Are you tired of managing your business and customer relationships manually with a never-ending list of spreadsheets and sticky notes?
Well, say goodbye to them and start using one of the best CRM software that I recommend!
It can help simplify and streamline all the processes and make it easier for you to build and maintain strong relationships with your customers and grow your business faster.
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To get started with it, let's start with the basics.
What Is CRM?
CRM is obviously an acronym that stands for Customer Relationship Management and it's essentially a system that helps businesses manage interactions with their customers.
But that's just the tip of the iceberg.
The modern CRM software out there comes with a lot of other helpful features that help you with your sales and marketing.
It centralizes all customer data and interactions, making it easier for businesses to keep track of their interactions and provide better customer experiences.
Now there are a ton of CRM software in play with different interfaces, different features, etc. and it is really important that you choose the right one for a better result.
Let's talk about it.
Importance Of Choosing The Right CRM Software
Choosing the right CRM software is very crucial for your business, as it is significantly important for its success.
The right CRM software can help your business increase sales, improve customer satisfaction, and drive growth but with so many options out there, how do you choose the right one?
I would like to help you with that by telling you what to look for when choosing a CRM software for your business. Plus, I will also talk about some of the best CRM software out there that you should be using.
So, sit back, and let's dive right in!
How to Choose the Right CRM Software?
Choosing the right CRM software for your business or specific needs can be a daunting task, especially with so many options available in the market.
But don’t worry, I’ve got you covered!
Here are some general tips that will help you to select the best CRM software for your business or your specific needs:
Identify Your Business Needs And Requirements
This is the most important step in selecting the right CRM software. Think about the pain points that your business is facing and the features you need in your CRM software to overcome them.
There's no point in getting the best CRM software in the world if it doesn't have something you require.
So, identify the problems and look if a CRM is able to solve that issue for you.
Consider The Size Of Your Business And Its Growth Potential
When you're looking at your needs and requirements, it is also essential that you choose a CRM software that can accommodate the size of your business and is scalable based on your growth potential.
If you are a small business owner, probably any basic CRM software with basic features should suffice for you.
However, if you own or manage a larger business with more complex needs, consider more advanced CRM software and probably a CRM that can handle your business size.
Some of them will also offer you custom pricing and other types of help so make sure to talk to the sales team as well.
Evaluate The Ease Of Use Or User-Friendliness Of The Software
One of the obvious things that you should consider but often overlooked aspects of your CRM software is the ease of use or user-friendliness.
The reason you're looking for a CRM software is that you want to simplify things in your business, not complicate it. So it's extremely important that your CRM is easy to use and the interface is user-friendly.
Along with that, make sure that there are enough tutorials, documentation, etc. for the CRM you choose, in case you need to train your employees or partners.
This will help you save a lot of time, and avoid many obstacles. On top of that, you avoid the back-and-forth with the support team.
Remember that the best CRM software usually comes with a very simple, intuitive design and easy-to-follow instructions.
Look For Software That Offers Robust Reporting And Analytics Capabilities
Another thing that you must look for is the reporting and analytics capabilities of your CRM software.
The right CRM software will provide detailed insights into your customers' data so that you can take informed decisions to grow your business.
We all know how important analytics and reporting are these days and I'm pretty sure you have an idea why it is important. So just make sure you don't forget about it while you're making the decision.
However, depending on your location and other aspects, you may also need to make sure that your CRM has the capabilities to deal with regulations such as GDPR, CCPA, etc.
All in all, choose a CRM software that has advanced reporting and analytics capabilities.
Check The Software's Integrations With Other Tools And Services
If you're a business owner, you're probably using a lot of different tools and platforms to run things on your end. And it is crucial that your CRM doesn't hinder your processes or doesn't add extra burdens that need to be handled manually.
You can avoid all of that by simply making sure that your CRM software integrates seamlessly with the other tools and services that you're using.
Being able to integrate your CRM software with your other platforms can streamline your work processes, reduce burdens, and increase productivity.
So needless to say, look for CRM software that supports a lot of integrations or at least the specific ones that you need.
Note: You can also use tools such as Uncanny Automator, Thrive Automator, Zapier, etc. to simplify and automate things in case you don't find your specific integration support.
Consider The Pricing And Whether It Fits Within Your Budget
It's a no-brainer but you have to think about it actively considering all the factors mentioned above.
Don't just look at the annual or monthly pricing label and make your decision, you should probably run a lot of calculations or run the numbers through a spreadsheet.
Think long-term and plan your budget accordingly. I would even encourage you to negotiate a deal if you are looking for a CRM to manage a considerably large size of business.
Many of the CRM out there will be happy to provide you a custom pricing specific to your needs.
That being said, make sure to choose the CRM that fits within your budget and consider all the features you need. We'll talk more about the features in a moment.
Read/Watch Reviews, Case Studies, Etc. From Active Users
Once you figure out which CRMs could possibly be the best fit for you, don't forget to read multiple reviews and case studies by some active users of that specific CRM software.
And of course, you can also watch YouTube videos if it is available but as far as I know there aren't many videos on CRM Software on YouTube. I know because I looked for them myself 🙂
The point is, make sure to learn more about that specific CRM from some of the currently active users and contemplate your decision.
It is most likely that you'll find exactly what you're looking for but it doesn't hurt to be extra careful when you're making a big decision such as choosing a CRM.
Reading or watching multiple reviews, case studies, etc. will give you a better understanding of the software’s capabilities, and customer experiences. Which in turn will help you to make a well-informed decision.
Take Advantage Of Free Trials Or Demos
Most of the CRM in this post and otherwise will have some kind of free trial or demo option. Make sure to utilize them to your advantage.
Before committing to a CRM test it as much as you can.
If it's a free trial then there will be a deadline obviously but I'm sure it would be enough to test out most of the stuff.
And in case they provide a demo account, it will probably be a better option with no limit on how long you can test it. That should probably work in your favor and reconfirm your decision.
Also, apart from the free trial and demo accounts, some CRM also has free plans which could also be used for testing purposes.
However, in some cases, they are very limited so I don't know how useful they would be.
That being said, it won't hurt anyone to test it out anyway.
My point is that you should take advantage of any opportunity available to test the software before making a purchase.
By keeping these points in mind, you should be able to choose the right CRM software that fits your needs and helps you grow your business.
Best CRM Software Of 2024
Now, without further ado, let's take a look at the best CRM software options available on the market right now and see what makes them stand out from the crowd.
My first choice and recommendation for the best full-featured CRM software would be HubSpot CRM. Especially because it's not just a basic CRM but has almost every tool you'll need to grow your business.
It's a complete sale and marketing suite for your business.
This powerful and user-friendly platform is designed specifically for small to large-sized businesses looking for an all-in-one solution to manage their customer relationships and marketing needs.
That being said, it can also be a very good fit for individuals or a small team. But I just feel like it's more targeted toward large businesses and enterprises.
As I mentioned above, HubSpot CRM is more than just a traditional CRM software, it's a complete inbound marketing and sales platform that helps businesses like yours to attract, engage, and provide a better experience to your customers.
With its simple and intuitive interface, HubSpot CRM is fairly easy to use and set up while having all the advanced features that you'd need.
And that makes it a great option for businesses of all shapes and sizes.
Key Features Of HubSpot CRM
Let's look at some of the key features that make HubSpot CRM a great choice for businesses:
Needless to say, that's not all it has but to keep it short I mentioned the ones that I think are important.
Please feel free to check out their official page for a detailed list of features.
HubSpot Pros & Cons
Now let's take a closer look at the pros and cons of HubSpot CRM:
Pros
Cons
And to finish it up, now let's look at the pricing for HubSpot.
HubSpot Pricing
HubSpot CRM is completely free to get started and comes with a range of features and tools to help you manage your customer relationship and marketing needs.
For businesses looking for more advanced features, such as lead management and marketing automation, it offers a range of paid plans starting at $40 per month.
You can check the pricing for the plans and compare them over here.
All in all, whether you're a small business owner or a sales team looking for an all-in-one solution, HubSpot CRM is a great option to consider, especially given it's free to get started.
Other Recommended CRM Software & Honorable Mentions
Here are some of the other CRM software that I recommend using along with some honorable mentions for specific reasons:
Conclusion
To wrap it all up, choosing the right CRM software is an important step for anyone looking to improve customer relationships and drive business growth.
That's why in this post, I've tried to help you out with everything you need to do to choose the right CRM for your specific needs and requirements along with my top recommendations or the best CRM software in the market right now.
As mentioned in the article above, my personal recommendation for you would be HubSpot CRM in most cases. Obviously, it depends on what you're looking for.
And again, in case you're just looking for an email marketing tool, I would recommend going with ConvertKit as it is way cheaper and it's one of the best in terms of that.
Each CRM has its own set of pros and cons, so it's important for you to carefully consider the features and requirements of your business before making a decision.
Whether you're looking for a complete CRM solution or just need a tool for email marketing and selling commerce products, there's a solution out there for you.
I hope that this post has helped you gain a better understanding of the various CRM options available in the market and what they can offer your business.
By taking the time to choose the right CRM software, you'll be setting yourself up for success and building stronger relationships with your customers while rocketing your sales and revenue.
Again, HubSpot is my personal recommendation!
Have anything to add? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.
