Best tools for tracking applications? - any advice?

I am tracking my applications in a notebook and want something better. There are 12 people counting on me, so I am trying to be careful. I want reminders to follow up. Are there tools to avoid?

A simple spreadsheet with company, date, contact and next step was all I needed.

Thanks for writing this out. I went through something close to it 6 months ago, and it got easier once I kept a simple log of every call and form.