Count Alphabetical Occurences in Column and Multi-variable incentive formula

[phnxrock]

I need help writing a formula that counts the number of times a name occurs in a column. It should be really simple but I don't know how to do it. I've tried a few different =Count() formulas with no luck.

I also am having trouble writing a formula for incentives where if the sale is made within 30 days of the contact date 1% of the total revenue is given, if sale is made after 30 days a 10% reduction is made to the incentive. I do not know how to structure the IF AND >30 <30. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you

[NBVC]

To count a specific name, e.g. =COUNTIF(A1:A10,"John")

for the incentive, perhaps: =IF(B1-A1<30,C1*1%,C1*-10%)

where A1 contains Contact Date, B1 contains Sale date, and C1 contains Selling price, the result will be the additional or reduction amount (not the final total).