Lead to Contact merge is way too confusing

Last Updated on Monday, 31 March 2008 11:26 Written by Steve Monday, 31 March 2008 11:25

Currently, when you convert a Lead INTO an existing Contact, you have no control over what data is kept except the lead source. The default occurs each time–blank Contact fields are filled with Lead data, all other Lead data is deleted.

We had a particular problem with this for checkbox fields. The checkbox field is always considered “blank,” so any boxes that are checked for a Lead will never be checked when converted into an existing Contact.

Salesforce should introduce a new option in the Lead conversion process similiar to the Merge Contact functionality, allowing you to choose what values to keep when merging a Lead into an existing Contact.

Here’s something that has been kicking my butt lately–fixing the behavior of Lead to Contact merging. The checkbox is really a drag on this one. Try explaining what comes over and what doesn’t when a Lead is merged with a Contact. It’s really complicated. You know, it’s much easier for a user to hear a consistent story, even if it’s not what they want to hear, then it is for them to hear a story that is inconsistent. They don’t know how the functionality can be effectively used when the rules are this bizarre.

Either go with a robust way of dealing with Lead to Contact merge, or simplify the rules so that it makes sense and can be easily explained.

Van Jones on Colbert April 1!

Last Updated on Monday, 31 March 2008 09:09 Written by Steve Monday, 31 March 2008 09:07

Van Jones, the founder of Green for All, and current ONE/Northwest client, will be on The Colbert Report tomorrow night! We’re setting up our DVR’s and frantically trying to launch their new site on something more robust than shared hosting as we speak…

Tune in to find out about Van and the great stuff he’s doing with Green for All!

Prism and Google

Last Updated on Thursday, 27 March 2008 12:24 Written by Steve Thursday, 27 March 2008 12:24

I recently started exclusively using Prism for gmail, Google Docs, and Google Reader. If you use these apps, install Prism today and create a Prism app for each. Krazy fast and such a great experience. Can’t say enough about it.

I also use Prism for Salesforce.com, but often wish I had tabs so it’s less helpful. With Google apps it’s a no brainer.