CRM? What the Heck is That?!
Thursday January 10, 2019
As a small business owner, you are probably being told frequently that you need to invest in a CRM. But what the heck is a CRM anyway?!
CRM is short for Customer Relationship Manager. It’s basically software that allows you to track your business relationships without losing your mind in the process. It’s essentially your BBFF (Best Business Friend Forever). You could also look at it as the lifeblood of your business – but I don’t want to freak you out.
CRM’s have been around almost as long as databases. In the beginning, businesses would use spreadsheets to track this information. We’ve come a long way since the meager beginnings of tracking client and lead information. A quality CRM will save you time, money and frustration. It will make the relationship building part of your growing business not only manageable, but downright enjoyable again. Here are just a few things this software can do for your biz.
Contact Database
It’s time to upgrade from the Rolodex or the Little Black Book. I bet you’ve got stashes of business cards lying around your office collecting dust. The right CRM software eliminates this problem. Your contacts are entered into a database where you can also add notes, track information, schedule follow ups, and attach correspondence. Imagine if you could enter someone’s name and bring up all the data you know about them, previous conversations, and important information? Plus, it’s all online, so you can access it from anywhere!
Email Marketing
A quality CRM can also be a tool for reaching out to your contacts. Thinking about starting a monthly newsletter? Since your contacts are already in your CRM – it just makes sense to use the same tool for email marketing. Perhaps you could divide your contacts into segments and send out bulk information to the appropriate lists with just a few clicks? Stop re-inventing the wheel and duplicating efforts – you can do it all in one place!
Follow Up
If a CRM is like breathing life into your business, then the people in your database are the heart. Every business owner knows the importance of going out and meeting new people. Unfortunately, most of them drop the ball when it comes to follow up. It can take a new person up to TEN touchpoints before they even remember you and associate that with what you do. That’s a lot of networking meetings before you start seeing a result on your investment of time. OR you could use your CRM to schedule follow-ups to stay top of mind with your leads and potential clients instead. Use your CRM to fast track your relationship building and show people that you have time for them and care about solving their pain points.
Client Appreciation
Let’s never forget your list of current clients. Those businesses who have invested in you and that you’ve built trust with. It’s essential that you nurture those relationships as well. However, in the busy-ness of running your business, you may not remember that these people need love too. A CRM can help you stay on track and keep the communication lines open with your customers. It’s so much easier to retain a current client than it is to land a new one. Make client appreciation a priority for your biz growth this year.
With any successful business, growth happens. Don’t get overwhelmed by the growth of your company. Contact Assist for the Win and we can help you get started with a CRM today. Got a CRM but haven’t set it up properly or need help keeping it updated? We’ve got your back there too. Get organized and ahead of the game this year!