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Ask HN: During startup phase, what lead managment software you use?

3 points| shail | 13 years ago

During startup phase, how do you manage all your contacts?

During initial phase when as a founder you are doing everything including sales as well, what tool is best for managing all your leads.

There are many sales lead management softwares but I am not sure whether they are a good fit for an entrepreneur (who is primarily not a sales person). HINT: They might be too complicated. Another HINT: I have never used them so I might be wrong.

Do you use any tool which is an obvious choice currently?

5 comments

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[+] ryanlchan|13 years ago|reply
The project I'm working on (http://www.musubimail.com) was originally meant to help keep in touch with professional contacts, but I've been using it for beta-user follow ups to some good success.

I made groups based on how soon I need to follow up (this week, next quarter, etc) and have them track certain labels in my Gmail inbox. If someone needs to move groups, I just flag their email with the right label and wait for the reminders.

Let me know if this is something that interests you!

[+] orangethirty|13 years ago|reply
I use a trello board with the following cards:

|new| |no close follow-up| |follow-up| |dormant/recycle |

New is for new prospects

no close follow-up is for people who I have not closed.

follow up is for people I have closed, but waiting to be moved further along the sales ladder

dormant/recycle is for people who never respond but I still keep trying to close.

Note that I don't waste any leads.

[+] chrisrickard|13 years ago|reply
I dig Nutshell, it's configurable enough to not just be for classic sales I just removed all the defaults and started from scratch).