CRM and CRMshop

Finally, at last we have moved the CRM on. After much deliberation we have decided to couple it with a shop plugin. We will still be endeavouring to add the email element but the shop stage will mean some re-ordering of fields etc. So we decided to start with this first.

For more information please visit CRM and CRMshop post at our new CRM site.

CRM Update Again

Our developer has started work on the following:

1. A total cleanup. It doesn’t look that nice and if I had a 100 clients entered the list would be stupidly long. You can filter by clicking All, Supplier, Customer or Opportunity and there is a search box. I just don’t think the plugin looks good.
2. A contact form that enters the data directly into the crm.
3. I also need the plugin to do a newsletter section (email element).
   1. Add more options (up to 5) for Customer Category. i.e. To be able to grab a particular group of people
   2. Add on section to send email to customer singularly or group wise or all customers.
   3. In send email section there will be a form with below fields
      1. Customer Category (Drop down menu with all category like All, Supplier, Client, Opportunity or Particular)
      2. If you select the particular option then below the category option it will display list box of all the customers with multiple section.
      3. Description – There will be HTML editor to draft email.
      4. Subject – for email subject
      5. From Email
      6. Test Email – To send test email before send it to all customers.
      7. There will have 3 options for email Save, Send and Test Email.

Task list to add a shop
We are looking to integrate the crm plugin with eshop:

And link it so data is posted to the crm plugin and vice versa? We’re doing this because eshop is fairly straightforward and connecting the 2 should be fairly straightforward. If not we’re looking at building a shop ourselves:

• Create the option to post products.
• There will have an option to add to cart in product page.
• We will also create basic shopping cart with checkout option.
• After click on “Checkout” all the billing information to be collected to CRM data. Also record the order detail accordingly.
• Integrate paypal payment integration to make live payment and also give an option in admin to set paypal email address to receive a payment.
• Display all recorded information in CRM section of the admin.

Any other thoughts?

CRM Plugin Update

The CRM plugin has languished for some time and I did publish that I would leave it lie. However, whilst money is tight I do want to add to its functionality and so it is time to upgrade it. The next step is to add the ability to send emails and so here it is:

Task list:

1. We will add more options (up to 5) for Customer Category.
2. We will add-on section to send email to customer singularly or group wise or all customers.
3. In send email section there will be a form with below fields
   • Customer Category(Drop down menu with all category like All, Supplier, Client, Opportunity or Particular)
   • If you select the particular option then below the category option it will display list box of all the customers with multiple section.
   • Description – There will be HTML editor to draft email.
   • Subject – for email subject
   • From Email
   • Test Email – To send test email before send it to all customers.
4. There will have 3 options for email Save, Send and Test Email.

I am hoping to start as soon as possible. But here is a plea for help. It has to do with money. I have asked for help with the programming. It will cost around $540. So if anyone fancies donating towards the email side of things that would be great. Use the contact form to let me know. Thanks.

Show a list of Posts in a Category

I looked and found various options but not one that suited my needs. So I took this idea Listing posts within a category which was posted by user MichaelH. However, it was designed for a drop down selection in the sidebar. However, after a very quick modification I came up with:

• Brands
  $cat_id,
  'post_type' => 'post',
  'post_status' => 'publish',
  'posts_per_page' => -1,
  'caller_get_posts'=> 1
  );
  $my_query = null;
  $my_query = new WP_Query($args);
  if( $my_query->have_posts() ) {
  ?>

  have_posts()) : $my_query->the_post(); ?>

  • <a href="">
• <a href="" title="News Feed">RSS

I’ve included the full menu code which includes pages and an rss feed. Hope this helps someone.

Thesis Theme

I have just listened to the discussion between Matt and Chris on WordPress and the Thesis theme. As a user of WordPress and Thesis and during it Chris makes the statement that he believes none of his users feel that he disrespected WordPress. I have to say right from the word go I have been uneasy about using Thesis for this very reason. I use Linux and continue to use a variety of software that use the GPL. As a user of Thesis I believe Chris shows total disrespect for WordPress, for Matt and the whole community and will from now on start moving my themes away from Thesis.

Just one thing though, as Chris is so blatantly anti the GPL, why should I respect any licence he chooses to adopt?

CRM ~ What Next

We currently have several ideas of where to take this next:

1. A contact form that auto adds details to the CRM.
2. User level and content viewing. Basically we allocate a user a level when they get an account. WordPress has 4 user levels – subscriber, editor, contributor and administrator. What I would like to do is add an option to the plugin to allocated additional user levels such as Bronze, Silver, Gold. These levels then get access to certain content that nobody else gets access to. Allowing a membership site to be set up.
3. Open up data so when a client logs in they see their own data. Useful for reviewing history, passing documents, etc.
4. A small shop or e-commerce system including room management or a booking system

Any other ideas please?

WordPress and the iPhone

I make no bones about my love for all things Mac. And I love my iPhone. It is brilliant as a work tool, as a ebook reader, study aid and games machine. Brilliant.

But it gets better there is an iPhone app for WordPress bloggers. In their own words:

Introducing the only iPhone app that lets you write posts, upload photos, edit pages, and manage comments on your blog from your iPhone or iPod touch. With support for both WordPress.com and self-hosted WordPress (2.7 or higher), users of all experience levels can get going in seconds.

CRM Plugin

Hi All

I have added a new function to the CRM plugin – a contact form. This is probably the last update I will do for a time because of the cost of developing this further. I am hoping to find a client who will sponsor taking the project forward. As soon as I can I will endeavour to advance further with some of the ideas that have been floated.

In the meantime, please download the contact form and tell me what you think.

== Installation ==
1. Upload to your plugins folder, usually `wp-content/plugins/`
2. Activate the plugin on the plugin screen.
3. Configure the plugin on it’s settings screen. Settings … Contact Form
4. This plugin will work after activate “CRM” plugin.

== Frequently Asked Questions ==
= How do I add the contact form to a post/page? =
You will need to add to the body of the post/page in the editors HTML mode. Enclose the code in triangular brackets:

!–add-contact–

You can see the contact form in action on this page.
The fields are all configurable using css. My css looks like this:

fieldset { border: 1px solid #ccc; margin: 0; padding: 0 1em; background: #f8f8f8; }
legend { font-weight: bold; }
input: focus, textarea: focus { background: #ffc; }
input { width: 300px; }
form { width: 480px; }
form dt { float:left; width:150px; }
form dd { margin-bottom:6px; }

And if anyone is willing to sponsor further development please don’t hesitate to contact me. Thanks.

WordPress CRM

On installation navigate to settings – crm. You will then be asked whether you require the plugin to be at top level or not. If you choose top level a link will be placed below settings.

This first image shows the initial image page you will be shown.

From the image you can see the link to add a contact, with a search function below that, a complete list of all your contacts and finally at the bottom the ability to add a contact. Alongside the ‘Add a Contact’ link is the link to the reminder list and at the end of each contact line is a further link to add notes relating to each contact. See below for further screenshots.

Select/edit a Contact:

Notes View:

Showing the calendar function in notes:

Showing the keyword selection in notes:

Reminders:

Reminders with date function showing:

If you want to test run the plugin I have set a site up but you will need to email me for the login details. I can be contacted on lists at cregy dot com.

Download the CRM

The plugin has been upgraded and additional elements are now available:
1. Additional Contact Information
You can now add additional client info for companies.

2. Sort by Client, Supplier, Opportunity

3. When using opportunity, additional field created called sales ranking.

4. When sorting by opportunity sales ranking is now displayed.

CRM

Customer relationship management (CRM) consists of the processes a company uses to track and organize its contacts with its current and prospective customers. CRM software is used to support these processes; information about customers and customer interactions can be entered, stored and accessed by employees in different company departments. Typical CRM goals are to improve services provided to customers, and to use customer contact information for targeted marketing.

While the term CRM generally refers to a software-based approach to handling customer relationships, most CRM software vendors stress that a successful CRM effort requires a holistic approach.[1] CRM initiatives often fail because implementation was limited to software installation, without providing the context, support and understanding for employees to learn, and take full advantage of the information systems.[2] CRM tools should be implemented “only after a well-devised strategy and operational plan are put in place”.[3] CRM can be implemented without major investments in software, but software is often necessary to explore the full benefits of a CRM strategy.

To read the full article visit Customer relationship management at Wikipedia