For many start ups, getting a CRM system is only considered once you have already have your operations up and running. However, how you manage your clients’ information and data is one of the early decisions you should make. The most effective way to track your interactions and sales transactions with clients is with a CRM system. There are many CRM systems out in the market so choosing the one that best fits your needs can be a challenge. Here are some points to consider:

Deciding on Your CRM System

For many start ups, early cash flow and financial resources are limited. As a result, an added cost such as a CRM system may seem like a non essential consideration for your business. HubSpot is a free CRM system which can track client engagements in many of the same ways paid CRMs operate. The Hubspot Academy is great way to introduced to HubSpot CRM and its key features that will help enhance how you run your business. The type of CRM you choose will depend largely on the type of business you are operating and the size of your sales team. For example, if you have a larger sales team who will be part of the entire sales cycle, a CRM system such as Salesforce might be a better fit. Another consideration is how you are planning on tracking your engagement with your clients.  You may find yourself working with many different clients. You need to stay on top of each deal’s progress and work towards winning the account. A CRM system makes you more responsive to your client’s needs in a more efficient and timely manner. This increases your chances of closing deals with prospective customers helping raise revenues for your business.  For more information on how to start the HubSpot sales Hub you can also view this video

Paid vs Free Services

Unlike Salesforce, HubSpot offers a free version which is available to any startup looking to put up their own CRM system. Salesforce is used by many different companies around the world (I myself worked for a global company which had all sales reps using Salesforce CRM from around the world) with all data available to be viewed and accessed by employees globally. Salesforce however, is a paid service which means that for every individual sales rep who needs to use the service, they must first purchase an individual license to gain access to their system. A free alternative is HubSpot, which offers a more user-friendly interface and is more organized in how your data is displayed and reported. Both these services can better manage your business and should be at the top of any startup’s priority list.

Features

One feature found in HubSpot is an email integration system that allows you to send and respond to emails directly from HubSpot’s dashboard. This allows you to track your engagements with your clients in a organized manner. It also allows you to run marketing campaigns directly from the CRM to all your known contacts. For more information on the marketing features of HubSpot, you can also view this article.  

Salesforce, in comparison, also offers email integration and marketing campaigns but they have a different interface and operates in different way from HubSpot. Salesforce’s email integration system allows the user to upload emails directly from your inbox into the CRM, but it will not allow you to send emails to your clients from the CRM. When considering any email marketing campaign, you should consider these best practices.

Remember the Goal

The goal of any CRM system is to have a central and secure location to track your client engagements and sales progression to make your business more efficient. This will be the most optimal way of managing your client database to help you run your business more effectively.