What is a CRM?
Customer relationship management software (CRM) is a tool used to keep track of your current and prospective clients. The goal of CRM is to improve communication and interactions with customers while also reducing the amount of time and effort required to do so. In addition, CRM can help you better understand your customers’ needs and preferences, which can lead to improved customer satisfaction and loyalty.
CRM software is typically used by sales teams, customer service teams, and marketing teams, but it can be beneficial for any type of business that relies on customers or clients. For example, a law firm might use CRM to keep track of its current and potential clients, as well as the cases each client has. A non-profit organization might use CRM to keep track of its donors and the donations each has made.
There are many different types of CRM software available, and the best one for your business will depend on your specific needs and goals. Some CRM software is designed for small businesses, while other CRM software is designed for larger businesses. There are also CRM software solutions that can be customized to meet the specific needs of any business.
If you’re considering implementing CRM software in your business, it’s important to take the time to research the different options and find the best fit for your company.
CRM Software Platforms
There are many options when it comes to CRM tools and software. A few notable services are:
- HubSpot
- Salesforce
- Marketo (Adobe)
- Zoho
- MailChimp
- SugarCRM
- SharpSpring
- Active Campaign
- Really Simple Systems
- NetSuite
- Keap
- Insightly
- ZenDesk
- and 100’s more
Finding and selecting the right CRM for your business can feel like a tedious process, especially if you don’t know where to start. Luckily, there are many ways to approach such a large task and it starts with considering your current needs and plans for the future.
LONGEVITY
While it’s possible to switch your CRM platform in the future, doing so can cause a lot of repeated work and can be a large undertaking. Platform features may be different and some of your work may need to be rebuilt in the new system. Consider doing additional research now, so that you can plan to stay in the platform for the longterm and save yourself the hassle of moving later.
CURRENT NEEDS
Your current needs may be less than you think. Be sure to take the time and plan out which features are the biggest help to your business now. Most of the time the need to move into a software CRM solution is due to a pain point like the need to track leads. While a cool feature you heard of may be on your wish list, it’s likely not crucial for your day to day now.
PRICE
Knowing what kind of budget you have to work with can help you narrow your selection faster. If you’re already using other software you may be able to save money by moving into your new CRM that provides a similar service to what you are already paying for. If this is a new purchase, most platforms provide free or entry level tiers for startup or small businesses allowing you to grow into the platform as your needs change.
CONTACT LIST
Part of the pricing structure for CRM platforms is based on your amount of contacts. Consider breaking down how many contacts you currently manage in your existing email platform and what your future subscriber rate may look like when deciding how many contacts you’ll need.
How Carefully Crafted can help you choose the right CRM for your business
Carefully Crafted is a full-service agency that provides expert advice on all things CRM. We can help you select the right CRM for your business, implement it, and train your team on how to use it.
