There are currently more than 30 million small businesses operating throughout the United States.
Many of these businesses, including solopreneurs and other very small businesses, are starting to rely on marketing automation tools like customer relationship management (or CRM) software along with email marketing software to help them run their companies more efficiently.
Have you been thinking about investing in a CRM? If so, read on to learn everything you need to know about how to choose a CRM for small business needs.
What Is a CRM?
As the name suggests, customer relationship management (CRM for short) software is designed to help businesses manage all of their relationship and interactions with both existing and potential customers.
CRM systems make it easier for businesses to stay in touch, automate and streamline various processes, and increase their profits. They free business owners up to focus on other projects while still making sure everything gets done on time.
How to Choose a CRM for Small Business
There are tons of different CRM software options, and it’s easy to feel overwhelmed when searching for one. Here are some of the key factors to consider when shopping for a CRM tool:
- Mobile access for on-the-go relationship management
- Fast and simple setup
- Intuitive design
- Easy contact syncing
- Custom reporting tools
- Integration with other programs
- Free, easily accessible customer support
Top CRM & Automation Platforms
Now that you know what to look for, it’s time to start shopping. The following are some of the most well-known CRM platforms you might want to consider:
ActiveCampaign
ActiveCampaign is a solid CRM choice for very small businesses. It’s easy to use and has a very intuitive interface that won’t be intimidating to those who aren’t particularly tech-savvy. It’s moderately priced, too, and is a good fit for those who don’t have a very large budget.
Hubspot
Hubspot is another well-known CRM platform. Many people are drawn to it because it offers lots of features and is, initially, free to use. It can become overwhelming, though, and gets quite expensive as your business and your business’s needs start to grow.
MailChimp
MailChimp was once a popular choice for many small businesses. It still works very well, but some companies are now starting to move away from it.
This has to do, in part, with the fact that all of its growth tools are paid and it can get expensive very quickly, similar to Hubspot. It might not be a viable option for very small businesses with limited budgets.
Groundhogg
Groundhogg is a newer CRM option, but it’s much more affordable than some of the others on this list. It’s designed specifically for WordPress-based websites and offers a variety of useful features. If your site is already running smoothly with WordPress – this is an option that will slide right into your workflow.
Groundhogg comes with a free version as well as paid tools that are worth the investment for growth-focused small businesses.
FluentCRM
FluentCRM is another WordPress-based CRM solution, with a wide variety of integrations out of the box. Like Groundhogg, its free version is quite comprehensive. FluentCRM’s user interface is modern and user-friendly, with all of its premium add-ons included in the entry-level paid license. That’s a big plus for the budget-minded CRM shopper. Keep in mind, as the youngest player on the block, there are still some things for the developers to work out. However, it’s still a tremendous value for a powerful product on its way to becoming a serious contender.
Select Your CRM Today
There’s a lot that goes into choosing a CRM for your very small business. However, there are plenty of great choices on the market. Make time to read reviews so you can select a tool that you will actually use.
Keep the options listed above in mind as you begin your search so you can find the right fit that will help you stay organized, keep in touch with customers, and automate processes so you can get more done.
Want one-on-one guidance on how to choose a CRM for your very small business? Reach out!
