Blogs

[#1]

After much consideration, the decision has been made to retire Data.com Connect as of May 4th, 2019. Consequently, as of May 4th, 2018, you will no longer be able to purchase plans, contacts, or points with a credit card, and as of May 4th, 2019, you will no longer be able to purchase contacts with points. Having myself been a member of the Data.com Connect family since 2009, I understand how challenging this news may be to you, and expect you may have questions about how this impacts your Data.com Connect membership. As such, we've provided a list of FAQs to address a number of concerns you may have. Our goal here is to provide visibility into what you can expect as we move toward the retirement date and make this process as simple as possible for you.

Site Access
What's happening to Data.com Connect?
Guided by customer and partner feedback, Salesforce's priority over the last year has been focused on developing a new vision for data integration. To help us maintain this focus, we're beginning a wind-down process of not only Data.com Connect, but also our Data.com Clean and Data.com Prospector products. More information about the overall strategy for Data.com products and the future of data integration can be found here. 

When is the last day I can log in to Data.com Connect?
May 3rd, 2019 is the last day to log in to Connect.

Buying Plans, Points, and Contacts with a Credit Card
Why is e-commerce is being removed?
In anticipation of the May 4th, 2019 retirement, we wanted to ensure that we could fulfill all contractual obligations to our customers. In light of this, you will no longer be able to purchase points, contacts, or plans with a credit card after May 3rd, 2018.

When is the last day I can purchase a contact with a credit card?
May 3rd, 2018 is the last day to purchase a contact with a credit card.

When is the last day I can purchase a plan?
May 3rd, 2018 is the last day to purchase a plan.

Purchasing Contacts with Points
When is the last day I can purchase a contact with points?
May 3rd, 2019 is the last day to purchase a contact with points.

Adding and Updating Contacts and Companies
When is the last day I can add a contact and/or company?
May 3rd, 2019 is the last day to add a contact and/or company. All points expire on May 4th, 2019.

When is the last day I can update a contact and/or company?
May 3rd, 2019 is the last day to update contacts and/or companies. All points will expire on May 4th, 2019.

When is the last day I can submit a bounce report?
While May 3rd, 2019 is the last day to submit a bounce report, we recommend you submit any bounce reports prior to April 27th, 2019 to allow time for the file to be processed and points awarded. May 3rd, 2019 is the last day to use your points.

When is the last day I can upload a bulk file of contacts?
While May 3rd, 2019 is the last day to submit a bulk file, we recommend you submit any bulk files prior to April 27th, 2019 to allow time for the file to be processed and points awarded. May 3rd, 2019 is the last day to use your points.

Exporting Your Contacts
Can I export all the contacts I purchased?
Yes. Please note you can only export up to 50,000 contact records at a time. Please be sure to do so no later than May 3rd, 2019, as you will not be able to log in as of May 4th, 2019.

Can I export all the contacts I have Royalty ownership of?
Yes. Please note you can only export up to 50,000 contact records at a time. Please be sure to do so no later than May 3rd, 2019, as you will not be able to log in as of May 4th, 2019.

When is the last day I can upload a suppression file?
May 3rd, 2019 is the last day to upload a suppression file.

Paid Plans
My paid plan is set for auto-renewal. How do I make sure I'm not charged again upon expiration?
Auto-renewal will be disabled for all accounts effective May 4th, 2018.

My plan is expiring between May 3, 2018 and May 3, 2019. Can I buy more points after I use all my plan points?
Points will no longer be available for purchase after May 3rd, 2018, so any point purchases need to be made by this date.

Contact Data
What happens to the data of all the contacts in the database?
The contacts data from Data.com Connect will only be used in the maintenance of the Data.com Clean and Prospector products for Salesforce through the end-of-life of those products (currently targeted for some time in 2020). After the Data.com end-of-life is complete, the contact database may be archived by Salesforce.

Your Account
What happens to my unused points?
All unused points, whether purchased or earned, will expire on May 4th, 2019.

What happens to my personal member data which I provided to register with Data.com Connect?
Personal member data that was provided in the course of registration for Data.com Connect is maintained in a separate database from contact records. Such personal member data will be deleted from the database after Data.com Connect has been retired and will not be resold to any third parties.

New Membership
When is the last date new members can join Data.com Connect?
May 3rd, 2019 is the last day for new members to join Data.com Connect.

Will new members still receive 10 free points?
Yes, new members will receive 10 free points. However, May 3rd, 2019 is the last day to accrue and/or use points.

Support and The Corner
When is the last day I can access The Corner?
At this time, we plan to continue to make The Corner available until some time in June, 2019.

Can I still submit support tickets?
You can continue to submit support tickets through to May 3rd, 2019.

[#2]

Wow. Renew my account on March 28th and cancel the service on April 17th? Unless the decision had never been discussed before the end of March (fat chance), this is a really nasty approach. It would have been nice to give me the opportunity to save my annual subscription charge, instead of forcing me to use a service that doesn't want to exist anymore. What a BS move. 

[#3]

It's all about $$$ isn't it?  Not happy about the changes

[#4]

This really stinks. I doubt the "after much consideration" corporate CYA comment at the beginning of the email thread. I have used this source a lot for finding new prospects. I have entered many contacts to this database, updated contact information with accurate information as I found it in the field, and used it as the "wiki" it was originally set up to be. So now that I have helped update your database with correct, factual contact data, over the past several years is Salesforce going try and sell me an overpriced database like we used to use in the old days when we had to rely on CD-ROM disks and before that large books from companies like Harris Selectory? I agree with the comment above about it being about the $$$. Way to go Salesforce, nice move, like everything else on the web - hurts the small business owner who liked your product until you had to "improve it" in pursuit of big bucks. What a Zuckerberg move. 

[#5]

@HabsFan18 I appreciate your concern. I do want to point out that Data.com Connect will be available until May 3, 2019, so you have more than a full year to continue to use the product. 

[#6]

Why not raise subscription prices, or sell the company?

[#7]

Wow, well now what to do with over 518,000 points? Now that this annoucement has been made I am sure the data quality will nosedive. I am proud I have maintained a 98% rating for years as a rainmaker. Certainly no one will be adding new contacts. How about a points for data.com bling?

[#8]

I am so sad to see this go.  I am sure you are too @EmailBandDCand other admins.  I do hope that you will be moved into something else and this doesn't displace you.  

[#9]

There is a lot of logistical information here, but nothing about why this decision was made. What led to this decision? Was it entirely monetary, or did the current social environment around privacy issues have some impact?

[#10]

I would think both @NewBoost6

[#11]

@HabsFan18 isn't the renewal date based on when you first purchased a subscription? That's hardly their fault... 

[#12]

@RoyGBiV76If I had known the product was potentially (and likely) going away when my renewal date rolled around three weeks ago, I wouldn't have renewed. Their decision to sunset the product wasn't made in only three weeks. IMHO, the information was deliberately withheld to ensure that I and others like me would renew. Legal? Yes, of course. Sleazy? I for one think so.   

[#13]

Is Salesfore planning to replace this with something else tat those of us not on Salesfoce can use? That is one aspect of the site that I lie,  it is updated by all kinds of different people.

[#14]

What other comparable Contact Data products are out there from competitors and who has something close to Data.com?

[#15]

Does anyone know of another database like this we could turn to?

[#16]

how do I purchase a plan before the deadline?

[#17]

How do I sign up before the deadline??

[#18]

Why not spin it off? This is a valuable service that can evolve much further? 

[#19]

Please lets all list some other similar sites that could serve us. I know this all bites but we got to figure out what the other alternative sources for connections will serve us. I don;t believe for one second they will remain open until may next year, already lot of problems (try inserting a company or contact !, go ahead) If you have points, my suggestion is use them ASAP. These guys will close much sooner.

SOOOoooo ..... what other places are there ?

I have heard about:

Datafox

Matchdeck

Clearbit

[#20]

I've had some luck with ZoomInfo.

I'm assuming they're killing it because it competes with something salesforce does.

[#21]

Zoominfo costs money, a lot of money if you are a heavy user and you fixing their data means nothing.

How does data.com compete with Salesforce ?

I don't use Salesforce ....... thats just a CRM tool right ? can I get (and fix getting points) contact data there ?

[#22]

ZoomInfo has a free version.

I have no idea what Salesforce has as I have no desire to use it. I don't think they care about points, just spending money with them.

[#23]

@HFDUSJFPO @AAUSA7

Salesforce owns Data.com Connect....

[#24]

so nobody here uses any other solution other than data.com ...... and you know this will disappear ..... ?

[#25]

@AAUSA7 I've seen a few alternatives mentioned.

[#26]

Like what ?

Matchdeck ?

Clearbit ?

Datafox ?

Lead 911 whatever ?

Zoom info ?

That's it ? Thats what we are stuck with ?

[#27]

We are not here to inform you of database programs.  We are just as disappointed that we can no longer count on this as our resource. I not only used this for a resource but have made connections with several of the members so I can attest to how disappointing it is that this is going away.  Complaining about it isn't going to bring it back.  I do not think they are sleazy. 

[#28]

Your point makes no sense ......

What is wrong about tryng to find out alternative solutions ?

You don't want to thats fine, why do you try to stop me trying ?

I bet there are many users here scrambling trying to find and learn about other solutions.

[#29]

@AAUSA7  you listed 5 alternative solutions and then stated "That's it ? Thats what we are stuck with ??  THAT point makes no sense.  You have found other alternatives so I am not sure why you would state that.  It is not data.com connect's fault that "you are stuck with it".  You do have choices. 

[#30]

Zoominfo.com is the expensive, best option. 

The second best and much cheaper option is intelius.com.  Its for personal contacts only but contains many company and work emails, phones, etc.  Only $20.00 a month.

[#31]

what a shame Used this extensively. Definitely want to see as many alternatives that people know of.

[#32]

There are a few services out there, and hope more will spring up.  High end - Discover.org. Others like seamless.ai offer limited free service.  

Nancy Nardin writes about the “Sales Technoligy Stack”. Smartsellingtools.com

[#33]

Very disappoiting!

What is the new plaform?

w

[#34]

Some of us use this service to earn our living . So is there any thing you can do to keep this platform alive. Also I contacted other friends who use this service and they didn't know it is going to end next year. I bet 60% of the users don't know either. 

Why are you hurting so many loyal followers who help build this data base.

Come on revisit this service and do the right thing for us and your BRAND

[#35]

So I am very disappointed in this change.  Will you be supplying me with a list that I contributed or is that acceible now to get my contacts?  Because of this amazing platform it has allowed me to no longer have to keep so many business cards and so this has been somewhat of a great lifeline for my business -  very disappointing and wlll definately take a bad toll on my business - some of our smaller Mom and Pop businesses will really hurt from this.

Very disapppinted user since 2012

[#36]

Disappointing for sure, the concept of a community-corrected database of current info was very cool. When purchased by Salesforce, there were concerns as to how they would manage and leverage the product. We saw hints of their re-evaluation of potential ROI after cancelling the Rainmaker events a few years ago. I guess we all download our royalty contacts, use up our points on searches and move on to find an alternative 10 months from now.

[#37]

How can anyone assume that something would just keep rolling. In this day and age what was free once now has a charge to it. What had a low price is now a high price. This was a great service I agree now lets face the fact and move on by sharing a new lead source. What would it be I don't know but why now share what we know. I'll start looking, does anyone have a better idea than this page to share notes?  

[#38]

@DataDataData you've always had the ability to export your own contacts

[#39]

10 years of college, down the drain.  Finally make Rainmaker, officially able to attend the "special functions" (whatever those were)..now it's going away.  Sure, I wasn't a big player, but was in the game everyday.  Regarding comments about money from other comments?....It's always about the money, don't blame Salesforce for that.  

[#40]

Can anyone recommend a similar service as this one?

[#41]

gutted is the word - as a small business owner using points was a great way for me to access data.  Anyone out there that has the web design expertise to start another data.com?  I would be happy to help manage!

[#42]

I have researched and found following list of alternative "tools" that might (or might not) provide similar kind of access to contacts. Some are purely CRM, most you have to pay big$ to get access .... so none of them are as good as good old JigSaw / Data.com .... but HEY ! got to find another tool right people ?

Help me rate these, lets share some opinions .... if you know one of them well and have used one of them, please pipe in and help us all find a new source. Spring is here tomorrow and I want to prepare, I am sure you do also.

please feel to add if I missed something:

AeroLeads

Clearbit

Cliently

CloseIO

contactout.com

Corporate360

Datafox

Datanyze

Discover.Org

eGrabber / LeadGrabber Pro

found.ly

FreeCRM

hiplead.com

Hubspot

Hunter.io

Infofree.com

Insideview

insightly.com

intelius.com

Lead411

Leadferret.com

Leadgenius

leadlake.com

matchdeck

Mojo

Pipedrive

RainKing

ReadyContacts

Salesgenie

SalesLoft

SalesRipe

seamless.ai

TopProducer8i

Unomy

VanillaSoft

Zoho

Zoominfo

[#43]

Outward Media Inc (OMI) is your only source of clean, valid, spam proof email addresses.  OMI also offers a 95% deliverable guarentee.

email me at carlwideberg@isalesman.com to get you started.

Regards,

Carl Wideberg

[#44]

So, there went the jigsaw api...Thanks corporate america...

[#45]

Don't have a clue what Salesforce is thinking. For them life will go on but, for hundereds of users like me who have been heavy followers and contributors to Data.com, life won't be that easy. I see this as a betryal to the whole strong data.com user community and with their trust that they imparted in data.com for years. Totally unacceptabe and disappointing move.

[#46]

So if I make a new version, and make it function in a similar way, would you all move your lists over?  Maybe I can find a way to honor a few of the points...

[#47]

Thanks to all for alternative suggestions on possible alternative "tools" given the corporate decision to end this specific Jigsaw / Data.com / Salesforce tool next May. The beauty of a free market is the ability to find alternatives (choices), even if those alternatives are not a "perfect fit" to what have been using here.

As a small business owner who uses this tool a lot, I have found it user friendly (for the most part), fairly accurate (for a user generated product), and very helpful to develop relationships with new customers.

I would like to give a "shout out" and thanks to @AAUSA7 for the lengthy list from which to at least start to look into alternatives. Thanks to others who have also made suggestions too.

Who knows which of those databases will work out with our individual needs, budgets, and info requirements but it is better than what Salesforce has left us with - which is a "thank you" and "see ya".

Does not make me want to buy or use any of their other products especially after we contributed to its accuracy (my rating is consistently 96%+ over the time I used this product).

Who knows why the decision was made. All I know is as a sales professional with 30+ years in direct B2B sales, this is not a good way to handle an exit strategy for loyal customers. Many of you may not care, but I do having used this product for many years and truly liked to product. Oh well - onward.  

[#48]

I am 100% with you @FunBreed82 @AngleTile24 I have ZERO interest to give ANY business to Salesforce going forward, not in any shape or form. I am on a mission to find any other solution, as long as it has nothing to do with Salesforce.

@N1SalesGuy> you do something similar .... I am sure many of us would follow. I would be even willing to pay monthly fee for similar kind of source, something that Data.com didn't even bother to consider or offer, which I find amazing.

[#49]

Folks, we have almost a year. Why not build one? I don't have a huge number of contact records, but we at ResQSoft do have software that could be used to build the system pretty affordably. Why don't we talk about it? -[edited]

[#50]

I'm game ! 100%. Count on my support !

[#51]

It seems very wrong of SalesForce to close JigSaw/DataConnect, as they can afford the goodwill, but cannot afford to loose the goodwill of JigSaw/DataConnect users. It is proof of short-sighted corporate "thinking"!

Apart from above, is there a marketplace for points where those that have many can get contacts for those that pay, since paying JigSaw does not work anymore?

Also, kudos to @tbragg, building a new JigSaw, perhaps community maintained is the right direction!