If you are trying to run a business, make sales, or just manage your contacts, leads, and customers then you need a CRM.
CRM stands for Customer Relationship Manager. Wikipedia simply defines it as ‘the process implemented by a company to handle it’s contact with it’s customers. and that is a fair definition, although it can do much more than that.
You can keep track of sales calls, forecast sales, collaborate on sales, track advertising campaign success, you can even manage email communications with customers or potential customers right through the CRM itself!
I’m going to throw a spoiler in here… If you want to skip reading this and go to the one I recommend it is SugarCRM.
The purpose of this post isn’t really to define what a CRM, I am here to tell you how you can use one without going broke. But of course there is a catch. Let’s look at some of the options out there: (keep in mind, I am talking about realistic options for small businesses)
Salesforce.com – everyone knows about this one. This is a CRM as a service… that is it is hosted by salesforce.com and it’s not cheap. This is a great service though, I have had many people recommend it to me and have recommended it on occasion myself. This option has been touted as the best option for organizing a remote sales staff.
Insidesales – Insidesales.com offers a web based CRM solution that integrates some interesting features such as a power dialer, voice messaging, faxing, recording etc… very interesting, but I have not had a chance to try their free trial yet… but I will when I get a chance.
suradocrm.com – I have heard some good things about SuradoCRM, which is why they are on the list. I have not had an opportunity to try this one yet either. give it a try then post a comment here!
Microsoft – Microsoft makes so many different CRM systems and under so many names I’m not going to bother to list them… If your are interested in finding out about them head over to microsoft.com and check them out. Microsoft CRM systems not hosted solutions, that is they will run or a server you own.
SugarCRM - This is the one. SugarCRM has all the features of the competition. The also have a hosted version of the software for a monthly fee, but the reason this is the one that earns our recommendation is they offer an open source version that they call the ‘community’ version. The only drawback to this software is that it has to be installed on your server… but If you can do that or have a decent IT guy on staff that won’t be a problem. The only other issue I’ve ever had with the system is it can be hard to learn… but, If you have ever used quickbooks you will be used to it. So give it a try.
So again, to emphasize: the winner is SugarCRM.com (but keep in mind the free version is not a “hosted, web based solution” it will require you to install the software on a server)
If use a better one (that is cheap) post a comment and let me, and everyone else know….