5 things to consider before selecting your CRM
I think we can all agree that a great CRM system is a must-have for any business, especially if your business is growing... right?
Don't get me wrong, using something as simple as MS Excel is perfectly fine (in fact I know a lot of businesses who use a spreadsheet system as their CRM, especially if they are starting out and/or they don't have a huge list of clients), but when you start noticing that you're hopping from one document to another for information, or merely trying to work out WTF you wrote down on that post-it note last Friday night when you had that wine, then you know it's time to start thinking about investing in a good CRM system to keep all your info nice and tidy and in the one place!
So, which CRM system should you choose? Heck, I don't know. There are SO many out there for different industries, but I do have a list of things here on my little list for you to go through which just might help you make that decision.
Here are my top 5 things you need to do before selecting your CRM
1. BUDGET
What's that saying... "you gotta spend money to make money". Well,, it's true - but you'd be surprised by the number of CRM's which have a free version that you can use to kick things off. Of course, the functionality will be limited (d'uh), but if you don't need all the things that are on offer for their products which cost money, check out and compare some free options and see if they work for you. However, if it turns out you do need some of the fancy schmancy things like reporting tools or even email integration then you just need to compare and work out how much you're willing to fork out for that luxury (and yes, it's a bit lux to have access to these functions in a CRM). You'll note that a lot of CRM's will offer a discounted monthly amount if you sign up for 12 months straight up - however the catch is that you will need to pay 12 months up front so watch out for that one.
2. SOFTWARE INTEGRATION
Most of us use email on a daily basis, or even text, so it's important to have a think about some of the software or plug-ins that you use daily and whether that's something you would want integrated into your CRM. Things like marketing automation or even invoicing are just some of the things which may be at the top of your list as well. If these are deal breakers for you then make sure you check for these capabilities when doing your research.
3. APP FRIENDLY
How important is it for you to have access to your database of clients while you're away from your desk? Do you want to be scribbling down important information on a post-it note that you're more than likely to lose in your Mary Poppins handbag amongst everything else in there (or is this just my bag i'm referring to?). You can totally remain anonymous, but if this is also you then I highly recommend that you check that they have an app available.
4. PERSONAL TOUCH
Is there specific information about your clients that you want to keep notes on? It could be something as personal as their Birthday or their favourite wine for when you want to send them a gift. Find out if you can personalise things like this if they are important to you.
5. TRY BEFORE YOU BUY
Treat this as an investment and definitely do some testing. Once you're in the driver's seat you will know straight away whether or not this is the right CRM for you to use. Is it aesthetically pleasing? Is it user friendly? Is it too overwhelming? You won't have any of these answers until you give it a crack - and how awesome is it that you get to check it out before you commit?!
Hopefully my tips have given you somewhere to start, but if you want me to help you select the right one for your business then get in touch so we can get all your sh*t organised!
TOB x