So we’re going to close out the year with Getting Clients Month and a little talk about why we have problems getting new clients.

 

Marketing can be complicated, but there are a few, major elements in the mix that, if you’re missing them, you’re slowing your marketing success down before it even happens.

 

This December, we’re going to walk through four.

 

The first? A CRM.

 

So I’m not really big on pushing specific tools. It’s just too easy to jump from app to app based on whatever’s new or popular…especially when you don’t really know what a tool should be doing for your business.

 

But CRMs are different.

 

Marketing involves balancing a LOT of information — contacts, deal size, number of touches, lead source, services discussed/pitched, date of last contact…it’s way too much for one person to hold on to.

 

You try to manage all that on your own and you’re guaranteed to lose track of some great potential clients. Even worse, you can unknowingly walk away from a great prospect that was JUST about to convert because you forgot about them.

 

The solution? A CRM.

 

CRMs do the tracking for you. They keep a list of leads, track contact info, sort lists into subcategories (REALLY important in refining your niche) and more. Some even track deal size and manage emails for you.

 

If you don’t feel ready? Let that mindset go. You’re ready for a CRM right now, even if you’re only entering a couple of prospects.

 

I like Streak for Gmail, but if you want something standalone, Insightly has free and paid options. More robust platforms for freelancers like Dubsado are a nice option too.

 

This week, if you haven’t signed up for a CRM, pick one to get started with. Play with it to get a feel for what you want, and that way you’ll be able to find your ideal solution faster.

 

 

 

Megan