How to choose the right CRM – RJ Lewis

RJ Lewis – Planning Out Loud Show

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The Objectives + Opportunities + Challenges Presented.
It's time to talk about CRM. A Customer Relationship Management system is the combination
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Today we're going to explore the software you need to support your CRM.

By the end of our time together you will understand what a good CRM should do for your business and why a CRM as a system is not JUST about software.

🎙 Listen → Apply → Engage

Check.
Understand what a CRM does for your businesses ability to maintain your relationship with consumers.

• keep track of your interactions with all customers,
• understand the impact of your sales and marketing efforts,
• maintain strong relationships with existing customers,
• sell more products and services,
• improve the flow of information between members of your team,
• find and keep new customers.

Think.
The key strategy to identify and implement a CRM system that you'll stick to is to

1. decide what the experiential "hub" of your CRM system is going to be,
   1. common CRM system hubs: email marketing software, dedicated CRM software, and
2. apply your research process
   1. identify your business needs
   2. identify specific software that fits those needs, meets your budget constraints, and define a preliminary set of metrics to track, and
   3. identify your research timeline

A few key gotchas that'll getcha:

• Is this software the hub or central driver in this process or is it a connection within the software stack
• Is there a fixed-price solution or is the system tiered
• Does the company support users by being responsive and iterative
• Is there sufficient reporting available

Act.
Your CRM system launch plan should follow similar guidelines to those you would utilize for any product launch.

1. Identify Your Goals
   
   Possible goals could include, but aren't limited to:
   • Track Leads and Lead Activity
   • Track Customer Base
   • Track Opportunities and Closing Rates
   • Offer Connectivity Between Teams
   • Manage Relationships
   • Generate Customized Reporting
   • Organize Business Operations
   • Increase Profitability
   • Increase Productivity
2. Understand and design the implementation procedure
   • What resources are needed to configure, train, maneuver data, etc.?
3. Provide a roadmap with clearly marked timelines for your implementation team to follow
   
   
   

Resources.

1. Research Marketing and Sales Platforms (CRM)
2. IBGR Community – Agilean Operations Group

Shows.
← Previous show : Episode 8. Making it easy to get paid

• We kicked off our series on critical ERM (entrepreneur resources management) options with an in-depth review of payment systems that will empower (literally) your business model.

🔗 Listen now | Read the show notes

Next show → : Episode 10. Email Marketing Roundup

• We've briefly touched on email marketing as a communications tool, a CRM hub, and a primary sales driver. Is it one of these, all of these, or none of these? Find out next week.

Written by Rahgna J. Lewis
An Army wife and mother of 3 living in the Richmond area of Virginia, USA, RJ is a digital experience strategist.

RJ Lewis Digital is a consultancy that is helping CEOs like you simplify and streamline their business operating system strategy by peeking at the digital systems you use to deliver your programs, communicate with teams, organize workflow, onboard staff and convert lurkers to clients. This agency's specialty is to ALIGN ALL THESE SYSTEMS so you and your company can flourish.

Videos and social media posts are all fun and sexy, but WHAT'S HAPPENING BEHIND THE SCENES IS GONNA MAKE (or break) your company BANK.

Visit justrjlewis.com to learn more about designing a business operating system strategy – an audience-focused digital ecosystem for your business.

Instagram: @talk2rj | Facebook: @RJLewisDigital | LinkedIn: @talk2rj

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