How to Choose Your CRM Software

Managing customer relationships is the most daunting task in a business but if done right, will be a very rewarding experience. Just imagine how you can manage a hundred customers in a day, what their purchases are, how are they doing with your business and if they like your products or services. These are very crucial in determining if your customers will leave or stay in your business.

Why invest in a CRM software?

CRM is an automated way to track and maintain client contact data, it is faster, smarter, and more organized than a traditional CRM method and uses the most up-to-date technologies available. The CRM tool can help you set goals, deliver targeted email marketing campaigns, track customer purchases, and take advantage of social media all in one comprehensive report.

Any department in your business can take advantage of CRM because one CRM is synchronized to an entire organization making sharing, collaboration, and decision-making a lot faster and more accurate than before.

For instance, if you want to keep track of customer information, contracts, invoices, etc. A CRM software is very useful because all these information are in a single place, readily available whenever needed.

Additionally, CRM can run a personalize email to different customer types. This is not possible without a CRM software and you'll end up sending a wrong marketing email to a wrong customer.

CRM offers a lot of functionality and will save you a lot of time and money for personnel. There are many ways a CRM software can help your business but the most important reason you need one is better customer management, fewer loss, and bigger profits.

How to choose the right CRM for your business?

When choosing a CRM for your business, you need to get a package that is fit for the size of your company. The most basic CRM lets you manage contacts under a shared database. Advanced CRM has sales tracking or opportunity tracking service which lets you target interested customers. Match the capabilities of the software with your business goals.

The first thing you have to think about is how you can manage a server for business. Do you want someone to manage your server? A shared hosting server for business might be possible. It is inexpensive and requires less IT resources to set up and manage, so you can get started immediately. However, for a more customized approach, hosting CRM in your own server gives you control over your data and provides the highest level of security and integration with other business applications but requires IT resources to set up and manage a server.

Usable CRM

How can you implement CRM in your business if you don't know how to use it? Pay attention to how you can easily navigate through different tasks and how easy it is to find what you are looking for. If your employees cannot navigate through the software easily, you might be using a wrong CRM.

It may be tempting to focus more on features instead of great UI but features won't be effective if employees can't use them.

CRM with great integration

A CRM that integrate invoice, accounting, helpdesk, marketing, etc in one place. Take a look at the solution integrations before you buy.

CRM that fits your process

Sort your internal workflows before choosing a CRM then look for a CRM to match with it. It is a total waste of time if you have bought a software but you don't know what to do with it.

CRM that is aligned with SMBs

If large companies uses it, you probably don't want to. It is because most companies claims that they are for SMBs but the truth is they are geared on focusing more on larger companies than you. Research the company and ensure that they are committed to SMBs through client testimonials, company reviews, etc.

Well-supported CRM

Don't always expect that your CRM won't have any problems. If there comes a time it happens, who do you turn to? The company should have support for small business CRM. Check out their support resources and see if they are quick to respond, have active user forums, and has large help articles so problems can easily be solved whenever one arises.

Choosing a CRM is a difficult task, but there will be one for you. Follow these tips and you'll have the best CRM for your business in no time.