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Nutshell is a customer relationship management tool that helps users follow up on leads and organize their sales data. Users can BCC their emails to Nutshell to track entire conversations with or about leads. The application records the information so the user can access it through their Nutshell account. Duplicate accounts and contacts are automatically detected by Nutshell and can be merged with a single click. The user can build custom fields to determine which data should be displayed based on their business and industry. This allows the user to create reports that contain only the data they need and nothing more. Each contact is listed along with a Twitter feed, local time and local weather conditions so the user can get a better perspective on the individual or company before communicating. Nutshell comes with a built in search tool that works even if search terms are misspelled.

Nutshell was founded in 2009. The creators wanted to build an enterprise level solution that came with the simplicity and user friendly elements that most web-based applications offer. The application has continued to improve and grow. New pricing for small businesses was added in March of 2011 with mobile activity logging introduced a few weeks later.

Nutshell has taken a unique approach to helping users get the most out of their leads. The application displays all the usual data that users expect with a CRM solution. However the application also provides a handful of extra bells and whistles, including the local time and weather forecast displayed with contacts. Users can strike up conversations and break the ice with a bit of small talk. The application also records mobile activity and includes integration with Google products.

Nutshell retains is professional appeal while adding hints of color and stylish menus. Information is displayed as status bars that show the user their sales and projected sales for the current month and weekly activities (including phone calls, meetings, virtual meetings, etc.). The user can review overdue and completed tasks or quickly search for contacts or specific data. The experience is very relaxed and the user never feels overwhelmed by all the information that is available with a few clicks.

A new user can create a Nutshell account by clicking one of the orange buttons on the homepage. The bottom button spans most of the page while a smaller version is tucked into the upper, right hand corner. The registration form asks for only a few vital details, including a full name, company email address, company name and company website. After submitting the completed form, the user is advised that instructions have been sent to the email address they provided. These must be accessed to complete registration and being using Nutshell.

New users are given access to a 30 day free trial when creating their Nutshell account. After the trial has ended, the user must select one of three membership options. The first costs $49 per month and includes access for up to five users and unlimited accounts, contacts, leads and storage space as well as full API access and an iPhone app version. The mid-range plan costs $99 per month and includes access for up to 15 users. The third plan costs $149 per month and upgrades to 25 users.

Nutshell.com is a valuable tool for anyone who needs to find an effective way to manage sales leads and contacts. The application provides users with a place to store a wealth of data, and even provides items that the user might not expect (like local weather for contacts). The three subscription plans allows users to pay for just as much access as they need based on the number of users on their account.

• Google and Exchange calendars can be automatically updated through Nutshell
• Twitter, Mail Chimp and Wuffo integration included
• Email conversations can be sent directly to Nutshell
• Local time and weather data is displayed with each contact
• Duplicate information can be merged with one click
• Report data can be customized by the user
• Instant search tool is built in and offers typo-proof results

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