Outlook 2007 Business Contact Manager for Dummies

This book was recommended to me by the chairman of our monthly business networking group. Since Lon Orenstein (the author) lives in Dallas, TX, the chairman invited him to present at our meeting on Saturday, May 22. He did an amazing job and I expect you will be receiving orders from other members of the group. BCM is now driving practically everything I do on line due to the understanding I have gained about it thanks to Lon's book and presentation.

After reading the scathing online reviews of this book, I was hesitant to purchase it. However, my intuition told me the "DUMMIES" series of books have always been a solid starting point when trying to learn a new software application. This book was no exception. I have been an avid CRM user for over 10 years, and I finally got tired of my CRM programs not adapting to MS Office in a fluid way. This led me to the Business Contact Manager. I had the very basic feel of Outlook down, but I was by no means a power user. I used only the email client prior to converting to BCM. After reading this book, I am now able to do everything that I was able to do with my previous CRM system and so much more. At times BCM is a good bit more clunky than other CRM programs. But with this book I was able to navigate through the program with a solid understanding of each segment of the application, and how to use it. I am now up and running comfortably, and I could not have done it without this book. It does not cover every nook and cranny of the program, but I have yet to find a book that does. However, it does cover what you need to know to get your database up and productive in as little time as possible. As always the DUMMIES series has came through brilliantly. My hat is off to you folks, and I will continue to be an avid supporter of what you do, regardless of online reviews.

I was put in charge of figuring out Business Contact Manager in our office. I got this book after many fruitless attempts at the HELP tab. The first thing I tried to find out was target marketing out of Business Contact Manager and there it was, in this book. It has made the transition from ACT way easier for us.

I needed a book that would transition me from not using Business Contact Manager at all to using it in my every day routine. This book worked. The information was appropriate and presented in a logical fashion. The book was short enough that I could read it cover to cover. A good pick.

Lon Ornstein might have co-authored a Dummies' book, but he's no dummy. His company is a well-known third-party developer of CRM enhancments - first with the ACT! product line and now Outlook 2007/BCM. Like all Dummies' books, this one is easy to read and understand, and gets right to the "meat" of using BCM. Highly recommended if you're trying to make the switch from ACT!, or if you need to extend the capabilities of Outlook 2007 for a small-midsize business.