Muhammad JahanzaibA customer relationship management system is often seen as a tool that enterprises use. However, CRM for freelancers can be very useful as well.
If you’re having trouble keeping track of all your customer interactions, accounting, and spend more time handling clients than actually working, you need a CRM.
What is a CRM system?
A Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system helps manage customer data. It supports sales management, delivers actionable insights, integrates with social media and facilitates team communication. Cloud-based CRM systems offer complete mobility and access to an ecosystem of bespoke apps.
Why Do Freelancers Need A CRM?
The key benefit of a CRM for freelancers is improved management of all customer interactions; from billing, to the entire sales and retention process. CRM allows you to stay on top of every engagement and ensure that you’re meeting your clients’ needs.
A CRM helps freelancers streamline workflows and ensure every aspect of their operation is running smoothly. It allows them to improve sales from identifying leads, listening to customer feedback, while also building a relationship with them. Freelancers can also use CRM to attract referrals. It allows you to create products that actually sell. As a freelancer, you might develop a base of loyal customers. A CRM allows you to capture their information, see which products or services they bought and tailor your offerings to meet these needs.
CRM for freelancers is especially useful when you’re taking on multiple clients at once. It’s also helpful when you’re working with clients in entirely different industries or categories. A CRM helps you maintain a database of client information, which you can sort on different criteria. For instance, you can filter your client list by the type of work you’ve completed for them, and whether they’re repeat clients.
A CRM helps you stay on top of invoicing, dates and identify which clients may be drifting away. This is important because many freelancers are often overworked, with clients in different time zones. This can make it hard to track when important actions need to be taken.
CRM for freelancers can also be used to communicate with clients in different ways. For freelance writers, a CRM can be a useful tool to mine for ideas.
To use a CRM for freelancers, there needs to be a focus on your work. If you’re a full-time writer, you might want to build a database of professional contacts. When a new project comes along, you’re able to tailor your offering to your customers’ needs.
Benefits Of Using A CRM For Freelancers
Build relationships. It’s easy to talk to your clients and discover areas of opportunity. A CRM for freelancers allows you to keep all your interactions in one place, from emails to telephone calls.
Manage time. It’s often hard to keep on top of your data. Freelancers often find themselves working 70 per cent of their time on late accounting. A CRM helps you automate some of these tasks and sync it with your accounting software.
Increase revenue. If you’re a freelancer, you’ve probably been approached by multiple potential clients. A CRM helps you track your interactions with these clients, better understand their needs and tailor your services to meet their requirements. This allows you to shape a reputation as a specialist in your field. By aligning your offerings with their needs, you’re more likely to get repeat business and build trust – which makes it easier to go back and win more business.
Grow your business. There’s a lot of competition in any given industry. However, if you’re able to tailor your offerings and better understand your client’s needs, you’re likely to come out ahead of your competitors.
Track your ROI. The key to investing any of your time and money is to get a decent return on investment. This is where the real value of a CRM for freelancers lies. It will help you track the sales processes, value of each account, the value of each sale and provide an overview of your productivity.
Set growth goals. A CRM tracks a variety of metrics. It can help you set sales targets for each month. It can also remind you when you need to do something important to maintain and grow your business.
Freelancers need access to a wide range of online services. Â These help you turn leads into sales. CRM is different to these other services, in that it helps you manage your sales process.
CRM systems deliver powerful insights. The insights you get from this kind of tool can help you understand your strengths and weaknesses. CRM can tell you where you need to invest more time and effort. It can also help you plan your future business strategy and opportunities.
How To Choose The Right CRM For Freelancers?
CRMs are often categorized by the following parameters:
Platform
Some CRM systems such as Salesforce are cloud-based. Cloud-based systems are operated over the internet and accessed via a web browser. On the other hand, on-premise business software such as Microsoft Dynamics 365 is installed locally.
Some CRM systems such as Salesforce are cloud-based. Cloud-based systems are operated over the internet and accessed via a web browser. On the other hand, on-premise business software such as Microsoft Dynamics 365 is installed locally.
Process-Centric
Some CRM systems start with the process, and work outwards. Others provide more of a focus on the end goal, and let you manage the process within the system.
Some CRM systems start with the process, and work outwards. Others provide more of a focus on the end goal, and let you manage the process within the system.
Specialist. It’s also important to choose a CRM system that’s best suited to your target market. For example, if you’re selling to a single type of client, a product-centric CRM – such as Microsoft Dynamics 365 – would be better. Alternatively, if you’re selling to multiple types of clients, you’d be better off with a process-centric CRM – such as the Salesforce B2B App Exchange.
In addition to the above, it’s also important to look at the following:
Platform and Features. Choose a CRM provider that’s easy to access. Invest in a CRM with all the features you need to run your business profitably.
Scalability. If your business is thriving and you want to add new services and features, look for a CRM that’s easy to scale.
Ease Of Use. CRM systems can be complex, which means the more intuitive it is, the better. Look for an intuitive system that allows for easy workflow.
Mobile CRM makes your data accessible from anywhere, at any time. The best mobile CRM systems will be:
- Efficient
- Quick and easy to use
- Easy to install on multiple devices
- Easy to sync and connect to the cloud
- Compatible with your smartphone or tablet
- Easy to setup
- Simple to receive the optimum ROI
- Security
- Users are granted the permissions they need with the right controls
- Integration
- Connect to the cloud database
- Connect with your favorite collaboration and communications systems
Managers often describe CRM as a system that provides the tools to analyse and build relationships with customers. The most important thing to remember is that CRM is an enabler. It can help you to manage your sales process.
CRM tools can focus on four different areas of business:
Opportunity Management
CRM helps you sort and filter through client opportunities. It allows you to set targets and manage the sales process.
Product Sales
CRM allows you to monitor the sales pipeline and forecast sales. It also allows you to manage and report on the sales process. These tools help you read through the sales and customer database. It tells you what went well, and what didn’t. This is also true for customer dissatisfaction and complaints.
Service And Client Management
The primary function of CRM is to manage relationships with the client. It can help you with the sales process, and help you take the lead when it comes to product and service.
CRM systems can provide many benefits to freelancers including:
Good ROI. A CRM can help you increase your efficiency and productivity, which means you get more value from each hour of your time. Effectiveness increases. CRM system helps you and your team to be more effective.
Prioritize. A CRM also makes it easier to prioritize your time and resources.
More Focused. You can become more focused in your efforts thanks to the power of CRM. If you’re able to set sales targets, you can manage them more easily.
Affordable. While CRM is an investment, it often pays off. It can help you streamline your process. It tells you where to focus.
Services And Clients. CRM helps you get more clients and offers you opportunities to increase your service and support to existing clients. It makes the sales process easier.
Automation. CRM is a very useful way to automate repetitive tasks, which frees up valuable time for other activities.
Follow up. Using CRM in your daily practice is a great way to follow up on your business activities. If you record all your efforts, you can track the effectiveness of your campaign.
