gem99 FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)
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| 1 - General | |
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What's the difference between gem99 and, say, Facebook? |
gem99 is not a social networking site. gem99 has been designed as your
own communications centre to facilitate communications between you and
your contacts across a range of media. You configure your WebCard to
display and make accessible information and files you want to publicise
and determine what information you want to collect from contacts,
customers, colleagues etc. Behind the scenes the Contact Manager
organises contacts and communications and gives you the facility to
broadcast messages, alerts and other communications. gem99 is also a
business platform that, as it develops, makes available optional
business facilities that integrate with the core service and are
designed to make your life easier and improve how you do business. gem99 does not carry adverts, does not conduct advertiser's surveys, sell your contact details to others or profile you for the advantage of others. It just concentrates on the business of communication without noise or interruption.
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How much does gem99 cost? |
It costs nothing to create and use gem99's standard WebCard account. On sign-up your account is designated a 'Privileged' account giving you access to all areas. You are allocated a free quota of resources:
When a key resource is exhausted your account is moved to "Assured" status and some privileges will be rescinded (e.g. the ability to use a password on your WebCard). To regain full rights (and receive a bundle of resources) you will need to subscribe to gem99 Privileged (£30 for 12 months including VAT). If you choose not to subscribe, you can carry on for free but may eventually need to purchase some extra resources such as SMS - depending on your usage. We charge a modest subscription in order to keep the service free from advertising but the functionality you receive is good value compared to other comparable software applications. |
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What are gem99 resources? |
Using gem99 consumes the following 'resources': Communications
Database Space
We make a very modest charge for extra quota allocations. Depending on usage and type of usage required, many users may find that gem99 only costs them a few pounds a year. SMS charges are for global, premium service , are very competitive and comparable with the main providers (e.g. Skype). As we develop there will be other applications added to the core service available either for free or by subscription. |
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Anyone, a business, organisation or individual receives a free pre-configured WebCard on sign-up. It is ideally suited to busy professionals and businesses who need to capture new contact details and maintain them but just don't have the time for a lot of maintenance and administration on what is generally termed 'contact management'. With a WebCard, as well as the option to store contacts in your contact database you can set where and how your messages are delivered (and apply diverts etc). |
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My WebCard address |
Takes the form www.webcard99.com/mywebcardname - you choose your webcard name but it must be unique and you may not get first choice. if you wish, for convenience, make it the same as your email address or even your telephone number: www.webcard99.com/myname@xyzco.co.uk or www.webcard99.com/012349876543. gem99 has a number of other domains which you can choose - which may be more applicable to you - and if we don't have one, ask us and we'll consider creating it for you. For example www.oxford99.com/mywebcardname. |
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Who can visit my WebCard? |
Anyone can visit your WebCard by typing in the address - or if you have published it on the gem99 Register by entering just the name or searching for it with key words; however, you can block visitors from sending messages and apply a password if you want. Note you can apply an extra level of security which requires a visitor to supply a password to even view your WebCard. |
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Is my WebCard visible to search engines |
If you want it to be. There is also the gem99 WebCard Register which you can be in if you wish - searchable by name, location, profession etc. |
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Where can I quote my WebCard address? |
Like and email address, anywhere you like, letterheads, business cards, the side of your van. To take advantage of the CRM features of gem99 you can link to it from a 'contact us' button on your website.
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With a WebCard people can communicate with you or your firm without you having to declare your email address. You may want to keep your email private and so a WebCard is a great alternative. Many companies prohibit the use of external employee email addresses but nonetheless would like to accept inward communications to specific employees. A WebCard can do this as messages can be directed / redirected to any email address - ideal if several people share a role - you simply switch the recipient email address (and or SMS) as required. By default there is an anti-spam feature but subscribers can replace it with their own password so that only people with the password can send a message. You can of course change or set a password anytime - e.g. set it at the weekend or on holiday so only closest colleagues can contact you. If you wish you can block specific contacts (email addresses) from sending messages through your WebCard |
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How easy is it to set up a WebCard? |
When you create your account a default webcard is created for you with the limited information you provide at the time. You can change settings and controls in no time at all. If you can use email and browse the web you can configure your WebCard using the Wizard. No special skills needed. |
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Can I have more than one WebCard? |
Of course - you can have as many as you like but there may be a small charge for additional ones depending how many you need. |
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In the WebCard wizard there is an upload images function, your image will be sized by width (160pixels wide in the WebCard). |
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gem99 allows you to add items to your WebCard in the form of a grid at the bottom, items can be pictures, text, documents etc. You can attach/detach items whenever you want but first you have to upload the files you wish to 'publish' into your gem99 account. |
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How do I route my messages entered into my WebCard? |
In the WebCard wizard you can elect to receive messages by email, SMS and or converted to a voice mail message (can be any telephone no.). You specify the destinations. Additionally, contact details and messages are organised and stored in your Contact Manager. |
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Can I route my messages anywhere? |
You can change the destination email address or telephone numbers anytime you want so if you are on holiday you could route new messages to a colleague. |
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How do I reply to a message? |
You can use the reply button on a webcard message received in your gem99 inbox and reply by gem99 email, SMS, text-2-Voicemail or g-2-g (Instant messaging between gem99 users). If you wish you can reply via your ordinary email system. |
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Beside a message what other information can I collect through my WebCard? |
There are standard and optional fields and controls that you can set in the wizard - including two user definable fields where you can ask a specific question and collect an answer E.g. "What is your budget?", "Would you like the vegetarian option", "What is the most convenient time to call?". |
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Can I have more than one WebCard |
Of course you can you can have one for sales enquiries, one for complaints, another for questionnaires, one for personal use, one for my children to contact me - in fact you can have as many as you need. |
| There are headings and general text frames for you to place your own text. In the general 'description area' there is enough room for up to 1000 characters of text - but you will need to check the aesthetics of the appearance. | |
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The minimum needed is an email address. If a new email addresses is entered, the WebCard will ask for some further details - a name, telephone number, postal address - but you set (via the wizard) what information you want to collect on your WebCard. |
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| Up to 5000 characters | |
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You can define up to two fields of information your own (none standard fields) - e.g. "How did you hear about us?", "What is your budget in £s". There are other standard fields that you can switch on/off in the wizard. |
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| When this button is clicked, the message being sent to you is validated and only sends if everything is in order. If you have set a password the message will only send if it has been entered correctly. If the sender's email address is not known some contact details will be requested. [If the contact is blocked, the message will not be sent]. | |
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Can I upload contacts into my gem99 Contact Manager? |
Yes, you can import contacts from common export formats - e.g. your regular email package |
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Can I export contact details? |
Yes, you can create a tailored list of contacts with the CM and export to spreadsheet format. |
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Can I add contacts manually? |
Yes, there is an enter and edit contact facility |
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Can I update / enrich contact details? |
Of course, you can update contact details within your gem99 account. |
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How many contacts can I store? |
As many as you want but these are classed as resources and there is a small charge proportionate to usage. |
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Can I add Business Intelligence (BI)? |
There is a gem99 add-on App to add business intelligence to contacts - any attributes and values you want and you can create contact lists based on this information. |
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Sending messages to contacts |
gem99 provides multiple ways of sending messages depending on what contact details you hold. Ordinarily this includes email, SMS (to mobiles), Text-to-voice conversion (to mobiles and fixed line telephones). If the contact is also a gem99 user you can also contact them via their WebCard. |
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Using Skype |
If you are a skype user and have added the skype add-on to your browser(e.g. Internet Explorer) your contacts telephone numbers (and name) will be recognised by skype. Click on the tel no / contact and the skype communication will commence - giving you free or low cost phone calls. |
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How do I create a contact list? |
The CM has a comprehensive search and select function that lets you build and maintain lists |
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What is a broadcast? |
Using a contact list you can send bulk email, SMS, text-3-voice a message. emails can include file attachments |
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What is g-2-g? |
gem99 has a user to user message facility (instant message facility) that can share files. |
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How does gem99 support groups? |
If you want you can create a 'group account' in which you define the nature of the group (e.g. is it public or private, can anyone join, can members see all the other members) and you can also set a group logo. To join a group a new member needs to send a message to the group account (via a webcard) and if accepted they're joined. Members can then use the Group logo on their webcard and enjoy other membership advantages. |
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How can gem99 share revenue? |
Some gem99 resources have a cost (e.g. SMS messages), there are specialist paid for functions and there is a modest annual subscription charge for the 'Privileged' service. If you are a group (e.g. a trade guild) or a reseller you will be increasing gem99's membership. In order to benefit your membership / your guild, gem99 can create your own pricing structure and will consider sharing revenue on chargeable items. |
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I'd like to set up a private network for my organisation |
This is a private-type group - talk to gem99, talk to us about how gem99 can be configured for your specific requirements. |
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link to your normal email signature so that correspondents can see your
latest news / attachments. Your email recipients can then open your WebCard to see your latest information and
reply through it if you ask them to. If you set your WebCard up as an
RSVP then asking your correspondent to reply via your WebCard (message
form) is ideal.
