyle

Kyle,
Did a check this morning at http://www.act.com - there is a free 30 day trial for act 6.0. Also if you go to http://www.actaddons.com, there are a good deal of what they call add-ons to help enhance ACT. I am sure you will not be disappointed with this - If you do decide to get ACT and have questions, please don't hesitate to e-mail me directly.
Best,

Kyle -

I also use ACT!2000 and am extremely happy with it. I talked Flourish Dude through some tips and techniques for using it for magic business application, plus there are a number of threads about it on The Dean's List.

The Gr8 DonaldD.

Thanks guys. I really think I am going to invest in this for the new year and make it one of my goals to get my stuff better organized in electronic format.

It just seems so much the better way to go to organize my contacts and my leads and keep track of it all as well as reminders when to mail things out. Have it all at my fingertips.

I will certainly check out the threads on the deanlist as well as ask others here about questions when I get the software.

May I ask what exactly it can fully do for me? My main goal is to be able to keep clients all listed in there oin a database fashion. Each client would have information regarding phone numbers, e-mail addresses, shows I have done for them in the past, when I sent out contracts and other lead letters and thank yous. basically be able to keep all and every cleint oriented piece of information in their own file.

I hope to then be able to set up reminders for myself to remind me when to send out a thank you card to the client or a reminder 2 months prior to their b-day to send out something.

If I can do all of this within ACT, then I am totally 100% on board with it. =)

I also wonder if I can set up different categories so I can separate new clients I have contact with but have not booked me and separate them from those clients that have booked me before.

Any help would be very appreciated. Thanks everyone. I am so eager and gung-ho about my new goals for the new year.

Kyle