When setting up a Sales and Business Development Program it is crucial to configure and utilize a Customer Relationship Management database (CRM).
Your business will save time and money by taking advantage of functions like surveys, reviews, SMS/MMS texts, emails, task assignments/scheduling, automations, call tracking, configurable landing pages, tagging, website trackers, etc.; these processes will allow you to see what customers are engaging, potential referrals, sort leads by opportunities or interact with documents, etc.
There are a couple types of CRMs. Some of the larger, all-inclusive systems say they are user friendly for smaller organizations, but they are overwhelming and typically too expensive to setup and maintain. Salesforce and Microsoft Dynamics are the most robust in the market, but they are also usually too powerful for most use cases.
Many of the systems that try to position themselves as a CRM are too lightweight and are only really offering parts of the solution. These tools generally need to patch various platforms together to manage a full Sales Program. Things like Monday, Calendly, MailChimp, MailerLite, MailShake, etc. end up just offering scheduling services or mass emailing tools and ultimately you would be missing out on the relationship database and the required reporting from a more traditional CRM.
There are some middle ground options that also come with pluses and minuses. HubSpot is a useful and complete system, but the cost structure and required setup is not ideal. Constant Contact has a lot of automation and reporting, but it is still leaning towards an email platform.
There are free open-source platforms like WordPress, Zoho, V Tiger, Infor, etc. that can give you an idea of how to use a CRM; but they will fall short once you start building out your lead base, prospects and clients.
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