The Ultimate Guide to CRM Software 2023 | LeadBloging

Without customer relations, a business will quickly fizzle out and tank. The management of customer relations is a daunting task. This process can seem overwhelming as your business grows, and your customer base expands. 

Luckily, there is a nifty tool that you can use to help track and log all interactions with your customers. This database will allow you to see and manage your customers’ information and history to better help you serve them. 

Technology is always providing businesses with new and efficient programs and apps to help them succeed, and this product is high on the list.

What is this tool, you ask, and how can you use it?

Read all about it in this full guide:

What is CRM?

Let’s discuss this Customer Relationship Management (CRM) concept. 

This is a software tool that manages your customer relations for you. It’s an information database on all your customers, prospects, and even your suppliers and colleagues.

You can use this tool to improve your marketing, sales tactics, and service. Ensuring the contentment of your customers, and keeping your profits on the rise.

11 Benefits of Using a CRM

Now that you know what a CRM is, you probably want to know what it can do for your business. 

Any new process that a company adopts takes time to put into practice. It takes training and energy to get everyone on board and up to speed, and it will undoubtedly take time to upload all your current information into a CRM.

You want to make sure that it will all be worth it.

We hear you.

Here are eleven ways that CRM software can benefit your business:

1. Provide a Central Database for all Units in the Company

Once you have your data uploaded, you can give access to the data to anyone you approve. This can be your entire staff if you like. 

A universal program showing all your company’s sales and customer relations cut down on miscommunication between departments. What one department knows, the other does also, all by merely logging into your CRM.

It also provides the opportunity to condense massive amounts of info into one easy to use database. If you created an excellent spreadsheet, kudos to you, but these programs are so smart that even the most organized sales team could benefit.

2. Track Every Stage of the Buyers Journey

If your team uses the CRM in an intended way, this program allows your reps to see all communication between them and the prospect.

This can help your team track them through the nurturing process and seamlessly leads customers through each stage. This will also ensure that no prospect is forgotten or falls through the cracks.

3.Track and Organize Customer Data

You can connect your CRM to your website and track the customer’s visits to the website, even what pages they visit, and if they download documents. It logs their purchase history as well.

This software will document the calls, emails, and any other communication you had with the customer. Logging away any pertinent information that you can use to improve your ability to meet their expectations.

4. Target Customers By Groups

Each customer is unique and should be treated as such. Yet, there are times when it is helpful to place customers into groups to communicate more efficiently.

Perhaps you have an email campaign for each stage of the buyer’s journey. A CRM program allows you to automatically filter your prospects into groups such as location, age, or buyers stage.

This can increase productivity and conversion by targeting your sales in clusters instead of individual communications. It will also allow you to tailor your marketing efforts with effective Call to Actions (CTAs) and personalized content.

5. Monitor Sales

Easily create a sales report with just a click of the mouse. This will allow executives to see the progress made or needed.

It will also help the company track whether specific methods are working or need dropping.

6. Plan Ahead

Using CRM software can help you forecast sales by giving you easy access to data like your monthly recurring revenue and your Year Over Year {YOY) growth.

You will also be able to identify the most profitable lead generator and plan on bulking up that area of sales.

7. Scale as You Grow

All this information allows you to put your efforts in the right direction. No more will you be stumbling about, hoping to see improvements. 

You can be confident with data-backed sales decision making. As your company grows, you can scale your sales operation to match it.

8. Improve Teamwork and Unify Branding

When everyone has the same info and you provide them a common tool to work with, teamwork follows. The use of a CRM allows your sales team to work together toward a goal.

You can also ensure that each rep is being consistent with branding by providing in program links to email templates or other sales tools.

9. Improve Communication Internally

Email threads can get confusing. Messages get lost in translation. Let these programs provide a clear way to communicate within the CRM that won’t disappear on you.

A CRM allows for sharing workload or information by tagging individuals and bringing them into the conversation.

10. Track and Assign Tasks

The ability to assign tasks within the CRM allows management to track the progress throughout the entire project.

How so?

Because the software logs all this data for you.

You can also reassign or bring another teammate into the project easily without having to re-explain since all the data is right there.

11.Automate Tasks and Save Time

Most CRMs take care of many of the manual administrative tasks automatically. This includes data entry, recording conversations, and organizing clients.

With these menial tasks taken care of with your handy software, your team can focus on more pressing tasks like sealing the deal.

Top Five CRM Software for Any Business

There is plenty of CRM software on the market to choose from. To help you decide which would be right for your company we’ve provided this list of the five most popular.

They have been successfully used by thousands of companies already, but which one is right for you is your decision to make. Each shines in its own particular way. 

1. Hubspot

The best thing about this CRM software is that it is completely free for an unlimited number of users. 

This is a cloud-based CRM created by a very reputable name in the marketing and sales industry.

It works well for both small businesses or major corporations and integrates with the other popular Hubspot apps.

2. Pipedrive

Pipedrive is best for international companies. 

Why?

Because it works with different currencies, providing accurate conversion rates.

Your subscription also provides you with a mobile CRM so that you can have it with you wherever you go without having to log into your laptop. 

It also has a handy workflow automation feature. This feature performs specific tasks as the prospects travel through the stages of the buyer’s journey.

Plans start at $12.50 per user per month.

3. Zoho

A little pricier, Zoho plans cost $12-$45 per user per month, but it comes with an AI assistant, social media support, and real-time analytics.

They offer a free plan, but most companies wouldn’t recommend it as it lacks many useful features.

4. SalesForce

SalesForce is another popular CRM that provides you with a mobile app to download and use on the go.

It also provides campaign management and seamless integration with Gmail. The cost of this software is $25 per user per month if billed annually, saving you $10 off the standard fee.

5. Keap

This software is best for smaller teams. If your company only requires a handful of people to run, you’ll be happy to know that this is one of the most straightforward CRM to learn and use.

Easy and simple doesn’t mean it doesn’t have smart programming. This CRM has many sophisticated e-commerce features.

Conclusion

It’s undeniable that the use of a CRM can increase your sales team’s efficiency and improve your marketing results.

All types of businesses use CRMs to adapt to the ever-growing need to find, cultivate, and grab customers’ attention on and off the web.

This tool is invaluable and every company should consider adding it to their toolbox to help drive sales higher than the year before.

Author Bio

Caitlin Sinclair is the Property Manager at VICA with five years of property management experience and many more in Customer Service. She shares her passion for her community and looks forward to making VICA the place to call home.