David Overton's Blog

Browse by Tags

• BCM
• Business
• Business Contact Manager
• Community
• Demo
• Developer
• Documentation
• Event
• Exchange
• Getting Started
• Hosted
• If you only read one post today
• ISV
• Licensing
• Live
• Marketing
• Microsoft
• Office 2007
• Office System
• Off-topic
• Outlook
• Partner
• SBS 2003
• SBS 2003 R2
• SBSC
• Security
• SharePoint
• Small business
• Software as a Service
• Software plus Service
• SQL Server
• Support and Tools
• System Builder Information
• Tips
• Training
• Trial
• Virtual PC
• Virtual Server
• Virtualisation
• Vista
• Visual Studio
• Windows Client
• Windows Longhorn
• Windows Mobile
• Windows Server 2003
• Windows SharePoint Services
• Windows Vista
• Windows Vista and XP
• Worldwide Partner Conference (WPC)

• How to sell Hosted CRM (CRM Online) in the UK and still retain your customers and a good profit – by working with Increase CRM

  [updated with contact details at 16:38] I have a partners or two that are looking to implement CRM internally and through the conversations about how they could do this came to know of the guys at Increase CRM. The good folks at Increase CRM seem to understand how SBSC partners think because the offerings they have for referral and resellers seem to be quite good to me. if you want the brochure on the subject, let me know, but here is the important piece for partners: What is the Referral Program? Partners in... Posted Apr 24 2008, 04:39 PM by David Overton with | with no comments Filed under: CRM, Community, Hosted, Software as a Service, Microsoft, Small business, Partner, Licensing, Software plus Service, If you only read one post today

• More ways to engage with customers using the Microsoft advertising campaigns

  [updated 4th March] Many people congratulated Microsoft after the Mr Busy campaigns allowed partners to drive their customers back to them using a MS campaign. Well, this is now being repeated for a number of campaigns. Today I found the click and go site to get them all ( http://www.campaigns.arvato-services.com/ ). You can get 200 post cards or 1,000 e-mails for free and then a low price for additional cards/ e-mails if required. The campaigns covered include: Business Productivity Customer Acquisition and... Posted Mar 04 2008, 09:00 PM by David Overton with | with no comments Filed under: SBS 2003, Windows Vista and XP, Office System, CRM, Support and Tools, Business, Windows Mobile, Windows SharePoint Services, Community, Windows Server 2003, SBSC, Microsoft, Windows Client, Vista, Windows Vista, Office 2007, SBS 2003 R2, Marketing, Small business, Partner

• Import and export business data in Business Contact Manager 2007 - Outlook with Business Contact Manager - Microsoft Office Online

  Again, something I have been asked before - how to get data into and out of BCM - have a look at Import and export business data in Business Contact Manager 2007 - Outlook with Business Contact Manager - Microsoft Office Online Import and export business data in Business Contact Manager 2007 You can use the Business Data Import and Export wizard to import (import: To bring information from one system or program into another. The system or program receiving the data must somehow support the internal format or... Posted Feb 13 2008, 07:07 AM by David Overton with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: Office System, CRM, Office 2007, Documentation, Small business, BCM, Business Contact Manager

• Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 VPC Image

  I saw this and thought I would share for those who had not seen it - Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 VPC Image Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 VPC Image Get familiar with the upcoming Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 release: Preview Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 in a Virtual PC (VPC) image. Overview This Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 preview leverages Release Candidate (RC0) code in a Virtual PC image. The demo is designed as a one-computer setup with Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 server and Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 client for Microsoft... Posted Feb 03 2008, 07:55 PM by David Overton with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: Office System, CRM, Windows SharePoint Services, Developer, Community, Windows Server 2003, Office 2007, Demo, Training, Tips, Trial, Partner, Virtual PC, Virtual Server, Getting Started, Visual Studio

• Lots of OneNote PowerToys (file and data importers, Outlook tools, table sums, word count, tools to subpage a page or merge pages, copy to mobile device, template maker, favourites, table of contents and even CRM)

  Many people out there love OneNote. Lots of people have it and don't use it - shame on you - try it, but also try the tutorial so you stand a better chance of "getting" this note taking tool. Anyway, I saw a mail by John listing some of the items posted about by him. It is an impressive list. Here's the list, broken down by area: Migrating to OneNote: 1. Journal import https://blogs.msdn.com/johnguin/archive/2007/12/21/journal-to-onenote-importer.aspx 2. Text File Importer: https://blogs.msdn... Posted Jan 18 2008, 10:54 AM by David Overton with | with no comments Filed under: Office System, CRM, Windows Mobile, Office 2007, Outlook, Tips

• Where Customers may obtain License Keys for Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0

  I've been asked this a few times, so attached is the response I got from the nice Product peeps here in the UK. Since the easiest way to share was a picture - here it is :-) It covers the following license types: Trial MSDN/Technet MSPP MAPS VL BRL SPLA ISV Royalty Again, see http://www.uksmbgirl.co.uk/blog/archives/320 for more information on MS CRM and http://uksbsguy.com/blogs/doverton/archive/2008/01/17/microsoft-dynamics-crm-4-0-ready-for-download.aspx for download information. ttfn David Technorati... Posted Jan 18 2008, 12:32 AM by David Overton with | with no comments Filed under: CRM, SBSC, Partner, Licensing, ISV

• Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Ready for Download

  Just in case you had not seen it - CRM 4.0 is available - http://www.microsoft.com/beta/downloads/Search.aspx?SearchText=crm . Susanne Dansey has also been to one of the CRM days and has some good info at http://www.uksmbgirl.co.uk/blog/archives/320 . Microsoft Dynamics CRM 4.0 Ready for Download By Stuart J. Johnston Microsoft announced Monday that it has released to manufacturing the long-awaited update to its Dynamics-branded customer relationship management software (CRM). Previously codenamed "Titan... Posted Jan 17 2008, 02:01 PM by David Overton with | with no comments Filed under: CRM

• Windows SharePoint Services (WSS) v3, SharePoint Portal and Office Communicator, Partner Sales 101 and Dynamics and CRM training

  Office Communications Server 2007 Ignite Workshop This two-day workshop introduces many of the new features and capabilities that are built into Microsoft Office Communications Server 2007, including Rich Presence, Instant Messaging, Audio/Video Conferencing, and Voice. Click here to enrol. Implementing and Maintaining Windows SharePoint Services 3.0 and Microsoft Office SharePoint Server 2007 Course This is a residential, intensive and compressed course intended for those partners who want to get a head start... Posted Jul 23 2007, 12:33 PM by David Overton with | with no comments Filed under: Office System, CRM, Support and Tools, Windows SharePoint Services, Event, Office 2007, Training, SharePoint

• Worldwide Partner Conference - WPC in Denver - what I know so far - Dynamics CRM Live

  Microsoft Announces Product Offerings and Customer Early Access Program for Microsoft Dynamics Live CRM - This could be huge - $44 per calendar month per user for Professional CRM and $59 for Enterprise edition (Professional Edition plus offline support)!!! Then, when you thought it was not so good for partners, look at the models: With the new Live service, partners in the Microsoft Dynamics CRM ecosystem will have new opportunities to deliver value to their customers and to drive revenue for their businesses... Posted Jul 10 2007, 11:50 PM by David Overton with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: CRM, Community, Hosted, Live, Microsoft, Small business, Partner, Licensing, Software plus Service, Worldwide Partner Conference (WPC)

• Win an XBOX 360 or 5 x Office and Vista while getting Microsoft to pay some or all of your Marketing Campaign Builder Expenses for Small Business PC, Branch Office solutions or Build Customer Connections Campaigns. Time limited - ends 30th April 2007

  Hopefully I have your attention, which is good. Microsoft UK are trying to encourage the use of our marketing tools and also gain some feedback. First of all, the prizes for the best feedback - an Xbox 360 system OR 5 x Vista Ultimate AND 5 x Office 2007 Pro. Next, the cash - we can offer a limited number of people £150 towards a marketing campaign - if that covers the whole of the campaign, then so be it and it has cost you nothing! This money is to be used at the UK Partner Campaign Builder portal. OK, so... Posted Apr 11 2007, 07:17 PM by David Overton with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: Windows Vista and XP, Office System, CRM, Support and Tools, Business, Microsoft, Windows Client, Vista, Windows Vista, Office 2007, Marketing, Small business, Partner

• What is the Killer App for Office 2007 - Business Contact Manager (BCM)

  Many people have asked me what the killer app is for Office and I have always replied that it depends on the customers' needs. This is still true, so I am not doing a U-turn on that, but one thing people are always after is some form of CRM solution, but moving people to MS-CRM has an associated expense and complexity. BCM in Office 2003 was a nice package, but suffered on account of mobility, sharing account information and scalability. Office 2007 has addressed these issues and is now an amazing product. To... Posted Nov 24 2006, 06:28 AM by David Overton with | with 37 comment(s) Filed under: Office System, CRM, Business

• Important Sneak Peak – UK Small Business Symposium coming

  I can't reveal all the details, although I am sure others will, however we are working on special event for SBSC members. This event design incorporates your feedback and suggestions as to what you want to hear about, share as a community as well as information Microsoft needs to share with you. Expect useful information, the opportunity to network with your peers, Microsoft and partners and the ability to socialise too J The timeframe for this event is February 2007, in Reading, Manchester (or Leeds) and Edinburgh... Posted Nov 08 2006, 08:02 AM by David Overton with | with no comments Filed under: SBS 2003, Windows Vista and XP, Office System, CRM, Support and Tools, Business, Community, Live

• CRM Webcast focusing on the customer's needs that CRM can help solve

  CRM: Focus on the Customer Tune in and learn how you can help increase sales success, deliver superior customer service, and make informed, agile business decisions with Microsoft Dynamics CRM. Whether your organization is currently using Microsoft CRM or considering it, this Webcast series offers demos and interaction with CRM experts that you won’t want to miss. ttfn David Posted Sep 18 2006, 11:59 AM by David Overton with | with no comments Filed under: CRM, Support and Tools

• What do the Stone Roses, Chris Parkes and the Demo Showcase have in common? Apparently small business solutions that come in fours!!

  Chris, who I previously mentioned the other day, has been up to his old tricks. Not only does he think that the Demo Showcase is an amazing tool for everyone to be able to show and tell how a computer solution can solve real business problems, but he has done an amazing job of describing exactly what is in the kit for the small business partner. The small business demos cover a wide range of technologies, but everything is built using 1 SBS Virtual PC and one XP client VPC. This means that showing things like... Posted Sep 07 2006, 09:32 AM by David Overton with | with no comments Filed under: SBS 2003, Windows Vista and XP, Office System, CRM, Support and Tools, Business, Windows Mobile, Windows SharePoint Services, Exchange

• What is the Demo Showcase and how do you use it?

  I have a mate at work, Chris, who has always been a good and clever egg the whole time I have known him. He is also very passionate about partners getting the right level of support as well as liking Stoke City, but something's just have to be forgiven. One thing he has got a bee in his bonnet about this year is the Demo Showcase, which we will be using for all our demos going forward for a while. If you have been to an ignite tour, that was based on an early version of the Showcase DVD set. Chris has been a... Posted Sep 04 2006, 11:18 PM by David Overton with | with no comments Filed under: SBS 2003, Windows Vista and XP, Office System, CRM, Support and Tools, Windows SharePoint Services, SQL Server, Exchange, Windows Server 2003