I've read all of the posts (or so it seems) on which CRM folks use and why theirs is best - at least for them. I've played around with several and I am having a difficult time trying to determine what value they bring, at least for me. So I am curious, why do you use a CRM instead of something simple like Outlook contacts section, Excel, &/or One Note?
- 14,808
Tina calls - one of my clients....possibly on the books for months or even years.
Within seconds I've typed her name into my CRM and pulled up every piece of info - plan details, her family details, etc....
Aside from that, how am I finding all of her info within 10 seconds?
There's a lot going on...or there should be a lot going on. On any given day, working various prospects in various stages of purchase. If one calls, I need to instantly reference my notes of our last conversation.
What's your solution? Excel wouldn't come close. Excel can't send me anniversary alerts - doesn't have an email campaign, etc...
Within seconds I've typed her name into my CRM and pulled up every piece of info - plan details, her family details, etc....
Aside from that, how am I finding all of her info within 10 seconds?
There's a lot going on...or there should be a lot going on. On any given day, working various prospects in various stages of purchase. If one calls, I need to instantly reference my notes of our last conversation.
What's your solution? Excel wouldn't come close. Excel can't send me anniversary alerts - doesn't have an email campaign, etc...
- 5,058
1. Decide what you want your crm to do for you, and what you don't absolutely need.
2. Don't waste too much time on this, many agents should be prospecting instead of wasting time on CRM's, biz cards, websites...etc etc..
3. Lot's of free basic crm's that will fit the bill for 90% of the agents out there.
2. Don't waste too much time on this, many agents should be prospecting instead of wasting time on CRM's, biz cards, websites...etc etc..
3. Lot's of free basic crm's that will fit the bill for 90% of the agents out there.
- 1,271
Then they bring absolutely NO VALUE to you and don't let ANYONE convince you otherwise. I wonder how they ever managed client data before PC.
- 11,519
Strategic Marketing Workshops
Scroll down and watch the video. It's about 45 minutes and well worth your time if you're considering CRM software & systems.
If you have realplayer, you can download the video and watch it in a larger screen.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Outlook CAN work... but it's primarily designed to be a PIM, not a CRM. (Personal Information Manager versus Client Relationship Manager)
In Outlook (and I've spent many hours in a past life doing this), you can use the contact's notes section for all your history notes. You can link tasks to contacts, notes, etc. You can even share those contacts with other people on your network.
So what's the problem?
- Where do you reference policy or account information in a searchable & reportable way?
- What was the source of that lead - so you can determine your best marketing methods?
- Who hasn't been contacted for x months?
- Can you put in an automatic sales sequence that creates tasks automatically to keep you advancing towards a sale each day?
- How do you share this data with multiple users as you expand your operation AND keep track of WHO altered or added data?
- How do you keep track of your pipeline of pending cases?
- How do you compile reports of specific data?
These are the things that CAN'T be done in Outlook or any other simple PIM application. Yes, you can tweak some things, but it generally WON'T do these things.
(Note: Business Contact Manager addin for Outlook adds CRM functionality within a familiar interface. If you use Outlook, I'd get the BCM addin while you can. IT'S FREE! There's another thread on this forum that has that information.)
Suppose you have a client list of over 100 people/households. If you forget to set a task for a particular client... how will you know that you've neglected that contact? A CRM will help you with that. A PIM can't.
Never trust your memory! Always use automated processes whereever you can.
Your CRM needs to be able to do 2 things:
1. Proactive client contact - through email, mail, newsletters, phone
2. Audit trail of client meetings, notes, conversations.
If it can't help you to PROTECT & GROW your practice... (or if it's too difficult to use to help you protect & grow), then you need a tool that will help you do just that.
There are 3 programs that I really like:
1. Outlook 2010 with Business Contact Manager. The price is right (FREE!) and it is easily customizable. I spent about 1 hour and I've got it just about the way I like it. You can use it with every member on your team if you put the database on a central server and install the addin on each team member's computer.
2. Your Insurance Office. It's just great! It's simple and easy to use. However, it does have a modest pricetag with it ($300) and you'll need to pay additional money to expand it for multiple users. Go download it and see how easy it is.
3. PracticeBuilder CRM. I have NOT yet used this. It's expensive (over $1,000 for a single user). What I like about it is the library of forms and checklists that are used to confirm a client's risk tolerances, information being provided is full and correct, etc. There's a specific marketing module that's calendar and event specific. It incorporates scanning modules to store documents within the program. I'm VERY intrigued by this software. As I expand and especially if I form an RIA, I WILL get this software for the enhanced protection components it offers and higher-end outbound communication tools. I may need to adjust certain things about my practice to conform to ensure that I reap the benefits that this software offers. In fact, ideally, I would have an assistant use this software 100% of the time, and I wouldn't even touch it.
Note: I'm also a subscriber of the VSA (Virtual Sales Assistant) and I think it may include all the checklists and confirmations I may want to use. If not, I may suggest it as an additional feature! Of course, I can design my own and save them as templates to use within whatever program I want.
Other programs make you adjust to work with the software. I want the software to be user-friendly to just WORK. I want it easy to update, easy to find information, easy to document notes & attach documents and easy to have it help me grow my practice.
Start with what your budget can afford and is easy to use. Functionality is more important than cost... but cost is an important consideration. Don't spend much time on it initially. Just put in the basic information on your prospects and clients and add to it as you can. Be ready to teach it to someone else - especially if/when you get an assistant.
Scroll down and watch the video. It's about 45 minutes and well worth your time if you're considering CRM software & systems.
If you have realplayer, you can download the video and watch it in a larger screen.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Outlook CAN work... but it's primarily designed to be a PIM, not a CRM. (Personal Information Manager versus Client Relationship Manager)
In Outlook (and I've spent many hours in a past life doing this), you can use the contact's notes section for all your history notes. You can link tasks to contacts, notes, etc. You can even share those contacts with other people on your network.
So what's the problem?
- Where do you reference policy or account information in a searchable & reportable way?
- What was the source of that lead - so you can determine your best marketing methods?
- Who hasn't been contacted for x months?
- Can you put in an automatic sales sequence that creates tasks automatically to keep you advancing towards a sale each day?
- How do you share this data with multiple users as you expand your operation AND keep track of WHO altered or added data?
- How do you keep track of your pipeline of pending cases?
- How do you compile reports of specific data?
These are the things that CAN'T be done in Outlook or any other simple PIM application. Yes, you can tweak some things, but it generally WON'T do these things.
(Note: Business Contact Manager addin for Outlook adds CRM functionality within a familiar interface. If you use Outlook, I'd get the BCM addin while you can. IT'S FREE! There's another thread on this forum that has that information.)
Suppose you have a client list of over 100 people/households. If you forget to set a task for a particular client... how will you know that you've neglected that contact? A CRM will help you with that. A PIM can't.
Never trust your memory! Always use automated processes whereever you can.
Your CRM needs to be able to do 2 things:
1. Proactive client contact - through email, mail, newsletters, phone
2. Audit trail of client meetings, notes, conversations.
If it can't help you to PROTECT & GROW your practice... (or if it's too difficult to use to help you protect & grow), then you need a tool that will help you do just that.
There are 3 programs that I really like:
1. Outlook 2010 with Business Contact Manager. The price is right (FREE!) and it is easily customizable. I spent about 1 hour and I've got it just about the way I like it. You can use it with every member on your team if you put the database on a central server and install the addin on each team member's computer.
2. Your Insurance Office. It's just great! It's simple and easy to use. However, it does have a modest pricetag with it ($300) and you'll need to pay additional money to expand it for multiple users. Go download it and see how easy it is.
3. PracticeBuilder CRM. I have NOT yet used this. It's expensive (over $1,000 for a single user). What I like about it is the library of forms and checklists that are used to confirm a client's risk tolerances, information being provided is full and correct, etc. There's a specific marketing module that's calendar and event specific. It incorporates scanning modules to store documents within the program. I'm VERY intrigued by this software. As I expand and especially if I form an RIA, I WILL get this software for the enhanced protection components it offers and higher-end outbound communication tools. I may need to adjust certain things about my practice to conform to ensure that I reap the benefits that this software offers. In fact, ideally, I would have an assistant use this software 100% of the time, and I wouldn't even touch it.
Note: I'm also a subscriber of the VSA (Virtual Sales Assistant) and I think it may include all the checklists and confirmations I may want to use. If not, I may suggest it as an additional feature! Of course, I can design my own and save them as templates to use within whatever program I want.
Other programs make you adjust to work with the software. I want the software to be user-friendly to just WORK. I want it easy to update, easy to find information, easy to document notes & attach documents and easy to have it help me grow my practice.
Start with what your budget can afford and is easy to use. Functionality is more important than cost... but cost is an important consideration. Don't spend much time on it initially. Just put in the basic information on your prospects and clients and add to it as you can. Be ready to teach it to someone else - especially if/when you get an assistant.
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I use Salesforce.com. I really like not having to worry about software, crashes, and servers.
There are different levels. I use the $60 a year version for contact management. My gf work for Merrill and she swears by it.
I like it a lot better than advisors assistant.
There are different levels. I use the $60 a year version for contact management. My gf work for Merrill and she swears by it.
I like it a lot better than advisors assistant.
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