6 Top CRM for Small Businesses in 2019

Published on: 05 April 2019 Last Updated on: 04 September 2024

Growing your small business in a cost-effective way that increases your brand awareness and attracts more customers is no easy feat.

According to a Statistic Brain study, the failure rate for all companies across the US after 5 years is over 50%.

So how do you make sure you don’t fail? By ensuring your customers are happy, of course. Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems allow you to collect data about your customer’s interactions with your business.

Read on to learn about the top CRM for small businesses.

Why Use a CRM?

Customer Relationship Management systems are a great way to analyze data from various channels. Channels include your business’s website, social media channels, customer support logs, and feedback reviews.

CRM let you see what your customers like about your business’s products and/or services. CRM also allows you to address any customer concerns and better your products/services.

The success of a business, particularly a small business, relies on its customers. That’s why CRM systems are one of the most essential business tools you need in order to grow your business.

Top CRM for Small Businesses:

Find out everything you need to know about CRMs by learning more about the pros and cons of CRM for small businesses.

We’ve compiled a list of 6 of the best CRM solutions for small businesses, check it out now:

1. Salesforce:

Salesforce offers an affordable package whilst still including all of the essential product’s great features.

Salesforce is easy to use and includes key features such as:

Lead generation
Contact and opportunity management
Sales forecasting
Workflow automation

Salesforce is ideal for small businesses who want an affordable CRM.

2. HubSpot:

HubSpot

Be sure to add HubSpot to your list of must-have small business tools. The free version of HubSpot offers CRM solutions for small businesses and includes:

Learning guides
Invoice template generators
Email signature generators
Marketing plan template generators

HubSpot offers a great package for independent contractors and/or small businesses.

3. Agile CRM:

Up next in our top CRM software solution that your business needs are Agile CRM. Agile CRM allows you to:

Store details about 10,000 companies or contacts
Receive support for tracking emails
Set lead scoring and custom deal milestones
Access builder tools for forms, email templates, and website landing pages
Monitor social media

Agile CRM is great for small and big-sized businesses that want a whole range of customer relationship management tools.

4. Zoho CRM:

The multi-channel online CRM, Zoho CRM can collect data from your emails, calls, live chats, and social media channels. It is popular amongst small businesses because of it:

Is easy to use
Offers real-time analytics and notifications for every customer
Allows you to assign individual targets for your team
Features the option to build and automate your sales processes

Zoho Marketplace also ensures that you can increase your business functionality by offering various extensions that can be added to your CRM dashboard.

5. Streak:

Streak

If you are looking to implement a CRM system that is easy to use, you need to get a Streak. Streak can be installed and added as an extension on your Gmail. Streak CRM for Gmail features:

Easy collaboration options (with the ability to easily share contacts and files)
Webhook API access
Mail merge
Ability to manage deals

The streak is ideal for small business owners who are new to the world of CRM and need an easy to use platform to help grow their business.

6. Insightly:

Insightly is great for small businesses because it is an affordable CRM that offers a range of features, such as:

Storage space of 10gb
send up to 2,500 mass emails a day
detailed reports and analysis options
API access
and the ability to import 25,000 records per session.

Insightly can be used by big, medium, and small-sized businesses who are looking for a tool that offers a range of features to better understand their customers.

7. Freshsales:

Freshsales is a full-fledged sales CRM software for businesses that range from startups to enterprises. With Freshsales you don’t need multiple tools to drive sales anymore.

The major advantages of choosing Freshsales are below

Simple UI with powerful features
Detailed overview of leads & customers
Configurable dashboards and reports
Great integrations
It also offers a free forever plan for unlimited users with basic contact management and a built-in phone system.

The Right CRM Software for You:

When choosing from our list of the top CRM for small businesses list, make sure you know what you want from your CRM.

If you want a more basic, low-cost CRM then opt for one that is free or cheaper. Or if you want one that has all the trimmings and helps you understand and analyze all parts of your business, then opt for one that has more features.

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Office Spaces – Which One is Right for Your Business?

There are a number of different office spaces to choose from these days, each offering different amenities that appeal to different industries and businesses and their specific wants and needs. But how do you know what office space or business centre would be right for you and your business? We are here to help! In this article we are going to look at three different office space options, what size businesses they are most likely appeal to, and what they have to offer the businesses that could potentially occupy them: Traditional Office Space The traditional office space is the perfect option for larger and more established businesses who have the adequate cash flow available in order to pay for the large overhead expenses that usually come with these kinds of pricy spaces. Some of those overhead expenses would include insurance, rent, telephone bills, and utilities, to name a few. Perfect for larger teams who need the space, traditional office spaces provide businesses with the resources they may need to hold meetings, conferences, and creative planning sessions where employees need to come together to plan or discuss business, as well as a staff room, kitchen, and other luxuries. A traditional office space, because of its costly overhead, it is not the ideal option for small businesses or start-ups. Read More: How To Choose The Best Printer For Your Office Shared or Co-Working Work space A shared workspace usually comes about when a business who is set up in too large a space, rents out a portion of it to another company or business who is not in the same field as they are or a direct competitor. By renting out a portion of the large office space it helps to lower the amount of money the original business is paying for its rent and utilities, all while being able to keep the space they want and avoid moving. This type of working space is ideal for companies who are looking to save a little extra cash on rent and utilities and don’t mind sharing a working space with another company. A co-working space is ideal for small businesses or start-ups that only have one or two employees working for them and do not have the cash flow to invest in their own permanent space and all of the necessary equipment that they would need (for example desks and chairs). Co-working spaces come fully kitted out with internet, furniture, printing services, and more, and some even include the likes of conference rooms that can be booked on a daily basis and utilized by everyone. Home-Based Office Space An advantageous option for both new businesses and small businesses alike, home-based office spaces have become increasingly popular over the last couple of years – and quite rightly so. With the prices of private office spaces soaring and the need for a more cost-effective option, home-based office spaces have become the choice for many small or start-up businesses who are looking to save on costs for both rental and utilities. However, there are a few downsides to working from a home-based office space, including that there is nowhere to meet with clients, and maybe some employees would not feel comfortable working from your home. However, there is always the option of meeting clients at a restaurant or coffee shop, and taking the time and effort to find the perfect employees who understand the vision you have for your business. These negative points can be worked around in order to get a start-up or small business off the ground and on to bigger and better things. By following the guidelines mentioned above you should find the ideal office space for you and your business, ensuring that you make the right decision and get value for your money. Read More: Making Your Office Safer For Workers Office Spaces – Which One Is Right For Your Business?

Optimize Your Small Business Revenue by Taking These Steps

Making more money as a small business isn’t as straightforward as simply selling more product. There are many different variables that go into any business’s bottom line. The trouble is, finding those variables, and knowing what to do when you’ve found them can be a huge challenge! If you’re looking for a way to optimize your small business revenue without necessarily selling more products, these tips will help you get started. Forecast Future Demand for Your Products One of the most intimidating things any business has to deal with is figuring out how much product to have in the storeroom. Although you may think having more is better than not having enough, having too much can be just as bad. Manufacturing all that product takes money, and if it doesn’t sell, you’ll be out the cash you spent to have it made. There are things you can do to predict your selling forecast as accurately as possible. They include things like: Assessing the success of your marketing campaigns Consider your sales history Knowing the costs associated with customer acquisition Spending extra time preparing before the holidays By making an informed guess at the future demand for your products, you can ensure you don’t make too much, but you can also ensure you have enough in the warehouse, so you don’t have to turn any business away. Forecast Future Trends Not only do you need to spend time figuring out the future demand for your products, but you should also have your finger on the pulse of future trends. Keeping an eye on trends will help you assess the future demand for your products, but it can also help you develop new products that will appeal to new and existing customers. Digital tools can help you do this. For example, you can subscribe to subreddits to discover trends, while Google Trends can show you real-time searches on the world's most used search engine. Don’t be afraid to develop relationships with other professionals in your industry! Although other businesses may be the competition, they can also be allies. You can refer customers to each other, and you can share interesting developments you’ve observed in the market. Dive Into Your Data Although forecasting demand and future trends can be hard, they can also be fun. That isn’t necessarily the case when it comes to diving into your data. Collecting and analyzing data can be tedious, but it is the best way to learn about the hidden details of your business. There are many ways to do your data analysis better, but one of the best tips is to make time to look at seemingly meaningless data. From combing over time-stamped sales receipts to third-party transaction logs, you never know what kind of information you'll uncover! Segment Your Customers You may think you know your customer base, but it’s rarely as simple as it appears on the surface. It’s more likely that you have multiple segments of customers from different demographics with different needs. Segmenting your customers allows you to break down a large audience, enabling you to create marketing strategies that target the pain points of those groups. You can focus your message to appeal to the right people, and test separate messages for different groups. It also ensures you optimize your marketing strategy. By targeting specific audiences with detailed messages, you can increase your ROI. Optimize New Areas of Your Business Chances are, there are some areas of your business that you have spent a lot of time on. It should go without saying that there are other areas of your business that have received very little attention at all. If you want to optimize your business’s revenue, it’s time to start looking at those underappreciated areas of your business. A few things you may want to do to optimize your business include: Update to cloud-based software programs Personalize the online experience Find ways to automate time-consuming processes Work at developing a more robust social media presence Learn about and leverage application programming interfaces (APIs) Make sure your site is optimized for mobile Offer a new way for customers to buy your products Rethink your hiring process If you want to make more money, you can always try and sell more products, but you’re leaving money on the table if that’s the only way you try and increase your revenue. There are many things you can do to optimize the money you’re already making. Read Also: How Customer Success Can Help Grow Your Business Online Marketing: Selling Your Product And Services How to Empower Your Small Business through Digital Marketing?

5 Steps To Launching Your Own Small Business

Commencing a business of your own is a dream for many in such a high-paced environment where competition is always on the rise. However, it is not as overwhelming as it sounds. With the right set of knowledge and planning, one can easily learn how to start your own small business. While you get started on the journey, there are certain things that you need to keep in mind. This article will walk you through the 5 important steps that help you build a brand right from scratch. So, make sure you scroll till the end and discover the unknown business tips. 5 Steps To Follow When Starting A Small Business Before actually starting to build a business, you have to get a detailed analysis of the market, your competitors, and the things that have been trending in this particular niche. If you conduct a thorough study on this, there’s absolutely nothing that can stop you from becoming an entrepreneur. 1. Research All of Your Variables This might seem obvious, but it's really not. Most people understand they need to research how to deliver the services or goods they intend to provide and how to advertise to the right customer base. It goes further, though. The kind of industry you would do best in and the business model that best suits your area and target marketplace are also variables to consider. You might know what you can do, generally, from your skill set, but you need to get specific about what your area needs and where it is underserved if you want to count on bringing in customers quickly. Look at the cost of setting up a company, leasing compared to buying operational space, costs for local advertising, and recommendations for staffing while you are at it. The more knowledge you have going in, the better your chances of success once you get things going. Running a company is all about building consistent processes for regular tasks, and you need research to understand which processes will be productive, too. 2. Assess Your Financial Reach Within any industry, there are players that work as individual professionals or owner-operators, and there are large corporations providing service at volume. Frequently, the latter are the biggest customers for the former. The scope of your company at startup is defined by the resources you can bring to bear. Understanding how much financing you can get with your available assets and capital will help you understand how to set up your company for day-one operation by putting realistic limits on things like equipment, utilities, payroll and the number of employees you can start with. You can make the most of this reach by getting the best small business loan rates you are qualified for, and that takes even more research to discover. 3. Choose a Business Model Once you understand what you can do with your skills, what size company you can afford to start, and where the demand is, the next step is to pick a model of operation. The model is different from the business. For example, you might want to start a restaurant. What kind? Fine dining, carryout, and mobile food service, all have different operations with different processes needed to be successful. Matching your model to your ability to reach customers and meet their needs is just as important as finding raw demand for a product or service. With a variety of options available, it might be a little confusing for you. So sit back, relax, and think about what kind of business will yield you the desired result. 4. Write a Killer Business Plan Writing your business plan is pretty much the last step in the preparation phase before you actually start launching the company. It serves as a roadmap to your goals as well as an important document for lenders to consider when you apply for financing. A well-written plan should spell out enough about your operation to let your key personnel make autonomous decisions in their spheres of influence. That means your managers should not need to consult you when setting up their departments. In solo operations, it means that you should not need to do extra research outside of consulting your plan unless something unforeseen happens. Your plan should describe the major operations, layout marketing tactics to reach the initial audience with demand and to keep growing from there, identify the equipment you'll need, and otherwise cover everything that goes into actually running the company. That makes it a lot easier to put the pieces together. 5. Put It All Into Motion The first step after finishing your plan is usually financing because that gives you the financial reach to start operating. There are just a few cases where that is not the case. Solo operations can sometimes bootstrap basic services to get a little income going by working out of the house or a client's facilities. Otherwise, it's a matter of lining up the money, then buying the equipment and hiring any staff you need. Last comes marketing and launch. It is always a better idea to keep a dedicated portion of your income aside to fund your business, irrespective of its size. Businesses are full of ups and downs, and once you have set foot, there is no backing off. As a result, you have saved a significant amount of your finances to back up your persistent losses. Upon completion of these steps, you might want to allocate a part of your economic resource to bring the necessary equipment for your business. This will streamline your operations and will ensure that your business operates seamlessly. Key Takeaways Starting your own business takes not only a great deal of money but also time and effort. However, it can also be extremely rewarding when done in the right way. Make sure to follow the above steps that will guide you throughout your business-setup process. For detailed insight, you can always consult a licensed professional for business advice. Get started today! Read Also: Essential Investments Small Business Owners Should Make For Long-Term Success Resolutions To Help The Small Business Owners To Avoid Being Bankrupt How You Can Invest In Your Small Business

6 Top CRM for Small Businesses in 2019

Why Use a CRM?