Help is just a click away

BJ Bounds

Here’s one more in my random series of helpful hints.  This one is going to be really short because it’s really simple.

If you are having trouble figuring out something in Point, Hit your F1 key.  That opens up the Help window and you can search for your topic.

If F1 doesn’t quite answer your questions, check out the Knowledge Base at www.calyxsupport.com.  Calyx Support also has a chat and email feature for help during business hours.  And if all else fails, you can always speak with our help technical support people at 800-342-2599.

Happy Point-ing!

Christa Anz

The February Interface Update took place on Tuesday so you may see a few changes to interfaces in your software.

Old Republic Credit Services and First American CoreLogic have both added interfaces to our Verification Services platform this month. If you haven’t tried using Verification Services yet look into it. The platform allows you to obtain unbiased third-party verified information, meaning you don’t have to do all the legwork. Not only is this a huge timesaver but also transfers any risk associated with the loan application to that third party vendor. Using this service also guarantees you’ll have all the information you need to close your loan on your time schedule. Either the loan closes on time because information has been verified or it doesn’t close at all because incorrect information has been provided by the applicant. It really is that simple.

Remember every month we add service providers to our software so you always have the tools you need at your fingertips! See what Old Republic Credit Services and First American CoreLogic can do for you today!

Email Marketing – Point 101

 

BJ Bounds

As promised, today is all about email marketing materials to multiple contacts.

The first thing you must do is create a template.

1. From the Navigation Panel, select Templates.
2. Click Report & Marketing.
3. Click New.
4. In the Report Title: field, enter a name for the template.
5. (Optional) In the Description: field, enter a description of the template.
6. Enter a Field Name of Borrower E-mail and a Field ID of 112. (If you are e-mailing the custom form to all co-borrowers, enter a Field Name of Co-borrower E-mail and a Field ID of 162).
7. In the Output Options section, select Use Result For Mail Merge Marketing Document.
8. Click Add Link.
9. In the Document Type: section, select E-mail.
10. In the E-mail Options section, enter the Subject which will show in the Subject field of the e-mail.
11. (Required) In the Email Address Field: select the email address field from the drop-down list. (You must enter the e-mail address field into the report template prior to completing this step. You can only use the borrowers e-mail address or the co-borrowers e-mail address)
12. In the Email/Custom Letter Content Document section, insert a check next to the custom form document that you are going to e-mail.
    ◦Use the Create New… or Edit… button if you need to create a new custom form or edit an existing one. See article 0066 Creating and editing custom forms if you are going to create a new custom form to send in a mass e-mail.
13. Click OK.
14. From the report template window, click File > Save from the Menu bar.
15. Enter a File name and click Save.

The second step is to generate the marketing report.

1. Generating the marketing report
2. From the Navigation Panel, select Reports & Marketing.
3. In the Navigation Panel, select the data folders for which you want to generate the e-mail.
4. Select Prospect, Borrower, or to Include Co-Borrower.
5. From the Workspace, select Marketing.
6. Select your marketing report template from the drop-down list.
7. Optional) Use the Status and Status Between Date fields to narrow the search results.
8. Click Generate.
9. The report results window appears.
10. Click Generate.
11. The Custom letter will open. From the Marketing Tools – Email window, click Send E-mail.
12. The custom letter will be sent to each borrower that generated with an e-mail address on the report.

If you’d like to see illustrated instructions on this topic, go to article 0559 on our Knowledge Base or call 800-342-2599 for technical support

Breaking News from Gobblers Knob!

BJ Bounds

Today is the day that the Groundhog comes out of his hole after a long winter sleep to look for his shadow. This is a tradition that has enthralled the world for over 100 years. And, according to the official Groundhog Day Inner Circle, Punxsutawney Phil—The Punxsutawney Phil—has never been wrong. Think about that when you remember this morning’s weather forecast for your area. Then think about it again tonight, when you realize that this morning’s prediction was completely off. Do you ever wonder how great it would be to have a job at which you can be totally wrong—almost all the time?

Source: Photobucket.com

Throughout the years, we’ve made our weather preparations based on the events of this very day. This is the day we decide to pack up our parkas, or make a run for more thermal underwear. On this historic occasion—every February 2—Phil comes out of his burrow on Gobblers Knob.

He looks around, and if he sees his shadow, he informs the Groundhog Club President in “Groundhogese” that six more weeks of bad weather is forecasted and then purposefully ambles back into his hole. If the day is cloudy and Phil does not see his shadow, he takes it as a sign of spring and stays outside to party with the crowd, pose for pictures, and sign autographs (well, maybe not that last part).

Phil came out bright and early this morning and decided to hit the snooze button for six more weeks.    So there you have it folks–sweaters and coats for just a little bit  longer!

If you want to learn more about Groundhog Day, visit http://www.groundhog.org.

Yes Master! – Point 101

BJ Bounds

For today’s helpful hint, I’m talking about Master File Templates (MFT).  MFT’s eliminate the need to re-enter information that may be the same on every loan file. You can set up as many Master Files as you would like to accommodate the various loan programs you may offer.

Here is a step-by-step guide to setting up your own MFTs:

Creating a master file:

1. On the left Navigation Panel, click the Templates tab. Then click either Prospect Master or Borrower Master, depending on whether you want the template to apply to Prospect or Borrower files. Click the New button. A blank Master Template will open. The template is identical to a blank Borrower or Prospect file.
2. From the menu bar, navigate to any screens in the program that you would like to default information into and fill in the fields with data.
3. Once you’re done, in the menu bar click File > Save. Type in a file name and click Save.

Importing a master file into a new file

1. On the left Navigation Panel, click the Loans tab. Select the Prospect or Borrower radio button. Click the New button.
2. The Create New Loan File window opens.
3. Select the radio button titled New File from Master Template. The list that appears will include.
4. Select the Master Template you want to use and click OK. The Master File data will populate into the new file.

Importing a master file into an existing file:

1. Open an existing Prospect or Borrower file.
2. From the Menu bar, select File > Import From > Prospect Master File or Borrower Master File.
3. Select the Master Template you want to use and click Open. The Master File data will populate into the new file.

You can find this guide and others on our Knowledge Base.  For a complete guide with screen shots, click here and scroll down to “Download Tip Sheets for Point.”  You can always contact our support team with any additional questions.  Call 800-342-2599.

Is there anything in particular you’d like to see posted here?

Mail Merge Marketing – Point 101

BJ Bounds

We discussed in recent postings the different methods for marketing your business through Point. I got you though creating your customized forms and marketing flyers but we haven’t yet talked about what to do with them after that. Today I’m going to introduce you to Point’s wondrous mail merge capabilities. You can easily generate contact lists through Point, send them to MS Word, print labels, stick them on your marketing materials and drop them off at the post office! And it’s as easy as it sounds.

 If you are going to print and mail your marketing material, the easiest way to generate mailing labels is to go through Cardex within Point. For complete step by step illustrated instructions for using Word 2002, you’ll want to go our Collateral page under Download Tip Sheets for Point here or Article #0108 of our Knowledge Base. And don’t worry; even though there are a lot of steps, they’re very straightforward.

But as always, if you need assistance, please call our technical support team at 800-342-2599. And have fun getting your name out there!

Next week I’ll explain how to send your marketing materials to your contacts via email…stay tuned!

Coming in February….

Christa Anz

January is already over…man did that go fast! We are now amped up and ready to start our February trade shows.

We’ll start by exhibiting at the California Independent Bankers Annual Convention in Indian Wells, CA, February 18-21. From there we’ll head to the National Conference for Community Bankers show held by the American Bankers Association. Join us at booth 200 at the Westin Diplomat in Hollywood, FL the 21-23 to get a demo, or have your questions answered in person by a Calyx representative. We will be in Washington DC February 21-23 to participate in CUNA’s Government Affairs Conference. If you are in the area join us at the Washington Convention Center at booth 568!

We are continually updating our trade show schedule so keep checking www.calyxsoftware.com  to see when we will be coming to a town near you. We

Adding Logos and Pictures – Point 101

BJ Bounds

You were all excited from Monday’s post about creating your own marketing campaign, but then you thought ”Wouldn’t it be nice if my logo appears on all of my marketing materials?”  Our developers thought that would be a good idea, too, so they made it possible!  And today I’ll tell you how.

•  The first step to inserting your company logo on Marketing forms is to tell Point the folder where your Company logo is located on your computer. To import the logo, open Point, click Utilities, select Company Defaults > Marketing Letterhead.
• Click Browse to find the company logo you want to appear at the top of your marketing documents (Point accepts .bmp, .jpg, and .gif files). To automatically adjust the graphic, click the “Auto Fit” check box. You can also adjust the location and size of the image by entering different numbers in the move right/down fields and increasing or decreasing the percentage in the zoom field.
• The company logo you select is unique to each data folder in Point, giving you the ability to have a different logo for each data folder. Your company logo will appear on all marketing printouts from screens located in the Marketing menu in every Point file.

 See how easy that is?  You are welcome to view the Tip Sheet on Company Logos on our website to see screenshots along with detailed step-by-step instructions.  Click here to see this and all available tip sheets.  More tips and ideas coming soon, so stay tuned!

For the impatient…

Christa Anz

I’m not sure about you, but I hate waiting. Whether it be at the grocery store, the bank, Starbucks…pretty much anywhere! The Internet and online shopping are the greatest inventions ever for people who share the same sentiment. So for those of us slightly lacking in patience ordering Initial Disclosures through the Calyx Network is a cure all!

It is all electronic…so no lines or wait are necessary. Even better, initial disclosures through Point creates a more efficient workflow, since it is electronic there is less room for error saving you even more time while reducing costs. Perhaps the best feature though is knowing that doing it all through your software helps with your loan compliance.  We are all worried about recent regulation changes and ordering Initial Disclosures through Point makes it easier to be compliant with MDIA and HUD regulations.

It’s fast, efficient, cost effective and keeps you compliant…all with no line to wait in. If only everything could be this simple!

Marketing Campaigns – Point 101

BJ Bounds

Did you know that you can create vibrant and effective marketing documents directly through Point?  You Can!  Point gives you the option to design, build, and print any marketing document through Point, with the capability to merge the documents with your current Point contacts!  Market to potential buyers, past clients–whoever you want to—all from Point. 

 It’s all about creating custom forms.  It is really easy and you can make it as fun as you want to.  Modify colorful Word templates or design a simple welcome letter—it’s up to you.

•  The first step in creating a new custom form is to set up a Custom Form Template. In the Navigation Panel on the left of the Point screen, click the Templates tab. Select the Custom Forms/Letters/Email checkbox and then click the New button. The New Custom Form window appears. Enter a name for the form you want to create, and click OK.
• Microsoft Word^® opens, showing a blank document, along with the Point Custom Form window.
• In Microsoft Word, you can create your form, and select Point fields from the Select Point Field dropdown list to insert Point merged fields into your document. Once you select a field, click the Insert button to put it into your document.
• If the field you need is not in the dropdown list, select Other Point Fields Not Listed Above and click Insert.  The Insert Point Field window will appear.  Enter the Field ID and click Insert.
• When you are finished creating your document, click Save, then click Close.

 If you already have templates or documents in MS Word that you’d like to use, we’ve got you covered, too!  You can easily import those documents into Point to use with your contacts.

•  In Point’s left navigation panel, click the Templates tab. Select the Custom Forms/Letters/Email checkbox, and then click the Import button at the top of the workspace. If the Word document contains Mail Merge fields, the following message appears stating that those fields are no longer available after import. Click Yes.
• The Select Word File(s) to Import box will appear. Highlight the Word file or files you want to import and click Open.
• The document you selected is added to Point.

 And you’re done!  If you want to see screen shots, you can follow the link here to see instructions for Custom Forms and other tips you can use!