Your CRM 101 Primer To Selecting & Implementing Small Business CRM Solutions.

So what CRM system is going to work for YOU? This CRM 101 guide will help you hone in on a suitable CRM solution for your small business.

Before you go and turf your Tickler Boxes, Rolodexes, leather bound FiloFax's and spreadsheets,, there are a few questions you need to

ask yourself, before you can begin to answer that question.

CRM's and Contact Managers are very effectively used in virtually every conceivable type and size of industry, from Special Interest Groups (SIG's), NGO's and Non Profit organizations to entrepreneurs, clubs, churches, publications, debt collectors and so on.

Encourage your staff to use the product in their private capacity too. They become a way of life for the users eventually. Your staff will get to learn the software faster as well as better understand its power.

CRM Survival Guide

Are you still unsure as to how to go about selecting the right CRM for you? This critical decision will have a major impact on your business and, to succeed, never mind succeed well, it is imperative you have a CRM plan in place. The CRM Coach has recently upgraded their "CRM Survival Guide", a brilliant resource for those wanting to embark on a CRM project.

The CRM Survival Guide was written with smaller businesses in mind, but bigger companies would also benefit from the read. Just the section on how to negotiate with vendors and consultants would save you enough money and stress to more than justify its purchase. It even includes a master CRM Budget worksheet in MS Excel format ready for use.

As someone who owned a CRM company for over 15 years, it is unfortunate (maybe fortunate!) our customers at the time didn't have this book to refer to - there would have been far less failures, but then we wouldn't have picked up the business from past failed CRM purchases (what we refer to as double-dipping), of which there were many. Check out The CRM Survival Guide..

Who are the users at your company going to be, and what are they going to use it for? Many prospective clients are looking for the system primarily for their sales people. But on delving closer into their requirements they realize that the program can potentially benefit virtually everyone throughout their organization, from accounts to service, such is the pervasive nature of the beast.

Consider your PA's, accounts, HR and customer service. Sit down with your other potential users. Get them to detail how, if at all, they could benefit from a CRM or Contact Manager. You'll be amazed at what'll come out the woodwork.

Don't only consider CRM to manage your customer database, as the CRM misnomer acronym would have you believe. You can look after your suppliers, staff, business partners, friends and any lists or communities of people you need to manage.

Your CRM Database is, of course, the heart of your system. Don't let poor quality CRM data poison your database. Ensure you create a CRM Data Capture Procedure Checklist before you begin populating your database.

One aspect you should spend a lot of time on is deciding how you want to profile the companies and contacts in your database. See then whether this can be properly catered for by the CRM software you are interested in.

Whatever CRM or Contact Management solution you select, the buy-in of your colleagues is essential. My advice on how best to get your proposed new CRM accepted by your colleagues, would be to first of all ensure they are included in the decision process.

This is important! They are the ones that, with your assistance, are going to have to use and make it work after all. What you don't want is your staff resisting a system simply because they feel it was thrust on them by management and is yet something more to learn, but wasn't included in their original job spec.

No matter what your growth plans or vision for the future, a CRM strategy is crucial to your long-term prosperity.

Find out what type of CRM solution is better suited to the needs of your small business:

Hosted Web based CRM Online CRM Solutions

Conventional, Windows based CRM software Inhouse or On-Premise CRM.

Outlook CRM CRM Solutions for Microsoft Outlook

Open Source CRM for Linux, Windows & Mac platforms Open Source CRM

Apple Mac CRM CRM for Apple Macintosh

SMB CRM Solutions Small Medium Business CRM software

Our Top 10 CRM Solutions Our choice of Best CRM Solutions of the above

Now you are getting closer to start calling in potential vendors or their preferred resellers for a CRM presentation or consultation.

Hopefully these guidelines will help you with that decision. There is no doubt whatsoever though, provided you go about selecting your CRM or contact management software prudently, it will prove to be the best investment you have ever made for your business!

This CRM 101 section will be constantly updated and will include a more comprehensive CRM Selection & Implementation Checklist. 

To read a brief history of CRM, click here..

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This page is a CRM 101 Primer for Small Businesses