W5 Templates

Innovators Testimonials

admin — Thu, 17 May 2012 18:51:04 +0000

Christina Alvino, Marketing Director Guardian Storage, Project Management

“So many project management tools are cumbersome and frustrating to use, this one makes project management a breeze. I would recommend this Template to anyone who is looking for a really simple and effective way to organize his or her day, week, month or year. By using this system I have been able to cut my daily task organizing time in half! With 30+ projects in my queue, the customizable fields allow me to see the information I need quickly so I can build my daily task list in under 5 minutes. Thanks for creating such an easy to use project management tool”.

Sales – Customer Relationship Management

DaveO — Thu, 17 May 2012 00:30:34 +0000

The sales process can be tricky to manage and the details are important. A typical process flow includes: an initial meeting, follow up appointments, pre-quotes, RFP stage, proposal submitted, negotiations, award, and delivery.

Along the way you’ll need to keep track of the project description, the product line, RFQ #, proposal due date, internal quote #, quote expiration date, probability of success and estimated revenue. 50 or more sales prospects x 10 or more inputs per customer is a lot of detailed information to keep straight.

To make keeping track of the details manageable we’ve created an easy to set up, input and navigate Excel template. There are 3 major components: 1) a Dashboard page providing a top line summary of the customers and sales projects being managed, 2) a Settings page, predefined for the sales process, which can be customized to fit your unique needs, 3) Individual customer contact pages to retain information and a complete detailed, historical record of notes taken during your sales calls.

Benefits and Value:

Easy to use and update
Convenient to share with others
CSV file export/import to transfer information to/from other systems
Keeps you organized and in control
Pre customized for the sales process
Saves you time, makes you more efficient
Works with Excel versions for both PC and MAC
Affordable: single user license just $129 per copy

To download a copy or learn more visit: www.W5Templates.com

Project Management Value Calculator

DaveO — Thu, 17 May 2012 00:03:41 +0000

Have you ever stopped to wonder what the value of effective project management equates to for your company? I define project management as … leading and motivating team members so a project’s goals are met according to company scope, time, quality and cost constraints. Benefits of successful project management include: less “re-dos”, learning from past experiences, less time referencing project specific information, a better solution fit the first time through, completing projects ahead of schedule, and resolving tasks / action items more quickly. What’s this worth in terms of dollars and cents?

The value calculator above illustrates the enormous impact potential of practicing project management correctly. The math is straightforward: 5 person team x 1 hr saved / person / day x 5 days / week x 13 week project x average compensation rate with benefits of $125 / hr equates to a savings of $41,000 per project. For a company with a total of 25 projects this represents over a million dollars per quarter in “productivity opportunity”. As the number of people on the project team expands and/or the length of the projects increase the potential savings get larger.

The next time you don’t receive a timely and actionable set of minutes from an important project meeting, stop to ask yourself – how much productivity is being lost as a result?

David A. Oshlag | President

on the web @ www.projectma.com

Real Estate Management

DaveO — Thu, 17 May 2012 00:02:48 +0000

There are over 17 million apartment units in the US, with 80% of them in 2 to 4 unit buildings and only 41% of them turn a profit. Why? The process starts with purchasing the building and reaches a plateau once the last unit is rented out; it continues as tenants move out and others move in. As the number of buildings and units rise, so do the requirements and deadlines.

It’s challenging to keep track of the move in dates, if the security deposit has been paid, when the lease renewal letters have been sent out, not to mention the list of repairs (heating, plumbing, electrical, structural, appliances) that need to managed. 10 units x 10 or more inputs per unit is a lot of information to keep straight.

A picture is worth a thousand words. Seeing where you are in the real estate management process, by unit, is priceless.

To make keeping track of the details manageable we’ve created an easy to set up and easy to navigate Excel template. There are 3 major components: 1) a Dashboard page providing a top line summary of the buildings and units being managed, 2) a Settings page, predefined for real estate management process, which can be customized to fit your unique needs, 3) Individual unit contact pages to retain information and a complete detailed, historical record of notes from interactions with your tenants and subcontractors.

Benefits and Value:

Easy to use and update
Convenient to share with others
Keeps you organized and in control
Pre customized for real estate management
Saves you time, makes you more efficient
Works with Excel versions for both PC and MAC
Affordable: single user license just $129 per copy

To download a copy or learn more visit: www.w5templates.com

Makes the business of real estate management easier.

Organize Your Job Search

DaveO — Wed, 16 May 2012 23:29:44 +0000

Currently there are a lot of people looking for employment in the US, and you need to have a competitive advantage to your job search.

There’s lot to keep track of; contacts and conversations with each company need to be recorded, cost of living compared, job descriptions noted, and ultimately salary offers and benefits. As the number of touch points and job applications increase, so too does your need to organize to accomplish. Missing a deadline or thank you note is not an option. 20 job applications x 10 or more inputs per position is a lot of information to keep straight.

A picture is worth a thousand words. Seeing where you are in your job search, is priceless.

To make keeping track of the details manageable we’ve created an easy to set up and easy to navigate Excel template. There are 3 major components: 1) a Dashboard page providing a top line summary of the companies being targeted, 2) a Settings page, predefined for the job search process, which can be customized to fit your unique needs, 3) Individual contact pages to retain information and a complete detailed, historical record of notes taken during the job search process.

Benefits and Value:

Easy to use and update
Convenient to share with others
Keeps you organized and in control
Pre customized for the job search process
Saves you time, makes you more efficient
Works with Excel versions for both PC and MAC
Affordable: single user license just $129 per copy

To download a copy or learn more visit: www.W5Templates.com

Makes the process of searching for a job easier.

Take Stress Out of the College Application Process

DaveO — Wed, 16 May 2012 22:42:32 +0000

The average number of applications being submitted by students to attend college is 7+ and rising; College Bound Cast Wider Net, Wall Street Journal, April 5, 2012. The process starts at the end of the Sophomore or beginning of the Junior year of high school and concludes with acceptances in the Senior year. As the number of applications rise, so do the requirements and deadlines.

It’s challenging to keep track of the passwords, the application deadlines, along with ensuring SAT/ACT test scores, teacher recommendations, transcripts and final grades are all submitted at the appropriate time; 7 schools times up to 10 or more inputs per school is a lot of information to keep straight.

A picture is worth a thousand words. Seeing where you are in the application process, by school, is priceless.

To make keeping track of the details manageable we’ve created an easy to set up and easy to use Excel template. There are 3 major components: 1) a Dashboard page providing a top line summary of the colleges and universities being applied to, 2) a Settings page, predefined for the college application process, which can be customized to fit your unique needs, 3) Individual college contact pages to retain information and a complete detailed, historical record of notes taken during the admissions process.

Benefits and Value:

Easy to use and update
Convenient to share with guidance counselors
Keeps you organized and in control
Simple customization and set up
Saves time and makes you more efficient
Works with Excel versions for both PC and MAC
Affordable single user license just $49 per copy

For directions to download a trial copy click here. The College Application Template, makes applying to college easier.

Excel User Tips

admin — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 13:38:35 +0000

Making Columns Wider or Rows Taller – Using the Preference feature of Excel (Preferences, View) you can select to view the column and row headings for any page and then increase the size by just clicking and dragging. To set the row height for each new contact on the Dashboard page or each new note, use the numeric input fields on the Settings page of the tool.

Creating Bullet Point Lists – Entering a “hard return” after each action item will return the cursor to the next line allowing the creation of a list.

Creating Hyperlinks on the contact pages - Creates a shortcut or jump that opens a document stored on your computer, a network server, an intranet, or the Internet. When you click the cell that contains the HYPERLINK function, Microsoft Excel opens the file stored at link_location. More information may be found at the following link.

Meetings, and e-mails and no time to work on my stuff – oh my!

DaveO — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 11:52:31 +0000

Lions and tigers and bears, in today’s world of managing projects equates to meetings, and e-mails and no time to work on my stuff – oh my! The #1 challenge of managing multiple projects is keeping track of all the details. If you find yourself juggling different priority lists, sticky notes, reminders on your phone, notes in your bound notebook, and multiple to-do lists – you’re not alone.

How do you gain the courage, the intelligence and the heart to decrease the stress and take control? Better organization, by taking advantage of technology, is the answer.

The product I’m recommending, based on leading marketing, marketing research and new product development projects for 25+ years, is an Excel based tool from W5Templates. While Customer Relationship Management (CRM) is all the rage, this tool is equally powerful for project and portfolio management.

These templates are easy and simple to use with three major components: a Dashboard page, a Settings page and Individual client/project sheets. 1) The Dashboard page provides a top line summary of the projects and clients being managed; 2) the Settings page enables easy customization of the tool to fit specific business needs and terminology including – priority and status codes, categories of business type, strategic evaluation criteria as well as the length of time for reminders tied to follow up dates; 3) Individual client/project sheets retain contact information (name, address, telephone numbers, e-mail …) and a complete detailed record of historical meeting notes.

Export and import features allow project files to be shared between team members. To learn more about the product, visit www.W5Templates.com where there is the option to download a free 14 day trial.

With a structured way of managing projects you’ll be able to more confidentially ask, like the Guardian of the Emerald City Gates, “now state your business”.

David A. Oshlag | President

on the web @ www.projectma.com

College Application Template – Free Trial

admin — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 22:41:52 +0000

Selecting this link will download a free trial version of the customized College Application Excel Template. In the trial version you will be able to add or import a total of 5 schools, in addition to the 3 demos included. The file will function for a total of 14 days, starting from the date you first open the file.

To start using the demo template please follow these steps:

1. You will need to have a copy of Microsoft Excel installed on your computer to utilize the template. The template is designed to work with the following operating systems: Windows XP and 7: Office 2003, 2007, and 2010 and Mac OS X: Office 2011.

2. Open the zip folder and save the file to your desktop.

3. Select and open the CRM Excel Template – College Application demo file.

4. You will be prompted to enter the following (case sensitive) password: crmdemo

5. If cautioned that the workbook contains macros, select the “Enable Macros” option to proceed. The macros are required for the template to work.

6. You are now ready to start using the CRM Excel Template – College Application demo.

7. We recommend spending a few minutes, reading the customized “How to Use” documentation; an overview which will help orient you to the features of the tool.

8. Be sure to save your edits / changes prior to closing the file and exiting Excel.

When you are ready to license a copy please visit the buy now page of our web site <http://www.crmexceltemplate.com/buy-now>. If you have questions feel free to e-mail us at: support@crmexceltemplate.com

Regards ~ The CRM Excel Template Development Team

How to delete a contact from the Dashboard page

DaveO — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 02:32:02 +0000

Select the ”Delete Contact” button at the top of the Dashboard page. Select the contact you wish to delete from the pull down menu. To make the contact you wish to delete easier to identify, put an “X” in front of the contact’s first name, on the contact input page.