How to get customers in your business today using CRM.

We have began to look at how your small business can use CRM. As you may recall the CRM is a great way to manage existing contacts. I gave a few items on how to use CRM to grow your business. Now we grow on one specific item. We start with this example:

You have an auto shop that does auto repair. You place a sticker on the windshield as reminder for your customer to come back when it's time for an oil change about every three months. Works great, your customer see's it every day.

Now you have that sticker serving as a retention piece and promoter; but how do you get them back sooner? What other needs do they have that you could serve that the customer might not realize? Enter our wonderful CRM.

Instead of paying money to send reminders via mail of promotions we take full advantage of our CRM software. While the customer is serviced at your store you collect thier information for your database...with integrity and protect it with all you got.  

Now you send emails maybe weekly or monthly. You still run the proven promotions like, "Free tire rotation and Inspection" or  "Get your vehicle ready for winter." But now your sending the promotion in real time and you add a call to action. "For your appointment and no waiting call 505..." You can also send promotions about new services you offer or different services.

 And how much does it cost to send email? How quick does an email arrive instead of snail mail? Win and win...baby thats a win!!!

CRM in all it's glory just got business in your door, reminded your clients your in business and costed nothing for printing and mailing!

Please contact me if you have any other ideas about how you can use CRM and share if you found helpful.

How You can Use Customer Relationship Manager

Customer Relationship Manager maybe one of the sharpest tools you have in the shed. CRM is database software that helps manage client's information. It has many useful purposes in today’s technology driven market.

CRM can be used in your business in many different areas. The first one that most people use it for is contacts. Contact management is huge. Most people spend a career shaking hands and making partners. They lose their phone and have no back up done. Cell phones have cause us all not to commit numbers to memory.

Many sales professionals use some sort of CRM to help them grow their customer base, so should the small business owner. As we meet possible clients we need to know where we are with them in the sales process. CRM allows you to enter the contact, track all your meetings with them, and set follow thorough’s, don’t believe in the term follow-up. On top of that you can set important dates like a birthday or anniversary to help develop that relationship.

You can also use CRM to help run special promotions. You have an existing database of contacts and ready to run. You simply create your document, select your mailing list you created in the software and send.

Next we will began looking at how you can use CRM to market your business.

Are you placing too much focus on your NEXT customer?

Any small business needs new customers to keep growing. The problem is most small business's put so much money in getting new customer's they forget about their existing clients. So here are some good ways to keep a small business growing using your existing customer base and minimize the cost.

First thing is to gather a database. Collect your clients info in a responsible, safe and non-violating manner. Always keep the security of this info on high alert!

Now try a customer loyalty club. This club will receive updates via email with any specials you may be running for existing customers. For example an automotive shop might announce a free inspection and tire rotation to existing customers. Or give the customer an small discount when it's time to get the oil change. I'll be writing more on this idea in the coming weeks. 

Another major way to grow sales through your existing client base is...referrals. This is certainly no new concept.  Here is one easy and simple way to start today. Go to an existing customer and help them. I mean show them how to take full advantage of your services. Find an existing customer with a need for better or more efficient use of your services. You probably have more than enough. After you have showed them the value you provide simply say, "Can I have the names of your favorite suppliers so I may help them like I have helped you?" It seems to work every time, but remember we are looking to help before  we recieve no matter the outcome.*

And lastly a monthly enewsletter. Your up to date on your industry, right? So draw up a monthly newsletter explaining any changes in your field of business. At the bottom include promotional items and coupons. This reminds customers your in business and you send out via email so that means no postage.

We will began looking at a tool we use to help us manage these three activities called CRM...

*More on Referrals try Bob Burg's Endless Referrals or his Go-Giver's.