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Unleash the power of your Gmail contacts

By Patrick Healy November 21, 2010

Ever since I started using email, oh so many years ago, one of my top stumbling blocks has always been contact management. With the advent of social media, that problem has been thrown into overdrive. I have contact information for virtually everyone I have contact Where to begin?with – and it’s all over the place. Not only is it hard to manage but it’s a huge time waste when it comes to keeping it all reeled into one place.

If you are like me, you prefer to use web-based email. I really just enjoy the flexibility of being able to check my email from any computer and having the same experience each time. I used to be an Outlook guy for ages but with everything Gmail has done over the past few years, I have converted and am not going back. Gmail isn’t perfect though so that leaves room for other companies to make improvements to the experience that is Gmail.

One tool that I found and really like for its simplicity and convenience is Rapportive. Essentially, Rapportive is a plugin that will go out and search any email address that hits your box and pull back any social networks that the email address in question may be registered with. This is a very useful tool when it comes to doing a bit of research on someone I don’t know well, Email conversation with Mike Muelleror at all. Just as importantly, if I know them, or want to know them, I can easily sift through any of their social networks and easily send connection requests to them. This is very handy for recruiters/hiring managers or anyone looking to establish a business relationship with others.

A similar tool I have encountered is Etacts. It operates similarly in many ways but also incorporates a quasi-CRM component where it will let you set reminders to contact certain people and also let you know how long it’s been since you had contact with them. It’s nice for keeping your contacts fresh. If your business was dependent upon staying on people’s minds, this would be a good tool to use.

If you really want to get serious about your contact management, there is another service worth mentioning called Gist. Although you will get the biggest benefit from this product if you use their interface on the web, they have a Gmail plugin that will let you make good use of Gist’s contact aggregation and research capabilities. Gist will take all of your contacts, social networks, emails or just about whatever else you have from wherever they are and put them all in one place.

Gist is a much more advanced service and I wouldn’t recommend it for everyone. However, if you have many networks and maintain a very large contact list, this may be the move for you.

Now, new toys are always great but you want them to serve a purpose. At the end of the day, you want to pick the tool that’s right for you – the one that will save you the most time and headache. These services are intended to make you more efficient in your contact management and research. Don’t be afraid to try them all out, but I would not use more than one plugin with Gmail at a time.

Take your time and find the right contact management tool that helps you view your contacts quickly and easily. This effort will pay off when you are able to obtain immediate information on anyone that emails you within a matter of seconds, which saves you time to do other important things, like your job.

-PH


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Posted Under:  Blog | Business | Social Media | Technology Tags:  competitive intelligence | connections | CRM | etacts | gist | gmail | google | rapportive | social media

What Others Say About Us:

"By staying on top of the latest social media and marketing trends and filtering out the fads, Phacient is able to deliver industry-specific solutions through innovative social media avenues." – Joseph Drasin of Prism Consulting Services

"Patrick Healy is leading the digital media revolution. He is a complete digital marketing guru, with a robust skillset that translates into a deft competency to grow your brand online. Brands will be transformed by the Internet when working with Phacient and Patrick." – Matt Browne of SDBloggers

"Phacient's inside industry knowledge led us to make some decisions that greatly aided us in the development stages of REcake.  Those insights continue to pay off today." – Berry Enloe of REcake

"My association with Patrick Healy has directly and positively affected my business." – Joe Sheehan of Weichert Realtors

"In addition to being knowledgeable about social media, technology, and online marketing, Patrick Healy is knowledgeable about real business functions." – Ryan Hinricher of Investor Nation

"Phacient's Patrick Healy may be the most energetic, knowledgeable, up-to-date and pragmatic expert on social media whom I have encountered. His advice has proved invaluable to me." – Malcolm Carter of Charles Rutenberg Realty

"On a recent visit to New York City Patrick Healy introduced some key people to our company. Those connections are still paying dividends." – Berry Enloe of REcake

"Patrick Healy's knowledge of online marketing dates back before Facebook, when Google was emerging as the disruptive technology marketers needed to leverage. With the rise of Facebook, he kept his skills sharp, honing his understanding of blogging, community, and social capital. He is a complete digital marketing guru." – Matt Browne of 

"Patrick Healy is the type of person you want to connect with when need a subject matter expert or if you are looking for someone who can connect you to an expert, an equally important and overlooked attribute." – Chris Metzger of Blair Insurance Group 

"I've known Patrick Healy for approximately 5 years and heartily endorse him and his company, Phacient." – Joe Sheehan of Weichert Realtors

"Patrick Healy has a vision for the Real Estate Industry with the ultimate objective of assisting real estate professionals to provide the highest levels of service to their clients at the best possible price." – Joe Sheehan of Weichert Realtors

"Patrick Healy has demonstrated great organizational and leadership skills as founder of the Lucky Striker Social Media Club, an industry trade group that meets regularly to discuss, develop, and promote marketing strategies with a focus on leveraging social media techniques and technologies." – Joe Sheehan of Weichert Realtors

"Since taking the advice of Patrick at Phacient, results of our social networking have increased massively. His continued support affects the entire direction of my business." – Howie Nicholsby of 21st Century Kilts

"Phacient was a great asset in the development stages of our company. They know the ins and outs of the industry and was able to guide us in ways that helped us avoid some real pitfalls." – Berry Enloe of REcake

"I have worked directly with Patrick Healy and recommend him highly for his knowledge, integrity, and drive. Phacient will get the job done." – Joe Spake of Spake Communications 

"To put it frankly, Patrick Healy knows what makes your business work day-in and day-out.  He's effective, efficient, and is a straight shooter.  Patrick Healy = High Value." – Ryan Hinricher of Investor Nation

"By partnering with Phacient it has helped us to expand our technological footprint in the PEO space by developing our most advanced website for prospects." – Tim Hillert of EasyPEO

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