Getting started with Contact Boss CRM is easy. Contact Boss has powerful tools to help you keep in touch with the contacts you’ve worked so hard to acquire. To make the most of your Contact Boss subscription, try out all features, check our FAQs and the tips in our Help Docs in this easy starter package.
Create Contacts
Every time a person interacts with your organization, they can be entered into your contact database. You can add:
- Visitors at your reception desk
- Callers on the phone
- Online registrants
This means you’ll have ready access to all the people who are important to you:
- Business acquaintances
- Members
- Prospects
- Clients
- Volunteers
- Employees, and much more etc.
To enter new contacts into your contact database, you can either use the <Quick Create>, or <Create > function.
The <Create > function allows you to enter more detailed information about your contact, whereas <Quick Create> allows you to quickly enter basic information only. In either case, you have the ability to add more detail to your contacts at any time.
To Create a contact, select either the <Create> on the left hand menu, or choose the <Quick Create> red button on the lower right corner of the page.
Contacts entered with the <Quick Create> option can always be edited later to include much more information.
Next, select the <Type Of Contact> from the drop down menu of pre-existing contact types.
Enter your contact’s details. Include as much detail as possible to make future searching easy.
Click <save>
Search contacts
Searching your database is easy with Contact Boss. Our robust search tool allows you to search by first or last name or by date, keyword or comments.
You have two easy means of searching the database - the first is a very simple <Quick Search> option which simply requires the insertion of any keyword which will help you find the contact quickly.
With the <Advanced Search> you can also search by Contact Type (employee, client, funder etc.) or by Group (such as contacts who have opted in to your mailing list, or other groups you have created). As an added benefit, you can search your Groups, and create your custom mailing list by combining more than one Group in your search. Thus you could generate a list that includes contacts from two or more Groups! Using these search categories, you can develop a useful customized list of contacts, ready for your next outreach or communication.
The secret to the Contact Boss search tool is that it searches across multiple data layers, which means you can locate a contact by any details you enter. You can even search based on any personal details you may have recorded, such as who introduced you. Additionally, you can locate records by details such as comments in the notes filed, who created the record, or the privacy level, as some users are able to create private records of contacts if desired.
When your list has been created you can <Sort> by Name, Contact Date, or Contact Type.
Please note that clicking the “No.” box located in the left of the header will select all records and for Admins with permission they may use this “select all” box to delete all contact records in the list. It is not necessary to use the check boxes to select the names you wish to include in your mailing list .
This is also a moment when you may wish to <Edit> the record (using the “pencil” edit icon on the right); add a document with more information by using the “upload” icon; or find out who added the name to the list by clicking the “head” icon. It is also possible at this stage to give the contact access to Contact Boss by clicking the “create login” icon, or you can delete the contact simply by using the trash icon to the far right. Be careful you do not delete records that you wish to keep!
Once you are satisfied with your list you are now ready to download, either by generating a PDF, a CSV file, or mailing label format. Or you may decide to export the email list directly to Gmail or Yahoo, which is easily achieved simply by clicking on the icons. All the contacts in your list will be transferred to the format you choose.
If you think you might be missing some key contacts in the list you generate, it is easy to make use of the <Quick Create> button on the bottom right and add names on the fly. (show symbol).
<Action> icons on the Search results
At the far right of your search result page you will see a set of icons under the word <Action> . These are very helpful to manage your list of contacts.
Firstly you will find the universal “pencil” sign 
meaning you can edit the list. Perhaps you would like to add a bit of info like the contact’s birthday, or insert some additional comments. Now is a good time to update or correct simply by clicking on the “edit” pencil icon, which will direct to a set of fields which you can adjust as you wish.
Next you will note that you can “upload” 
an item to add to the record. Perhaps it is a resume, or a photo, or a report that the contact has provided. This handy tool will allow you to keep relevant material directly attached to individual contact records. You can upload files of format docx., .zip, .txt, .pdf, .jpg, . jpeg, .tif, .gif, .png, .psd, .ai etc.
The next icon allows you to “Modify user category”.
Scroll to the bottom and click the email connector. You can choose from your default email client, or use Gmail or Yahoo mail, instead 
Perhaps you wish to allow a staff member to access all records, or make updates to the database, by appointing them to the Admin category. You can also use this command to assign users if your admin level permits.
The final icon - the trashcan - 
of course gives you a one-click means to delete the record permanently. Be sure you wish to actually delete the contact record before you click on the trashcan delete icon as it will be permanent!
Email your contacts
It is simple to send email messages from Contact Boss. You can select a list by <Contact Type>, or search for specific names or even by job title, city or other keywords. It will be very useful also to generate mailing lists by “Group” type, a designation that you would have created at the time of recording the contact i.e.if you created a “Group” for all the contacts who opted in to your mailing list, Contact Boss can quickly generate a list representing this group. This makes it easy to segment your database according to the message you wish to send. It is also possible to search by Group, using more than one selection i.e. all the names you have designated as "opt-ins,""construction" group, plus "registered for an event" or any combination you wish!
Once your list is created, scroll to the bottom and click the email connector. You can choose from your default email client, or use Gmail or Yahoo mail.
Contact Boss will automatically open the email in a pop-up window. All the names in the list will be copied over into the TO: line; you need not mark the check boxes in the list .You are ready to send directly to your contact!
If you are sending a bulk mailing you will likely prefer to send multiple emails using the BCC line in your email provider. Once the addresses are delivered to the TO line, simply press Control A on the TO line, then Control X, and finally press Control V on the BCC line, where your list of email addresses will appear, ready for sending.
If you opt not to use Gmail, Yahoo, or your default email service, you can create a CSV file for use with any of the email tools such as MailChimp, Outlook, Apple Mail or I-contact.
Create a Group
When you create a contact, you will be asked to select a <Type of Contact> from a drop-down menu; these types are pre-determined and include options such as client or employee. However you may find it very useful to define your own groups. Perhaps a Group could include the names of all those who opted in to your mailing list, or all those who attended an event, or requested further information.
Under the <Admin> heading
you will find the option to create <Groups> . Select the <Groups> heading and click on the <ADD> button which gives you an opportunity to name your <Group>. Then the <Status>can be defined as Active or Inactive. You can also re-name the list with the <Edit> pencil icon or delete the group. Using defined Groups that you have defined can make the Search process even more efficient.
You can choose the <Group> at the time you are creating the contact, or you can return and edit the contact to assign it to a <Group>.
Sorting your list
Once you have completed the creation of a list using the <Search> tool, you will find that you have the option to <Sort> your list. This could be very useful as you review the names and ensure that the correct records are included. Simply use the <Advanced Search> to develop the list, and then choose <Sort> to organize the list by Name, Contact Type, Date Created, or Privacy setting.
For instance, you may wish to see all the contacts that are categorized as Employees first, followed by Suppliers. Or you may wish to take a look at your list in the order in which they were added to your database giving a sense of which clients have been long-term contacts and which are newer. You can order the sorted list by Ascending or Descending.
Check for Duplicates
It is always a challenge for organizations to ensure that records are not duplicated in their database, but the robust Search tool in Contact Boss makes it easy to check records for duplication. Just enter a simple term such as first name in the <Search by any keyword> bar, and every record in your system which includes that name will be delivered. From there it should be a simple matter to define if any duplicates exist.
You can also check for duplicates when you have opted to “edit” a contact record in your search result list. A box will invite you to <Check for Duplicates> based on email address, which will be very helpful for identifying any double entries that may have been added by mistake as long as the email address is the same in both records..
Build a contact enquiry form for your website
You can also use our form builder tool to capture enquiries and contacts at your website. You will want to make it easy for your customers to receive your communications, plus you will really appreciate the fact that new contacts acquired via your online form will be delivered automatically into your Contact Boss database! Under the
Change contact type
At some point your relationship with a contact may change (a volunteer may become a member, or a client could become a volunteer etc.) Or perhaps the Type was not selected or an error was made at the time of data entry.
It’s simple to change the Contact Type for individuals by using the menu on the left, choosing <Change Contact Type>, and selecting the current type of contact from the drop-down menu. Then enter the name of the contact (or select from options provided). It is possible to change all the contacts for individuals in the list to a new Contact Type if desired, but it is not possible to change Contact Type for organizations or groups. Finally, select the new <Type of Contact> and <Submit>.
Keep detailed notes
Contact Boss is a great tool for sales representatives, or anyone who meets many people every day. By taking the time to record notes on your conversations, you can make real connections by remembering small details later on.
You can take notes on:
- Personal details or anecdotes
- Previous orders or product feedback
- Who the contact was referred by, or
- Who else the contact is connected to within your network
Before a call or outbound visit, take the time to reference your notes. Knowing what matters to your client just might make a difference to the sale! The notes field is found at the bottom of the
Import your existing database
Bulk / CSV import is only available on Pro, Premium or Enterprise editions of Contact Boss, so if you are using Contac Boss Demo, we invite you to upgrade in order to import your existing list.
To import contacts into Contact Boss, select the Import option from the left-hand menu located under the Admin menu. Your existing database needs to be configured using one of the supplied templates, uploaded and mapped accordingly. Failing to do this initial setup can result in data mis-matches, so it’s important to do this step carefully.
Select <import> from the <admin> menu
Choose the appropriate template file and download it (you will need Excel, Google Sheets or another spreadsheet application to do this step)
Copy / paste the data into the appropriate column in the template file
Next, select your contact type. (This must match the template you downloaded)
Example: Employee database> download Employee template> select Employee as Contact Type
Select <next>
Read the warnings carefully and ensure that your data is in the correct format by selecting <view country/state code format>
Select <next>
Once your database template is filled with your data, save your file as a CSV.
Give your database a title, and use the file selector to upload your file.
Select <upload>
Next, map your columns: To do this, refer back to your csv to ensure that the fields in your csv file match the fields/labels given. Click <save>. Please note your confirmation message indicating that all imports are correct, and resolve any rejections or defects to prevent database errors.
Track visits and phone calls
If your business regularly receives visitors or callers, you can capture contact information and send alerts to your internal staff. This is especially helpful for sales teams. This function allows you to tag the visit or call on an existing client contact record, or create a new one.
To record a visit/call, select <Visitor Contact Capture> in the left-hand menu. Begin to enter the contact name in the Visitor/Caller record field. If a record exists for that person, you can select it from the drop-down options, and note the existing file. If no record exists, you can create a new one by entering their name and contact info in the available fields.
Next, alert the person internally who is being requested by entering their name into the field <who to connect>
You can also select the purpose of the call, the location if applicable, and any additional comments.
If the visitor chooses to wait, or the caller is placed on hold, leave end visit/call selector unchecked to leave the record open.
Track outbound activity
Just as you can track and record visits and calls into your business, you can make detailed records of outbound activities. This can be very important to sales teams or volunteer organizations. Recording client interactions helps to track outbound activities so success can be measured against these initiatives.
Select <Outbound Contact Capture> from the left-hand menu. Next, enter the contact information, and note whether you are calling or visiting. Additionally, you will need to select the person within the organization who is making the outbound contact, their location (if applicable) and the reason for connecting and click <Submit>. You can also record comments to track more details on the outreach activity.
Build an event registration form for your website
Planning an event gets a lot easier when you know who is attending. Before you host your next business or organization event, create a form to capture the names of those planning to attend. You can build your next event capture page right on your website - there is no need to use a third-party tool
Choose <Build a Form> from the <Admin> menu and choose your form type.
Choose the custom form if you have a web development team. In this instance you are supplied with a short code which is then placed within the body of your site’s HTML. A custom form cannot be edited once saved
Choose the template form if you wish to easily create an event page without the help of a web development team. When you select <Template>, you are given options, such as form colour, custom fields, location map, images and an option to add your own logo. The template form will then create a web page for you