What's the difference between Leads, Contacts, Accounts and Targets

[noppann]

Can anybody help me define and differentiate between Leads, Contacts, Accounts and Targets.

[andydreisch]

Hi noppann, there's a podcast or two devoted to this topic. And Sugar University has some Getting Started content that may be helpful. Then there's our documentation as well.

HTH,

Andy

[David Latapie]

Can anybody help me define and differentiate between Leads, Contacts, Accounts and Targets.

The way I understood it:

• Accounts is for customers
• Leads is for salesmen
• Contacts is for prospective customers

Thus, if (like me) you do not use SugarCRM as a sales tool, just forget about Leads and Contacts. I use User (admin) for my partners who may one day access the CRM and Accounts for my other, less involved Partners. Of course, YMMV.

Update: there is a catch, though: it seems impossible to create custom fields for Accounts, contrary to Contacts (at least, not for me). And this is a must have for me.

[CreativeDisplays]

The way I understood it:

• Accounts is for customers
• Leads is for salesmen
• Contacts is for prospective customers

Thus, if (like me) you do not use SugarCRM as a sales tool, just forget about Leads and Contacts. I use User (admin) for my partners who may one day access the CRM and Accounts for my other, less involved Partners. Of course, YMMV.

Update: there is a catch, though: it seems impossible to create custom fields for Accounts, contrary to Contacts (at least, not for me). And this is a must have for me.

I break it down just about the same way .I would just add that "Targets" are the prospects that you haven't contacted yet but will be emailing them. i.e. a Target list (list of soon to be sales leads)

Targets to
Leads to
Contacts to
Accounts & Opportunities