Home Rapportive, Possibly the Web’s Best Lightweight CRM Tool, Gets Even Better

Rapportive, Possibly the Web’s Best Lightweight CRM Tool, Gets Even Better

One year ago this Spring I wrote a blog post titled “Stop What You Are Doing & Install This Plug-In: Rapportive” and for many of us who did, Gmail plug-in Rapportive is now an essential daily tool. The service displays social media profile and activity data for people you’re corresponding with in the sidebar of your Gmail threads. It’s awesome.

Today Rapportive got even better. No longer content to serve up information about people who have already emailed you, the service now runs ahead of your conversations and puts profile information in your sidebar as soon as you start composing an email. It might sound like a small thing, but it’s really not. Check out the demo video below. You can get this feature now at rapportive.com/compose.

Since connecting my LinkedIn and Twitter accounts to Rapportive, I’ve found the service even more useful – I’ve initiated more LinkedIn connections with people with far less effort required than ever before. The ability to see a picture of the face of the person you’re corresponding with? Priceless.

Who wouldn’t want to know what a person you’re about to email has been doing that day? That’s what Twitter and Facebook integration in Rapportive offers. It’s not just for sales and marketing people, it’s great context for everyone. Add in some Raplets, little bundles of even more 3rd party data integration from services like Crunchbase, Klout, Lanyard and others and Rapportive is a monster in your inbox. And now in your compose window!

In a world of nearly infinite information, where connection between people has never been easier, being good at developing relationships is a key way for anyone to work more effectively and competitively. Rapportive is a great tool for that.

The sidebar’s appearance in my compose window seems a little bit slow to me right now, but I may just be getting used to it and it may be the hotel wifi I’m testing it on. I’m really happy about it none the less.

Data and Social Connections as a Platform

The benefits of using a system like this go on and on but if we can zoom out for a minute, this awesome little tool is a great example of two big important trends: value being built on top of aggregated social data from around the web and the social graph/email as a platform for developers. So the next time you hear about people saying “don’t track my data across web services” think about the good that can come of it. Thank you, Rapleaf, for helping Rapportive enrich my life and work so much.

Furthermore, all the features in Rapportive are just the tip of the iceberg when you think about all the things that identity, social connections and social network activity data make possible. Sorting, ranking, discovery, alerts, cross-referencing and countless permutations with 3rd party sources of data point towards radically new ways to experience communication on the web in the future. Rapportive is a great example of that.

It’s also a great example of what a small independent company can do. Google’s own social sidebar Gmail plug-in displays far less information than this and is updated far less frequently. Competitor eTacts was acquired by Salesforce and will probably be slowed to a crawl by the size of that company.

You should really install Rapportive, you’ll be glad you did.

About ReadWrite’s Editorial Process

The ReadWrite Editorial policy involves closely monitoring the tech industry for major developments, new product launches, AI breakthroughs, video game releases and other newsworthy events. Editors assign relevant stories to staff writers or freelance contributors with expertise in each particular topic area. Before publication, articles go through a rigorous round of editing for accuracy, clarity, and to ensure adherence to ReadWrite's style guidelines.

Get the biggest tech headlines of the day delivered to your inbox

    By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. Unsubscribe anytime.

    Tech News

    Explore the latest in tech with our Tech News. We cut through the noise for concise, relevant updates, keeping you informed about the rapidly evolving tech landscape with curated content that separates signal from noise.

    In-Depth Tech Stories

    Explore tech impact in In-Depth Stories. Narrative data journalism offers comprehensive analyses, revealing stories behind data. Understand industry trends for a deeper perspective on tech's intricate relationships with society.

    Expert Reviews

    Empower decisions with Expert Reviews, merging industry expertise and insightful analysis. Delve into tech intricacies, get the best deals, and stay ahead with our trustworthy guide to navigating the ever-changing tech market.