How do people organize contacts?

8 Comments

1. Paulla Fetzek, MSEdDecember 29,2022 at 2:32PM UTC

   If you use Microsoft Outlook for email, you can save them into your contacts there and include the notes. You could also list them on a Word document that you could download to your phone. This way you could pull it up to review details.

2. Heather CutlerDecember 29,2022 at 3:52PM UTC

   I use Microsoft outlook as well. I also add something in the notes section about each contact, like:

   -December 2022-work holiday reception, spoke about ABC project, travel plans.

   If I’m reaching out in the future, I’ll reference some of the things we talked about when we last spoke.

3. AmyDecember 29,2022 at 4:13PM UTC

   I would list that info in a google doc connected to my personal email.
   So I can keep the info long term. And not just at my current job.

4. Jeni KolstadDecember 29,2022 at 10:08PM UTC

   I'm my own boss... so no worries about where, I just am trying to think of how! I don't want it to be super labor intensive.

5. AmyJanuary 3,2023 at 5:56PM UTC

   agree, that's why it would be either in a spreadsheet or contacts if using google docs. Cause you can add in notes. Though you can do that on the contacts on the phone. Guess it all comes down to what is easiest for you. I think the spreadsheet would be good especially if you need to email them and you have a large list.

6. Laura BrennanDecember 30,2022 at 6:31PM UTC

   It depends on what you're going to use it for. If you just want to be able to remember details about people, the ideas about notes in Outlook are great. But if it's something where you're going to want to search for specific people based on industry or keywords, that might be a little trickier.

   I am not an expert with Outlook, it's possible you can do these things in it, but I use a simple Excel spreadsheet. The set-up is the most time-consuming part, so I set it up with the most basic information: First and Last name. And then I add to it as I touch base with people.

   So, for instance, I'm reaching out to people to touch base in the new year. If I had just set up the Excel sheet, I would only have their name in their. This time, I would add contact information (which exists anyway somewhere else, right? My email or my phone) and a little information about them (what they do, any industry keywords - not full sentences, just in a Notes section separated by commas), and then I have a column for Date of Contact -- when did I last send an email, make a call, or see them in person? So that one changes every time.

   I have another column for Promises - anything I promised to get them afterwards (book recommendation, referral, whatever) and I keep it highlighted in yellow until the promise is fulfilled. As well as a column for what they might have offered me so that I can follow up on it.

   And finally a second Notes column that's about us together -- is there something we plan to do together, a project or something fun? I collaborate a lot.

   The nice thing about this system is that it grows organically; you don't shove all that information in up front, it's build as-you-go. Also, fully customizable to your life as you go; you can add a column for anything you discover makes sense for you. And finally, it shows you immediately who you have NOT been in touch with in a while. Either there's no information, or the last date of contact is last year.

   The key is to not overwhelm yourself! Really start with just the most basic info so you can get it up and running quickly. But it's been useful for me, easily searchable and even sort-able. Hope this helps!

   Happy New Year!

7. Jeni KolstadDecember 30,2022 at 10:04PM UTC

   This is really helpful! Thanks for explaining all of this!

8. Cherie RogersDecember 30,2022 at 8:24PM UTC

   I keep all in in my contacts in Outlook. Ex: Jane Doe.Company, phone both work and mobile, birthday, and any other info necessary to know what I need. I even kept EIN # - contact name was EIN ..inside the note area is all my info. Has worked for me for 15+ yrs.