Renée Warren's Blog

Customer Relationship Management (CRM)

March 24, 2009 at 3:08 pm Leave a comment

I call it, Care, Relate, Manage.

Let’s Daydream here:

So you confidently left a networking session and made two new contacts and potential prospects. (Refer to my last post Networking to Get Work). You go home, email those people and develop a relationship. Then, within a couple months, they’re your customers.

Wake up. Now ask yourself:

How are you going to manage and maintain all these new relationships?  You need to consistently follow and track leads.  This process should be inexpensive and time saving.

How can you use CRM effectively?  Oddly enough the same relationship management tools still apply at this stage of the relationship as they do while networking, only you’re way more involved and have more data to track.

Having a CRM system to track leads that come in through networking events, your site or your on line marketing activities is fundamental  if you’re looking to convert those leads into customers or members.  But for companies on a tight budget, especially small business and start-ups, there are only few alternatives to the expensive package.

Here is the reality:

There are many software packages out there that are cheap or free and easy to use.  Here are 4 CRM tools to help you better manage your database.

1. FreeCRM
2. ZohoCRM
3. CiviCRM
4. Salesforce.com Free CRM

Remember: free versions have their limitations. Don’t expect to have access to all available CRM tools and applications with these free packages.

Entry filed under: entrepreneur, small business, small business tips.