Welp MagazineCustomer relationship management (CRM) can often be the secret sauce that transforms a startup into a strong, vibrant and rapidly growing one. That may come as a surprise if you thought CRM was just for big corporations with huge sales teams, but the truth is that you don’t have to be big to benefit from CRM.
What Is A CRM?
A CRM tool lets you store customer and prospect contact information, identify sales opportunities, record service issues, and manage marketing campaigns, all in one central location — and make information about every customer interaction available to anyone at your company who might need it.
Why Do Startups Need A CRM?
CRM software was originally designed for sales teams, to let you track the sales process end-to-end and build relationships with customers over the long-term. But many other types of organizations are realizing that a good CRM tool can provide significant benefits to anyone who interacts directly with customers — no matter what department they’re in.
CRM’s help by allowing the following:
Minimize friction between sales and marketing teams – As sales and marketing teams collaborate more closely, any barriers created by disparate tools and information can become major inefficiencies.
As sales and marketing teams collaborate more closely, any barriers created by disparate tools and information can become major inefficiencies. Free up time and attention – A CRM database can help sales staff focus more on selling and less on data entry or paperwork, which lets them achieve higher close rates and earn bigger commissions.
A CRM database can help sales staff focus more on selling and less on data entry or paperwork, which lets them achieve higher close rates and earn bigger commissions. Improve follow-up and process repeat sales – CRM software helps you keep in touch with your customers and (if you get this right) really understand them, so you can offer a truly personalized sales experience.
CRM software helps you keep in touch with your customers and (if you get this right) really understand them, so you can offer a truly personalized sales experience. Attract new customers – CRM helps you keep track of leads and contacts that you may not be able to follow up right away. And as they keep in touch with you, they’ll build up trust in your brand because they know you won’t forget them.
CRM helps you keep track of leads and contacts that you may not be able to follow up right away. And as they keep in touch with you, they’ll build up trust in your brand because they know you won’t forget them. Quickly unearth new leads – From the startup’s perspective there a huge number of parties and people that are potential leads, but finding the right ones becomes a daunting task. Though there is no magic answer to this, the CRM platform makes the job more manageable. And it takes a load off the sales team in the process.
From the startup’s perspective there a huge number of parties and people that are potential leads, but finding the right ones becomes a daunting task. Though there is no magic answer to this, the CRM platform makes the job more manageable. And it takes a load off the sales team in the process. Integrate marketing automation – Whether through free marketing automation platforms or via the CRM itself, a CRM application allows you to put your contacts into a structured database and to better organize your prospects and customers. This makes it easier to segment them and tailor your marketing campaigns to meet their individual needs.
Whether through free marketing automation platforms or via the CRM itself, a CRM application allows you to put your contacts into a structured database and to better organize your prospects and customers. This makes it easier to segment them and tailor your marketing campaigns to meet their individual needs. Connect with social media – Keep track of potential customers and current customers as well, or work on your content marketing using the same platform that you use to manage your customer relationships.
Keep track of potential customers and current customers as well, or work on your content marketing using the same platform that you use to manage your customer relationships. Share and access data – Does your entire team need to know about every deal you negotiate, or need to have access to the same information? With a CRM platform, you can manage all of your internal information and share it where it will make the most impact.
Does your entire team need to know about every deal you negotiate, or need to have access to the same information? With a CRM platform, you can manage all of your internal information and share it where it will make the most impact. Track progress and manage communications – Instead of having to take notes during every client call, add valuable information to your database, including the next steps and who you need to follow up with.
Questions to ask before buying a CRM Software
- What needs to be tracked?
- Do I need to track conversations, emailing, general notes & appointments? How about Twitter campaigns?
- How do I want to access and input information?
- Is there a mobile app, is there a desktop one, is there a web version? How easy is it? Can I have multiple ways of inputting information?
- Does it work with other software?
- Can it centralize data for project management and financial reports? Does it integrate easily with other software?
- How scalable is it?
- Is it one tool, or two or three tools? Each tool trying to do a little bit of everything? Is there a basic platform that can grow with the company?
- Number of users
- Is it for 1 user or 10,000? If I have an early-stage startup, do I need to pay the same amount for enterprise-level pricing?
- What kinds of add-on features am I getting for this price?
- Is there built-in marketing automation? Is there a sales force automation option? How about CRM-to-accounting integration?
- Is there a free trial period?
- Is it easy to get a small amount of time to test without committing to a long-term contract?
- Some Points to Remember when Buying a CRM Tool
- Keep it simple
Don’t try to force it to do everything. There is a time and place for systems that try to do some things well and others things passably, but that time and place is not when you’re in the process of building your startup from the ground up. If you start out trying to do all of the things, you’ll end up doing none of them well.
In the early stages of your company, you want a simple tool to support the basics: prospect and customer management. But as you continue to grow, you’ll eventually reach a point where your business processes become more complex, and that’s when you’ll find the need for a fully-equipped CRM solution.
Avoid making a quick decision
It’s tempting to want to sign on with the first CRM that you find, but resist that impulse. How well does the CRM match your sales process and sales philosophy? How easy will it be to train team members on how to use the system? How effective will it be in your organization? These are just a few of the questions you should ask before deciding.
Don’t get carried away
You don’t really need all the bells and whistles. All you really need is:
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The Capacity to store and compile contacts and information
- Planning and Tracking with the ability to assign tasks.
Are you trying to control the world or is your CRM tool supposed to help you control your world? Overcomplicating your CRM will only hurt you as you will get bogged down with distractions on things that don’t matter. Particularly in early stage companies, all of your efforts should be focused on sales and growth. You just can’t afford to lose focus.
Benefits of CRM Tools
Easily organize data – Data becomes organized and structured; information can be accessed easily.
Data becomes organized and structured; information can be accessed easily. Less time consuming – Using a CRM application to manage communications with customers and sales regulations.
Using a CRM application to manage communications with customers and sales regulations. Access all the data at one place – You have access to the complete set of data regarding your customers and leads as everything is stored in a single space.
You have access to the complete set of data regarding your customers and leads as everything is stored in a single space. Less time writing emails – Your communication with your customers becomes more accurate and less time-consuming.
Your communication with your customers becomes more accurate and less time-consuming. Focus on your core – It helps you in identifying what are your core offerings and making efficient use of your time
Why you should Buy a CRM Software?
A CRM system is like a sticky note for your entire business: it reminds you of everything that you need to do and allows you to stay on track.
The software we listed above is tried and tested for small businesses. We checked out their features and ability to offer reliable service. We also checked some reviews and it met our standards.
1. Salesforce Instant
Salesforce has been around for a while now. It is a trusted brand with a CRM system that is very easy to use. It has helped numerous companies succeed through what it offers, from the smallest of startups to big brands.
Pros
- Lightweight.
- Simple.
- Use it on the go, wherever you are.
- Cloud storage.
- You get free support from SalesForce.
- Robust.
Cons
- Does not offer a free trial.
- Price- It’s a little high to buy.
- Visual clutter.
Some Points to Remember when Buying Salesforce
Storage/Server – You have the option to store your information in the server that you have or in Salesforce servers. But if you choose to store it in Salesforce servers, you will always rely on them.
You have the option to store your information in the server that you have or in Salesforce servers. But if you choose to store it in Salesforce servers, you will always rely on them. License- There are two main license types: the user and the seat.
User – This license type comes with a certain set of restrictions. You can have a maximum of 5 administrators and 50 user licenses. You can also upgrade to higher user licenses.
This license type comes with a certain set of restrictions. You can have a maximum of 5 administrators and 50 user licenses. You can also upgrade to higher user licenses. Seat- This license type comes with a +1 user for every seat. For example, if you buy a license with 15 seats, you get 16 users.
Conclusion
CRM is an integral part of a company. It does not just help you manage your contacts, it also helps you increase your sales, and the goal of any business is to increase their sales. With this review, I hope I helped you decide which is the best CRM software for your business.
