How to Choose a CRM: A Guide for SMBs


Now that you’ve set your goals and gathered input from your team, it’s time to make a list of essential features for your CRM system.

What do you need the CRM to do? This will depend on the specific needs of your business.

At Small Business Bonfire, we prioritize the following features:

  • Contact management & scoring
  • Workflow automation
  • Customizable pipeline management
  • Third-party integrations

Again, this will vary depending on your specific type of business.

CRM Feature Examples

Let’s get into some specific examples. We’ll give a brief description of each feature and highlight why it could potentially be important for your business.

Contact Management & Scoring

This feature allows you to organize and keep track of all your contacts in one place.

You can also assign scores to each contact so that it’s easier to prioritize leads. Some CRMs have AI-powered scoring that will automatically prioritize leads based on their engagement levels.

This feature is great for sales and marketing teams who want to target high-value leads.

Reporting and Dashboards

Reporting and dashboards let you track the performance of your team, campaigns, and other metrics. This is especially useful if you’re looking to maximize efficiency or get a better understanding of customer behavior.

This feature also makes it easy for you to analyze data and make informed decisions based on the results.

Sales Workflow Automation

This feature allows you to automate your sales process and ensure that each step is completed in a timely manner. You can also set up automated emails, tasks, and reminders to keep your team on track.

Automation will save time and make it easier for you to maintain consistency across all stages of the sales cycle.

Lead Management

Lead management features will help you keep track of leads and prioritize them based on their potential value. 

This is an important feature for any business that wants to maximize conversions and make sure they’re targeting the right customers.

Territory Management

If you’re managing a geographically dispersed sales team, territory management features will help you track each team member’s performance. This will make it easier for you to identify underperforming territories and adjust your strategy accordingly.

Email Marketing

Email marketing features allow you to easily create and send automated emails to customers. 

This can be a great way to boost engagement and keep your customers informed about new products or services.

Sales Forecasting

Sales forecasting features help you predict future sales and track performance against goals. 

This will allow you to adjust your strategy accordingly and ensure that you’re on track to meet your targets.

Integrations

Most CRMs have a range of integrations with popular business software such as QuickBooks, Zendesk, Slack, and more.

This feature is a must-have, in our opinion, because it allows you to take data from multiple sources and integrate it into one streamlined system. This makes it easier for you to make decisions quickly and efficiently.

Cross Platform Capabilities

It’s important to choose a CRM that has cross-platform capabilities. This will ensure that you can access your data and insights from any device or platform.

This is especially useful if you’re running an international business, as it allows everyone in the organization to stay connected regardless of their location.

Customizations

You’ll want to make sure that your CRM has customization options. This will allow you to tailor the system to meet the specific needs of your business.

For example, you may need to add additional fields or create custom reports and dashboards. Customizations will help ensure that your CRM is optimized for maximum efficiency.

A Mobile App

A great mobile app can make a huge difference in how you interact with your CRM.

Having an app will allow you to access data and insights on the go, helping you stay connected and informed even when you’re away from your desk.

If this is a must-have feature for your business, we recommend checking out Freshworks. The CRM tool offers 3 separate apps for sales, customer service, and chat.



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