So you’re not using a CRM in your business, which probably means you STILL don’t know what a CRM is or does. That’s OK – that’s why we’re here.
You’ve heard about other companies using and benefitting from a CRM, so you know it works… but will a CRM actually help you and your business?
Let’s break it down
- When you keep your customer information in several different places – you are the CRM.
- When you sit down and write an email to a client – you are the CRM.
- When you talk to a client and put a sticky note reminder on your computer – you are the CRM.
- When you jot down notes about a conversation you just had with a prospective client – you are the CRM.
- When you reach out to your past customers and try to drum up more business from them – you are the CRM.
- When you put a fishbowl out at a tradeshow to collect business cards – you are the CRM.
- When you send Birthday cards or notes to your best customers – you are the CRM.
Just because you don’t have a CRM, per se, you are still performing all the functions that a CRM is designed to do for you. You are just doing it the hard way.
A real CRM can do all those things you are doing now, but faster, better, and with greater accuracy. And then that frees you up to do other, more important things that can benefit your business.
CRM software explained
CRM stands for Customer Relationship Management. Basically, a CRM is a software tool to help a business manage its customers: Past, Present, and Future.
What exactly does “manage customers” mean? In its simplest terms, “getting all of your customers organized in the same place” is a great start. If you don’t use a software-based CRM, your customer information is probably all over the map. You may have contacts in Gmail or Outlook, maybe you saved their info real quick and it’s in your Notes app, then of course you keep some older ones in your filing cabinets… both filing cabinets (the one that lives at home and the one you keep in your office), and most certainly do you have important customer information in spreadsheets unorganized on your computer. I think I made my point.
If you just used a CRM to put all of your customer information together in one place you’ll get ahead of the game!
But the value of a CRM goes far beyond using it as a simple Rolodex for contact details. You will keep all of your customer notes in your CRM, it will remind you when you need to do things with your customers, manage your customer communications through email and text messages, automate your marketing tasks, and more.
The great thing about the AllClients CRM is that it is simple to use. You can start small, let’s say just getting everything in one place, and then grow into the CRM over time as you get more comfortable with the technology.
How to know if your business needs a CRM?
Answer these 2 questions…
1. Do you sell products or services to other businesses or to consumers?
2. Does your business have more than 20 customers?
If you answered “yes” to these 2 questions, you need a CRM.
Although I can’t think of any off the top of my head, I imagine there are businesses that don’t sell a product or service. If this is the case for you, you may not need a CRM. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
If you have fewer than 20 customers, it’s possible to manage and keep track of all of your customer activities in your head and do many of the CRM functions without the help of a software tool. (I couldn’t, but maybe you can!)
In short, learning to use a CRM in your business would eventually free you up to do other, more important functions in your business.
RECLAIM your time!
So now that you’ve realized you have been acting as the CRM in your company. Get back that wasted time and let the AllClients CRM do the CRM work for you.
Sign up for a free trial today and reclaim your time.
