Act to Zoho

Hi

I have used ACT! CRM for about 10 years and probably got into lots of bad habits with it.

I am evaluating the Zoho CRM but struggling a little with applying the way I work with the Zoho system.

I am bound to need to change the way in which I work as I'm sure Zoho will make me a much more efficient sales person but first I need to understand where to start.

My main confusion is the accounts and contacts options.

For this evaluation I am starting a fresh database to market a new product only. So i have no current customers to import and no leads yet either.

I do have a data list we have purchased with contacts I will prospecting. The main method we use is telephone sales.

Where do I import this datalist, accounts or contacts. And do I have to repeat the import in the other if I want them to appear in both?

I guess once I have this answered I can either promote a contact to a lead or opportunity (depending on the user), but need to understand where this "cold" data is first put.

It seems at the moment the system is designed for using to import leads and then promote them from there, but not really as a database of contacts from which to prospect and then promote through the stages.

My other lack of understanding is centred around the fields options. If I say create customer info fields in accounts can I automatically copy these across ot leads and contacts, or do I need to repeat this process.

I know this is probably a case of terminology or my using the wrong methology but some advice would be greatly appreciated as the features available in this system really interest me

THanks in advance

JP