Usability Updates to Cases
Written by MIKETEE
Filed under MatchBox Lite: Updates
Today we made some major updates to the Cases section to make it more useful and improve its usability.
1. Completed Cases
Cases that have been marked as Completed will now be VIEW-ONLY. They cannot be edited, updated or have any Files, Tasks and Messages added to it. To update a Case, you need to change its status to an open one, such as In Progress, Potential or On Hold.
Note: A Case cannot be marked as "Completed" if there are outstanding Tasks. You can either complete those Tasks, or remove them altogether.
2. Dashboard
The Cases front page has been revamped. The "Dashboard" now features 5 most recent "Open Cases" on top, followed by Completed ones. You can also choose to only view Cases based on its Status.
3. Auto-detection of web links for Messages
I love this one.
The typing area for Messages is now smarter and can automatically detect web addresses. Key in a URL (don't forget the http://) and watch as it gets converted into a clickable link, without any extra effort!
You may also noticed that the default fonts have been enlarged and match the rest of the website.
Note: If you don't see the changes above, please clear your browser's temporary Internet files / cache.
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Sales & Billing: Print to PDF
Written by MIKETEE
Filed under MatchBox Lite: Tips & Tricks
As much as we enjoy the simple convenience and speed of delivering quotations, invoices and receipts in MatchBox via e-mail, there are times when you need to save them offline as files, such as PDFs.
Here's an easy step-by-step method on how you can do it. Firstly, you need to install a software that will "print" the output of your screen into a PDF file.
We recommend CutePDF Writer:
- Visit the CutePDF website, and download the free CutePDF Writer (CuteWriter.exe). You will also need to download the Free Converter file (converter.exe).
- Once downloaded, double-click on CuteWriter.exe to install. Follow the on-screen instructions.
- Once installed, double-click on converter.exe. You will be prompted to click "setup".
- After both files have installed, the computer will need to be rebooted.
Now login to MatchBox, and open the document that you want to save as a PDF.
- Click on the "Print / E-mail" button. The quotation / invoice / receipt should open in a new window.
- Click on "Print this Page". The Print dialog box should appear.
- In the dropdown menu, select "CutePDF Writer". Click OK (see image below).
- You will be prompted to save the PDF file. Voila!
Disclaimer: CutePDF Writer and all its software are not associated to MatchBox; and as such, we cannot take responsibility for any problems that may result from its usage. As always, download and install with care. Use an anti-virus.
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React vs Respond vs Initiate
Written by MIKETEE
Filed under Business & Entrepreneurship, Work & Productivity
Seth Godin recently wrote a gem of a blog entry which resonated with me on many levels.
"Most knowledge workers spend their day doing one of three things: React to external situations, Respond to external inputs and Initiate new events or ideas."
At work (and in life too!), it is possible to spend an entire career doing the first two. Replying to emails, answering customer enquiries and completing given tasks. You respond because an external situation requires it.
However, the third - Initiate - brings about the biggest impact. You make stuff happen. Start conversations. Create change. It also requires the most energy and discipline. Not surprisingly, it is the one that most of us do the least!
What good does this do?
Having this realization alone have made me think twice on the tasks that I set about doing daily. "Responding" is a big part of a lot of our jobs, but "Initiate" is the one that will ultimately help to create more a colourful and fulfilling career / life!
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Yearning for "More"?
Written by MIKETEE
Filed under Miscellaneous
Earlier today I stumbled upon this brilliant 6-minute short that is hard to put into words for a review. It simply has to be experienced!
The Academy-Award nominated animated short-film tells the story of a lonely inventor, whose colorless existence is brightened only by dreams of the carefree bliss of his youth.
By day, he is trapped in a dehumanizing job in a joyless world. But by night, he tinkers away on a visionary invention, desperate to translate his inspiration into something meaningful.
When his invention is complete, it will change the way people see the world. But he will find that success comes at a high price, as it changes himself, as well.
Liked MORE? Check out www.happyproduct.com or YouTube's Screening Room for more short films.
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I feel likeTranslate server error today
Written by MIKETEE
Filed under Miscellaneous
When it comes to translating your business name into another language, it's best to double-check with someone first. Especially if you're using web-based translators!
Via: AdFreak
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We've rebranded to "MatchBox Lite"!
Written by MIKETEE
Filed under MatchBox Lite: Updates
We've kept ourselves very busy the past few months with massive behind-the-scenes work on MatchBox CRM.
Yesterday we released a new website which marks the first milestone in our rebranding efforts. In the past few months, we realized that the service has grown beyond being just a "CRM". We felt that the name did not do it much justice, and after much contemplation, we've decided to rebrand MatchBox CRM to "MatchBox Lite".
Why "Lite", you ask?
Because we believe that the word "Lite" embodies the spirit behind the service. MatchBox Lite is a simple software for simple needs. It doesn't boast of extraneous features, or attempts to solve all existing problems. It is built to be easy to learn and use, does what it needs to do, and then get out of the way.
There's a lot more work still to do, and the rebranding process will be done on a progressive basis to eliminate any inconveniences to our users.
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Customizing your own logo
Written by MIKETEE
Filed under MatchBox Lite: Updates
Existing users - noticed anything different logging into your MatchBox CRM account today? In case you haven't noticed - your company logo is showing!
That's right, you can now "personalize" the MatchBox CRM interface with your own logo. The same logo that you upload is also used in the Invoices, Quotations and Receipts modules.
Logos can be updated via System Settings > My Logo. For best results, upload only a GIF or JPEG, and resize it to no more than 150px (width) x 60px (height).
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The 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing
Written by MIKETEE
Filed under Business & Entrepreneurship
1. It is better to be first than it is to be better.
2. If you can't be first in a category, set up a new category you can be first in.
3. It is better to be first in the mind than to be first in the marketplace.
4. Marketing is not a battle of products, it's a battle of perceptions.
5. The most powerful concept in marketing is owning a word in the prospect's mind.
6. Two companies cannot own the same word in the prospect's mind.
7. The strategy to use depends on which rung you occupy on the ladder.
8. In the long run, every market becomes a two horse race.
9. If you are shooting for second place, your strategy is determined by the leader.
10. Over time, a category will divide and become two or more categories.
11. Marketing effects take place over an extended period of time.
12. There is an irresistible pressure to extend the equity of the brand.
13. You have to give up something to get something.
14. For every attribute, there is an opposite, effective attribute.
15. When you admit a negative, the prospect will give you a positive.
16. In each situation, only one move will produce substantial results.
17. Unless you write your competitor's plans, you can't predict the future.
18. Success often leads to arrogance, and arrogance to failure.
19. Failure is to be expected and accepted.
20. The situation is often the opposite of the way it appears in the press.
21. Successful programs are not built on fads, they're built on trends.
22. Without adequate funding, an idea won't get off the ground.
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_22_Immutable_Laws_of_Marketing
Eric Sink has also written a more detailed entry on his blog.
Note: The 22 Immutable Laws of Marketing is a book by Al Ries and Jack Trout.
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Files & Documents - updated
Written by MIKETEE
Filed under MatchBox Lite: Updates
The Files & Documents section is a handy place to centralize files that you use for projects. It's easily retrievable and can be shared with your team members.
An update to the module now enables image file types to be displayed as thumbnails for instant recognition.
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When In Doubt, Choose Difficult!
Written by MIKETEE
Filed under Business & Entrepreneurship
Have you ever experienced stumbling upon a series of unlikely coincidences, and felt that it's because Life wanted to get a message across to you?
I had that today, although it all happened in front of the monitor.
Taking a break from work, I chanced upon Paul Graham's excellent article on "How to Make Wealth", which challenges a lot of common assumptions about our understanding of wealth and money. It's a very long article - worth reading every single line, and covers a lot of ideas, but what really struck a chord with me was the advise on "choosing difficulty":
Use difficulty as a guide not just in selecting the overall aim of your company, but also at decision points along the way.
What this meant in practice was that we deliberately sought hard problems. If there were two features we could add to our software, both equally valuable in proportion to their difficulty, we'd always take the harder one. Not just because it was more valuable, but because it was harder.
We delighted in forcing bigger, slower competitors to follow us over difficult ground. Like guerillas, startups prefer the difficult terrain of the mountains, where the troops of the central government can't follow.
This is a good plan for life in general. If you have two choices, choose the harder. If you're trying to decide whether to go out running or sit home and watch TV, go running. Probably the reason this trick works so well is that when you have two choices and one is harder, the only reason you're even considering the other is laziness. You know in the back of your mind what's the right thing to do, and this trick merely forces you to acknowledge it.
Barely a few hours later, I stumbled upon this amazing "live ad" by Honda for its new "Difficult Is Worth Doing" campaign. The show involved massive amounts of planning and coordination - not to mention the risks, but watch the video and see if it was worth the effort!
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