CRM

The Benefits of CRM for Digital Marketing: Unlocking Growth and Customer Success

In today's highly competitive digital landscape, businesses must constantly strive to understand and engage with their customers effectively. Customer Relationship Management (CRM) systems have emerged as powerful tools to streamline marketing efforts and enhance customer experiences. By leveraging CRM technology, digital marketers can gain valuable insights, optimize their campaigns, and build long-lasting relationships with their target audience. In this article, we will explore the manifold benefits of CRM for digital marketing and how it can revolutionize businesses in the digital age.

Enhancing Customer Understanding and Segmentation

CRM empowers digital marketers with comprehensive customer data, enabling them to gain a deep understanding of their target audience. By centralizing customer information such as demographics, purchase history, preferences, and interactions, CRM systems provide marketers with valuable insights. These insights help in segmenting customers into specific groups based on their behaviors, needs, and preferences. Marketers can then create personalized and targeted campaigns that resonate with each segment, maximizing the chances of engagement and conversion.

Streamlining Campaign Management and Optimization

Efficient campaign management is crucial for digital marketers to make the most of their resources. CRM system simplifies the process by offering features like campaign tracking, lead scoring, and performance analytics. Marketers can track the progress of their campaigns in real-time, assess the effectiveness of their strategies, and make data-driven decisions. With CRM, marketers can identify the most successful campaigns, pinpoint areas of improvement, and allocate resources more effectively, leading to higher ROI and better overall marketing performance.

Improving Lead Generation and Conversion

Lead generation lies at the heart of any successful digital marketing strategy. CRM systems play a pivotal role in capturing, tracking, and nurturing leads throughout the sales funnel. By integrating CRM with lead generation tools, marketers can automate lead capture, categorization, and nurturing processes. CRM allows for personalized communication and follow-ups based on individual customer preferences and behaviors, increasing the likelihood of lead conversion. Moreover, CRM helps in identifying high-value leads and directing marketing efforts toward the most promising prospects, further boosting conversion rates.

Building Stronger Customer Relationships

Building and nurturing long-lasting relationships with customers is crucial for sustainable business growth. CRM facilitates personalized and timely interactions with customers, fostering loyalty and trust. With CRM, marketers can send targeted emails, create customized offers, and provide personalized recommendations based on customer preferences and past interactions. This level of personalization helps businesses stand out from the competition and creates a positive brand image. By consistently delivering relevant and valuable content, businesses can deepen customer relationships, encourage repeat purchases, and foster brand advocacy.

Driving Data-Driven Decision Making

In the digital era, data is an invaluable asset. CRM systems collect and analyze vast amounts of customer data, providing marketers with actionable insights. By leveraging these insights, marketers can make informed decisions, optimize their marketing strategies, and continuously improve their campaigns. CRM enables marketers to track key performance indicators (KPIs), measure campaign success, and identify areas for improvement. By basing decisions on data rather than assumptions, businesses can drive growth, increase efficiency, and stay ahead of the curve in the ever-evolving digital landscape.

CRM systems have become indispensable tools for digital marketers, revolutionizing the way businesses engage with their customers. From enhancing customer understanding and segmentation to streamlining campaign management and nurturing customer relationships, CRM unlocks numerous benefits for digital marketing. By harnessing the power of CRM, businesses can create personalized experiences, optimize their marketing efforts, and drive growth in the digital age. As the digital landscape continues to evolve, embracing CRM technology will undoubtedly become a key differentiator for businesses looking to succeed in the competitive world of digital marketing.

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by Nick Loggie

5 CRM Integrations Guaranteed to Boost Your Digital Marketing ROI

If you’re reading this, you’re probably familiar with CRM systems and might even be using one already, but did you know that there are hundreds of thousands of integrations out there that could be making your life easier?

Thanks to handy dandy APIs, most customer relationship management systems are fully customizable to suit your needs.

Maybe you would like to integrate your CRM with an external platform or maybe you want to automate certain mundane, internal processes. There is virtually no limit to what these integrations can do to maximize your marketing (and sales) performance. 

So finally, the question you’ve been waiting for - what are some of the best CRM integrations on the market?

Our top picks for CRM marketing integrations

1. Surfe (ex-Leadjet)

For the revenue teams out there, this one’s for you. (You can thank us later). 

Building prospect lists and connecting with business professionals on LinkedIn is fairly simple, but transferring all of this data to the CRM can be time consuming and inefficient - which is where Surfe comes into play. 

Surfe builds a bridge between your CRM and LinkedIn, saving you time when building contact lists and enriching prospects for your next digital marketing campaign. Say goodbye to bounceback emails and hello to Surfe.

Top features

• Synchronize LinkedIn interactions, messages, and data to the CRM
• View and update HubSpot, Salesforce, Copper, and Pipedrive pipelines from LinkedIn
• Embed custom fields in LinkedIn
• Enrich LinkedIn prospects (phone and email) and export contact lists to the CRM
• Receive notifications when CRM data becomes stale (and update it with one click)
• Assign notes and tasks to LinkedIn profiles
• Customizable message templates

With Surfe, you never have to worry about copy and pasting information or switching tabs to update your CRM again. The extension takes all of the grunt work out of customer relationship management so you can reallocate that time into prospecting, creating engaging content, and boosting those conversion rates.

The LinkedIn Chrome extension connects to HubSpot, Salesforce, Salesloft, Pipedrive, Copper, and Sales Navigator and has been downloaded over 9000+ times on the Chrome Web Store.

Pros: Highly customizable to suit your needs, ensures 100% data accuracy in the CRM, can be rolled out across teams to standardize CRM data

Cons: Limited to the LinkedIn interface, only available for HubSpot, Salesforce, Salesloft, Pipedrive, Copper, and Sales Nav users

Pricing: Starts at €23 per month. (Free plan available)

2. Seventh Sense 

Limited to HubSpot users, but a serious must have if HubSpot is part of your marketing tech stack.

Sending out email campaigns is risky. Bouncebacks and failed deliveries can cut your chances of success in half before even reaching the intended recipient - but not for long. 

Seventh Sense uses artificial intelligence to bring precision to your email marketing campaigns. The integration can actually detect the hours that your prospect is most active on HubSpot and trigger the campaign to be sent during this time window to increase the likelihood of reception and engagement.

Top features

• Email engagement metrics
• Artificial intelligence for deliverability optimization
• Staggered email sending
• Editable email blasts

With Seven Sense, your open and click through rates are bound to skyrocket. Send out email campaigns with confidence, knowing that you’ve maximized the chances of your recipient receiving your message.

As of right now, Seventh Sense only connects with HubSpot and Marketo, but hopefully there will be more CRM integrations in the future!

Pros: Allows mass email campaigns to be tailored to a users specific needs, prevents email throttling

Cons: Isn’t compatible with date-based workflows in HubSpot, limited to HubSpot users

Pricing: Starts at $64 per month. (No free trial, but Split Test Automation and Deliverability Audit tools are free)

3. Jotform

Collecting data and insight from your consumers has never been easier.

Multi channel marketing has slowly become an industry standard over the past decade. Information is constantly being thrown at us from all different directions, and without a centralized place to harness this data, it’s essentially useless.

Whether it be for decision making purposes, feedback, or simply furthering the day-to-day activities of your operation, Jotform is a great tool that simplifies the processing of information. Not only does Jotform handle the acquisition of data, but it also synchronizes the responses to your CRM so that you can take action immediately.

Top features

• Templates
• Google Analytics data tracking
• Data submission export
• Custom CSS
• Email validation
• Electronic signatures
• Payments, subscriptions, and coupons

With hundreds of pre-made templates and a very intuitive interface, Jotform makes it easy (and fun) to collect information. The tool is not limited to forms, but can also be used to build online stores, apps, tables, reports, PDFs, and more.

Jotform connects to almost 20 CRMs with HubSpot, Pipedrive, Salesforce, Zoho, Keap, and Zendesk being the most popular.

Pros: Versatile in terms of functionality, mobile responsiveness and app, very engaged support team

Cons: Must upgrade plans to increase your monthly submission limit and add users

Pricing: Starts at $29 per month. (Generous free trial and free plan available)

4. Modjo

Conversational insights don’t have to be exclusive to your sales teams.

Having a call with one of your prospects or clients is one thing, but being able to extract the right information and use it to guide your marketing decisions is another.

Modjo is a conversational analysis tool that can be used to collect insights from your calls with prospects, clients, partners, and more! With Modjo, your conversations will be analyzed and evaluated with all relevant data being recorded in the CRM automatically.

Top features

• Record calls and transcribe conversations
• Identify which topics were most prevalent in a call
• Track how much time was spent discussing each topic
• Access your sales pipeline as you speak
• Organize calls by subject and team in your library
• Take notes during calls

With Modjo, you can quickly identify the habits of your most successful performers and use the recordings and transcriptions to mirror them. Thanks to the video recording software, you don’t have to worry about forgetting what was said and can use the insights to optimize your performance.

Modjo connects to CRMs such as HubSpot, Salesforce, Pipedrive, Zoho, Sellsy, and Zendesk.

Pros: Fosters collaboration, connects with common tools such as Slack, Zoom, and Google Meet (not limited to CRMs)

Cons: Limits privacy, transcription is not always accurate

Pricing: Quote provided upon request. (No free trial or free plan available)

5. MadKudu

Quickly determine who’s hot (and who’s not) amongst your website visitors.

Imagine being able to deliver a customized experience to all of your prospects.

Instead of wasting time and energy on trial users that aren’t likely to convert, MadKudu helps you prioritize your leads so that you can focus on the most engaged visitors. The best part is that you can set your own criteria to determine how you rate individual users.

Top features

• Lead scoring
• Predictive models based on data analytics
• Website visitor tracking
• Customer profile enrichment
• Forecasting
• Data import

MadKudu optimizes the consumer journey by adapting your website in real-time to respond to a visitor’s overall fit and likelihood of conversion. In doing so, you can encourage the most qualified leads to take immediate action.

MadKudu integrates with HubSpot and Salesforce and can be connected to various other apps using an API key.

Pros: Connects with many apps via API, constantly releasing new features, very engaged support team

Cons: Behavioral modeling can be slow at times, expensive for individual users

Pricing: Starting at $1999 per month. (Free for HubSpot users *up to 100 contacts*)

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by Nick Loggie

Tips for Choosing the Right CRM Tools

Shortly, new digital marketing platforms such as customer relationship management (CRM) solutions have emerged with the incessant technological breakthroughs. Various cost-efficient techniques have been launched to optimize the client interaction approaches of businesses. New sales opportunities and lead discoveries have also materialized, allowing better real-time performance outgrowth. 

Today’s market offers more CRM software options. It has become critical to select and decide which is best suited for your organization. In this article, you will be guided with several helpful tips for choosing the right CRM tools. The following is an overview of its meaning and importance, to begin with.

What Is a CRM Tool and Why Does It Matter?

A CRM tool is a program or application designed to assist organizations in attaining their goals and maximizing their productivity. It facilitates a centralized client database that can be used as a future selling basis and cost reduction guide. It helps in obtaining new leads, which may be converted into sales and subsequently boost the company’s conversion rates. Additionally, it delivers the potential to identify customer behavioral factors and keep up with the latest industry developments.

An effective CRM software is extremely beneficial and can help you gain a competitive advantage, It is possible for you to develop Superior Marketing Strategies that can Out-Class your peers They do not, however, offer you the same components and functionalities. They are fundamentally classified into operational, analytical, and collaborative types. On the other hand, they have two deployment options, which are on-premise and cloud-based.

Tips for Selecting the Best CRM Tool

With the rapid innovation shifts and ever-expanding customer bases, businesses must keep up with the latest trends. Companies no longer depend on the time-consuming and complex manual work of handling purchase dealings. CRM platforms have practically replaced paper works and electronic spreadsheets for small-sized to large-scale enterprises. Plausibly, it is expected to result in several positive outcomes like improved brand recognition and strengthened consumer loyalty.

Furthermore, the need for CRM tools is increasing globally due to the rising demand for automated buyer interactions and digital operations movement. Firms are adopting client engagement strategies as the importance of understanding their audience grows. Without a defined approach, though, you may arrive at the wrong solution. Hence, based on the list of 10 best CRM tools in 2022, you may apply these tips in selecting the ideal CRM solution.

Identify Needs and Business Objectives

One of the first steps is to identify and understand your company's goals in using CRM tools. Define the expected benefits and the difficulties you expect it to solve. If you want to expand your client base, for example, you need a CRM application that facilitates the addition of new customers. At the same time, it should provide insights into how buyers connect and interact with your business.

Learn the Types of CRM Tools

Generally, there are three types of CRM tools available in the marketplace. Operational CRM programs are purposely built to reduce the complexity and increase the efficiency of your workflows. Analytics CRM platforms, on the other hand, are particularly designed to support you in collecting and evaluating your target audience data. Last but not the least, collaborative CRMs applications are specially structured to help you integrate information from sales, marketing, and support services.

Determine the Deployment Option

CRM software with cloud computing eliminates the need for a local server, in-house IT staff, and excessively high initial costs. Anytime you need to access or process client information, all you have to do is sign in to any internet-connected device. An on-premise, hosted CRM program, on the other hand, has a physical server in your workplace. It gives you full control of the platform, ensures data security, and removes subscription costs.

Assess the Ease of Use

Figure out if the CRM tool is convenient by trying to put yourself in the end user’s seat and assessing its usability. A good example is a sales representative who is pressured daily to meet or surpass their sales quota. If they fail to reach their target, it makes no difference what CRM program management proposes they use. They will instead resort to whatever method they know will get the job done.

Search for Possible Integrations

When you invest in a CRM tool, you are not simply acquiring another program. You are purchasing software that will help your company run more smoothly and efficiently. Inspect how well the CRM platform can easily integrate with the other applications your firm regularly uses. You would want to concentrate on closing deals and being productive instead of wasting time connecting your CRM platform with the other systems.

Ensure Information Security and Support Services

Data security should be crucial in choosing your CRM tool. Verify that it applies safety measures, such as encryption, to protect user information. Furthermore, look for a vendor that offers round-the-clock assistance and focuses greatly on customer care. Support services must be available during your operation hours.

Check for Mobile Accessibility

It is essential to give extra consideration when selecting a mobile version of a CRM tool for your enterprise. If you intend to use your CRM regularly, make sure it is accessible and easy to navigate on a mobile device. It does not have to be as sophisticated as its desktop program, but it should be simple to use that users will not feel stressed and annoyed. Hence, you can never miss any opportunity and stay in touch with your customers even when you're on the go.

Look for a Backup Function

Contingencies, such as human error and natural disasters, must be measured while implementing CRM tools. In cases where the risk of data loss is unmanageable, you should look for CRM solutions with a backup feature. It will enable you to recover any lost relevant information and prevent disruptions in your business operations. As a result, you may maintain your company’s stability and profitability.

Consider Scalability

Ideally, you want to go with a CRM tool that can scale as your business does. Examine first what your long-term projects are and know the direction of your firm. Afterward, verify whether the CRM software provider you have chosen can deliver necessary future upgrades and offer CRM package choices that meet your budget. Moreover, it should be simple and ready to customize to deliver a better customer experience.

Analyze and Compare CRM Vendors’ Pricing and Costs

To compare and analyze CRM tool prices, first, determine which functions are most vital to your business, then eliminate those that are not. For instance, if you want to carry out automated marketing tasks, you will need an email tracker, a scheduler, and a social network account management feature. If the vendor does not provide them, exclude them from your list. Subsequently, you can narrow down your alternatives based on service quality.

Try Out Free Trial Versions and Available Demos

Look for a CRM tool that offers a free trial or demo while including all the functionalities you need. It should provide a generous number of days to try it out if possible. Thereafter, organize a test group comprising members from each department who will utilize the CRM software. One or two representatives should participate to convey the most thorough feedback from clients.

All-Important Features of CRM Tools

CRM tools support various aspects of client relationship management, such as task automation and consumer data processing. Ultimately, they help companies bring out their highest level of performance surpassing their competitors. A recent study shows that CRM solutions have delivered an excellent return on investment to businesses wherever it has been implemented. However, it is important to consider these key features when choosing an appropriate CRM software.

Contact and Lead Management

Using CRM's contact and lead management feature, all client contacts and engagements are presented in a timely way. New leads may be entered into the platform both automatically and manually. On top of that, it shows where in your processes you may improve your customer relation strategies.

Sales and Marketing Automation

Sales automation enhances prospect follow-ups and customer retention. It lets you evaluate client interactions to optimize your selling techniques. Marketing automation, on another note, upholds the interests of leads, possibly converting them into buyers. As a result, the marketing and sales departments no longer need to do the same tasks repeatedly and maximize their efficiency.

Real-Time Reporting and Custom Dashboards

Time is wasted whenever a report must be compiled in a spreadsheet or an analyst is called upon for every up-to-date statement. A CRM tool with custom dashboards and real-time reporting is a great way to increase efficiency and productivity. You can create individualized reports in bulk, upload protected data with ease, and connect the necessary applications.

Email Tracker

A CRM tool’s email monitoring feature enables you to track your leads instantly. It will notify you whenever your email message and link are opened. As a result, it will help you observe which emails are read, which links are followed, and which files are downloaded.

Setting New Standards with the Right CRM Tool

Selecting the best CRM software involves in-depth research and detailed planning. Every business has its unique CRM requirements, so there is no universal solution. Make sure you don't forget anything important, especially your company's needs and long-term objectives. Hopefully, following the tips for choosing the right CRM tools provided above should help you set new standards for your company’s performance towards success.

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by Nick Loggie

How to Choose the Right HubSpot partner for your Business Needs?

When it comes to finding the right HubSpot partner for your business, there are a lot of things to consider. But don't worry, this article is here to help.

In this guide, we'll give you tips on how to choose the right partner for your needs, as well as a list of our certified partners. So whether you're looking for someone to help you with inbound marketing, sales enablement, or even just training and education, we've got you covered.

When you're ready to take your business to the next level with HubSpot, make sure to choose a partner that can help you achieve your goals. 

What is Hubspot?

HubSpot is a leading CRM, marketing, sales consulting, and customer service platform. Their software is used by over 80,000 companies in more than 100 countries. 

The HubSpot platform helps companies grow better by attracting, engaging, and delighting customers. It's used to drive website traffic, generate leads and customers, and grow businesses of all sizes. 

What Does a HubSpot Partner Do?

A HubSpot partner helps companies use the HubSpot software to reach their business goals. They offer services like strategy, implementation, training, and support. 

Certified partners have been through a rigorous certification process and have proven their expertise in the HubSpot software. They're also backed by the resources and support of HubSpot. 

How Does One Become a Hubspot Certified Partner?

To become a HubSpot certified partner, agencies must pass a two-part exam that covers both the inbound methodology and the HubSpot software. Agencies must also have at least one certified staff member. 

What are your business goals?

The first step in choosing the right HubSpot partner is understanding what your business goals are. What are you trying to achieve with HubSpot? Do you want to drive more traffic to your website? Generate more leads? Increase sales? Once you know what your goals are, you can start looking for a partner that specializes in helping businesses achieve those specific objectives.

What services do you need?

Another important consideration is what services you need from your HubSpot partner. Do you need help with inbound marketing? Sales enablement? Or are you looking for someone to provide training and education on how to use HubSpot? Once you know what services you need, you can start narrowing down your options.

What's your budget?

One of the most important factors to consider when choosing a HubSpot partner is your budget. How much are you willing to spend on services? Be sure to get an estimate from each partner before making a final decision.

What Can Hubspot Offer for Your Business?

Now that you know how to choose the right HubSpot partner for your needs, let's take a look at what HubSpot can offer your business. HubSpot is a powerful marketing and sales platform that can help you drive more traffic to your website, generate more leads, and close more sales. But that's not all. HubSpot can also help you improve your customer service, increase customer loyalty, and much more.

Inbound Marketing

One of the most popular services offered by HubSpot partners is inbound marketing. Inbound marketing is all about attracting strangers to your website and then converting them into leads and customers. If you're looking to drive more traffic to your website and generate more leads, an inbound marketing agency can help.

Sales Enablement

Another popular service offered by HubSpot partners is sales enablement. Sales enablement is all about helping sales teams close more deals. If you're looking to increase sales, a sales enablement agency can help.

Training and Education

If you're not sure how to use HubSpot, or you want to learn more about inbound marketing and sales, a training and education partner can help. These partners offer courses and workshops on everything from the basics of using HubSpot to more advanced topics like lead generation and conversion optimization.

How to Find the Right Hubspot Partner?

Now that you know what to look for in a HubSpot partner, it's time to start your search. You can find a list of our certified partners on Hubspot's website. Just click on the "Partners" tab at the top of the page and then select "Find a Partner."

You can also search for partners in your specific industry or region. Just use the filters on the left-hand side of the page to narrow down your options.

Once you've found a few partners that you're interested in, reach out and ask for more information. Be sure to tell them about your business goals and what services you're looking for. They should be able to give you a customized proposal that outlines their services and how they can help you achieve your goals.

How to choose the right HubSpot partner for your business needs

Not all partners are created equal. When choosing a partner, consider their size, location, services, and specialties. 

Size: Do you want to work with a big agency or a small team? There are pros and cons to both. Large agencies have more resources and may be able to handle more complex projects. Smaller teams may be more nimble and better able to personalize their service. 

Location: If you have a global audience, you'll want to choose a partner that has experience working with companies in your industry and region. They'll be familiar with the cultural nuances and local regulations that could impact your business.

Services: What services does the partner offer? Do they specialize in inbound marketing, sales enablement, or customer success? Make sure to choose a partner that offers the services you need. 

Specialties: Does the partner have any specialties? For example, some partners specialize in working with companies in specific industries such as healthcare, manufacturing, or technology. Others may have specialties in certain types of projects such as website design or lead generation. 

Now that you know what to look for in a HubSpot partner, it's time to start your search! Here are a few of our certified partners that we recommend:

The Good

The Good is a HubSpot Platinum Partner that specializes in helping businesses with inbound marketing, sales enablement, and HubSpot education. The Good is a HubSpot Diamond Partner, which means they currently have the highest level of certification from HubSpot.

In addition to inbound marketing, The Good also offers sales enablement services. We'll work with you to create a sales strategy that helps your team close more deals. 

IMPACT

IMPACT is a HubSpot Gold Partner that offers inbound marketing, sales enablement, and training and education services. They specialize in helping businesses achieve their marketing and sales goals. In addition to HubSpot, they also offer training and education services for Salesforce and Marketo.

If you're looking for a partner that can help you with inbound marketing, sales enablement, and HubSpot education, IMPACT is a great option.

WebMarkets

WebMarkets is a HubSpot Gold Partner that specializes in helping businesses with inbound marketing and lead generation. They have a team of certified inbound marketing experts that can help you attract more leads and close more sales.

Web Canopy Studio

Web Canopy Studio enables small and medium-sized businesses to design and drive traffic for their websites using SaaS website design and inbound marketing. The web canopy studio Website is an inbound marketing and website design company that specializes in creating websites for its clients to attract new visitors.

Marketing Maven

Maven Marketing Group is a digital marketing firm based in San Antonio, Texas that offers website upkeep services, web design packages, and other digital marketing services to clients all around the world. 

Maven has a team of HubSpot-certified experts that can help you with inbound marketing, website design, and lead generation. 

Media Junction

Media Junction is a top-tier HubSpot partner known for building custom websites that get results. It is a StoryBrand Certified Agency offering branding & marketing.

Do You Really Need a Hubspot Partner for Your Business?

If you're not sure if you need a HubSpot partner for your business, ask yourself these questions:

1. Do you have the internal resources to manage your HubSpot account? 

2. Are you struggling to generate leads and close sales? 

3. Do you need help with website design or inbound marketing? 

4. Do you want to improve your sales process? 

5. Are you looking for training and education on how to use HubSpot? 

If you answered yes to any of these questions, then working with a HubSpot partner could be a good option for your business. A partner can help you get the most out of your HubSpot investment and achieve your marketing and sales goals.

When it comes to choosing the right HubSpot partner for your business, there are a lot of things to consider.

In this guide, we've given you tips on how to choose the right partner for your needs, as well as a list of our certified partners. So whether you're looking for someone to help you with inbound marketing, sales enablement, or even just training and education, make sure to choose a partner that can help you achieve your goals. And if you're not sure where to start, reach out to a sales consulting team for help.

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by Nick Loggie

How to Empower CRM with 3rd party integrations

For 26 years of partnership with over 10 CRM software leaders like SalesLogix, Salesforce, and Microsoft Dynamics, I understood one thing – no system is perfect. Most of them sell a decent set of out-of-the-box features for sales and marketing automation. However, all need further configuration and functionality face-lift or additional CRM integration services. 

The easiest way to turn your CRM into a lead-generation tool is to enhance it with third-party systems. Of course, each business has its own unique needs. For example, a commercial real estate broker will need a quite different CRM functionality than a lawyer. But there are also absolute must-haves that all companies need, regardless of their industry. 

But, before jumping to my featured list of necessary integrations, I’ll explain what CRM integration is and what benefits it may bring. 

What is CRM Integration?

A CRM integration stands for connecting your CRM system with third-party applications. Thanks to this you can join processes of various teams in different locations under one platform. You can centralize your data flows and add necessary functionality like:

• Task management, 
• Billing and invoicing, 
• Meeting scheduling etc.

There are three main ways to synchronize third-party solutions with a CRM system:

• You can use an API (application programming interface) CRM integration approach. Most CRM market giants like Salesforce or Hubspot already have an app marketplace within the CRM ecosystem. It has a pool of ready-to-install plugins, both free and paid,
• You can use connector services like Zapier or Workauto,
• You can integrate systems via a custom code.

In this blog post, I’ll talk about the most stress-free approach – API-based integrations and their benefits. Unfortunately, not all CRM systems are created equal, and not all can integrate easily with other systems. That's why you should look for ones that have it. 

Why Is CRM Integration Important?

A CRM integration with third-party solutions helps simplify communication between disparate systems and get faster access to all necessary customer data. 

Besides that, you can: 

• Streamline corporate processes and workflows,
• Unify access to the system functionality via the CRM interface,
• Synchronize data across the systems,
• Enhance collaboration via a better exchange and storage of the documents, 
• Improve tracking of clients’ interactions and buyers’ journey.

9 Absolute Must-Have CRM Integrations 

For 26 years of observing the CRM market and analyzing our clients' needs, I've seen a tendency in the most-requested third-party tools.

1. CRM Email Service Integration

This is one of the most requested CRM integration from our clients. It enables:

• Continuous communication with customers and prospects,
• Sending cold pitches, 
• Faster answering prospects’ questions and more.

Popular email service solutions to integrate: Gmail, Outlook.

Important features: 

• Syncing of contact data between your CRM and inbox, 
• Creation of email templates and a series of emails,
• Automatic sending of personalized onboarding / reminder emails and notifications
• Creation of new leads or contacts in your CRM system for incoming messages from new email addresses and outgoing messages to new email addresses.

2. Email Marketing Platform Integration

CRM integration with email marketing platforms allows you to:

• Execute your email marketing strategy,
• Create and send bulk emails, custom email campaigns, and email series to your clients and subscribers.

Popular email marketing tools to integrate: Mailchimp, Constant Contact, Active Campaign.

Important features: 

• Exporting personal information and email addresses from a CRM system into mailing lists, 
• Adding customers or leads to scheduled email campaigns, 
• Simplified creation of custom email campaigns based on certain criteria,
• Triggering of messages based on certain criteria. For example, when an opportunity or a deal reaches a particular stage.

3. Calendar Integration

CRM integration with calendars enables scheduling events with prospects and clients using contacts in your CRM.

Popular calendar tools to integrate: Google Calendar, Outlook Calendar, Apple Calendar, Calendly.

Important features: 

• Setting up meetings without leaving your CRM, 
• Automatic sending of invitation link to event participants, 
• Simplified adding and sharing of notes about the meeting.
• Smooth integration with video communication tools via the calendar.

4. Social Media Integration

This CRM integration empowers your team with tools to:

• Manage your company’s social media presence, 
• Communicate with customers, 
• Set up your social media campaigns.

Common social media tools to integrate: Sprout Social, Hootsuite, Buffer, Oktopost.

Important features: 

• Creation and scheduling of posts on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter without leaving the CRM system, 
• Joint tracking of insight into your social media audience and what content they engage with and share,
• Automation of the social media posting process using details available in your CRM,
• Streamlined retrieval of social media details and adding them to CRM contact records,
• Adding leads to social media audiences for social advertising.

5. CRM Telephony Integration

This CRM software integration enables your team to track calls made by sales and customer service teams and analyze this data. 

Popular telephony tools to integrate: RingCentral, Twilio, Vonage, CloudTalk.

Important features: 

• Making and tracking calls,
• Recording calls, 
• Adding new contacts into the CRM system, 
• Tracking of call statistics, history, and reporting.

6. Team Collaboration Portals Integration

CRM integration with business collaboration systems allows users to stay in touch and synchronize activities with all team members.

Popular team collaboration tools to integrate: Slack, Microsoft Teams, Box, Workplace from Meta, Google G Suite.

Important features: 

• Chatting, 
• Exchanging files, 
• Creating project-specific channels and groups, 
• Video conferencing and their recording, 
• Real-time notifications.

7. Electronic Signature Apps Integration

CRM system integration with electronic signature apps (aka eSignature or digital signature apps) helps:

• Sign and send documents in a couple of seconds, 
• Streamline the sales process and closing of the deals.

Popular eSignature tools to integrate: DocuSign, HelloSign, eSignatures.io, SignWell

Important features: 

• Secure eSignature process and data storage,
• Document editing,
• Custom templates,
• Ability to manage documents for many businesses,
• Reminders and notifications of outstanding signatures.

8. SMS Marketing Software Integration

With this third-party system integration, you can empower your CRM software to increase engagement with your brand by delivering timely, personalized messages to customers’ mobile devices.

Popular SMS marketing tools to integrate: Sendinblue, EZ Texting, SMS-Magic, SimpleTexting

Important features: 

• Bulk SMS messaging for sending numerous promotional texts,
• An opt-in opportunity for new subscribers,
• Permission-based subscribe links within campaign messages, 
• Tracking of interaction data related to each SMS campaign,
• Analysis of SMS marketing efforts.

9. Live Chat Integration

This CRM integration helps you:

• Chat with customers in real-time, 
• Quickly respond to customer inquiries through your website, 
• Log all the communication details directly into CRM. 

Popular live chat tools to integrate: MobileMonkey, Pure Chat, Freshchat, Tidio

Important features: 

• Combination of a live chat with a chatbot to automate answering the most frequently asked customer questions,
• Real-time chat support to sign people up for ongoing marketing communications,
• Integration of the opt-ins, signups, and leads generated from your chat messaging channels to your CRM,
• Ability to save responses, private notes, knowledge-base integration, and customer satisfaction reports.

The Key Takeaway 

CRM integration with third-party systems provides you with an infinite extension of your platform’s capabilities. It makes the CRM adoption and user experience ultimately effective. The good news is that the most popular tools are ready to set up without extra coding.

The bad news is that you still need to spend time configuring both the CRM system and third-party tools to make this integration completely seamless.

Photo credit: DLX MEDIA

Author Bio: Wesley D. Snow

Co-founder & Managing Partner of Ascendix Technologies with 25 years of CRM consulting experience. Has been on multiple advisory boards for CRM applications including Salesforce, Dynamics 365, and no less than 10 other CRM platforms. A frequent guest of podcasts, speaker, and author of posts on CRM topics.

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by Nick Loggie

The main advantages of CRM software for the roofing industry

A roofing contractor, often known as a roofer or mechanic, is a person who specializes in the repair and construction of roofs. In a construction team, they are one of the most important members of the team. Everyone, though, isn't capable of becoming one. While physical strength is a prerequisite for becoming one, the administrative skill set is just as critical. For this reason, if you're trying to find a new and enhanced management style, you'll require roofing CRM Software.

You should be able to do it all if you're a roofing contractor. Your technicians should be able to hop on a roof at a moment's notice, but it's just as important to maintain the safety and security of the individuals you work with. The risk of going up in heights is high, therefore you must use all of your resources to keep yourself safe. There are three ways that Roofing CRM Software may benefit your business.

Improved collaboration as a result of improved communication

Often, the most costly errors are made by a single misinformed member of the team. Errors in construction are typically caused by the speed or lack of information in an ongoing project. Because protocols and standards are always evolving, it is imperative that all personnel be kept up to speed. There should be no misconceptions in the workplace if there is effective communication. You can make an educated choice when you have to make a decision.

Better communication in the roofing business is made possible by specialized software. For easy access to information, a central hub has been established. To ensure that everyone is on the same page, a safe method of transmitting information to the rest of the group is in place.

In charge of coordinating administrative responsibilities and safeguarding confidential information

Have you ever seen a desk that is overflowing with papers and documents? In many cases, a quick look does not reveal what you need. Unstructured businesses are a lot like this. You can't locate the information you need on a project you're working on when you need it, since you have so much to do. When all of your company's data is organized by software, you can improve production.

Invoices and estimations may be generated while the user is on the move, depending on the program. Payments may be collected (and re-reminded of), templates can be stored instantaneously, and quotations can be retrieved at any time. Best of all, reporting and synchronization of your books are both possible.

GPS tracking that is precise

For roofers, ascending a roof is a dangerous endeavor. Then why not make it easier for them to carry out their duties without jeopardizing their safety? Aerial measurements based on GPS mapping are used by some software to get more precise estimates. No need to scale the roof to conduct a thorough examination of the building's structure.

Taking pictures of roofs and gutters is safer and easier with GPS assistance. The photos are then uploaded and saved via a mobile app that is linked to the internet. As a result, you have them readily available for use whenever the need arises. Customers, insurance adjusters, and subcontractors are all welcome to use the information you provide them.

It's not a luxury to have automated business management. It is essential that you make your roofing work more convenient and less time-consuming. Make certain that your company is up-to-date and modern. Roofing CRM Software may be used at any time and from any location to reduce your stress.

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by Nick Loggie