Another reminder technique is to use a reminder service. For this, two come to mind: Jott.com and NudgeMail.com. Jott is a nifty service where you call a number and an automated service asks who you want to jott and then what you want to jott. By answering yourself and then giving a message, the result is an e-mail generated and delivered to your inbox or mobile device reminding you. This is a clever way to keep track of things when you remember something and you are nowhere near your office or staff. Simply jott one of your employees or yourself and the reminder is captured. At least one of the more popular CRM software programs has integrated Jott into its program (www.redtailtechnology.com).
NudgeMail is yet another way to provide reminders. With NudgeMail, you simply write or forward any e-mail to NudgeMail, and it will send it back to you when you want it. Is your inbox clogged with stuff you really need to follow up on later? NudgeMail lets you set reminders by the hour, day, week, month, or even year so you can decide when to deal with important e-mails. NudgeMail works with most e-mail services and most mobile devices. Oh, and by the way, it is free.
No one method of keeping track is likely to be enough for most firms. But by experimenting with those listed above and others, it may be possible to assemble a set of tools that match your needs and in the process keep track of things in a more efficient manner.
David L. Lawrence, RFC, ChFE, AIF, is a practice efficiency consultant and is president of EfficientPractice.com, a practice consulting firm based in San Diego, Calif. (www.efficientpractice.com). The Efficient Practice offers an advisor network and a monthly newsletter.