|
| Recent Articles |
SugarCRM Releases 4.5 In Beta
SugarCRM released the beta version of its customer relationship management (CRM) software Sugar 4.5. The release adds functionalities like personalized views, internationalization and support for Microsoft Windows Server products.
Successful CRM Implementation Case Study
Recently, a company spent $25 million in CRM system's execution. The company has been one of the leading forest-products companies in the world...
Microsoft Talks CRM, Benioff Laughs Heartily
All that CRM momentum Microsoft has been touting for the forthcoming software-as-a-service CRM Live elicited a chuckle and a "Microsoft is being out hustled by everyone" comment from Salesforce.com CEO Marc Benioff.
‘Tis The Season – Of CRM Mergers
The research firm Gartner thinks the rash of mergers and acquisitions in the customer relationship management sector has only just begun, according to its latest findings. The company believes "the CRM market will continue its consolidation unabated."
Soffront Releases Updated CRM Product
Soffront Software has released the latest version of its CRM software, logically designated Soffront CRM version 8.6.
Top Tips For CRM
Putting the customer right at the centre of the organization is the be-all and end-all of successful Customer Relationship Management (CRM).
Salesforce.com Adds to AppExchange
Salesforce.com's AppExchange has added a few more users.
SAP Unveils New CRM Software
SAP AG has made public the first on-demand/on-premise
customer relationship management (CRM) suite. Dubbed SAP
CRM 2006s, the software was announced...
Marketers Out Of Touch With Customers
On the heels of the previous post, which has some saying "CRM is dead," comes a very interesting article by Barney Beal.
Making CRM Work
Customer Relationship Management (CRM) is a business philosophy, not just a technology - understanding your customers' needs enables you to build better relationships and increase sales.
|
|
08.03.06
Do Small Businesses Need CRM?
 By Leonie Bruning
Let's first define what exactly Customer Relationship Management is. The easiest way is to give an example: Every time you get in touch with a customer or prospect (still to be customer), you want to register the information regarding that contact.
The more you know about your client, the better you can market your product or services in a personal way. You know exactly what your target customers need and want. CRM is a combination of strategies, methods and best-practices to gather this information and organize it in an accessible way.
In former days, it was hard to do, because you had to write it all down and use a rolodex for the contact information, cardboard files to store orders and bills and there were many different places you could archive data. You can imagine how hard it was to retrieve specific information about a client or even worse, make a list of all prospects of the last 3 years that you sent a brochure. It would be almost impossible to select all customers that lived in a certain area, were 35 years of age and had small children.
Nowadays this is much easier to do, thanks to the software we can use. All information is linked to the customer and with a few mouse clicks you can compose any list you want. The software you use to accomplish this is called CRM software.
Coming back to the question "Do Small Businesses Need Customer Relationship Management (CRM) ?", the answer is definitively "Yes". Because, now more than ever, we must compete with the Big Companies. One of the strengths Small Businesses have compared to the bigger companies is the personal relationship we can (and have to) build with our customers. More and more customers expect to be treated in a personal way, in "real life" and online. Even if we send a big mailing (by normal mail or by e-mail), we have to make sure we address the recipient by their own name in the beginning of the letter instead of an impersonal "dear customer". A good CRM system is essential to be able to do that in an efficient way. This does not mean that you have to buy one of those expensive CRM software packages.
Low Rate eCommerce & Retail Plans
 |
|
Most Small Businesses already have the software they need, without being aware of it. I'm talking about Microsoft Outlook. This tool has many hidden features. But most of us only use it for email or the calendar. If you discover it's many flexible possibilities, you will realize how easy it is to stay completely up-to-date on your prospects and clients. You can register all you talked about with your contact, which documents you sent and when, appointment dates and things you have to finish by a certain date and time. Some things are even recorded automatically by Microsoft Outlook.
Using these features is done in an easy way if you have a System you can follow on a daily basis. If you know how to use Microsoft Outlook as a CRM-tool, you can gain hours of time and be totally in control of your sales process.
About the Author:
Leonie Bruning is a passionate international trainer, author, marketer and entrepreneur. She writes books, articles and tutorials to help entrepreneurs improve their business. Click here for your free sample of the eBook.
|
